Agricultural News
USDA Hosts Farm Bill Implementation Listening Session for Public Input - Here's How to Get Involved
Fri, 22 Feb 2019 14:53:55 CST
Stakeholders in Oklahoma will have the opportunity to participate in a USDA listening session to gather public input on changes to existing programs implemented by the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Risk Management Agency under the 2018 Farm Bill. This listening session, announced Friday by U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey, will happen Feb. 26, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. (EST) in the Jefferson Auditorium in the South Building located at 14th Street and Independence Ave. S.W. in Washington, D.C. Each aforementioned agency is required to take into account stakeholder input when making discretionary decisions on program implementation.
Oklahoma Farm Services Agency State Executive Director Scott Biggs is inviting USDA stakeholders and partners here in the state to participate in this listening session, by joining him and Oklahoma Ag Committee Chairmen Casey Murdock and Dale Kerbes at the State Capitol on Tuesday, February 26 at 8:00 a.m. (CST) for remote access into this session. If planning to attend, it is requested you RSVP as soon as possible. You can contact Biggs directly to RSVP by email at scott.biggs@ok.usda.gov.
"The 2018 Farm Bill is intended to provide support, certainty and stability to our Nation's farmers, ranchers and land stewards by enhancing farm support programs, improving crop insurance, maintaining disaster programs, and promoting and supporting voluntary conservation," said Under Secretary Northey. "We are seeking input from stakeholders on how USDA can streamline and improve program delivery while also enhancing customer service."
The listening session is open to the public. Participants must register at farmers.gov/farmbill by February 22, 2019, to attend the listening session and are encouraged to provide written comments prior to the listening session. For those orally presenting comments at the listening session, written comments are encouraged to be submitted to regulations.gov by February 22, 2019. Additional written comments will be accepted through March 1, 2019. Comments received will be publicly available on www.regulations.gov.
"Truly this is a Farm Bill that improves farm safety net programs, protects federal crop insurance, and preserves strong rural development and research initiatives. At USDA we are eager to hear from our stakeholders on policy recommendations, so we can start working on implementing these important Farm Bill provisions," said Northey
For more information on the listening session visit farmers.gov/farmbill.
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