The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation started 2022 as it does each and every year – at the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention, where members voted on policy that would affect thousands of farmers and ranchers across the nation.

Despite just finishing those policy discussions, MFBF is already looking to next year’s policy.

“At Farm Bureau, we never really stop talking about policy,” MFBF President Mike McCormick said. “We just finished adopting policy that will be in our book for 2022, but now we’re already talking about policy development for next year.”

MFBF’s annual Winter Commodity Conference is usually the first meeting for members each year. While they hear from speakers specializing in certain commodities, like forestry, cattle and row crop, much of the conference is spent discussing updates from Jackson and Washington, D.C. This allows county leaders to learn more about the policy and decisions that could affect their communities and fellow farmers.

“Events like this allow us to learn more about what’s going on, and hopefully, work through the problems we foresee, so that Farm Bureau can give the message to the right people,” said Doug Wilkerson, Kemper County Farm Bureau President.

This conference coincides with the Mississippi Legislature kicking off its session. Farm Bureau brings members together with lawmakers who will ultimately decide on policies farmers, ranchers and rural Mississippians must abide by in the future. MFBF members agree those relationships are one of the most beneficial parts of being a part of the organization.

“Farm Bureau plays an integral role in connecting farmers with policy makers,” said Young Farmers & Ranchers Chairman Clint Ladner. “Those relationships allow us to make sure our voices are heard, and the policies we support are moved forward.”

“Policy makers seem to be very receptive to people in Farm Bureau,” Tishomingo County Farm Bureau President Dr. Jim Perkins said. “They know Farm Bureau means a lot to the state, and they’re always willing to help as much as they can.”

Right now, one of the biggest concerns for Mississippi producers is cattle market transparency. Over the last 15 years, the number of Mississippi cattle producers has decreased by 33%, hurting rural businesses who depend on farm operations to keep them in business.

Even with the declining number of farmers, MFBF members’ voices will be heard.

“Losing farmers hurts rural communities,” McCormick said. “When you start losing co‑ops and local feed and seed stores, you begin to feel the impact of what agriculture does for rural Mississippi and rural America. We’ll continue to fight on our behalf of our cattle producers, and we’ll see where it goes.”

“Our lawmakers have been very receptive,” Mississippi cattle farmer Carl Davis Parker said. “They’re on our side and they understand. They’re playing ball as much as they can right now with the Grassley Fischer Bill. While that may not drastically impact producers locally, it does send a message that we can create and pass policy impacting our market in a positive way. It’s a step in the right direction.”