U.S. should reform checkoff programs to ensure farmers’ hard-earned dollars don’t end up in the hands of corporate lobbyists, says author

The House Agriculture Committee’s reconciliation plan cuts millions in SNAP benefits to offer ever more subsidies to struggling farmers, who haven’t seen a new Farm Bill since 2018 .

The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act would do just that. It would prohibit checkoff organizations from working with outside lobbying groups, while requiring regular audits.

Obviously, checkoff reform is just one way to help struggling farmers, who are losing their operations year over year. Another might be shifting government food procurement policies towards smaller producers. But it’s one common-sense step with bipartisan support that would allow for more free-market competition, introduce greater transparency and allay the concerns of those smaller agricultural players who rightly wonder where their money is going. Let’s get Big Ag OFF their backs. John Cleveland is a senior fellow at Wilberforce Institute . Image: PxHere .