AFBF President Zippy Duvall's Testimony Before Senate Agriculture Committee

Mar 11, 2026

By Zippy Duvall

Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Klobuchar, and Members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify before you on this important topic.

My name is Zippy Duvall. I am a third-generation farmer from Georgia. My family and I raise beef cattle, poultry and hay.

I am honored to serve as president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, representing more than five-million member families who grow every crop produced in the U.S.

Our members are the economic backbone of rural America, but they continue to face historic headwinds in the farm economy.

When adjusted for inflation, USDA projects farm income this year to be nearly $50 billion below the levels just a few years ago.

One of our young farmer leaders from Oklahoma pointed out to me recently that his prices have fallen to the lowest levels of his lifetime while input costs have increased at the fastest pace in history. The conflict in Iran is expected to make costs for fuel and fertilizer soar even further.

Congress and the president have delivered critical support, and we’re grateful for the investments in risk management, trade promotion, conservation and addressing animal diseases.

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Video: Next Mile Ep 1: Navigating Disease Prevention

The Next Mile, host Dr. Meredith Petersen, Director of Swine Health at the National Pork Board, sits down with Dr. Cara Haden, Director of Animal Welfare and Biosecurity at Pipestone, to unpack the National Swine Health Strategy and what it means for producers across the country.

Meredith walks through how the strategy came together: a producer-led effort launched in March 2025 in response to input gathered at the National Pork Industry Forum, built around two core goals, keeping foreign and emerging diseases out of the U.S. herd and reducing the impact of domestic diseases already here, including long-term elimination targets for PRRSV and PEDV.

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Whether you're a producer, veterinarian, or anyone invested in herd health, this episode offers a grounded look at where the industry is headed and what everyday habits make the biggest difference.