The conservative think tank founded by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins is stepping up its farm policy work, including resisting environmental policies on climate change as well as advocating for U.S. exports and smaller government.
The America First Policy Institute announced Wednesday its plans to take on a more serious role in agriculture, with the goal of filling what the group considers a void in right-leaning think tanks in the nation’s capital.
“We believe farm country is in a dire state,” said Tate Bennett, AFPI’s director of rural policy, citing fallen commodity prices and higher farm operation costs, among other challenges.
Bennett and other AFPI leaders announced the agenda on a conference call with reporters. Leaders in the effort — called the Farmers First Agenda — include AFPI Chair for Rural Policy Christie Mullin, the wife of Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.).
