Source:  House Agriculture Committee, 6/24/10

House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Chairman Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa, today held a hearing to review U.S. farm safety net programs in advance of the 2012 Farm Bill. Today's hearing was the second held by the General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee reviewing the existing commodity programs and looking ahead to the next Farm Bill.
 
"Every farmer needs a banker, a place to sell their product, and a crop insurance agent that is knowledgeable and they trust in order to keep their operations running," Chairman Boswell said. "Last week, much of the hearing focused on the new SRA and I appreciate the opportunity to now hear from commodity groups about how well their producers are able to manage their risk for different crops through the crop insurance program and through the other programs that compose our existing farm safety net."
 
"It was good to hear from farmers from across the nation today, as we continue our series of hearings to review farm policy. As we head into the next Farm Bill, Congress will have to find ways to do more with less available funding. That is why it is important to start our conversations with producers now, so we can develop the most fiscally responsible and effective safety net possible," Subcommittee Ranking Member Jerry Moran, R-Kan. said.
 
Written testimony provided by the witnesses is available on the Committee website: agriculture.house.gov/hearings/index.html.

A full transcript of the hearing will be posted on the Committee website at a later date.
 
Witness List
Panel I
Mr. Philip Nelson, President, Illinois Farm Bureau, on behalf of American Farm Bureau Federation, Seneca, Illinois
Mr. Kent Peppler, President, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, on behalf of the National Farmers Union, Denver, Colorado
Mr. Anthony Bush, Chairman of the Public Policy Action Team, National Corn Growers Association, Mt. Gilead, Ohio
Mr. Dave Henderson, President, National Barley Growers Association, Cut Bank, Montana
Mr. Rob Joslin, President, American Soybean Association, Sidney, Ohio
 
Panel II
Mr. Gary Murphy, Chairman of the Board of Directors, U.S. Rice Producers Association, on behalf of the US Rice Producers Association and USA Rice Federation, Bernie, Missouri
Mr. Gerald Simonsen, Chairman of the Board of Directors, National Sorghum Producers, Ruskin, Nebraska
Mr. Eddie Smith, Chairman, National Cotton Council, Floydada, Texas
Mr. Jim Thompson, Chairman, USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council, Farmington, Washington
Mr. Erik Younggren, Second Vice President, National Association of Wheat Growers, Hallock, Minnesota