California Farm Bureau to D.C. and Farmer Sentiment Down

Bob Larson

**A California Farm Bureau delegation of members, staff and executives traveled to Washington, D.C., last month to advocate issues affecting farmers and ranchers.

Among their priorities were discussions around passing a new farm bill and policies related to endangered species and the farm workforce.

CFB President Shannon Douglass says it makes all the difference when lawmakers can hear directly from ag producers about the challenges they face and the real-world impacts of policy decisions.

##October is harvest season and worthy of celebration, so the Georgia Farm Bureau highly recommends a visit to the Georgia National Fair now thru Oct. 18.

Held at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry, its Georgia’s signature agricultural event, with exhibits in the Georgia Grown Building that spotlight Georgia’s pecan, peanut, forestry and cotton crops, and much more.

This year’s theme is “Where Georgia Gathers.”

For more, go to www.georgianationalfair.com/.

www.gfb.org/news/ag-news/post/georgia-national-fair-where-georgia-gathers

**Farmer sentiment weakened in September as higher input costs continued to weigh on producers’ financial outlook.

The Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer fell 12 points from August to 123.

Both components declined, with the Index of Current Conditions dropping 18 points and Future Expectations falling nine points.

For the first time since July, more farmers expected their financial situation to worsen rather than improve over the next year.

**President Trump has signed an executive order temporarily expanding access to tax-exempt, red-dyed diesel in an effort to ease soaring fuel costs for farmers and truckers.

The order directs the Treasury Department to defer certain federal diesel tax payments through December 31 and provide penalty relief for dyed diesel used on highways.

The federal diesel tax is 24.4 cents per gallon, although state taxes would require separate action.