Friday May 24 Ag News

 Latest News and Updates from the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District

Modifications Made to the District’s Cover Crop Program Guidelines
In February, the Lower Elkhorn NRD (LENRD) Board of Directors approved modifications to LENRD Cover Crop Guidelines. Some of the modifications include: increasing the maximum number of acres enrolled from 80 to 160; the minimum contract amount from $200 to $220; and the definition of how to decide who a participant, or operator, is. Exceptions have also been added to the requirement for Cover Crop Seeding each year for up to three consecutive years.

LENRD Board Members Considering Financial Assistance for the City of Wayne Prairie Park Project
Discussions have been ongoing amongst Board members on whether to provide financial support to the City of Wayne for their ongoing Prairie Park Project. Due to the amount of funding requested, $250,000, the Project would be considered a “special project” which is different than a request for funding through LENRD cost-share programs.

The Prairie Park Project is a Community Redevelopment Project which is allowing the City to clean up an old sewage lagoon and turn it into a recreational area with the possibility for the addition of workforce housing in the future. Once completed, the park will be the largest recreational area in City history and connects to a trail system that is already in use. The project will include a lake feature and camper pads as well as native prairie grasses and numerous trees.

The City of Wayne has already put roughly $2.7 million into the project and has received additional assistance from grants, sales taxes, and support from other entities. The LENRD has assisted the City of Wayne with funding in the past for a trail system and a City park through the Urban Recreation Program.

An amended motion to provide $100,000 in support over three years failed at the April 25th Board Meeting. The original motion, to provide $250,000 in support over a three-year term, also failed. The Board discussed establishing a policy, or specific criteria, that requests must meet to receive funding as a special project. Directors asked if the City of Wayne could come back before them with a different proposal to be discussed and voted on.

Policy Now in Place for Inter-District Transfer of Groundwater
In March, Board members approved a policy to approve variance requests for well permits/expansion of acres with an existing well involving inter-district transfers of groundwater. This policy will not only provide consistency in the variance approval process but also encourage collaboration with neighboring NRDs. In order to approve a variance request under this policy, three conditions must be met:
    The applicant is following all rules and regulations of the LENRD.
    When all, or a portion of, the groundwater withdrawn from the proposed/existing well will be used for irrigation in a neighboring NRD, the neighboring District must first grant their approval for the intended use before well operation may begin.
    All new consumptive use associated with the proposed new/existing well will be governed by the rules and regulations of the LENRD.

Lower Elkhorn NRD Groundwater Management Area Rules & Regulations Have Been Amended
After months of discussion and review with the Department of Natural Resources and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, the LENRD Board of Directors approved amendments to the Lower Elkhorn NRD Groundwater Management Area Rules and Regulations. The amendments include modifications to the Phase II, III, and IV Area requirements. A main focus of the change was to modify Rule 17, which currently doesn’t allow for flexibility to add new irrigated acres in the LENRD Quantity Subareas. Additional changes were also made to help better define certain definitions.

Spring 2024 Static Water Level Update
Water Resources Technician, Dallas Dorey, updated Directors on the status of District static water levels this Spring. The Spring measurements provide data of the aquifer’s non-pumping levels. Annual monitoring of water levels is done to see long-term data trends and determine if there are issues with groundwater quantity. Of the 238 wells measured, 33 wells recorded all-time Spring lows and District-wide water levels were down an average of 0.93’. The static water level of 164 wells had declined, 26 remained the same (+/- 0.2’), and 47 were higher than Spring 2023.

LENRD Board of Directors Vote to Move Forward with Settlement
At the Board Meeting on April 25th, Directors approved a motion to move forward with a settlement in the lawsuit with Director Melissa Temple.

Make plans to join us for our Committee of the Whole Meetings held at 7:00p.m. on the second Thursday of the month, and our Board Meetings held at 7:30p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month (except for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays). A meeting calendar can be found on our website at www.lenrd.org.

