Subcommittee Takes a View from the Barnyard on the Farm Economy
Rep. David Rouzer (NC-7), Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture, held a hearing on the market outlook for the livestock, dairy and poultry sectors. This was the final hearing in the Focus on the Farm Economy series, where each of the six subcommittees examined the growing pressures in rural America from the perspective of their subcommittee. Members heard from a panel of witnesses who highlighted the current conditions farmers and ranchers are facing as well as their concerns with recent and proposed regulations.
“Many farmers and ranchers across rural America are facing significant financial challenges. Producers are experiencing a decrease in commodity prices with no relief in sight, markets are weak, and over the past three years, net farm income has fallen by 56 percent. Farmers are facing razor tight margins, making them even more vulnerable to any additional regulatory burdens. It remains unclear why Secretary Vilsack recently decided to move forward with costly GIPSA regulations, and what we heard today illustrates the disastrous consequences these intrusions will have on livestock markets,” said Subcommittee Chairman Rouzer.
“With the growing stress in farm country, the last thing our producers need are costly new regulations. Nonsensical EPA regulations like those addressing Waters of the United States, or impending USDA rules interfering with the efficiency of livestock markets will have a disastrous effect on markets that are already in a weak state. The committee has explored the broader impacts and sweeping consequences this economic downturn is having on rural America. We must work together to provide our farmers and ranchers with the necessary tools to compete in the global marketplace,” said Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway
Written testimony provided by the witnesses from today’s hearing is linked below. Click here for more information, including Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer’s opening statement and the archived webcast.
Witness List:
Panel I
Dr. David P. Anderson, Professor, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Dr. Scott Brown, Professor, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Mr. John Zimmerman, Northfield, MN, on behalf of National Turkey Federation
Mr. Randy Mooney, Rogersville, MO, on behalf of National Milk Producers Federation
Mr. David Herring, Newton Grove, NC, on behalf of National Pork Producers Council
Mr. Tracy Brunner, Cow Camp Feedyard Inc., Ramona, KS, on behalf of National Cattlemen’s Beef Association