When President Biden took office, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives President Chuck Conner was hopeful the partisan atmosphere in Washington D.C. would improve. Nearly two months later, Congress moved the new COVID relief package through without Republican support. “I’m still trying to remain optimistic. We were encouraged when Tom Vilsack was named agriculture secretary. He has a clear track record of wanting to work with farmers or anyone who wants to help farmers, whether they’re Republican or Democrat,” says Conner. “As we surveyed the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, there seemed to be the tradition of bipartisanship.” There are concerns how partisanship will play into other priorities, including climate change and infrastructure. “Both parties want an infrastructure package, but they aren’t fostering the bipartisanship President Biden campaigned on,” says Jim Wiesemeyer, analyst, Pro Farmer. Hear the story.