USDA announces latest round of farm bill forums
MORGAN, Minnesota, Aug. 3, 2005: Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced additional listening sessions that will be part of the nationwide farm bill listening tour in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Wyoming. The public is invited to attend the forums to offer comments on farm bill policy.

Johanns and USDA officials will host the following Farm Bill Forums:

  • Aug. 11, 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (CDT), Iowa State Fair, Des Moines, Iowa-Secretary Mike Johanns
  • Aug. 12, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (PDT), Fresno County Fairgrounds, Fresno, Calif.-Secretary Mike Johanns
  • Aug. 16, 9:00 a.m. - 12 noon (EDT), Penn State University's Ag Progress Days, University Park, Penn. - Secretary Mike Johanns
  • Aug. 17, 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (MDT) Jackson Hole, Wyo. - Under Secretary Mark Rey
  • Aug. 18, 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (CDT), Indianapolis, Ind. - Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner

When participating in the forums, the USDA encourages public participants to address one of the following questions.

  1. How should farm policy address any unintended consequences and ensure that such consequences do not discourage new farmers and the next generation of farmers from entering production agriculture?
  2. How should farm policy be designed to maximize U.S. competitiveness and our country's ability to effectively compete in global markets?
  3. How should farm policy be designed to effectively and fairly distribute assistance to producers?
  4. How can farm policy best achieve conservation and environmental goals?
  5. How can Federal rural and farm programs provide effective assistance in rural areas?
  6. How should agricultural product development, marketing and research-related issues be addressed in the next farm bill?

Comments can also be submitted via the USDA Farm Bill Forums website at http://www.usda.gov/farmbill. Forums that will be held across the country. The dates, locations and times of the forums will continue to be announced as they are scheduled and posted on the USDA website.

 
   
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