Early this month, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson held a field hearing in Nampa, Idaho to review U.S. agriculture policy as the Committee begins the process of writing the 2012 Farm Bill. This is the second 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 ten witnesses on a variety of farm policy issues.
According to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics, Idaho ranks first in the nation among states growing potatoes and second in harvested vegetables for sale. More than 900,000 acres of land in Idaho are enrolled in USDA conservation programs.
About 100 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, Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin of South Dakota, Congressman Jim Costa of California, and Congressman Walt Minnick of Idaho. Congressman Mike Simpson of Idaho, who serves on the House Appropriations Committee, also attended the hearing.
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.