“Farmers feed people,” said Dan Naylor, a former dairy farmer in Lackawanna County, PA at an agriculture roundtable recently in Shavertown, which was headlined by Pennsylvania Congressman and House Ag Committee chairman GT Thompson (R-PA-15) and included Congressional candidate Rob Bresnahan; State Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20); Lackawanna County GOP chair Dan Naylor; Brian O’Keefe, the owner of Mooretown Sawmill; local farmers Mike Lucas and Rick Stephens; and members of the Farm Bureau and others focused on agriculture. The farmers in attendance were multi-generation and first-generation dairy, beef and grain farmers. 

Participants at the roundtable agreed on the importance of local farming, which provides quality food for our community and is also important for our national security. However, local farms have seen better days. Raleigh Masters, vice president of the Luzerne County Farm Bureau, said, “Nobody in their 30s wants to farm. They don’t have the money for it.” 

Mike Lucas, who farms grain, wheat, corn and sweet corn on 2,000 acres in Shickshinny, PA, said, “Farming doesn’t make extra money; it just covers costs.”

Martin Smith, president of the Luzerne County Farm Bureau, noted that for family farms to continue, “We have to support this next generation; we have to continue to educate; and we need to make a viable income so this chain of farming can keep going.” 

GT Thompson, the first Pennsylvanian to chair the Agriculture Committee in over 120 years, and whose district covers 18 counties, championed his $1.5 trillion bipartisan farm bill, which he believes will help move agriculture in America forward. The bill passed out of his committee in May, and a full House vote is expected in September when the existing spending extension expires at the end of the month. 

Sen. John Boozeman from Arkansas said about the farm bill, “The House bill modernizes the farm safety net, expands market access, maintains a focus on locally-led conservation programs, ensures Americans in need will continue to receive nutrition benefits and it invests in the rural communities our farmers, ranchers and foresters call home.” 

Lawmakers have already punted on the farm bill once—extending the existing authorizations last year after the two parties failed to agree on a new package. That extension expires at the end of September, just weeks before the 2024 election.

The moderator, Cameron Cox, asked Bresnahan about the worn-out campaign tactic that Democrats use to scare seniors into thinking Republicans will take away their Social Security. “The last thing we would do is take away the benefits that seniors pay into their whole life,” said Bresnahan. “Republicans are looking to strengthen and protect Social Security.” 

Additional topics that were discussed include the availability of agriculture education for youth, rural broadband, modernizing feed costs and whole milk for our children in school. 

When asked about what needed to be done to advance farmers’ interests, Thompson pointed to Bresnahan and said, “Get this guy elected.” Bresnahan responded, “In 67 days, reinforcements are coming to help you in Washington, D.C.” 

“I depend on these kinds of conversations,” added Bresnahan. “I can’t sit here to pretend that I know what struggles and challenges you deal with. I am here to advocate for the people of NEPA and work with Congressman Thompson on solutions.”

Rob Bresnahan for Congress
Pittston, PA