President's Column: Convention Highlights Farmer Perseverance In Tough Times

By Jim Harper, President

Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation

The month of June is a busy time on the farm for many of us, but for Farm Bureau members, it means the anticipation of another year gathering with friends from across the state on Canal Street in New Orleans for the Louisiana Farm Bureau Annual Convention.

Unfortunately, for a second year that gathering will be taking place virtually. We believe however, that this will set us up appropriately for our largest and best convention ever in 2022, as Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation will be celebrating 100 years of serving as your voice of Louisiana agriculture. The anticipation awaiting that celebration will be hard to stand over this next year. We hope you will mark your calendars now to join us June 23-26, 2022.

Much like the first 98 years, LFBF’s 99th year has been filled with the ways we’re working to stand up for farmers both in Baton Rouge and Washington D.C, despite the challenges of the past few years.

As the legislative session in our State Capitol comes to close, we’ve had another successful year defending private property rights, fighting for the best tax policies, and voicing the needs of farmers and ranchers in areas ranging from solar farms to roads and bridges.

Thankfully, what was expected to be contentious fiscal session, turned more into a year to look forward on how to best reopen our economy.  We were able to demonstrate that our industry is still farming throughout the pandemic, hurricanes, and ice storms. This relentless effort you give provides us with a great message on how essential agriculture is to our state’s economy. 

By bringing to light the story of economic stability, we’re able to more successfully defend our sales tax exemptions, harvest permits, animal care oversight, and other issues that seem to put a target on agriculture’s back year after year.

However, it’s not just defense right now in ag policy. In both the state legislature and in Washington D.C., we’re seeing political investment into agriculture’s ability to sequester carbon, capture sunlight for energy, and other climate related programs that are looking to partner with farmers to achieve “green” goals.

This is where almost 100 years of experience is coming in handy. While many expect the farm community to quickly jump into contracts, encourage tax dollars be spent on carbon banks, or make lofty claims about impact they can mitigate for the environment – it is the farmer who knows well, there is no quick-fix when it comes to the soil, air, or water.

We’ve got a seat at the table—explaining farmers and ranchers’ history as stewards of land and natural resources, and working to guide policy to the best interest of private land owners and rural Louisiana.

Much like our convention, many of these opportunities to share our voice with elected officials haven’t been something we can gather together to do in person in year 99.  As those opportunities begin to take place in person again, the Louisiana Farm Bureau is poised to gather our members to serve as the voice of Louisiana agriculture once again for this 100th year.

I look forward to doing so alongside each of you.