When the Farm Meets the Legislature
January 31, 2026
| Friends, The longest month of the year is finally coming to a close. It feels like we have been in January for six months and have been anticipating the Farm Show Dinner for even longer. The week I’ve been looking forward to since I started this role in July is finally upon us! I am excited to see many of you there on February 5 and to meet those of you whom I have not had the chance to visit with yet. In that spirit, and building on one of the points I made in last week’s Dispatch about the importance of real people in agricultural production, I want to talk about one of the most important assets in North Carolina’s legislature. Farmers like Senator Brent Jackson and Representative Jimmy Dixon, who serve in our General Assembly, have a unique perspective that is necessary to preserve in a state with an $111 billion agriculture industry. Agriculture’s main issues, like labor availability, weather variability, trade and market volatility, pest and disease pressure, increasing input costs, increasing regulations, and all other related issues, are only fully understood by the people who have lived and managed their businesses with these risks. Senator Jackson brings a farmer’s perspective to every major agricultural and regulatory discussion in the Senate. As a producer himself and a consistent leader on agriculture and rural issues, he has been a steady voice pushing back when well-intended policies drift into unworkable territory. Whether it’s defending farmers during environmental and water-quality debates, ensuring regulatory agencies understand how rules play out on real operations, or fighting to keep North Carolina agriculture competitive with neighboring states, his credibility comes from lived experience. Representative Jimmy Dixon offers that same real-world grounding in the House. As a farmer and agribusiness owner, Rep. Dixon has been deeply involved in shaping policy around agricultural regulation, disaster recovery, and the day-to-day issues that determine whether farms stay viable. He has consistently advocated for commonsense approaches to environmental compliance, fought for relief and flexibility after hurricanes and other natural disasters, and worked to ensure that small and mid-size producers aren’t squeezed out by policies designed without them in mind. His value is in the experience he brings. Together, leaders like Jackson and Dixon do something that cannot be replicated by even the most supportive non-farm legislators: they translate agriculture in real time. They explain consequences before mistakes are made. They flag unintended impacts early. And they protect an industry that is too often misunderstood by those far removed from it. North Carolina is fortunate to have others in the General Assembly who also bring firsthand farm experience to policymaking. Leaders like Senator Lisa Barnes and Representatives William Brisson, Howard Penny, Jeff McNeely, Neal Jackson, Ray Jeffers, and others help ensure agriculture is well-represented in Raleigh. Two things are often forgotten by those who do not run a farm and serve in the General Assembly: first, that serving in Raleigh requires extended time away from the farm; and second, that stepping into public-facing roles requires answering a lot of tough questions. With the increase in MAHA-minded activists and even fellow legislators who do not know the realities of feeding and clothing the population, it is increasingly important that we support those farmers who step out of their comfort zones to serve our state. This includes championing farmers who make the jump into politics for the first time and who need our support to do well as they learn the ropes. I believe we can educate the members who do not have farm backgrounds to be successful advocates for agriculture, but preserving the voice of the experienced farmer in North Carolina’s General Assembly is invaluable. The NC Ag Partnership values the members who represent our industry through their lived experiences and we are grateful for the sacrifices they make to help our operations stay in business. We will continue to promote and defend their work in our communities. See you all next week, |
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| Tori Rumenik Executive Director, North Carolina Ag Partnership |