MORROW, Ga. - Today, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson held a field hearing in Morrow, Ga., to review U.S. agriculture policy as the Committee begins the process of writing the 2012 Farm Bill. This is the fifth in a series of hearings scheduled across the country to consider new ideas regarding Federal food and farm policy. Nine Members of Congress attended today’s hearing and heard testimony from eleven witnesses on a variety of farm policy issues.
“Georgia’s diverse agriculture producers and the state’s great history of agricultural research and innovation provide important insights that will help the House Agriculture Committee as we prepare to write the next Farm Bill," Chairman Peterson said. “Understanding the challenges and opportunities facing Georgia farmers is important as we consider the future of U.S. agriculture policy."
According to U.S Department of Agriculture statistics, Georgia ranks first in the nation for poultry and egg production and fourth in cotton and cottonseed production.More than 540,000 acres of land in Georgia are enrolled in USDA conservation programs.
Approximately 75 members of the community attended the hearing, including local agriculture producers and leaders. House Agriculture Committee Members attending the hearing included: Chairman Peterson; Congressman David Scott of Georgia, who serves as Chairman of the Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry; Congressman Jim Marshall of Georgia; Congressman Bobby Bright of Alabama; 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 Adrian Smith of Nebraska, and Congressman Glenn Thompson of Pennsylvania. Congressman Sanford Bishop of Georgia, who serves on the House Appropriations Committee also attended the hearing.
“I’m delighted to host the Agriculture Committee here in my district in Morrow. Agriculture is the backbone of Georgia’s economy, and this hearing will give Georgia’s farmers a chance to not only showcase their great work, but also to discuss how the policies we make up in Washington affect their day-to-day operations," Congressman Scott said. “Moreover our state is at the cutting edge of improving our nation’s food safety systems. So, Chairman Peterson’s decision to bring the Agriculture Committee to Georgia will provide a wonderful opportunity to highlight the efforts of UGA, Georgia Tech and the CDC to keep our food supply safe."
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.
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://democrats-agriculture.house.gov/Eupdates/updates.html.
Witness List:
Panel I
Dr. Scott Angle, Dean and Director, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
Dr. Mark Latimore Jr., Interim Dean of the College of Agriculture, Home Economic and Applied Programs, Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, Georgia
Mr. Gary McMurray, Chief, Food Processing and Technology Division, Georgia Tech Research Institute, Atlanta, Georgia
Mr. Robert Farris, Director, Georgia Forestry Commission, Dry Branch, Georgia
Panel II
Mr. Andy Bell, cotton, peanut, corn and cattle producer, Climax, Georgia
Mr. Vincent Duval, cattle and poultry producer, Macon, Georgia
Mr. Ronnie Lee, cotton producer, Bronwood, Georgia
Mr. Richard Minor, fruit and vegetable producer, Andersonville, Georgia
Mr. Armond Morris, peanut producer, Ocilla, Georgia
Mr. Hilton Segler, pecan producer, Albany, Georgia
Mr. Ricky Williams, dairy producer, Baxley, Georgia
Source: House Committee on Agriculture
