Farm Fest 2026 Recap

It was great connecting with producers, agribusiness leaders, and fellow lawmakers on the ground at FarmFest. Bringing federal decision-makers—including House Agriculture Committee Vice Chair Austin Scott, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, and USDA Under Secretary Luke Lindberg—directly to Minnesota ensures Washington hears straight from our farm country.

Key producer priorities and takeaways from our discussions:

• Alongside Secretary Rollins and the Minnesota Corn Growers, we held the first of several USDA listening sessions to improve crop reporting accuracy, slash regulatory red tape, and bring certainty back to local operations.
• During a forum hosted by the Farm Journal Foundation and Minnesota Soybean Growers, I was joined by Secretary Rollins, Administrator Loeffler, and industry leaders to discuss recent executive actions, federal policy updates, and what our growers need to stay profitable.
• At the Minnesota Farm Bureau and Minnesota Cattlemen’s booths, our conversations centered on expanding access to SBA capital programs so family farms and local agribusinesses have the financial tools to grow.
• USDA Under Secretary Luke Lindberg joined me with the Minnesota Pork Producers to address crucial market priorities: expanding international export access, scaling back heavy federal rules, and keeping U.S. pork competitive globally.
• We also met with the Minnesota Turkey Growers to tackle ag workforce shortages, enforce fair trade protections under USMCA, and maintain strong federal defense efforts against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

Securing Ag Workforce

I joined Chairman GT Thompson as an original cosponsor of the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act to bring overdue labor relief to Western Minnesota by expanding the H-2A worker program to year-round sectors like dairy and poultry, capping wage spikes, and reducing compliance costs. 

Here are a few key points on how this legislation helps Western Minnesota producers: 

• Extends H-2A temporary worker definitions up to 350 days, allowing industries like dairy, poultry, and specialty crops to be eligible for the program.
• Changes the definition of H-2A workers from "seasonal" to "temporary", opening the program up to operations that need year-round labor.
• Reduces compliance costs by slashing red tape through multi-year certifications.

It's time to bring well-deserved workforce stability to our family farms!

DEF Act

If you run a tractor or combine, you know that a faulty Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) sensor can derail your workday with a forced engine shutdown. 

To protect producers and custom harvesters, I helped introduce the bipartisan Diesel Engine Flexibility (DEF) Act to tackle three core issues:

1. Stopping Sudden Field Shutdowns: Current rules force engines to shut down if a sensor glitches, even with a full DEF tank. The DEF Act adopts updated EPA flexibility, so you can finish the field and drive safely to a shop.

2. Replacing Fragile Sensors: High-failure Urea Quality Sensors (UQS) constantly trigger false alarms. This bill allows equipment manufacturers to use more durable NOx sensors that can withstand heavy farm use.

3. Protecting Local Mechanics & Right to Repair: Independent shops often avoid clearing codes or working on emissions systems for fear of federal fines. The DEF Act gives your local mechanic clear legal protection to perform maintenance so your iron gets back in the dirt faster.

Mobile Office Hours

My office will hold mobile office hours in Sauk Centre on Friday, September 18, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Sauk Centre City Hall. 
This is an opportunity for you to connect with my office, share your comments or concerns on policies, and ask questions. They can also help you with any issues you might be having with a federal agency. For questions regarding the mobile office hours, please contact my office at 320-403-6100.

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