WASHINGTON, D.C.-Ralph Child, owner of Childstock Farms in Malone, N.Y., will highlight the priorities of specialty crop producers during a 2012 Farm Bill field hearing, to be held tomorrow in Saranac Lake, N.Y. The hearing, conducted by the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, is the first of only four field hearings scheduled around the country focused on the federal Farm Bill.
Child is a member and past president of the Empire State Potato Growers and current member of the National Potato Council's Board of Directors. Since the specialty crop industry makes up nearly 50 percent of all U.S. farm gate value for plant agriculture, the industry is working with Congress to build on its previous investments in specialty crops in the 2008 Farm Bill. These investments include: funding for early detection and monitoring of pests; funding for state specialty crop block grants; and funding for the Specialty Crop Research Initiative.
WHAT: U.S. House Agriculture Committee 2012 Farm Bill Field Hearing
WHEN: Friday, March 9, 2012; 9 a.m. EST
WHERE: North Country Community College, Sparks Athletic Complex 23, Santanoni Ave., Saranac Lake, NY 12983
For those who cannot attend the hearings, the House Agriculture Committee will stream the hearing online at: http://agriculture.house.gov/singlepages.aspx?NewsID=70&LSBID=71|72|73.