Sam Farr: “Mr. Chairman, I just heard some students out in the hallway saying, oh, they are just talking about agriculture and that…”

“Mr. Chairman, I just heard some students out in the hallway saying, oh, they are just talking about agriculture and that is boring. The difficulty with this debate is, it is everything but boring because it is really the engine that drives the American economy and it is wonderful history and it is great culture and to understand what agriculture is, is really to listen to this debate. I happen to represent just one State that is very diverse in agriculture in California, and California farmers in my district, I think, are the most productive farmers in the world when they grow specialty crops. These are big crops in our area, but in agriculture language here in Washington, they are known as minor crops. Specialty crops produce 2.5 billion dollars' worth of fresh fruits, vegetables, and horticulture crops without any Federal price supports, without any other direct Federal support, including water. We grow lettuce and artichokes and strawberries and flowers and over 100 different crops. That is just in two, three counties in California. They have succeeded by embracing the full benefits of potential risks and of great market. They are models for American agriculture, and I believe that American agriculture must move in that direction to remain viable into the next century. But even market-driven agriculture needs a national farm policy.”