Outlining Arizona Farm Bureau's 2025 Policy Priorities as the Legislature Gets to Work
Author
Published
2/4/2025
In a marathon six-hour policy development session last November, members from across the state weighed in on new policies with the expertise that only those who live with these issues every day can bring. From tax policy to trade, labor reform to water management, our delegates left no stone unturned.
Based on these policy directives from the delegates, the Arizona Farm Bureau Board of Directors also approved a list of top policy priorities to guide our organization as we look for ways to embed our policy into legislation and regulation.
As always, this year’s policy priorities are ambitious. But we’re confident that throughout the year, we will find and create meaningful opportunities to act on each of them to the benefit of our members.
Arizona Farm Bureau’s 2025 priority issues include:
Water Management
Farm Bureau will advocate for agriculture's critical role in Arizona's water discussions. As state leaders seek improvements in water management, we will ensure that both the value of water to agriculture and agriculture’s contribution to the state are prioritized.
Tax Policy
Arizona Farm Bureau will fight to keep taxes low for agricultural businesses, advocating for favorable tax classifications and sales tax treatments that recognize agriculture's unique value. We will support sound tax policies, including those in the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act set to expire in 2026.
Transportation
We believe deregulating Arizona’s transportation industry—excluding safety and licensing—is vital for agricultural success. The Farm Bureau will advocate for streamlined inspections and oppose unnecessary regulations, while also promoting infrastructure investments, especially in rural areas, to ensure efficient product distribution.
On the Federal Level
Trade
With over 95% of potential consumers outside the U.S., unburdened trade is essential. The Arizona Farm Bureau will seek new trade opportunities for Arizona's agricultural products, leveraging our strong agricultural market ties.
Labor Reform
Farm Bureau will advocate for effective labor reforms tailored to agriculture’s needs.
Farm Policy
We will push for policies that empower farmers and ranchers to produce safe, affordable food amidst market uncertainties and natural disasters.
Land Use & Environmental Regulation
Farm Bureau supports farmers and ranchers as stewards of natural resources, advocating for accessible land and water without excessive regulatory burdens.
Short-Term Goals
Over the next year, the Arizona Farm Bureau will focus on embedding our policy priorities into legislation and regulation.
Agriculture’s Access to Water
- Colorado River: Engage in post-2026 discussions, support irrigation districts, and advocate against transferring agricultural entitlements to municipalities.
- Rural Groundwater: Collaborate with rural water users to find proactive solutions based on the Rural Groundwater Working Group report.
- Management Areas: Promote user-friendly regulations for Active Management Areas (AMAs) and Irrigation Non-Expansion Areas (INAs).
Affordable and Reliable Power
- Arizona Farm Bureau will advocate to ensure rural communities and agriculture have robust access to affordable and reliable electricity, including preference hydropower.
Arizona Department of Agriculture
- Advocate for adequate staffing and financial resources.
- Expand livestock producers’ access to local processing facilities.
- Collaborate on committee for Bovine Trichomoniasis to develop sound policy that will address the industry's growing concerns.
- Work with the Arizona Department of Ag and producers to ensure high-https://www.azfb.org/News/Publications/Arizona-Agriculturequality cotton seed.
Off-highway Vehicles (OHV)
- Work with industry and stakeholders to address the challenges faced with OHV use in Arizona.
Farm Bill Advocacy
- Advocate for passage of a new modernized 5-year Farm Bill.
- Prioritize risk management tools like crop insurance and expand coverage for specialty crops that are supported by industry needs, market data, and economic modeling.
- Ensure USDA has adequate resources for technical assistance and funding that are reflective of current conditions.
- Advocate for disaster assistance programs that recognize regional differences.
- Support the Wolf Act and further develop and advance a pay-for-presence program.
State and Federal Lands
- Protect agricultural leases on state land and monitor renewable energy development.
- Communicate with federal agencies about grazing needs for resource management and food security.
- Develop strategies for optimizing wildfire response and improving recovery programs.
- Address recreational damage from OHV use.
Agricultural Labor
- The Farm Bureau will focus on addressing issues like the Adverse Effect Wage Rate and disaggregated job classifications while continuing to pursue broad labor reform.
It’s our policy development process that allows Government Relations staff to say, with complete confidence, that our policy represents the will of the entire Arizona agricultural industry. Thank you to each of our members for participating in this essential task!
Editor’s Note: For more information, go to www.azfb.org/public-policy. This article first appeared in the January 2025 issue of Arizona Agriculture.