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U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre: North Carolina agriculture
Story Date: 5/21/2013
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Source: U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre (N.C.-7), 5/20/13
Dear Friends,
Now is a critical time for rural America. In this new Congress we have a renewed opportunity to reauthorize a five-year comprehensive farm bill. Farmers need sound policy in place as they plan and prepare for the future. We must provide farmers with the tools they need to produce the safe and abundant food supply that we all enjoy. This can only be accomplished through reauthorization of the Farm Bill, but it will take all of us working together to complete our work and ensure our investment in American agriculture.
As the 2nd Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee, I worked with my colleagues to approve the 2013 Farm Bill last week. The bill includes key components for North Carolina farmers and our rural communities.
Agribusiness is the most important industry in North Carolina and accounts for one in every five jobs in the state. More than 18 percent of the $400 billion gross state product is contributed by the food, fiber, and forestry industries. Nationally, North Carolina is ranked 8th among the most agriculturally productive states, and 4th among the most agriculturally diverse.
Our congressional district is the most productive agricultural district in our state, and one of the largest agricultural districts in the country, with over $2.5 billion worth of agricultural products sold each year. From row crops to livestock and tobacco to peanuts – we do all types of agriculture in southeastern North Carolina.
Farming is ingrained in the very fabric and history of North Carolina. Crops like tobacco, soybeans, sweet potatoes, and blueberries team up with livestock operations such as poultry, turkeys, and hogs to make North Carolina a powerhouse of agriculture. The industry brings millions in revenue to the state and supports countless families.
For decades, Congress has worked in a bipartisan fashion to craft farm bills that protect and support America’s farmers, strengthen rural development, encourage conservation, and provide nutritional support for the most vulnerable in our society. I am committed to ensuring that the House of Representatives passes a five-year Farm Bill.
Sincerely,
U.S. Congressman Mike McIntyre
Representing the 7th District of North Carolina
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