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News from Rep. Stephanie Herseth
For Immediate Release
Contact: Russ Levsen, 202-226-4449

HERSETH TO HOST FARM BILL FIELD HEARING IN WALL ON JULY 31

Encourages Producers to Offer Concerns and Suggestions for 2007 Farm Bill

July 13, 2006, Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth today announced that she will host a field hearing in Wall, SD on July 31, 2006 to gather input from South Dakotans on the 2007 Farm Bill. As Congress begins to consider the scope and contours of the 2007 Farm Bill, this official hearing of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management will help ensure that the views of South Dakota producers are heard. South Dakota producers and industry experts will testify, and the general public is welcome to attend.

Herseth said, "This field hearing will be an excellent opportunity for South Dakotans to directly make their voices heard, particularly with a focus on our livestock industry in western South Dakota."

The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:30am at the Wall High School Auditorium, 401 South Boulevard West. Herseth will be joined by Rep. Jerry Moran (R-KS), who is Chairman of Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management. Additional members of Congress from the Agriculture Committee may also attend.

Herseth also announced that she will attend two additional field hearings, in Staunton, VA on July 17th and Marshall, MN, on July 22nd to discuss the 2007 Farm Bill. She is encouraging South Dakotans to contact her to provide input as the bill takes shape over the coming weeks and months. South Dakotans can register their input in two ways, either by visiting www.house.gov/herseth and filling out an online form, or calling Herseth's toll-free line: (866) 371-8747.

Herseth said, "I hope many South Dakotans will be able to join me and other members of the House Agriculture Committee in Marshall, MN or Wall, SD later this month. But because I know that may not be possible for many folks, I want to make it as easy as possible for them to have input through my web site and through this toll-free line."

The 2002 Farm Bill is set to expire in 2007. In the 2002 Farm Bill, Congress significantly improved the safety net for family farmers and ranchers over what the 1996 "Freedom to Farm" bill had created. The 2002 bill increased funding authorization for important conservation programs, included an energy title for the first time, and authorized a number of programs to help grow rural economies. Herseth added, "Given the realities of the federal budget, and a growing antipathy by some in Washington towards farm programs, we'll have our work cut out for us as we work to craft a fair farm bill that does right by South Dakota producers, rural families and communities."

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