Victor Fazio: “in all the talk about freedom to farm, little attention has been given to agriculture programs to assist States like…”

“in all the talk about freedom to farm, little attention has been given to agriculture programs to assist States like California which depend less heavily on program crops. A truly broad-based agriculture program needs market promotion, conservation, nutrition, and rural development. The Dooley amendment focuses on the other leg of a true agriculture program--research. Support for research often done at our land-grant colleges put the United States in the forefront of agricultural productivity long before commodity programs. Budget cuts to agriculture over the last few years have exacted a toll on vital research and our land-grant colleges. The Dooley amendment makes an important statement: in a market-oriented economy, we need a renewed commitment to competitive research. Research breakthroughs are the key to agricultural productivity--to higher yields--to fewer pesticides--to better water quality--to better farm practices. Research has been at the heart of American agricultural success and it must continue to be a mainstay of our agriculture in the future. Not an approach some of my Appropriations Committee brethren might take. This approach--using competition not simply formula grants to all institutions demonstrates we are smart enough to focus on all the components that will comprise the agriculture program of tomorrow. Vote for the future--vote for research--vote for the best approach-- the Dooley amendment.”