Position Statement on Reauthorization of the Farm Bill in the 119th Congress

The Farm Bill is a critical tool for supporting our nation’s rural communities and agricultural industry, which are vital to the national economy. The food and agriculture industry employs nearly 24 million employees, more than 14% of workers in the United States, and supports over 48 million jobs. Still, rural and farm communities are isolated, overlooked, and facing declining populations. Attracting and retaining young families is the largest and most critical obstacle facing rural communities today. 

Child care access is tied to employment opportunities, business sustainability, and economic viability. Nearly 74% of farm families experience challenges in child care due to cost, availability, and distance. Long-term economic impact analyses of the rural child care gap (in 35 states and Washington, D.C.) show that each missing child care slot results in $32.79 billion to $49.93 billion in economic losses. One survey found that 48% of rural parents had to call out or miss a shift due to difficulty securing child care, and 38% had to leave the workforce altogether. Almost half of parents think access to affordable child care is important to growing their farm. Lack of child care also affects stress levels and mental health in farming communities.