USRoute50.com

(DODGE CITY, KAN.) – Congressman Tim Huelskamp hosted a roundtable with Kansas Agricultural leaders and industry stakeholders on Friday morning at his Dodge City district office. Congressman Huelskamp, a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, hosted the meeting to solicit the input of Kansans on the next farm bill. The Agriculture Committee is expected to begin writing the farm bill this year (2012).

“I wish everyone on the Agriculture Committee – make that everyone in Washington – would have the opportunity to hear what I heard today about how overregulation is killing agriculture,” Congressman Huelskamp said. “Our farmers and ranchers – as well as the energy community – have had enough of the red tape from Washington. Whether it is actual regulation or the mere threat of it, our producers need some regulatory relief and certainty."

“Though there is much to dislike about how Washington treats agriculture, there is a lot of optimism about the future for the farming and ranching industry in America,” Congressman Huelskamp continued. “Our fields have the ability to feed the world – and the more than nine-in-ten consumers who live outside of the U.S. Washington simply needs to let them by expanding trade partnerships across the globe. We had tremendous victories with the Colombia, Korea, and Panama trade agreements; it’s now time to add to the list.”

Quotations from Participants:

Gary Harshberger, Conestoga Energy: "Overregulation of American energy and agriculture is a threat not only to those industries, but to the entire American economy. Something has to be done about the excessive rules and regulations coming out of Washington. If things continue the way they are now, energy is going to become increasingly unaffordable for American families."

Lee Reeve, Lee Reeve Cattle Company: "Agriculture is a vital component of the American economy, and it must be allowed to flourish - free of Washington's control. While we are excited about the new trade opportunities with places like Colombia, Korea, and Panama, there are still more places Kansas producers would like to be able to sell their goods. It is my hope that Congress and the President will be able to advance additional agreements with other nations anxious to buy our safe and affordable products." 

Congressman Huelskamp has introduced the “Freeing Agriculture to Reap More Act” (FARM Act) to address overregulation in agriculture. He introduced his legislation last fall when it was believed that the Super Committee would write the next farm bill – inclusive of $23 billion in reductions – as part of its recommended cuts. The Super Committee failed, and now the Agriculture Committee will have the opportunity to write the farm bill itself. Congressman Huelskamp will advocate the inclusion of regulatory relief, especially the measures included in the FARM Act.

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