To learn more about the 12 responsibilities of the Nebraska’s NRDs and how your local District can work with you and your community to protect your natural resources, visit www.lenrd.org and sign up for our monthly emails. The next board of directors meeting will be Thursday, May 23rd at the LENRD office in Norfolk at 7:30 p.m. and on Facebook Live.



Dams Protect Lives and Property During Intense Rainstorms

Amid a series of intense rainstorms, eastern Nebraska faced a deluge that brought up to 10 inches of rain within hours. Thanks to a network of floodwater-reduction dams, lives were saved, and property damage was significantly mitigated.

These dams, built through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in partnership with Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs), proved their worth during this extreme weather event on May 21.

Within the 51,000-acre Bellwood Creek Watershed, 13 dams south of Bellwood, Nebraska, in Butler County, prevented an estimated $1 million in damages to downstream property and infrastructure. The Lower Platte North NRD is responsible for the operation and maintenance of these 13 structures.

Similarly, the 34,000-acre Cottonwood Creek sub-watershed, northwest of Wahoo, Nebraska, in Saunders County, benefitted from 12 dams that prevented an estimated $300,000 in damages. Despite these protective measures, the town of Wahoo still experienced significant flooding. However, the presence of the dams helped reduce the overall impact. The towns of Prague and Malmo also saw benefits from these dams. The Lower Platte North NRD manages these structures.

“While we understand we will never able to control all flooding we are working hard to reduce flooding and flood-related damages throughout our 1 million+ acre district,” said Eric Gottschalk, Lower Platte North NRD general manager.

In the 63,000-acre North Oak sub-watershed, spanning portions of Butler, Saunders and Lancaster Counties, 16 dams prevented an estimated $800,000 in property and infrastructure damage. The towns of Valparaiso and Raymond are located within this watershed. The Lower Platte South NRD oversees the maintenance of these dams.

“NRCS has been a proud partner with Natural Resources Districts by providing technical and financial assistance for over 50 years,” said Nebraska NRCS State Conservationist Rob Lawson. “One of our priorities is assisting local sponsors in identifying and completing floodwater prevention projects to enhance public safety and reduce property damage. The performance of these watersheds structures is a proud accomplishment for NRCS, NRD sponsors, and the stakeholders who implemented this infrastructure.”

Lawson added that many residents within these watersheds or downstream may not realize the existence of these dams, but their value becomes evident during torrential rain events.

Recognizing the ongoing flood risks, the Lower Platte North NRD and NRCS approved the Upper Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan in 2022. This $19.7 million project aims to construct nine floodwater-reduction dams within a 100-square-mile area in the Wahoo Creek Watershed, generally located west of Wahoo, in Saunders County. The plan includes the construction of nine wet dams on sites south of Prague, west of Weston, and west of Wahoo.

“This project provides a critical link in reducing flood damages in the Wahoo Creek Watershed,” Gottschalk said. “After many years of planning, it is satisfying to see all components come together for completion by the end of 2026.”

Since their inception in 1972, Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts have been building and maintaining flood control structures to protect lives, property and the future. NRDs have taken on the operations and maintenance of watershed dams built with federal support from NRCS.

Nebraska’s extensive network of over 700 watershed structures is a critical component of its flood reduction infrastructure. The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) Act, also known as PL-566, authorizes the NRCS to assist local organizations and government units in planning and implementing watershed projects. Nebraska’s NRDs have effectively utilized this federal funding in partnership with NRCS to enhance flood protection across the state.



USDA expands support to herds without H5 detections
Kris Bousquet, NE State Dairy Assoc.

