Why It Matters
The North Carolina Farm Bureau is lobbying amid an acute economic crisis gripping American agriculture. Farm production costs are forecast to climb $12 billion in 2025, while the gap between farm costs and prices received has hit a 10-year high.
The organization’s push for Farm Bill passage, disaster relief, and H-2A wage rate stabilization directly targets immediate pressures threatening farm viability. A legislative solution hinges on Congress completing Farm Bill reauthorization—currently stalled until September 2026—while managing interim crises through disaster aid and labor reforms. The strategy targets both immediate relief and structural policy changes, positioning the group to influence major debates where bipartisan interest exists, particularly around H-2A wage rate freezes backed by the national farm bureau and commodity relief supported by North Carolina’s Senator Thom Tillis.
By the Numbers
The North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation Inc. reported $120,479 in fourth quarter 2025 lobbying spending through in-house operations. The organization has invested $7.9 million in federal advocacy since 2009, filing 64 disclosure reports over 16 years.
Linda Farrar Andrews, the Farm Bureau’s sole in-house lobbyist, has filed 56 disclosures since April 2011. The organization’s decision to maintain in-house lobbying reflects a strategy prioritizing institutional knowledge over broader client diversity.
Immigration, trade, taxation, agriculture, and budget appropriations have dominated their advocacy across all historical filings. Q4 2025 narrowed focus to six areas: Farm Bill passage, disaster relief, H-2A wage rates, agricultural transportation, endangered species protections, and trade impacts—representing sustained strategy continuity.
The Agenda
The North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation Inc. is lobbying Congress on six interconnected agricultural issues:
- Farm Bill Passage and Implementation — Pushing for reauthorization of the repeatedly extended Farm Bill
- Disaster Programs and Farm Economic Relief — Seeking advance payments and financial assistance amid record costs
- H-2A Wage Rate Reform — Targeting the Adverse Effect Wage Rate to address rising labor costs
- Agricultural Transportation — Advocating for weight variance regulations on interstate highways
- Trade Disruption — Addressing trade policy impacts on markets and exports
- Natural Resources Regulation — Engaging on pesticide registration and Endangered Species Act implementation
These priorities align with congressional debates. Senator Thom Tillis has led bipartisan disaster relief efforts, while Representative John Moolenaar introduced bipartisan legislation to freeze H-2A wage rates with American Farm Bureau Federation backing.
Between The Lines
Congress is actively debating the exact issues the Farm Bureau is lobbying on. The House Agriculture Committee held a February hearing on "Examining the Economic Crisis in Farm Country," documenting severe impacts from declining commodity prices and record input costs. Multiple bills propose immediate relief: the Farm Rescue Act of 2025 and Agricultural Emergency Relief Act of 2025.
On labor, Representative Moolenaar reintroduced the Supporting Farm Operations Act, freezing H-2A wages at 2023 levels through 2026—a key Farm Bureau priority backed by the national federation.
The Bottom Line
The North Carolina Farm Bureau Federation Inc. is targeting legislation addressing documented agricultural crises. Their Q4 2025 lobbying priorities align with pressing industry challenges and active congressional proposals. The organization’s advocacy represents coordinated efforts with the national American Farm Bureau Federation to influence Farm Bill reauthorization and interim relief measures while Congress extends the deadline to September 30, 2026.
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