Straight Talk With Sam

Straight Talk With Sam

For many Missourians, the farm bill, technically known as "The Agriculture Act," is a life-altering piece of legislation in Congress. This bill guides the agriculture industry through ten years of production. The Farm Bill is up for reauthorization next year, and committee work has already begun.

We did some good things for the Missouri farmers in the last farm bill. I hope that we will use this new farm bill to continue to promote different venues and uses for agriculture products. In addition to renewable fuels, there are still more trade agreements that I think would help the agriculture community in Missouri.

Any trade though has to be fair trade. We cannot get into agreements that put American companies or products at a disadvantage. The more markets we can get our agriculture products through, the better.

We also need to continue programs for our school lunches that promote the use of local agriculture products and good nutrition. I have two reasons to be interested in this. The first is because it promotes agriculture and helps keep our products in demand. The second is because I have three children in public schools who I want to eat well.

America has the safest, most abundant food supply in the world. That didn't just happen, it's because producers like you and I are out there everyday working on a small margin to feed the country.

It is going to be another tough fight and once again we will have to fight to get our share. There will be thorny issues and I will rely on input from Missourians to continue to represent the interests of the farmers in Northwest Missouri.

http://www.house.gov/graves/straighttalk/2006issue31.htm