{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/photo-release-rep-mcbride-hosts-inaugural-agriculture-summit-harrington", "Photo Release: Rep. McBride Hosts Inaugural Agriculture Summit in Harrington", "2026-02-19", "2026", "2026-02", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Sarah McBride", "M001238", "mcbride.house.gov", "mcbride", "https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Harrington, DE \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Sarah McBride (DE-AL) hosted her inaugural Agriculture (\u201cAg\u201d) Summit in Harrington, convening Delaware farmers, agricultural leaders, industry stakeholders, and community partners for a wide-ranging discussion on investing in Delaware\u2019s farmers, boosting the ag economy, and supporting the future of agriculture in Delaware.\n\nToday\u2019s Ag Summit provided an opportunity for farmers and stakeholders to share feedback that will inform Rep. McBride\u2019s work in Washington as Congress considers the next Farm Bill reauthorization and other legislation impacting rural communities.\n\n\u201cAgriculture is the backbone of Delaware\u2019s economy and we need to do all we can to ensure it isn\u2019t just supported, but strengthened,\u201d said Rep. McBride. \u201cAs Congress works toward reauthorizing the Farm Bill, it\u2019s critical that Delaware farmers have a seat at the table. Today\u2019s summit was about listening directly to the voices of the Delawareans who know this industry, its challenges, and the work best.\u201d\n\nAgriculture is foundational to Delaware\u2019s economy and remains the state\u2019s leading industry, supporting thousands of jobs and contributing significantly to the state\u2019s economic vitality. The discussion focused on a range of priorities including the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, strategies to boost Delaware\u2019s agricultural economy, and policies to support the next generation of farmers. Attendees highlighted the economic pressures, including inflation, overproduction in grain markets, tariffs, and rising input costs\u2014including fertilizer and insurance.\n\nWorkforce challenges were also an area of concern, with farmers citing labor shortages and the need to invigorate vocational training and agricultural education pipelines. Participants also touched on the impact of environmental issues, specifically extreme weather and the threat of avian flu, both of which threaten long-term sustainability.\n\nIn discussing the Farm Bill reauthorization, Rep. McBride reaffirmed her commitment to continuing congressional bipartisanship and close collaboration with Delaware\u2019s agricultural community to ensure federal policies reflect the needs of local farmers and producers.\n\n\u201cDurable agricultural policy requires balancing priorities and finding pragmatic, bipartisan solutions,\u201d McBride said. \u201cToday\u2019s conversation reminded me how deeply personal this work is, and I am proud to bring their perspectives with me to Washington.\u201d\n\nThroughout her time in Congress, Rep. McBride has championed policies to support Delaware\u2019s agricultural sector. In 2025, she introduced the bipartisan SAVE Our Poultry Act, legislation aimed at protecting poultry producers and strengthening biosecurity\u2014a key priority for Delaware\u2019s poultry production.\n\nParticipants included representatives and leaders from the Delaware Department of Agriculture, Delaware Farm Bureau, Farm Journal Foundation, Delaware Department of Agriculture, University of Delaware, Corteva Agriscience, New Castle Conservation District, Delaware Standardbred Owners Association, Inc., Remembrance Farm, Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, Delaware State University, Food Bank of Delaware, Little Wagon Produce, The Delmarva Farmer, and the Delmarva Chicken Association.\n\nMcBride was also joined by several members of the Delaware General Assembly including State Representatives Claire Snyder-Hall, Alonna Berry, and Lyndon Yearick as well as State Senators Russ Huxtable, Kyra Hoffner, and Dave Wilson.\n\n\u201cDelaware farmers are innovators, small business owners, and the heart of our communities,\u201d continued Rep. McBride. \u201cAt a time when farmers are facing real economic, workforce, technological, and environmental challenges, it\u2019s critical that their voices shape the decisions we make in Washington. Strengthening our ag economy, supporting family farms, and ensuring the next generation can continue this proud tradition is essential to Delaware\u2019s future. Today\u2019s summit represents an important step in centering perspectives from up and down the First State.\u201d\n\nPhotos from the Ag Summit can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://mcbride.house.gov/media/press-releases/photo-release-rep-mcbride-hosts-inaugural-agriculture-summit-harrington"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.510850852355361, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}