We can empower our farm families and build a robust rural economy.

We cannot forget about the importance of agricultural research in ensuring the United States continues to have the safest, most abundant, and most affordable food and fiber supply in the world.

American farmers, ranchers, and foresters have increased agriculture outputs nearly threefold with little to no change in inputs.

I am proud to represent State College--home of Pennsylvania's only land-grant university.

I am also interested in a long-term solution to ensure the backlog never reaches this level again.

Today's hearing is an opportunity to review programs authorized in the research title of the farm bill to ensure our universities are equipped to solve the challenges facing agriculture now, and well into the future.

I would like to thank Ranking Member Spanberger for her comments and questions, and for her strong support of agricultural research.

Today the deferred maintenance backlog, as we heard from a number of our witnesses, is estimated to be over $11.5 billion.

I want to reiterate my continued support for making strong investments in research.

The farm bill that we are working on will obviously serve those in America's number one industry, agriculture, from 2023, when we get this done, to 2028.

I appreciate the witnesses joining us here today and look forward to hearing about the great work they are doing.

As someone who comes from a long line of dairy farmers, it is my honor to rise and recognize National Dairy Month. I am proud to come from the State with the second most dairy farms and to represent more than 1,000 dairy farms in my…