HuffPost: Farmers Are Like America's Insurance Policy — Consider That When You Vote

Stefanie Smallhouse, president of Arizona Farm Bureau, recently explained to HuffPost why it's crucial to consider farmers when you vote, especially if you care about inflation.

"Please do not assume that just because your milk or yogurt may cost 15% more than it used to, this means dairy farmers are making 15% more," Smallhouse said. "Dairy farmers are operating within very slim margins. The cost of producing milk has increased and the prices for dairy products have not risen enough to match them. This is one example of how inflation affects everyone, including farmers. Food is more expensive because it’s costing more to produce it, and many farmers are still struggling to stay in business. For this reason, it’s important to pay attention to what politicians are saying they will do about inflation."

Smallhouse also explained the importance of the farm bill. 

"The Farm Bill gets passed every five years. The last one was passed in 2018, and there has already been an extension on it, so an updated Farm Bill hasn’t been passed yet. Why is the Farm Bill important, and why is it important that it’s updated? The Farm Bill is meant to be a living document that includes an extensive package of programs to help rural America and America’s farmers and ranchers. The farming side of the Farm Bill is kind of like America’s insurance policy, making sure we have a sustainable farming and ranching system. There’s an immense amount of risk involved in farming and ranching, so it’s important to have insurance policies in place to mitigate these risks."

Read more from HuffPosts' Voices in Food series.