Austin Scott actually said...

"Over the last several weeks, the Agriculture Committee has held a series of hearings in preparation for crafting the next farm bill."

"Due to the current state of the rural economy, access to credit is even more essential to keeping farmers and ranchers producing a safe, affordable, and abundant supply of food and fiber for America a..."

"Given the downturn in the farm economy and the erosion of cash reserves, securing credit has been a challenge for many, but especially for producers just getting their start."

"These hearings have shown that producers nationwide have been experiencing a steady decline in net farm income over the past 4 years."