Jim Costa: “I thank my good friend, Mr. Peterson, for yielding the time, and I thank him for his work, along with Chairman Conaway.…”

“I thank my good friend, Mr. Peterson, for yielding the time, and I thank him for his work, along with Chairman Conaway. And I thank the committee staffs on both sides who have worked so hard and diligently over the last year. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the farm conference committee, I am proud to support this bipartisan farm bill. As a third generation farmer, I have the honor and the privilege of representing one of the largest and most diverse agricultural regions in the country and in the world. California grows about half of our Nation's fruits and vegetables, the largest ag State in the Nation. We are number one in dairy producing, number one in citrus production, grapes and wine products. We are also the largest producer of tree nuts in the world. With over 300 crops, the list goes on and on and on. We are truly blessed in California, so this agricultural legislation is so important. The dairy title, the changes made in it are very helpful. With increased research funding, risk management tools like crop insurance, and trade promotion programs, this bill is not only good for the San Joaquin Valley that I represent in California, but the entire Nation. So we must understand that the conservation programs are also an improvement to help with groundwater sustainability and air quality, which are critical in California.…”