Neal Dunn

However, these successes have not come without challenges. Increases in domestic production have not been able to keep up with the increase in demand, which has created import pressures.

The 2018 Farm Bill tackled the problem by providing the NOP with additional authorities to secure the industry from fraud.

Increases in domestic production have not been able to keep up with the increase in demand, which has created import pressures.

Consumer demand for agriculture goods produced under the organic seal continues to show double-digit growth.

Thank you for your efforts on our behalf and the behalf of your patients.

I thank the panel for your patience. I know we dinged you on your schedule today; we dinged ourselves, so we know we dinged you too, but it is our fault, and I appreciate your patience and your willingness to come and educate us.

Let me say that I think Chairwoman Brownley and I would love to help in any way we can, removing regulatory barriers or underscoring things that you need underscored in order to make progress.

The first concern was that the VA Research was not sufficiently focused on veteran-specific conditions and concerns.

Have you published that paper?

We have known this was a problem for a very long time, this is why I reintroduced 1092, the Servicemembers and Veterans Empowerment Support Act.

Emergency management, the topic of today's hearing is a particularly poignant and timely one for me.

This hearing underscored the importance of ensuring that farmers, ranchers, and researchers have a seat at the table in that discussion.

There is real value in investments for public agricultural research. Our farmers need more resources to better mitigate the risks that they face.

Thank you, Chairman Cox.

We are running out of time. Citrus growers need long-term, sustainable solutions.

I am pleased that USDA in its new proposed rule on agriculture innovation policy, recognized that applications of gene editing can result in plant varieties that are essentially equivalent to varieties developed through more traditional…

Using gene editing, my team and others are working right now on developing citrus trees that are resistant if not immune to citrus greening disease.

Citrus growers need long-term sustainable solutions. There is no question that plant breeding innovation holds the key.

It is my honor to introduce a fellow Floridian, Dr. Fred Gmitter.

I would request that any other Members submit their opening statements for the record so that the witnesses may begin their testimony, and to ensure that there is ample time for questions.

I would like to thank each of the witnesses for taking time to have this important dialogue with us, and I look forward to a productive discussion.

I would like to call out President Trump for his leadership on this important issue with the signing of yesterday's agricultural biotechnology Executive Order.

Climate policies like the Green New Deal have consumed the headlines from Congress, often blaming the agricultural sector as the problem. I could not disagree more.

Farmers and ranchers are some of the most resilient people that I know, and thanks to our agricultural research and extension system, they are at the forefront of innovation and productivity.

The Secretary has already said the agency leadership will remain in Washington, D.C., and I encourage the Secretary to move forward on his work and applaud his efforts.