Farm Leaders Demand Long-Term Reform Amid Market Volatility

A group of American farm leaders is calling for long-term agricultural reform and market stability. The Restore American Agriculture coalition, which includes former executives from major agricultural trade groups and a USDA appointee, has launched a website where farmers can share their stories and challenges. The organization has sent two letters to Congress, one in July 2026 criticizing the administration's military actions in Iran, calling for long-term commodity market stability and bipartisan legislation.

Farmers are seeking systemic changes in farming, food processing, and who processes food, according to Pam Johnson, a retired Iowa farmer and past president of the National Corn Growers Association. 'We need long-term visionaries in Congress to identify opportunities for farmers,' she said. Jon Doggett, past CEO of the National Corn Growers Association, echoed that Congress has not addressed these issues.

Farmers have received $12 billion in financial assistance this year to offset input price rises and market volatility, but they want markets, not handouts. Bob Dinneen, past president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, said 'farmers are losing ground in research, which is crucial for innovation.' He noted that public-private partnerships were responsible for projects like mapping the corn genome.