Agricultural News
Farm Groups Confident Senator Debbie Stabenow Will Provide Leadership As New Chair of Senate Ag Committee
Mon, 22 Nov 2010 6:07:41 CST
With the decision on Friday by Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota that he will stay on as the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, the door has opened for Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan to take over the Leadership of the Senate Agriculture, replacing Blanche Lincoln in the new year. Senator Lincoln of Arkansas was defeated in her reelection bid earlier in November.
Several groups have issued statements praising the Senator from Michigan as prepares to take on this role in a two year period where the Agriculture Committees will be writing the next farm bill.
American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman offers his thoughts on Senator Stabenow:
"The American Farm Bureau Federation congratulates Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) for being named chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
"With a proven track record as a proponent of Michigan's agriculture industry, we are confident in Sen. Stabenow's ability to provide leadership on the 2012 farm bill and other important issues related to agriculture and rural communities. Chairwoman Stabenow's committee will play an important role as we look forward to the future of American agriculture."
"Farm Bureau has enjoyed its working relationship in the past with Sen. Stabenow and we look forward to continuing our work together in her new capacity."
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Roger Johnson, President of the National Farmers Union, also has weighed in:
"We look forward to working with Chairwoman Stabenow and the Senate Agriculture Committee, as well as Chairman Lucas and the House Committee on Agriculture," said NFU President Roger Johnson. "Many challenges lie ahead in writing the next farm bill, but both Sen. Stabenow and Rep. Lucas have strong agricultural backgrounds and will be able to handle those difficulties."
The biggest issue facing the 2012 Farm Bill will be funding.
"We are confident that Chairwoman Stabenow will be able work with senators on both sides of the aisle to write a farm bill that is fiscally responsible but still protects farmers and ranchers from economic uncertainty in difficult times," said Johnson. "There are 37 agriculture programs with no funding past 2012. NFU will continue to advocate for the extension of many of these important programs, particularly the fiscally responsible permanent disaster programs that are so critical to the farm safety net."
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