YOUR TEXAS AGRICULTURE MINUTE

Few farmers and ranchers serving in Congress

By Gary Joiner
Publisher

As rural states become more urban, the makeup of Congress changes, as well.

Fewer farmers and ranchers are elected to Washington, D.C., when states become more urban.

In the current 118th Congress, there are only 31 farmers and ranchers out of the combined 535 members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate.

That’s just under 6% of the total.

There are 23 farmers and ranchers in the U.S. House. There are eight farmers and ranchers in the 100-member U.S. Senate.

The report by the Congressional Research Service says there is one House member who owns an almond orchard. Other House members are a forester, a fruit orchard worker and a horse trainer.

Important national farm policy decisions such as the farm bill require understanding and experience in Congress.

There are fewer members of Congress who understand the importance of a farm safety net and the many issues that impact agriculture.

It’s up to those with first-hand knowledge of farming and ranching to fill the information gap, and that gap is only going to get wider and wider as areas become more urban.

The preceding commentary is brought to you by Texas Farm Bureau, the “Voice of Texas Agriculture.” Called “Your Texas Agriculture Minute,” TFB will issue thought-provoking editorials each week—via print and audio—to spark understanding of agriculture in the Lone Star State and its impact on each and every Texan.

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