Fw: Press Release: House Agriculture Committee Holds Farm Bill FieldHearing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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From: AgPress <AgPress@mail.house.gov>
Date: Tue, 18 May 2010 11:24:48
To: News Distribution<news@aglist.house.gov>
Subject: Press Release: House Agriculture Committee Holds Farm Bill Field
Hearing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
News from the House Agriculture Committee
http://agriculture.house.gov
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Media Contact:
April Slayton (202) 225-6872
April.Slayton@mail.house.gov
House Agriculture Committee Holds Farm Bill Field Hearing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Today, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson held a field hearing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
to review U.S. agriculture policy as the Committee begins the process of writing the 2012 Farm Bill. This is the eighth in a series
of hearings scheduled across the country to consider new ideas regarding Federal food and farm policy. Twelve Members of Congress
attended today's hearing and heard testimony from eleven witnesses on a variety of farm policy issues.
"I am glad that the Agriculture Committee was able to hear from my neighbors in South Dakota about the opportunities and challenges
facing agriculture producers in this part of the country," Chairman Peterson said. "Just as agriculture producers have to adapt to
stay in business, the Farm Bill also has to evolve so it continues to provide a safety net that works in South Dakota and
nationwide."
According to U.S Department of Agriculture statistics, South Dakota ranks fifth in the nation for sheep and goat production as well
as eighth in cattle production. More than 2.3 million acres of land in South Dakota are enrolled in USDA conservation programs.
Approximately 175 members of the community attended the hearing, including local agriculture producers and leaders. Many more
watched the hearing online via a live video feed on the House Agriculture Committee's website. House Agriculture Committee Members
attending the hearing included: Chairman Peterson; Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin of South Dakota; Congressman Timothy Walz
of Minnesota; Congresswoman Betsy Markey of Colorado; Congressman Larry Kissell of North Carolina; Congressman Travis Childers of
Mississippi; Congressman Bob Goodlatte of Virginia who serves as the Ranking Member of the Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on
Conservation, Credit, Energy and Research; Congressman Mike Rogers of Alabama; Congressman Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska who serves
as the Ranking Member of the Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry;
Congressman K. Michael Conaway of Texas who serves as the Ranking Member of the Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Rural
Development, Biotechnology, Specialty Crops and Foreign Agriculture; Congressman Adrian Smith of Nebraska; and Congressman Glenn
Thompson of Pennsylvania.
"Congress passes a new Farm Bill every five years, and it's critical that factors affecting South Dakota are heard and understood as
this legislation is drafted," Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin said. "That's why I'm pleased that the Agriculture Committee
had an opportunity to hear about a diverse range of issues in South Dakota affected by the Farm Bill at today's hearing. I encourage
South Dakotans to continue providing input and look forward to working with my colleagues on the Committee, and the House as a
whole, to draft a Farm Bill that does right by our state's farmers, ranchers and rural communities."
"Economies in the Great Plains have remained stable and relatively healthy during a significant national economic downturn, due
largely to agriculture's influence," Congressman Jeff Fortenberry said. "The Heartland is well positioned to lead our economic
recovery, with specialized opportunities in food and energy production. I was pleased to hear from ag producers today about ways to
craft good farm policies that will shape agricultural opportunity for coming generations of American farmers."
"As we begin our work on the new farm bill, we need to make smarter and better targeted investments that provides a strong safety
net for our producers and fosters a stronger rural economy," Congressman Tim Walz said. "Agriculture is absolutely critical to our
rural economies and communities. Also, as we target the growing national debt we need to make sure that our investments are
producing good outcomes. Today's hearing was focused on hearing what's working well and what we'll need to address as we craft the
next farm bill."
"Agriculture has a role in the economic, social, and environmental outlook of not only our country, but the entire planet. We
should be working to create policies which will strengthen American agriculture and provide long-term stability for our nation's
producers to compete in the international marketplace. Such economic policies will foster sustained growth in rural communities,"
Congressman Adrian Smith said. "My goal for the next Farm Bill is to build on the successes we have heard about in previous field
hearings and to craft policies which will provide long-term stability for our nation's producers."
Written testimony provided by the witnesses is available on the Committee website: http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/index.html.
A full transcript of the hearing will be posted on the Committee website at a later date. To receive updated schedule and news
information from the House Agriculture, please visit the House Committee on Agriculture website to sign up for email updates:
http://agriculture.house.gov/Eupdates/updates.html.
Witness List
Panel I
. Mr. Gary Duffy, corn, soybean, wheat, alfalfa, hog and beef producer, Oldham, South Dakota
. Mr. Rod Gangwish, irrigated corn, soybean producer, Shelton, Nebraska
. Mr. Doug Sombke, corn, wheat, soybean and beef producer, Conde, South Dakota
. Mr. Steve Masat, wheat, corn, soybean, hay, and livestock producer, Redfield, South Dakota
. Mr. Kevin Scott, soybean, corn and hog producer, Valley Springs, South Dakota
. Mr. Matthew Wolle, corn, soybean, and livestock producer, Madelia, Minnesota
. Mr. Scott VanderWal, corn, soybean, small grain, and beef producer, Volga, South Dakota
Panel II
. Mr. David Hallberg, biofuels representative, Omaha, Nebraska
. Dr. Scott Weishaar, biofuels representative, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
. Mr. Jim Nieman, forest product producer, Hulett, Wyoming
. Dr. Kevin Kephart, Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South
Dakota
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The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture web site http://agriculture.house.gov has additional information on this and other subjects.
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