Farm Forum Highlights Farm Bill Benefits to CT

Press Release

With continued consumer interest in purchasing locally grown food, Members of the Congressional House Delegation participated in a forum with farmers from around the state to discuss Connecticut 's agriculture and efforts to ensure local farms remain strong.

Connecticut is known for its fresh fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, and nursery crops including floraculture. During the Farm Forum, the discussion focused on the recently passed 2008 Farm Bill - which sets the country's agricultural policy through 2012 - and how it will affect Connecticut 's farmers. This bill made important progress on areas of particular interest to Connecticut , including specialty crops and energy and conservation programs.

"We have always had a vibrant agricultural community in Connecticut and it is important to me that we make the investments to support and strengthen our farms, especially at a time with the cost of doing business continues to rise," said Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3). "Congress finally passed a new Farm Bill and I am proud of the work we did. We made a historic commitment to ensuring our local farms are strong by increasing funding for conservation programs, farmers markets and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities, as well as specialty crops - the cornerstone of our agricultural economy."

" Connecticut 's farms and farmers embody both our state's cherished history and a path to more a sustainable future. In order to thrive, our agriculture industry needs the resources that Congresswoman DeLauro fought for in the 2008 farm bill. I'm thrilled to be able to join her today to help Connecticut 's farmers learn how to take advantage of what is available to them," said Congressman Chris Murphy (CT-5).

"The Farm bill is an enormous undertaking and a real legislative achievement. I commend Congresswoman DeLauro for her tireless work on it," said Congressman John B. Larson (CT-1). " Connecticut 's farmers are an integral part of our community and our economy. Take for example, my next door neighbors whose family has been farming the same plot of land since the 1640's. What I hear from them and from farmers across the tate is that the biggest problem they are facing is the same problem plaguing America 's families - high gas and oil prices. Whether it is fueling a tractor or the family car, prices at the pump are making it impossible for businesses and families to make ends meet. A large part of that increase is due to excessive speculation in the unregulated energy futures markets. The farm bill that we passed earlier this year took the first steps to curb this speculation by extending some regulations over exempt markets and increasing penalties for manipulation of the markets. But, more must be done. I am confident that Congress will address this issue in the coming weeks."

"Family farms are at the heart of eastern Connecticut 's heritage and should be provided every opportunity to thrive, which is why I proudly supported the passage of the recent Farm Bill. I am pleased that the Farm bill provides new tools and investments for our food, environmental, and economic security, while also improving nutrition programs in our public schools. The Farm Bill also puts a new emphasis on locally grown products that will help our local farms to grow. I applaud the Democratic Connecticut delegation for supporting this legislation and thank Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro for her leadership in crafting this bill to the benefit of Connecticut 's farmers," said Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2).

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