Press Releases
Midwest Ag Producers Make Case for an Effective Safety Net at Illinois Field Hearing
Washington, DC,
March 23, 2012
Chairman Frank Lucas continued the House Agriculture Committee's field hearing series in Galesburg, Illinois. It was the second of four hearings to be held across the country throughout March and April to gather input in advance of writing the 2012 Farm Bill.
MEDIA CONTACT: GALESBURG, ILLINOIS – Today, Chairman Frank Lucas continued the House Agriculture Committee's field hearing series in Galesburg, Illinois. It was the second of four hearings to be held across the country throughout March and April to gather input in advance of writing the 2012 Farm Bill. Members took testimony from Midwest producers of corn, rice, soybeans, wheat, sorghum, specialty crops and beef. Witnesses expressed the importance of developing policy that appreciates and recognizes the risks involved with growing food and fiber. They stressed the need for an effective safety net and a choice of risk management tools so farmers can continue to produce a stable food supply and compete in the global marketplace. "The field hearings give Members of this Committee a chance to hear how programs are working for our agricultural producers. There’s no better way to accomplish this than to visit with folks in the countryside. It's important to understand how we can write policy that works for all of agriculture," said Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK). “The Midwest – particularly Illinois’ 17th District – is blessed with some of the most fruitful farmland on Earth, and produces high-quality, affordable food. This field hearing is a wonderful opportunity for our area’s farmers to lay out their priorities for the next Farm Bill to my colleagues on the Agriculture Committee and me. I’d like to extend my thanks to Chairman Lucas and his staff for recognizing the invaluable contributions of our area to America’s food supply, and for including the 17th Congressional District as one of the settings for Farm Bill discussions,” said Rep. Robert T. Schilling (R-IL). Written testimony provided by the witnesses is linked below. Witness List: Panel I Mr. David C. Erickson, corn and soybean producer, Altona, Illinois Mrs. Deborah L. Moore, corn, soybean, and beef producer, Roseville, Illinois Mr. John Mages, corn and soybean producer, Belgrade, Minnesota Mr. Blake Gerard, rice, soybean, wheat, and corn producer, McClure, Illinois Mr. Craig Adams, corn, soybean, wheat, hay, and beef producer, Leesburg, Ohio Panel II Mr. John Williams, sorghum, corn, wheat, and soybean producer, McLeansboro, Illinois Mr. Gary Asay, pork, corn, and soybean producer, Osco, Illinois Mr. Terry Davis, corn and soybean producer, Roseville, Illinois Mr. David W. Howell, corn, soybean, pumpkin, and tomato producer, Middletown, Indiana Ms. Jane A. Weber, specialty crop producer, Bettendorf, Iowa Schedule for future field hearings: ### |