SECRETARY KAWAMURA ANNOUNCES FARM BILL LISTENING SESSIONS

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SACRAMENTO, June 22, 2006 – California Department of Food and Agriculture, Secretary A.G. Kawamura has announced the locations of four scheduled listening sessions to seek public input on the 2007 farm bill. The listening sessions will be held throughout the state and will provide individuals and organizations interested in the farm bill the opportunity to provide comments to state officials and elected representatives.

Those interested in attending the listening sessions are asked to register on CDFA’s farm bill website at www.cdfa.ca.gov.

Covering such issues as energy, nutrition, conservation, rural development, specialty crops and research - the farm bill is omnibus multi-year legislation for major food and farm programs. Domestic assistance programs (food stamps) and farm credit are a few of the funding areas provided under this legislation. The current farm bill, the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, will expire in 2007, necessitating action by Congress.

The public input provided at California’s Farm Bill Listening Sessions will be considered for inclusion within the state’s recommendations on the 2007 farm bill.

California Farm Bill Listening Sessions schedule:

July 6, 2006 - Salinas, 1:00 p.m.

Monterey County Agricultural Commissioners Office

1428 Abbott Street

Salinas, CA 93901

Energy, conservation and specialty crops

 

July 12, 2006 - Los Angeles, 10:00 a.m.

Los Angeles County Department of Agricultural Weights and Measures

12300 Lower Azusa Road

Arcadia, CA 91006

Conservation and specialty crops

 

 July 17, 2006 - Fresno, 1:00 p.m.

Fresno County Farm Bureau

1274 West Hedges

Fresno, CA 93728

Commodity programs, conservation, energy and rural development

 

August 1, 2006 - Sacramento, 1:00 p.m.

California Department of Food and Agriculture

1220 N Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

All Farm Bill titles

If you wish to submit comments or position papers regarding a California perspective on the 2007 farm bill please email farmbill@cdfa.ca.gov Comments may also be submitted to: California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1220 N Street, Suite 214, Sacramento, CA, 95814.

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