The NSDA has worked with multiple governmental agencies to pre-position personal protective equipment(PPE) in regions where our dairies are located. A big thank you goes out to the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (CS-CASH), Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the University of Nebraska Extension for helping in this effort. This initial offering of PPE will act as a “starter kit” to help your employees become acquainted and properly trained with the equipment to ensure future safety while working with infected animals and potentially infected raw milk. There is enough personal protective equipment for 4 sets per farm and respective agencies will restock as supplies are needed. This equipment is FREE to you and recipients will maintain anonymity. If a farm would like to access PPE for their employees, you may visit the three following locations to receive your allotment.
Madison County Extension Office- 1305 S. 13th St, Norfolk NE 68701
Gage County Extension office – 1115 W Scott St, Beatrice NE 68310
Hall County Extension Office – 3180 US-34, Grand Island, NE68801
 
To stay up to date on the evolving H5N1 issue, please visit the following websites for more information:
Nebraska Department of Agriculture - https://nda.nebraska.gov/animal/diseases/hpai_livestock/index.html
University of Nebraska Dairy Extension - https://dairy.unl.edu/
University of Nebraska “Big Red Biosecurity” - https://bigredbiosecurity.unl.edu/avian-influenza
National Milk Producers Federation - https://www.nmpf.org/resources/hpai



USDA Expands Support for Producers to Stop the Spread of H5N1 in Dairy Cattle

Since the detection of H5N1 in dairy cattle in March, USDA has worked swiftly and diligently to assess the prevalence of the virus in U.S. dairy herds and to use the latest scientific data to learn about the virus and to quickly contain the disease event. As part of this multifaceted approach, on May 10, USDA announced several financial assistance options for producers with affected herds.

USDA is announcing the expansion of some of these support options to include dairy producers whose herds have not tested positive for H5N1. USDA listened to feedback from state partners and industry stakeholders and is building on the Federal Order addressing pre-movement testing by further equipping producers with tools they can use to keep their herds and workers healthy and reduce risk of the virus spreading to additional herds. These financial tools include:

Support biosecurity planning and implementation. USDA will now provide financial support (up to $1,500 per premises) to any producer to develop and implement a biosecurity plan based on existing secure milk supply plans. This includes recommended enhanced biosecurity for individuals that frequently move between dairy farms – milk haulers, veterinarians, feed trucks, AI technicians, etc. In addition, USDA will provide a $100 payment to producers who purchase and use an in-line sampler for their milk system.

Reimburse producers for veterinary costs associated with sample collection for H5N1 testing. USDA is supporting producers by covering fees for veterinarians to collect samples for H5N1 testing. Veterinary sample collection costs are eligible to be covered from April 29, 2024 (the date the Federal Order went into effect), up to $2,000 per premises.

Offset shipping costs for influenza A testing at laboratories in the National Animal Health Laboratory Network. USDA will pay for the cost of shipping samples to NAHLN labs for testing, not to exceed $50 per shipment for up to 2 shipments per month for each premises. USDA is already providing no-cost testing at NAHLN laboratories for samples associated with this event (e.g., pre-movement, testing of sick/suspect animals, samples from concerned producers).

Interested producers should contact the APHIS Area Veterinarian in Charge (AVIC) to enroll.

For those producers with H5N1 affected herds, USDA is announcing additional details about how farmers will be compensated for the milk their cows do not produce because of illness.

Compensate producers for loss of milk production. USDA will soon issue a rule making funding available from the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) to compensate eligible producers with positive herds who experience loss of milk production. While dairy cows that have been infected with H5N1 generally recover well, and there is little mortality associated with the disease, it does dramatically limit milk production, causing economic losses for producers with affected premises. USDA can support farmers with the ELAP program to offset some of these losses. USDA anticipates that its forthcoming rule will specify that farmers will receive payments at 90 percent of lost production per cow, for a set period of time retroactive to the date of the confirmation of their positive herd status, starting with the first herd that tested positive in March 2024.

The U.S. government is addressing this situation with urgency and through a whole-of-government approach. USDA is working closely with federal partners at FDA, which has the primary responsibility for the safety of milk and dairy products, by assisting with conducting pasteurization testing at USDA labs. USDA is also working closely with federal partners at CDC, which has the primary responsibility for public health, by encouraging producer and industry cooperation with public health officials to get vital information necessary to assess the level of risk to human health.

To learn more about USDA’s response to H5N1 in dairy cattle, visit https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock.   



