SECRETARY KAWAMURA TO JOIN USDA SECRETARY JOHANNS FOR FARM BILL DISCUSSION IN MODESTO, FEBRUARY 1, 2007

Event will profile Bush Administration’s farm bill proposals.

SACRAMENTO, January 30, 2007 – California Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura will join USDA Secretary Mike Johanns in Modesto on Thursday, February 1, 2007 for a discussion on the Bush Administration’s farm bill proposals.  The event will be held from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. at the Stanislaus County Agriculture Center, 3800 Cornucopia Way, Modesto, CA, 95358.

“As the recent freeze has demonstrated, federal assistance is critical to California’s agricultural industry,” said Secretary Kawamura, “The farm bill needs to reflect the reality that the agricultural industry faces and provide our farmers and ranchers the foundation to remain competitive and viable in the 21st century.”

Representatives of California’s $31.8 billion agricultural industry are encouraged to attend this event and learn about the Bush Administration’s farm bill proposals.  Beginning in the summer of 2005, the USDA participated in 52 Farm Bill Forums held across the country to receive input on the 2007 farm bill.  Two USDA Farm Bill Forums occurred in California, in August (Fresno) and October (Oakland) 2005.

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.

Last year, the state of California conducted its own farm bill listening sessions to develop a California proposal on the 2007 farm bill. California’s farm bill listening sessions testimony and submissions are available on the CDFA website at www.cdfa.ca.gov. Transcripts of California’s listening sessions are also posted on the site.

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