ISAC

Action Needed! County Input Needed on Farm Bill Reauthorization

The 2008 Farm Bill does not expire until 2012, but the debate has already begun and House Agriculture Committee Chairman, Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), is accepting comments through June 14 that will be an official part of the Committee’s Farm Bill field hearing record.  Chairman Peterson held a series of hearings in Washington, D.C. and across the country over the past two months because he believes programs may need changed and he wants plenty of time for a full airing of views. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack testified at the first Farm Bill hearing and expressed the Administration’s commitment to focus on funding regional rural development initiatives in the next Farm Bill, a longstanding NACo priority.  Since then, the field hearings have been almost entirely focused on farm safety net programs, which NACo supports, but other critical county priorities deserve attention as well.  For instance, USDA Rural Development programs assist counties in maintaining and developing the infrastructure necessary for farmers to stay competitive and help counties develop home grown businesses that offer the good paying jobs necessary for any vibrant community.

NACo provided testimony regarding these county priorities in late March.  However, the House Agriculture Committee needs to hear directly from county officials.  The Farm Bill is a massive piece of legislation which authorizes a broad range of programs that are critical to rural counties.  These programs include funding for rural water/wastewater infrastructure, community facilities, broadband expansion, housing, renewable energy, support for new farmers and business development initiatives. 

Action Needed: Urge Members of the House Committee on Agriculture, through their online feedback form, to:

1) Support an enhanced commitment to USDA Rural Development programs in the next farm bill, especially key infrastructure and business development programs that support the agricultural sector and the retention and attraction of new businesses.  USDA Rural Development’s programs for water/wastewater infrastructure, community facilities, broadband and business development are key ingredients for county economic development efforts.  

2) Support the Administration’s proposed Rural Innovation Initiative or similar rural development strategies which focus on making USDA’s investments more efficient and effective by rewarding strategic regional approaches to rural development that allow counties and their regional partners to focus on their local economic assets, priorities and goals.

3) Support enhanced funding for Renewable Energy development, especially programs that assist local governments in their efforts to develop renewable energy and increase energy efficiency.

4) Ensure that all farm programs recognize that youth play a vital role in sustaining American agriculture and rural communities.  New programs and updates to old programs are needed so that it is possible for young and beginning farmers to survive and thrive in the modern agricultural economy.

Comments should be submitted using the House Agriculture Committee’s online feedback form at http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/feedbackform.html (Comments are due by June 14, 2010.)

If you have any questions, please contact Erik Johnston, NACo Associate Legislative Director, or 202.942.4230.