Left to right: Richard Wilkins, Vice President of the American Soybean Association Board; Chip Bowling, National Corn Growers Association Board Member and Fifth District constituent; Steve Wellman, President of the American Soybean Association; Patricia Langenfelder, President of the Maryland Farm Bureau; Congressman Hoyer; Bob Stallman, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation; Erik Younggren, President of the National Association of Wheat Growers; and Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation

WASHINGTON, DC  – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) met with several organizations representing farmers to discuss reauthorization of the 2008 Farm Bill. Leaders and representatives from the American Farm Bureau Federation, Maryland Farm Bureau, American Soybean Association, National Milk Producers Federation, National Corn Growers Association, and National Association of Wheat Growers attended the meeting.

“Today, I met with organizations representing farmers in Maryland and across the country to discuss the need to take action on a long-term reauthorization of the Farm Bill,” stated Congressman Hoyer. “I’m disappointed that House Republicans have not passed a bill to provide certainty to the farming community and American consumers. Not only have they refused to bring their own Farm Bill to the Floor, but they will not take up the Senate’s bill, which reauthorizes the Farm Bill for five years and passed the Senate in June with a strong bipartisan vote. I will continue to urge my colleagues to work together to pass this bipartisan bill, and thank these organizations for their input today.”

“I appreciate Congressman Hoyer taking time to meet with us today to discuss the  importance of getting a Farm Bill passed this year,” stated  Patricia Langenfelder, President of the Maryland Farm Bureau. “It is vitally important to have a long term bill in place to provide certainty to farmers, especially at a time when Maryland farmers are looking to also make significant investments needed to help clean up the Chesapeake Bay.”

“I worked with Congressman Hoyer when Congress passed the Farm Bill in 2008, and I’m pleased to have met with him again as we work to pass a five-year bill this year,” stated Chip Bowling, National Corn Growers Association Board Member, Owner of Bowling Agri-Service, Inc. in Newburg, Maryland, and a Fifth District constituent. “Under his leadership and given his ability to reach across the aisle to make things happen, we hope we can get a bill passed by the end of the year.”   

The 2008 Farm Bill expired on September 31, affecting numerous programs including agricultural conservation, rural development, and dairy and commodity programs. Congressman Hoyer and House Democrats continue to urge House Republicans to take up the Senate bill, which passed with a bipartisan vote of 64-35.