Jim Costa

I think that is an irony because when you are producing half the nation's fruits and vegetables yet to be qualified a food desert.

Should the three-legged stool of direct payments, the countercyclical program, and marketing loan assistance be updated to reflect the new trends in prices?

The Central Valley is like a big bowl. Everything that comes in there stays in there.

Coordination is fine but stakeholders have to understand that they are playing a role and they are participating.

I think that it is important that we consider, Mr. Chairman, as we look at the 2012 Farm Bill the definitions of rural and how they are applied to communities through all corners of the nation.

You can give a person a fish to eat and they will be fed for the day, but if you teach them how to fish...

We have looked at some notions as to whether or not we look at an application as opposed to counties' Census tracks so that it would take into account those of you who represent multiple counties.

I hope that USDA can provide an explanation this morning for why this report is still not finished

But how well are you helping USTR deal with those 212 trade concerns?

How has this increased funding been allocated?

I think that is a significant statistic, and 13 times greater than the average savings that the taxpayers would see from funding the program.

If it is difficult, then you owe the Subcommittee, the Members of the Committee a response.

Understanding the true costs and benefits of our Title I programs will help us develop a better farm bill moving forward.

Some have criticized it as a subsidy or corporate welfare. Those of us who are familiar with the program I think have a different view.

I just think it is important for the Committee to understand how you arrived at that definition of a food desert

I know Congressman Peterson and I both have concerns--I suspect many of our other colleagues as we are looking toward generation of wind power and other types of energy production--whether or not landowner-controlled wind projects have…

Your ability to manage the risk is based upon your ability to assess the various aspects of risk.

Can you clarify the link between the pest and the disease challenges?

Maybe instead of speaking about this as a farm safety net, we need to start calling it a food safety net.

I don't believe the SURE program has worked the way most of us hoped it would.

Many of the entities that you lend to are dealing with regulations and settlements under various laws, and of course, this Administration and many of us have been critical of a lot of the regulations being burdensome and unnecessary.

Has TASC been effective in breaking down technical food or animal restrictions?

I hope that in spite of the rush to spend taxpayer dollars USDA can demonstrate that the benefits to rural communities have exceeded the cost.

I hope that the Rural Utilities Service has an update for us on how the applications are progressing

We are prepared to reduce our spending, however, and these audits help us determine the best places to trim our budget.