TROY, Ala. - Today, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson held a field hearing in Troy, Ala., to review U.S. agriculture policy as the Committee begins the process of writing the 2012 Farm Bill. This is the sixth in a series of hearings scheduled across the country to consider new ideas regarding Federal food and farm policy. Six Members of Congress attended today’s hearing and heard testimony from nine witnesses on a variety of farm policy issues.
“Alabama’s agriculture producers have diversified and modernized their operations, and their deep experience in farming has provided the Committee with good perspective about how the Farm Bill is working in the region," Chairman Peterson said. “This dialogue with farmers, ranchers and others who use Farm Bill programs is an important part of our effort to be sure that we write a useful and responsive bill."
According to U.S Department of Agriculture statistics, Alabama ranks fourth in the nation in poultry and egg production as well as sixth in aquaculture products. More than 768,000 acres of land in Alabama are enrolled in USDA conservation programs.
Approximately 150 members of the community attended the hearing, including local agriculture producers and leaders. House Agriculture Committee Members attending the hearing included: Chairman Peterson; 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.
“I would like to thank my colleagues for attending this very important hearing on the Farm Bill," Congressman Bobby Bright said. “The Second District of Alabama’s farmers grow more cotton and peanuts than almost anywhere else in the entire country and produce many other crops and livestock. Since the Farm Bill governs agriculture policy in the United States, it is very important for lawmakers to hear from those whom the bill directly affects. I would also like to thank the witnesses who helped make this hearing a success. I look forward to taking their input into consideration as we begin debate on the reauthorization of the Farm Bill."
“The Farm Bill is vital to our rural and agricultural sectors and I am looking forward to being a part of the Field Hearings across the country and pleased to be co-hosting one in Alabama," said Congressman Mike Rogers. “It should provide important insight we can bring back to Washington as we prepare to write this bill."
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. Andy Bell, cotton, corn, soybean, cattle and hay producer, Tallassee, Alabama
Mr. Ed Esposito, specialty crop, corn and potato producer, Newville, Alabama
Mr. Joe Mencer, rice, cotton, corn, soybeans, and wheat producer, Lake Village, Arkansas
Mr. Carl Sanders, peanut, corn, cotton, and cattle producer, Brundidge, Alabama
Mr. David Waide, corn, soybeans, and rice producer, Jackson, Mississippi
Panel II
Mr. Lamar Dewberry, forestry producer, Lineville, Alabama
Mr. Doug Gibbs, beef producer, Ranburne, Alabama
Dr. Steven Taylor, Professor and Head, Department of Biosystems Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
Mr. Ricky Wiggins, cattle, cotton, and peanuts producer, Andalusia, Alabama
Source: House Committee on Agriculture