Nebraska Governor Pillen Wins 2024 America's Fuel Award

Growth Energy, the nation's largest biofuel trade association, presented Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen (R) with its highest honor—the America's Fuel Award—this week, in recognition of his commitment to American bioethanol and his efforts to make Nebraska's biofuels industry among the strongest in the nation.
 
"Nearly one year ago, Governor Jim Pillen led the charge to pass the E15 Access Standard Act, and then signed it into law…thanks to his effort and leadership, Nebraska drivers will soon have expanded access to E15 through this landmark legislation," said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor as she presented the award to Gov. Pillen at an event in Lincoln earlier this week. "Governor Pillen knows firsthand the positive impact this will have on Nebraska’s farmers and biofuel producers, and we are grateful for his tremendous leadership and his work with the legislature to get this across the finish line."
 
"With Governor Pillen at the helm, Nebraska is blazing a trail for biofuels, and we hope other states will follow his example," she added.
 
America’s Fuel Award is presented to an individual who has gone above and beyond the call of duty as a champion for the renewable fuels industry. Past winners of America’s Fuel Award include Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, former Iowa Governor and U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad, retired four-star General Wesley Clark, and Richard Childress of Richard Childress Racing.



Tech Hub LIVE 2024: Premier Event for Advancing Tech-Enabled Agriculture

Tech-Driven. Customer-Focused. Smart Solutions for Modern Agriculture. The much anticipated Tech Hub LIVE Conference and Expo, powered by CropLife Media Group®, taking place  July 29-31, 2024, at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. This premier event promises to deliver an innovative and forward-looking experience for all participants, emphasizing the latest tech-enabled solutions for the agriculture industry.

Tech Hub LIVE is recognized as the leading event for advancing data-driven agriculture, attracting a diverse group of stakeholders, including ag retailers, distributors, consultants, manufacturers, and other key players in the ag supply chain. The event provides a platform for professionals to explore and leverage the latest technological innovations, ensuring practical business advantages on the farm.

Tech Hub LIVE offers an expansive range of features encompassing all segments of data-driven agriculture. Attendees will benefit from engaging sessions, roundtable discussions, keynote addresses, and an extensive expo hall showcasing cutting-edge technologies. The event is designed to foster collaboration and innovation, providing critical insights and practical solutions to advance the food value chain.

Key Features of Tech Hub LIVE 2024:
    Women in Ag Tech@ Tech Hub LIVE: A pre-conference opportunity to connect and engage with leading women in the ag tech industry

    Welcome Party: Kick off the event with a Top Gun-themed networking event on the evening of July 29th. Enjoy food, drinks, music, and games while meeting up with your industry friends!

    Keynote Address: Hear from Ted McKinney, Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), who will share insights on the future of agriculture.

    Roundtable Discussions: Join subject matter experts for facilitated discussions on various topics, including in-field ag tech tools, weed management technology, and AI-driven strategies for agri-food supply chain success.

    Expo Hall: Explore the latest innovations and technologies from leading ag tech companies and organizations.

Powered by CropLife Media Group®, the nation's leading voice for the ag retail industry, in collaboration with the Global Ag Tech InitiativeSM and AgriBusiness Global brands, along with our partners Ever.Ag, Greater Des Moines Partnership, and Telus Agriculture, and supporting organizations Agricultural Retailers Association, AgGateway, FIRA 2024, and AgriBusiness Association of Iowa, Tech Hub LIVE is designed to foster collaboration and innovation, providing valuable insights and practical solutions to advance agribusiness.

For more information and to register, visit Tech Hub LIVE https://techhublive.com/.



Biden-Harris Administration Invests in Domestic Fertilizer Projects to Strengthen American Farms and Businesses

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is investing in domestic fertilizer projects to strengthen competition for U.S. farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers.

This funding advances President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to grow the nation’s economy from the middle out and bottom up. It will create jobs and spur economic growth in rural communities by increasing competition in agricultural markets. Through these projects, President Biden is delivering on promises he made two years ago when he visited rural Illinois to announce the doubling of funding available through the Fertilizer Production and Expansion Program (FPEP).

