Agriculture

Agriculture remains the largest private industry in Virginia, and our Commonwealth holds the distinguished title of being the birthplace of American agriculture. Our 39,000 farms generate an annual economic impact of $82 billion. 95% of those farms are family-owned and provide over 380,000 jobs across Virginia.

Yet as we celebrate our local farmers and agricultural economy, I’ve heard from farmers across Virginia’s Fourth District who fear for their financial futures. To be a farmer inherently carries risk, and a few consecutive bad years can easily run you in the red. Virginia farmers have implemented innovative solutions to cut back on costs and maximize profits, but the Trump Administration has threatened their ability to thrive. Tariffs on equipment and other vital supplies that keep Virginia’s farms running are raising costs. And retaliatory tariffs restricting access to international markets will significantly impact Virginia’s soybean, pork, poultry and tobacco exports. This hurts our economy and local communities.

The actions of the Trump Administration directly impede these farmers’ attempts at innovating and finding new sources of income. A rooftop and farmfield solar installation business shared with me their concerns about cuts to clean energy tax credits, which could throw long-term solar projects into chaos. These projects lower energy costs and offer new revenue streams for farmers.

Congress’s failure to reauthorize and modernize the seven-year-old Farm Bill adds to the uncertainty and struggles faced by our family farmers. A lot has changed in agriculture in seven years, but Congress hasn’t kept up to meet the changing needs of our family farmers. As a member of Congress with the privilege of representing so many farmers in our Commonwealth, I’ll continue sharing their stories and advocating for forward-thinking solutions that put our agricultural sector first and ensure we’re affording farmers the dignity and opportunity to continue doing what they love.