Farm Compliance

Washington, DC - Senator Blanche Lincoln  received the Golden Plow award, the highest honor the American Farm Bureau Federation presents to members of Congress, for her steadfast support of America’s farmers and ranchers during a meeting on Capitol Hill last evening. The Golden Plow was presented to Sen. Lincoln by Arkansas Farm Bureau members who traveled to Washington, D.C., for the special event.

Sen. Lincoln, who has championed agricultural interests in Congress since her election to the House of Representatives as a moderate Blue Dog Democrat in 1992, has deep ties to farming. She hails from a seven-generation Arkansas farm family, and she represents farm and rural interests in the Senate as a member of the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.

When Arkansas Farm Bureau nominated Sen. Lincoln to receive the Golden Plow, it cited her dedication to agriculture and the rural way of life. She “continues to work tirelessly” to create a new farm bill, Arkansas Farm Bureau wrote, and she “has taken upon herself to meet with every Democratic Senator to explain the importance of the U.S. having sound farm policy.” Sen. Lincoln urges her colleagues to support the commodity programs and resist stricter payment limits.

“Her message has been consistent and clear,” regarding the farm bill, Arkansas Farm Bureau wrote. “We cannot and should not make commitments to drastically change our farm programs without a firm commitment that our trading partners will do the same.”

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.). Click on the photo to download a high resolution image.

“It is a real honor and privilege to have been awarded this, and it is a prestigious award,” Sen. Lincoln said on accepting the Golden Plow. “We in Washington know that it doesn’t go to a lot of people. I am enormously grateful. But I don’t accept this award just on my behalf; I accept on behalf of all of you…my Arkansas family.

“The rice farmers have taught me an awful lot about agriculture – not only the details and technical parts of farming, but the sense of pride and commitment that our growers in this country have to not just taking care of your own families and your own land, but knowing that they’re doing so for future generations and that they’re feeding hungry mouths all across the world,” she said.

Sen. Lincoln actively supports a range of Farm Bureau priority issues, and she is a consistent leader on key issues such as those that relate to the environment and permanent repeal of the death tax.

The American Farm Bureau Golden Plow Award. Click on the photo to download a high resolution image.

In addition, Sen. Lincoln represents the interests of her constituents and rural Americans nationwide as a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the Finance Committee and the Special Committee on Aging. On the Finance Committee, she regularly addresses trade issues that affect farmers and ranchers. She has been outspoken in her support for removing the embargo against trade with Cuba, and she supports free trade agreements.

Sen. Lincoln made history when she became the youngest woman ever elected to the Senate at the age of 38 in 1998. She is a native of Helena, Ark., in the Delta.