Kent Conrad: “I rise today to issue a warning to those in Congress who are suggesting we eliminate or deeply slash the Federal farm…”

“I rise today to issue a warning to those in Congress who are suggesting we eliminate or deeply slash the Federal farm programs. These programs have given American consumers the lowest price and highest quality food in the world. These programs have helped make America's farmers preeminent among the world's food producers. They have helped agriculture produce a $17 billion surplus in trade, one of the largest of any American industry. These programs are the foundation of a $950 billion industry employing over 23 million Americans that delivers food and fiber to American families. To those who would kill our farm programs, I say this amounts to unilateral disarmament in the battle for world agricultural markets. It is an unwise dismantling of our successful national food policy. Our agriculture programs are the foundation on which much of our ability to meet international competition is based. They are also the foundation for our national food policy, which has helped us become the most richly abundant nation in the world.”