“The Biden-Harris Administration and USDA are committed to bolstering the economy and increasing competition for our nation’s farmers, ranchers and small business owners,” Secretary Vilsack said. “The investments announced today, made possible through the Commodity Credit Corporation, will increase domestic fertilizer production and strengthen our supply chain, all while creating good-paying jobs that will benefit everyone.”

The Department is awarding $83 million in 12 states for projects through the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP). This program provides grants to independent business owners to help them modernize equipment, adopt new technologies, build production plants and more.

These investments will boost domestic fertilizer production, strengthen competition and lower costs for U.S. farmers. The projects will also help U.S. farmers increase independent, domestic fertilizer production. For example:
    In California, 4420 Serrano Drive LLC will use a $25 million grant to build and equip a food waste upcycling facility in Jurupa Valley. The facility uses insects to recycle food waste into an organic nutrient fertilizer. Through this funding, the facility is expected to produce 11,400 tons annually, which will provide domestic fertilizer for approximately 90 producers in the region.
    In Florida, Cog Marketers LTD, which also does business as AgroLiquid, will use a $4 million grant to build and equip a manufacturing facility in Lake City. The facility is expected to produce 2 million gallons of fertilizer components annually, which will provide domestic fertilizer to more than 200 independent retailers in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina.
    In Iowa, Return LLC will use $4 million to expand its current facility in Northwood. This investment will improve existing infrastructure and purchase equipment for manufacturing and transporting materials. The funding will help accelerate growth in domestic fertilizer production and provide support to farmers and their communities.

USDA is making awards to facilities in California, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon and Washington.

To date, USDA has invested $251 million in 57 projects across 29 states through FPEP.



USDA April Livestock Slaughter

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.64 billion pounds in April, up 10 percent from the 4.20 billion pounds produced in April 2023.

Beef production, at 2.30 billion pounds, was 11 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.73 million head, up 7 percent from April 2023. The average live weight was up 41 pounds from the previous year, at 1,395 pounds.

Veal production totaled 3.5 million pounds, 2 percent below April a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 17,500 head, down 20 percent from April 2023. The average live weight was up 59 pounds from last year, at 338 pounds.

Pork production totaled 2.32 billion pounds, up 9 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.7 million head, up 10 percent from April 2023. The average live weight was down 1 pound from the previous year, at 290 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 11.4 million pounds, was up 4 percent from April 2023. Sheep slaughter totaled 188,800 head, 2 percent above last year. The average live weight was 119 pounds, up 2 pounds from April a year ago.

By State         (million lbs  -  % April '23)
Nebraska ....:     661.0            116       
Iowa ...........:    774.4            111       
Kansas ........:     509.7            113       

January to April 2024 commercial red meat production was 18.3 billion pounds, up 1 percent from 2023. Accumulated beef production was down slightly from last year, veal was down 9 percent, pork was up 2 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was up 2 percent.



Pork Producers One Step Closer to Certainty as Bipartisan Solution for Prop. 12 Clears House Agriculture Committee
 
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) is pleased to announce the U.S. House Agriculture Committee has passed their 2024 Farm Bill, which supported all of producer’s farm bill requests, including a  federal fix to the host of Prop. 12 issues plaguing producers and consumers.
 
“The 2024 Farm Bill is a golden opportunity to address a top issue for pork producers across the country – California Prop. 12 – and I’m pleased to see the U.S. House Agriculture Committee seize the opportunity to stop a potential 50-state patchwork of differing on-farm regulations,” said NPPC President Lori Stevermer, a pork producer from Easton, Minn.
 
“At a time when bipartisanship is often a four-letter word in Washington, we applaud the House Agriculture Committee for working together to deliver a farm bill that validates America’s pork producers’ needs.”
 
“We urge the U.S. Senate to follow suit and provide much needed certainty to pork producers and consumers across the country.”
 
A 2018 California ballot initiative, Proposition 12, prohibits the sale of uncooked whole pork meat not produced according to the state’s arbitrary housing dimensions. Recent USDA data indicates price spikes as high as 41% for pork in California since Prop. 12 came into effect.
 
