Senate Ag to Hold Farm Economy Hearing

Chairman Pat Roberts

The Senate Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing on the farm economy conditions Thursday, May 25th. Announced by leadership of the committee, Senators Pat Roberts, and Debbie Stabenow, the hearing is titled “Examining the Farm Economy: Perspectives on Rural America.” The hearing is recognized as the start of the Senate Agriculture Committee farm bill hearings. It follows two “boots on the ground” field hearings in Kansas and Michigan, according to Chairman Roberts. Ranking Democrat Stabenow says the committee “must understand the current state of the farm and rural economy because our farmers and families are already doing more with less.” Witnesses for the hearing have not been determined but will be announced before the hearing.

From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting news service.

Roberts, Stabenow Announce Hearing on Farm Economy

U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., today announced the Committee will hold a hearing titled, “Examining the Farm Economy: Perspectives on Rural America.”

“This hearing begins the Agriculture Committee’s Farm Bill hearings here in Washington,” said Roberts. “We’ve traveled to Kansas and Michigan to hear perspectives from boots on the ground. Now, as we consider the next Farm Bill, it’s important for our Committee to examine the current economic landscape of farm country. We must remember that the 2014 Farm Bill was written and passed when times were good in farm country. A lot has changed since then, and we have a lot to consider.” 

“In the 2014 Farm Bill, we made responsible, bipartisan reforms that are saving taxpayers billions more than expected,” said Stabenow. “As we look to the next Farm Bill, we must understand the current state of the farm and rural economy because our farmers and families are already doing more with less.”

Date:   Thursday, May 25, 2017

Time:  10:00 a.m.

Place:  328A Russell Senate Office Building

Witnesses will be announced prior to the hearing.

The hearing will be webcast live on ag.senate.gov.