Spanning three days and over 15,000 visitors, the second iteration of AEM’s Celebration of Modern Agriculture on the National Mall proved once again to be a vital piece of the association’s advocacy efforts in support of strong rural communities that not only benefits farmers and ranchers, but also the 650,000 agricultural equipment manufacturing jobs.
Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Xochitl Torres Small kicked off the three-day event with remarks from the Main Stage, and then toured the exhibit to see the latest innovations and technologies in American agriculture.
"Rural America is hard at work, producing the food, fiber, and fuel our nation relies on,” said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small. “President Biden's historic investment in rural America supports that work all across our country, through real-life solutions to decades-old challenges like bringing high speed internet to communities across the country, updating waste-water infrastructure, delivering climate smart solutions that increase revenue, and increasing competition through more and better markets. I am proud to join the Association of Equipment Manufacturers today to lift up the great work our rural communities are doing to make our nation more resilient and competitive."
“We greatly appreciate the leadership of Deputy Secretary Torres Small on behalf of farmers and manufacturers,” said Kip Eideberg, AEM senior vice president of government and industry relations. “We look forward to continue to work with the Deputy Secretary to build a sustainable future of safe and abundant food, fiber, feed and renewable fuel for our nation and the world.”
United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai and United States Chief Agricultural Negotiator Doug McKalip also toured the exhibit, met with manufacturing executives, and discussed how to bolster U.S. trade and strengthen manufacturing in America.
With more than 60 lawmakers and 100 congressional staff in attendance, the event provided a timely opportunity to remind Democrats and Republicans of the urgent need to advance a bipartisan farm bill that will ensure the long-term resilience of American agriculture for generations to come. Lawmakers were treated to the latest innovations and technologies in American agriculture as well as hands-on demonstrations of how it helps farmers feed and fuel the world while protecting the environment for generations to come.
As reported by POLITICO, lawmakers who made their way down to the National Mall included Senators John Boozman (R-Ark.), Peter Ricketts (R-Neb.); Representatives Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Don Davis (D-N.C.), Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), Tracey Mann (R-Kan.), Kim Schrier (D-Wash.), Daren Soto (D-Fla.), Representatives GT Thompson (R-Pa.); as well as a delegation from the Congressional Western Caucus.
“As Washington is crafting the next farm bill, we are urging lawmakers to set aside their differences and seize the opportunity to deliver big wins for American farmers and manufacturers. At the top of that list includes passing the PAL Act and the PRECISE Act, expanding broadband access for rural Americans, and better integrating conservation goals with agricultural production,” said Eideberg.
“Agriculture is America's number one industry. The innovative strides of our nation's equipment manufacturers help our producers efficiently provide for our country and the world,” said Congressman GT Thompson, the Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture. “Thank you to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers for bringing agriculture to the heart of our nation’s capital and reminding every lawmaker why we need to get a farm bill done.”
As the farm bill markup approaches, AEM and its member companies are keeping up the pressure to ensure that the final package includes the industry’s priorities. In addition to promotion the adoption of precision agriculture technologies, AEM continues to advocate for a vital safety net for farmers and ranchers as well as policies that will give people more options to live, work, and raise the next generation in rural America.
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