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Colorado Hosts Important Farm Bill Field Hearing
BRIGHTON, CO
– Today, Colorado hosts a field hearing on
the upcoming reauthorization of the Farm Bill by Congress, the first hearing
this year on the Farm Bill outside of Washington,
D.C. Agriculture, energy
and other experts representing Colorado
farmers, ranchers and rural residents testified today at a hearing at the
Adams County Fairgrounds. In a press conference preceding today’s
hearing, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA), Senator Ken
Salazar (D-CO), and Colorado Governor Bill Ritter discussed the importance of
the Farm Bill and Colorado’s opportunity for input.
“The farm bill is
the single most important piece of legislation for spurring rural
development, economic growth and jobs, and improving the quality of life in
rural communities,” said Chairman Harkin. “All Americans have a stake in this legislation, which is why
views and recommendations from around the country are so critical. I
thank Senator Salazar for inviting me to hold this hearing in Colorado and I look
forward to taking the information learned here back to Congress.”
“Agriculture and
rural communities are the backbone of Colorado
and the Nation. The reauthorization of the Farm Bill will affect tens of
thousands of Coloradans, and this hearing is an important opportunity for
them to have their voices directly heard,” said Senator Salazar. “I
thank Chairman Harkin for giving Colorado
such a high-profile opportunity to help shape America’s food and energy
security for the next five years.”
Governor Ritter thanked Senators Harkin and Salazar for
holding the field hearing in Colorado.
Agriculture is one of the state’s largest economic sectors, generating more
than 16 billion dollars a year and providing more than 100,000 jobs. Ritter
said the Farm Bill and energy title will go a long way toward advancing Colorado’s New Energy
Economy. He also urged lawmakers to include a permanent disaster relief title
in the farm bill to aid southeast Colorado
farmers and ranchers still reeling from this winter’s blizzards. “Despite the best efforts of Sen. Salazar
and others in the Colorado
delegation, we cannot find a disaster relief program that is on the books and
funded,” Ritter said. “Congress
can help creating and funding a permanent, standing disaster title in the Farm
Bill.”
Testifying at today’s hearing at the Adams County Regional Park Fairgrounds were:
- Mr. John Stulp,
farmer, rancher and Commissioner of Agriculture for the State of Colorado;
- Mr. Kent Peppler,
farmer and President of the Rocky Mountain Farmer’s Union;
- Mr. Alan Welp,
sugar beet grower and State
Director of the Colorado Sugar Beet Growers;
- Mr. Dusty Tallman, farmer and
President of the Colorado Association of Wheat Growers;
- Dr. Gary Peterson, professor and
head of the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Colorado State
University in Fort Collins;
- Mr. Alan Foutz,
farmer and President of the Colorado Farm Bureau;
- Mr. Roger Mix farmer and
representative of the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee;
- Mr. Randy Loutzenhiser
farmer and past President of the Colorado Association of Conservation
Districts;
- Mr. Terry Frankhauser,
Executive Director of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association;
- Mr. Doug Zalesky,
rancher and President of the Colorado Independent CattleGrowers
Association; and
- Ms. Kathy White, Incoming
President of the Colorado
Anti-Hunger Network.
Earlier this year, Senator Salazar invited Chairman Harkin
to hold an Agriculture Committee field-hearing on the 2007 farm bill in Colorado to highlight the issues most important to Colorado’s
agricultural industries and rural communities. The final 2007 Farm Bill
will be essential to farmers, ranchers and rural communities in Colorado and the
Nation.
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