Standing Together
March 10, 2026
Written By Jon Ihler
Farmer-owned cooperatives are built on a simple but powerful idea: We’re stronger together than we are alone. It’s a principle that has sustained rural communities and agricultural co-ops across America for well over a century and continues to drive our commitment to maintain the viability of the cooperative model.
Recently, I had the privilege of joining our Board of Directors at the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives’ (NCFC) Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas. It was a valuable opportunity to connect with other cooperative leaders and focus on the issues that matter most to our members.
There was much to discuss. We are in the midst of a tumultuous time in agriculture. Input costs are high, crop prices are weak and there’s plenty of uncertainty in the trade markets and policy environment, all of which are weighing on farm operations across the country.
The situation in Washington, D.C., is unsettled in ways that go beyond the usual political noise. This has complicated efforts to pass critical legislation, such as a new Farm Bill. Congress introduced a new Farm Bill proposal in February with important updates to credit, conservation, research and rural development programs, but its passage is far from guaranteed. In times like this, progress doesn’t happen by hoping things will sort themselves out. It takes steady involvement and clear judgment. That’s exactly what NCFC provides for MFA Oil and for the millions of farmers and ranchers across America who belong to cooperatives like ours.
NCFC gives us a seat at the table in conversations that directly affect your livelihoods. Through NCFC, we help shape decisions that determine whether cooperatives can continue to deliver on their mission. NCFC ensures that a unified voice for farmer-owned cooperatives is heard when it matters most.
Collaboration among cooperatives is one of the seven principles that guide everything we do. NCFC embodies this principle, providing strong leadership and support for the cooperative business model and ensuring policymakers understand and protect it, even if they may not fully grasp its importance to rural America.
Even with all the noise in Washington, there are real opportunities ahead that can only be achieved through strategic collaboration. The work continues, and so does our commitment to standing with you and standing up for you. That’s what cooperatives do.