Agricultural News
From the 2011 Commodity Classic- Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas Opens Their General Session Talking Farm Bill Timeline
Fri, 04 Mar 2011 9:18:36 CST
The new Chairman of the House Ag Committee, Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas, presented his plan for developing the 2012 Farm Bill to attendees at the 2011 Commodity Classic in Tampa, Florida on Friday morning. Congressman Lucas entertained the crowd with a few details of his farm roots- including the chores that he expects to have assigned to him when he arrives home to the farm in Roger Mills County from Florida by his wife, Lynda.
Lucas told the audience that he will chair hearings next week with featured witness Lisa Jackson of the Environmental Protection Agency- saying it would be the first of many oversight hearings as they examined what he calls an "assault on agriculture" that EPA has been conducting. He promises he will ask of Ms. Jackson, are you following the law in promoting all of the many regulations aimed at agriculture?
He also questioned the direction of the USDA, saying that organic and local farmers markets are important- but that should not be centerstage at USDA to the detriment of traditional production agriculture.
He spoke of half of the House Ag Committee as being new to the Committee- and as a result, he believes it will take much of 2011 to get them up to speed to get them on the same page with traditonal production agriculture on key parts of the next bill in the Commodity and Conservation titles. He plans farm bill hearings this fall- anticipating writing a measure early next year.
He concluded his remarks to the group- "we will get a farm bill."
Click on the LISTEN BAR to hear his remarks to the Commodity Classic audience on Friday morning, March 4.
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