On Tuesday of this week, Margaret Byfield, with American Stewards of Liberty, was one of three panelists asked to discuss how the growing lawfare against our nation’s farmers and ranchers is being waged through the administrative state and shaping our nation’s farm policies.
Along with Margaret were South Dakota’s Attorney General Marty Jackley and Shad Sullivan, Chairman of the Private Property Rights Committee for R-CALF USA.
The hearing entitled “Farming on Trial: A Roundtable on the Growing Use of Lawfare Against American Agriculture” was held before the full House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, minus the Democrats, led by Chairman James Comer (R-KY).
Members heard directly from the three participants how laws are being applied to the agricultural industry in ways Congress did not intend, creating uncertainty, increasing costs, and placing added burdens on American farmers and ranchers.
Chairman Comer stated “As Kentucky’s former Commissioner of Agriculture, I understand the challenges farmers and ranchers across this country face as they contend with increasing pressure and rising compliance costs as laws are applied to the agricultural industry in ways Congress never intended.”
“What should be fair and consistent enforcement has, in too many cases, turned into federal overreach that places unnecessary burdens on those who feed our nation,” Comer continued.
The House Oversight Committee hearing was held in response to and in conjunction with President Trump’s and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’ initiative called the Farmer and Rancher Freedom Framework, to protect America’s agricultural heritage and defend farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers from politically motivated lawfare.
That program has helped numerous producers across the country who have been targeted with government lawfare, such as the Maude family from South Dakota and the King family from Washington State.
Margaret spoke of the 40-year battle she and her family fought against the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service over their grazing rights and privately held water rights. The Hage family eventually lost their legal battle along with their livestock operation to the federal government.
During the hearing, the three panelists were asked about solutions and suggestions for legislation to resolve bureaucratic overreach and punitive actions taken by the federal land management agencies.
We highly recommend you go here to listen to the entire discussion and hear how the members were disgusted and angered by the stories, especially Margaret’s family saga. Chairman Comer was extremely moved by Margaret’s family’s story and vowed to pass legislation to prevent any other family from having to deal with or endure such offensive actions imposed by unelected bureaucrats.
Listen to all the member’s questions and recommendations on the actions they intend to take to resolve government abuse of American landowners. Chairman Comer, in particular, was incensed at what our government land management agencies have done by creating their own policies with no legal authority to do so with no recourse available to American farmers and ranchers.
He vowed to target agency personnel who have made themselves legislative interpreters of Congress’ constitutionally created statutes, dictators who force farmers and ranchers to comply with their policies, and then act as law enforcement forcing landowners to comply.
“I look forward to discussing legislative solutions to ensure federal laws and regulations are not weaponized against our small and family-owned farms,” said Chairman James Comer.
Must see: YouTube recording of entire hearing: https://www.youtube.com/live/HmYl-AppPn8
