Final answer:
Farmers today can exert influence by blocking unfavorable bills, appealing to public sentiment, and winning court cases. They use collective action and lobbying akin to labor unions to push for their interests.
Step-by-step explanation:
Even though farmers today may struggle with getting Congress to pass legislation in their favor, they maintain influence through various means. Firstly, they can block bills that are against their interests. This often involves lobbying and mobilizing public support to voice opposition to the proposed legislation. Secondly, they can appeal to public sentiment, making their case known to the broader public in order to drum up support for their cause through media campaigns or public demonstrations. Lastly, farmers can influence policy by participating in court cases to challenge laws or regulations that adversely affect their industry. Over time, farming groups have undertaken collective action to lobby for their interests, much like labor unions, and have used protests and other direct actions to draw national attention to their plights, such as those by the Farm Holiday Association. While the tactics have evolved, the underlying strategies of exerting political influence remain similar.