Family Farm Alliance members brief Capitol Hill

A group of 30 Western farmers, ranchers, water managers and association leaders came together as a part of the Farmer Lobbyist trip, a cornerstone program of the Family Farm Alliance, Klamath Falls, Oregon.

The event wrapped up its third day of meetings with a Western drought briefing attended by more than 20 congressional staff members and an appearance by Patrick O’Toole, Family Farm Alliance president, before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

This annual event was created more than 25 years ago to allow farmers, ranchers and water managers to interact directly with elected officials and other policy makers in Washington, D.C. This year’s farmer lobbyist contingent included representatives from Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming.

During the event, the Alliance hosted a Western drought briefing for congressional staff at the Capitol Visitors Center.

“This in-person event allowed congressional staff an opportunity to hear directly from the Western producers and water managers who are literally at ground zero dealing with the challenges of one of the worst droughts for the Western U.S. in modern history,” says Alliance Executive Director Dan Keppen.

Congressman Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, began the event with opening remarks. He met earlier in the week with the farmer lobbyists in the hearing room of the House Resources Committee.

Following Bentz’s welcoming comments, water managers and farmers from California, Oregon and the Colorado River Basin described the challenges they are facing, the drivers behind those challenges and what can be done to help. The one-hour event concluded with a question-and-answer session.

“Solving the water challenges of our day will require everybody working together in a bipartisan fashion,” says William Bourdeau, a California producer and Alliance Board member. “Everyone will benefit when we solve these challenges.”

Elsewhere on Capitol Hill, Alliance President Patrick O’Toole was one of four witnesses who testified before the Senate ENR Committee, which conducted a legislative hearing on several bending bills, including the Promoting Effective Forest Management Act of 2022, or S. 4904. This bipartisan legislation, introduced by ENR Committee Chairman Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, and Ranking Member John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, would reduce catastrophic wildfire risk and improve forest health.

“We are facing brutal wildfires across the West that threaten Wyoming’s forests and communities,” says Barrasso. “Our bipartisan bill will fight back against wildfire risk. It directs the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to cut red tape and dramatically increase their wildfire mitigation projects. I’m thankful to Chairman Manchin for working with me on this important legislation.”

“The revival of Colorado River and other Western watershed forests is crucial to combating the effects of climate change,” says O’Toole, whose family operates a sheep and cattle ranch in Wyoming. “By bringing together changemakers and working collaboratively, we can change the paradigm of forest management. Success will mean healthier forests, healthier wildlife populations, more prosperous and dynamic local communities, and much-needed security in our water supplies.”