February 19, 2013 The Honorable Harry Reid The
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture 4350 North Fairfax Drive Suite 910 Arlington, VA Tel: 202-296-9680 | Fax: 703-880-0509 www.nasda.org
February 19, 2013 The Honorable Harry Reid United States Senate S-221, US Capitol Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Mitch McConnell United States Senate S-230, US Capitol Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable John Boehner United States House of Representatives H-232, US Capitol Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi United States House of Representatives H-204, US Capitol Washington, DC 20515
Dear Majority Leader Reid, Speaker Boehner, Leader McConnell, and Leader Pelosi: The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) urges Congress to swiftly pass a full five-year Farm Bill. NASDA members are the chief state agriculture officials from every region of the country and are keenly aware of the significant challenges facing America’s farmers and ranchers. This month, as NASDA members gathered in Washington for our Winter Policy Conference, the urgent need for Congress to pass a five-year Farm Bill was crystal clear. From the farmers and ranchers who are struggling through disastrous drought, to those facing increasing challenges in the dairy industry, agricultural producers nationwide need certainty about national agricultural policy. While Congress extended a number of Farm Bill programs for the remainder of this fiscal year, a number of very important programs had their funding eliminated. Instead, a comprehensive, longterm Farm Bill that builds upon the work of the Senate and House Agriculture Committee last year is vital. NASDA specifically urges Congress to swiftly enact a long-term Farm Bill that:
Maintains a robust and flexible Specialty Crop Block Grants Program Fully funds and enhances coordination of invasive species programs Invests in locally driven, flexible and efficient conservation programs Supports the Market Access Program (MAP) and trade development programs Ensures administrative funding for cooperative programs Protects investments in critical research activities Provides a viable safety net for dairy producers
Without a long-term Farm Bill, farmers will face significant challenges securing financing, vital safety-net programs for dairy producers will lapse, livestock producers in drought-stricken regions
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of the country will be left without important disaster assistance, and important export promotion programs will be frozen. The uncertainty facing our farmers, ranchers and rural economies compels swift and decisive action by Congress to pass a long-term Farm Bill. We stand ready to work with you to ensure America’s agricultural economy remains strong. Sincerely,
Steve Troxler NASDA President Commissioner, North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
CC: Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Chairman Frank Lucas, House Committee on Agriculture Ranking Member Thad Cochran, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Ranking Member Collin Peterson, House Committee on Agriculture
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February 19, 2013 The Honorable Harry Reid United States Senate S-221, US Capitol Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Mitch McConnell United States Senate S-230, US Capitol Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable John Boehner United States House of Representatives H-232, US Capitol Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi United States House of Representatives H-204, US Capitol Washington, DC 20515
Dear Majority Leader Reid, Speaker Boehner, Leader McConnell, and Leader Pelosi: The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) urges Congress to swiftly pass a full five-year Farm Bill. NASDA members are the chief state agriculture officials from every region of the country and are keenly aware of the significant challenges facing America’s farmers and ranchers. This month, as NASDA members gathered in Washington for our Winter Policy Conference, the urgent need for Congress to pass a five-year Farm Bill was crystal clear. From the farmers and ranchers who are struggling through disastrous drought, to those facing increasing challenges in the dairy industry, agricultural producers nationwide need certainty about national agricultural policy. While Congress extended a number of Farm Bill programs for the remainder of this fiscal year, a number of very important programs had their funding eliminated. Instead, a comprehensive, longterm Farm Bill that builds upon the work of the Senate and House Agriculture Committee last year is vital. NASDA specifically urges Congress to swiftly enact a long-term Farm Bill that:
Maintains a robust and flexible Specialty Crop Block Grants Program Fully funds and enhances coordination of invasive species programs Invests in locally driven, flexible and efficient conservation programs Supports the Market Access Program (MAP) and trade development programs Ensures administrative funding for cooperative programs Protects investments in critical research activities Provides a viable safety net for dairy producers
Without a long-term Farm Bill, farmers will face significant challenges securing financing, vital safety-net programs for dairy producers will lapse, livestock producers in drought-stricken regions
Page 1 of 2
of the country will be left without important disaster assistance, and important export promotion programs will be frozen. The uncertainty facing our farmers, ranchers and rural economies compels swift and decisive action by Congress to pass a long-term Farm Bill. We stand ready to work with you to ensure America’s agricultural economy remains strong. Sincerely,
Steve Troxler NASDA President Commissioner, North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
CC: Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Chairman Frank Lucas, House Committee on Agriculture Ranking Member Thad Cochran, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Ranking Member Collin Peterson, House Committee on Agriculture
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