The House Farm Bill also accomplishes 100% of U.S. pork producers’ priorities, including:
 •    Preservation of necessary resources to protect the nation’s food supply through foreign animal disease prevention.
•    Increase in market access programs for U.S. pork.
•    Boost in resources for feral swine eradication to protect the health of our herds.
•    Authorization of the National Detector Dog Training Center, which serves as the first line of defense for early detection at ports of entry.



NCBA Commends House Agriculture Committee for Passing Farm Bill

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) thanked the House Agriculture Committee for passing the next Farm Bill, known as the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024. This Farm Bill includes top priorities for cattle farmers and ranchers including cattle health, voluntary conservation, and food security provisions.
 
“Cattle producers are thankful that the House Agriculture Committee has advanced a Farm Bill that delivers on the needs of rural America,” said NCBA President and Wyoming rancher Mark Eisele. “This Farm Bill protects the cattle industry from foreign animal disease, supports producers’ voluntary conservation efforts, and safeguards our food supply, recognizing that our food security is national security. On behalf of cattle farmers and ranchers across the country, thank you to Chairman Thompson and the House Agriculture Committee for passing this bill. I hope the full House will take the next step and pass this bill soon.”



NMPF Thanks House Agriculture Committee for Farm Bill Progress and Key Dairy Wins

The National Milk Producers Federation thanked members of the House Agriculture Committee for their work to advance a 2024 Farm Bill through Congress this year, with bipartisan approval for a plan introduced by Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson that includes numerous provisions important to dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own.

“We commend Chairman Thompson and committee members from both parties for approving a 2024 House Farm Bill that includes critical dairy priorities that will help support and grow this industry,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF. “We will do whatever we can to work with lawmakers in both chambers on a bipartisan basis to pass a new law as soon as possible, knowing that dairy is well-served by what the House Agriculture Committee approved today.”

Provisions benefiting dairy urged by NMPF are found across the bill’s titles, including ones that:
    Extend the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program through 2029; update production history for participating dairies to be based on the highest production year of 2021, 2022, or 2023; and extend the ability for producers to receive a 25% premium discount for locking five years of coverage;
    Restore the “higher of” Class I mover to reinstate orderly milk marketing and require plant cost studies every two years to provide better data to inform future make allowance conversations, two key components of NMPF’s Federal Milk Marketing Order modernization proposal;
    Support the bipartisan, House-passed Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act to reverse the underconsumption of nutritious milk in our schools;
    Boost funding for critical dairy trade promotion programs and protect the use of common food names worldwide;
    Support voluntary, producer-led conservation programs, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, with dedicated funds for livestock operations and language encouraging states to prioritize methane-reducing practices;
    Improve the certification of Third-Party Service Providers with technical expertise related to conservation planning to better assist producers participating in National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs;
    Continue the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network; and
    Increase funding for animal health initiatives and programs.

Other provisions relevant to dairy include:
    Increasing the DMC Program Tier 1 volume threshold from five million pounds to six million pounds;
    Extending the Dairy Forward Pricing Program, the Dairy Indemnity Program, and the Dairy Promotion and Research Program;
    Directing USDA to collect and publish cost-of-production data for organic milk;
    Raising EQIP conservation funding from $2.4 billion in fiscal year 2025 to $3.25 billion in fiscal year 2029;
    Requiring USDA to create a public process for updating conservation practice standards every five years; and
    Requiring USDA to report to Congress on the department’s preparedness to support livestock and poultry growers facing economic losses in the event of an outbreak of a foreign animal disease.



Statement of NCFC President Chuck Conner on House Farm Bill Mark-up

“(Thursday) evening’s approval of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 by the House Agriculture Committee represents a necessary step forward towards passing a new farm bill by the end of this year. I would like to applaud Chairman Thompson for his leadership on moving this bill forward. We look forward to working with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to build the bipartisan support that will be needed to see a farm bill passed through both chambers and signed into law.”