releaseno.0429.05.docVIP

Release No. 0429.05 USDA Press Office 202-720-4623 of Ohio Farm Bill Forum with Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and Moderator Andy Vance with WRFD Radio Farm Science Review London, Ohio - September 20, 2005 MODERATOR ANDY VANCE: [In progress] -- Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns and his team at USDA have been conducting a national tour of Farm Bill forums. This marks about number 22 or 23 on the list. Number 15 for Secretary Johanns. And these forums, as I’ve been watching the stories come back in from the field and hearing some of my colleagues in the radio business comment on what they have heard from the field, it’s been very interesting to find out what the Farm Bill means to so many different facets of our industry. We know our own portion of the industry very well if we’re involved in grain, livestock. We know exactly what the Farm Bill means to our segment of the business. But the Farm Bill is a very, very large document that encompasses so much of the food, fiber, and natural resource industry. That’s why it’s been absolutely critical that the Secretary find out from all different portions of the industry what that Farm Bill means as we go into the 2007 version of the Bill. Of course the 2002 Farm Bill was written many years ago. Now it seems like in agriculture so much has happened and changed in our industry. And as we get ready for the 2007 crop year in that next Farm Bill it’s up to each of us to make sure that USDA and, more importantly, our members of Congress know what it is we need in the next piece of farm legislation. The Secretary has undertaken this national listening tour to find out exactly what’s on your minds and on your hearts in production agriculture. And we just thank the Secretary for joining us here at the Farm Science Review and for Dr. Moser and Chuck Gamble and the team of Farm Science Review here for hosting such a wonderful event. Right now we welcome the color guard. Today our colors are