2007 Farm Bill Forum

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Secretary Mike Johanns hosted a public 2007 Farm Bill Forum during the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson on September 12, 2005.

Senator Pat Roberts, Johanns, and Congressman Jerry Moran hosted a press conference before the Farm Bill Listening Forum.

During the listening forum they took note of comments from farmers, ranchers, and other interested residents. Kelley Lenz, WIBW Radio, Topeka, and Larry Steckline, from the Mid-America Ag Network, Wichita, moderated the session.

4-H and FFA members kicked off the forum asking for help to sustain ag education programs at the high school and college level due to the lack of ag teachers and the need of ag scholarships for higher education.

For more than two hours, Kansas citizens stepped to the microphone to offer comments and recommendations for policy to be included in the 2007 Farm Bill. Speakers were asked to address six 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?

Listening sessions are being held across the nation with feedback from participants to be considered as new farm bill policy is being developed.

Go to the USDA Farm Bill Forums website to read more about the forums and to submit comments.