William R. Richardson: “farmers in my district are in desperate need of some type of farm legislation now. Although I am not totally sold on the…”

“farmers in my district are in desperate need of some type of farm legislation now. Although I am not totally sold on the freedom to farm concept, I fully support this conference report which will provide our nation's producers with some direction immediately. I think the House and Senate Agriculture Committees have done a good job of shaping a bill with peanut program reforms that will make it no-net costs. I believe the conservation programs contained in this bill are the strongest that we have ever reported out in a farm bill. This bill retains our commitment to help farmers as the stewards of America's land. I am also pleased to see that the conference committee chose to include the fund for rural America. This fund will give small towns in rural America the tools through research and economic development activities to provide their citizens with safewater and sewer systems and the basic infrastructure to survive. When we talk about reforming agriculture policies we must also talk about the needs of rural communities whose economies rely heavily on agriculture production. Mr. Speaker it is time to send the President this agreement on farm policy.”