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NCGA official promotes more grassroots ag advocacy

A commodity group leader says farmers engaging with elected officials on agricultural issues can be very effective. 

Steve Uram with the National Corn Growers Association says grassroots advocacy is a team sport and everybody plays, and when farmers reach out to their elected officials, they’re paying attention. “Every vote counts. Every message counts. Every email counts. Every Facebook post or tweet counts, and it does make a difference. Staff want to know what you care about.”

Uram says research shows lawmakers are influenced by as few as 30 comments on social media, and he says several big issues farmers should be talking about are in play right now. “The farm economy? Not great. Issues like expanded ethanol production, trade. Those issues affect the bottom line for the farm and the family.”

He says farmers that want to get the message out but are unsure of how to get started should reach out to their associations including NCGA. Uram tells Brownfield farmers need to tell their story. “Say (to them) this is how this legislation affects me, how it affects my family, how it affects my bottom line. That counts. That’s real.”

Uram spoke to Wisconsin Corn Growers Association members during Corn Day at the Capitol Wednesday.