It has been said that if it takes five weeks to build a barn, a wise carpenter should spend the first three weeks drawing up plans, gathering material and preparing the site.

In Farm Bureau’s mission to advance sound public policy that helps America’s farm and ranch families earn a living from the land, we know essential spadework must be tackled before any nail can be driven and any rafter hoisted into place.

In the vast barnyard of national issues that affect agriculture in one way or another, one structure rises above all others in offering shelter from the storm — the farm bill. As the 2018 farm bill approaches, we have already begun preparations. This barn raising...