NC Florida News

Around the world, farmers are protesting against overregulation, climate extremism, and rising input costs. The recent farmer protests in Europe should serve as a wake-up call for lawmakers in the United States. Farmers in France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain have been expressing their economic plight and anger by blocking roads and engaging in various forms of protest.

One of the main concerns of European farmers is the EU's nature restoration law, which requires member states to restore at least 20% of the EU's land and sea areas by 2030. This includes leaving 4% of EU farmland fallow or out of productive use. Farmers argue that taking prime agricultural land out of production not only contradicts logic, considering the rising food prices and competition from cheap food imports, but also undermines the valuable environmental contributions made by the agriculture industry.

"Farmers and ranchers are the world’s original conservationists. They don't need unelected, big-government bureaucrats telling them how to do their jobs," says an anonymous source familiar with the issue.

The discontent among European farmers should serve as a warning sign for American lawmakers. The Biden administration's policies could have similar detrimental effects on American farmers and the domestic food supply. Since taking office, the Biden administration has imposed burdensome regulations, exacerbated inflation and high input costs, politicized crop protection tools, initiated anti-energy measures, disrupted supply chains, and caused labor shortages.

The decision to shut down the Keystone XL pipeline, issue a drilling moratorium on federal lands and waters, and implement Green New Deal-style regulations like the "30x30" initiative has caused concern among American farmers. The recent pause on liquefied natural gas exports further adds to the uncertainty faced by farmers who heavily rely on energy production.

The agriculture industry in the United States has also faced regulatory challenges. The Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, for example, has created ambiguity and threatens farmers' access to their own land. Additionally, regulations imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have limited the use of pesticides, critical for protecting crops and increasing yields while using fewer inputs.

The impact of these policies extends beyond the farmers themselves. The rising inflation and overregulation have directly affected the wallets of American consumers. A survey conducted by Axios in December 2023 found that a significant percentage of Americans feel angry and anxious about grocery prices due to their impact on their budgets.

The consequences of these policies are not limited to economic challenges. A brief released by the Agriculture Department's Economic Research Service in 2020 highlighted that the global adoption of the EU's Farm to Fork Strategy could lead to an 89% increase in worldwide food prices by 2030.

Lawmakers in America now face a crucial choice. They can either continue down the path of demonizing the agriculture industry or recognize farmers as the unsung heroes who contribute to national security. Food security is a matter of national security, and it is time for Congress to acknowledge the vital role that farmers play in feeding, fueling, and clothing the nation.