|
The first ever summit for the Chairs of the Agriculture Committees from state legislatures across the nation was held February 14-16 in Dallas,Tx.
Over 100 attended to work on issues of farm profitability and implementation of the 2002 Farm Bill. The Summit was sponsored by the Council of State Governments (CSG), the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) , and the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) with major funding from the Kellogg Foundation.
|
Idaho Representative Douglas R. Jones, U.S. Under-Secretary of Rural Development for the Department of Agriculture Thomas C.Dorr, and Senator Hoffmann. |
Senator Hoffmann led the discussion on the 2002 Farm Bill at a Sunday morning panel session. Conservation and Rural Development highlighted the discussion with a focus on the ways states can access these USDA Programs for maximum benefit. The Summit agenda also included sessions on Farm Security, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, and Water Rights. |
Other speakers included Dr. Mark Drabenstott, Vice President and Director at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and Dr. Otto Doering, Professor of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University. |