LISTEN: Roberts-Stabenow Farm Bill Press Conference
Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Pat Roberts (R-KS) and ranking member Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) held the first farm bill field hearing on the campus of Kansas State University in Manhattan Thursday afternoon. The hearing is titled “Hearing from the Heartland: Perspectives on the 2018 Farm Bill from Kansas.”
“Together we will blaze a trail for an upcoming farm bill”, Robert said. ?We start the journey to a successful and timely 2018 Farm Bill in the heartland, because that is where it matters most?on our farms, ranches, businesses, and city and county halls across the countryside.”
“Looking back, we had a hard time passing the last farm bill but never lost sight and will continue to support farmers and make sure consumers have access to nutritional food,” Stabenow says. “We must address the needs farmers and others had.” The current farm bill is expected to save $80 million.”
Topics discussed included: dairy challenges, trade, the cattle crisis, crop insurance, low commodity prices and other issues. Watch the hearing here.
Below is a list of people who testified in the hearing.
Panel I:
Mr. David Clawson, the Clawson Ranch Partnership, Plains, Kan., representing Kansas Livestock Association
Mrs. Lynda Foster, Foster Dairy, Fort Scott, Kan., representing Dairy Farmers of America
Mrs. Amy France, France Family Farms, Marienthal, Kan., representing Kansas Farm Bureau.
Mr. Lucas Heinen, Heinen Family Farms, Everest, Kan., representing Kansas Soybean Association.
Mr. Tom Lahey, Tom Lahey Farms, Moscow, Kan., representing Kansas Cotton Association.
Mr. Kent Moore, Moore Farms, Iuka, Kan., representing Kansas Corn Growers Association.
Mr. Cameron Peirce, Peirce Farms, Hutchinson, Kan., representing Kansas Sunflower Commission.
Mr. Michael Springer, Springer Family Foods, LLC, Independence, Kan., representing Kansas Pork Association.
Mr. Kent Winter, Kent Winter Farm, Mt. Hope, Kan., representing Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers.
Mr. Kenneth Wood, Riverside Stock Farm, Inc., Manhattan, Kan., representing Kansas Association of Wheat Growers.
Panel II:
Mr. Shan Hanes, President & CEO, First National Bank of Elkhart, Elkhart, Kan., representing Kansas Bankers Association.
Ms. Catherine Moyer, General Manager, Pioneer Communications, Ulysses, Kan., representing NTCA: The Rural Broadband Association.
Ms. Kathleen O’Brien, General Manager, Nemaha-Marshall Electric Cooperative, Axtell, Kan., representing Kansas Electric Cooperative.
Mrs. Gena Ott, Financial Officer, Frontier Farm Credit, Emporia, Kan., representing Frontier Farm Credit.
Mr. Derek Peine, Chairman of the Board, Renew Kansas, Oakley, Kan., representing Kansas Grain and Feed Association.
Mr. Greg Ruehle, President & CEO, Servi-tech, Inc., Dodge City, Kan., representing Kansas Cooperative Council.
Mr. Clay Scott, Kansas Water Congress, Ulysses, Kan., representing the National Water Resources Association.
Mrs. Cherise Tieben, City Manager, Dodge City, Kan., representing Dodge City.
Senator Stabenow will hold a field hearing in Michigan soon.
