It is going to take some massive Federal programs to help provide people the opportunity to do that.

That is like giving you something with one hand and slapping you in the face with the other, and that has to stop.

Access to capital is the biggest challenge beginning farmers face when looking to start their own operation.

Are there any rules, both of you can comment on that, that need to be changed from our perspective here? We are rule makers. We are legislators. That is what we do. Is there something we can do?

I want to single out Farm Credit and AgSouth for the great job that they are doing.

Federal support for infrastructure remains a key part of our commitment to rural America.

We recommend reauthorizing the Socially Disadvantaged Initiative (Section 2501) Program at a level not less than $20 million per year.

And my recommendation to him was that we do a report card for each state...

Our plan is not to utilize human labor to pack it either.

Mr. David Scott of Georgia. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Spurlock, in the last year, 2015, when there was an assessment of the prices in production of corn, it was stated that it cost farmers $675 per acre to produce the corn, yet they…

What a powerful, powerful message that would send. Republicans and Democrats working together to lift up our 1890s African American institutions.

It is very important for us to continue this line of discussion about our children not getting whole milk, the fatty part of milk, that clearly is very helpful for them.

I echo everything that you said. This is a very critical hearing, as we approach the farm bill and make sure we have access to credit where we need it.

I would certainly encourage you to improve upon that if possible.

There should be opportunities for others who can come in to be able to provide that service.

I worked most of my career in economic development trying to recruit industry into rural Georgia, and it is a challenge when there is inadequate broadband to get companies who work on a global platform to be able to locate in some of these…

President Trump's budget proposal says that we should cut agriculture by 21 percent.

Rural development and energy programs that we are going to take a look at today are, in many respects, what I call the unsung heroes of the farm bill.

H.R. 51 is a very, very strong bipartisan effort to provide our 1890 universities with student scholarships in the amount of $1 million for each of the 5 years, $95 million for all of the 1890s over the 5 year period of the farm bill.

these programs in rural development and energy specifically aim to help keep our rural economies' engines running

Rural development touches every state in our country, and is absolutely critical to the health of our nation's economy.

those of us in rural communities have seen our infrastructure deteriorate, jeopardizing jobs, our agricultural competitiveness, and the health of rural families

You can't force them. You can't deny them their freedoms to be able to make choices without violating their pursuit of happiness.

We have the research that shows us that you have to educate people.

I really appreciate, again, the leadership of Congresswoman Fudge and many others on this Committee for their support of the Healthy Food Financing Initiative, which is a proven model that was launched in Pennsylvania, working in…