FRESNO, Calif. - Today, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson held a field hearing in Fresno, Calif., to review U.S. agriculture policy as the Committee begins the process of writing the 2012 Farm Bill. This is the third in a series of hearings scheduled across the country to consider new ideas regarding Federal food and farm policy. Seven Members of Congress attended today’s hearing and heard testimony from eleven witnesses on a variety of farm policy issues.
“The size and scope of agriculture in California is unmatched, and the views of farmers and ranchers in California offer an important and diverse set of perspectives that will be very useful as we write the next Farm Bill," Chairman Peterson said. “Capturing the spirit of innovation and excellence that we’ve seen reflected by the witnesses testifying at the hearing today will be an essential as we write the next Farm Bill."
California is the nation’s top agriculture producing state and is the nation’s largest producer of many agricultural products, including fruit, vegetables, nursery crops, milk and other dairy products, grapes and almonds. More than one million acres of land in California are enrolled in USDA conservation programs.
“Agriculture is a major industry in California and today offered Committee members the opportunity to hear input from a variety of producers," said Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Frank Lucas of Oklahoma. “Farm policy plays a vital role in sustaining American agriculture for both our state and national economies. It is important that we understand how the 2008 farm bill programs are working for our producers and what we can do to improve them."
About 160 members of the community attended the hearing, including local agriculture producers and leaders. House Agriculture Committee Members attending the hearing included: Chairman Peterson, Ranking Member Lucas, Congressman Dennis Cardoza of California, who serves as Chairman of the Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture, Congressman Jim Costa of California, and Congressman Walt Minnick of Idaho, and 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 Devin Nunes of California, who serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and House Budget Committee, also attended the hearing.
“The Farm Bill is of the utmost importance to California agriculture interests and to those I represent. I could not be more pleased that we were able to conduct this hearing in the San Joaquin Valley, a region where we grow more than 350 different crops and provide half of our nation’s fruits, vegetables and tree nuts," said Congressman Cardoza. “The information received today will be critical to our efforts as we move forward in developing the 2012 Farm Bill."
“Agriculture is the engine of the San Joaquin Valley’s economy," said Congressman Costa. “Today, the Committee heard firsthand from our farmers, ranchers, and dairymen why the Valley is a leader in providing healthy and nutritious foods for America’s dinner table. The next farm bill must build upon the progress we have made in supplying Valley farmers with the tools to innovate and expand markets, and grow our economy."
Written testimony provided by the witnesses is available on the Committee website: http://democrats-agriculture.house.gov/hearings/index.html. A full transcript of the hearing will be posted on the Committee website at a later date.
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Witness List:
Panel I
Mr. Jamie Bledsoe, dairy producer, Riverdale, California
Mr. Tony Campos, almond producer, sheller and shipper, Caruthers, California
Mr. John Diener, almond, grape, wheat, alfalfa, sugarbeet, tomato and spinach producer, Five Points, California
Mr. Kevin Kester, cattle and grape producer, Parkfield, California
Mr. Jon Reelhorn, nursery plant producer, wholesaler, and retailer, Fresno, California
Mr. Frank Rehermann, rice producer, Live Oak, California
Panel II
Mr. David Roberts, orange, lemon and grapefruit producer, Visalia, California
Mr. Jamie Strachan, vegetable producer and shipper, Salinas, California
Mr. John Teixeira, organic tomato, eggplant, bell pepper, melon and corn producer, Firebaugh, California
Mr. Paul Van Konynenburg, peach, apple, cherry, apricot, almond, and walnut producer, Modesto, California
Mr. Justin Parnagian, peach, nectarine, plum, grape, apricot, and citrus producer, packer and shipper, Fresno, California
Source: House Committee on Agriculture
