Political Quotes

“Madam President, agriculture may well be among the world's oldest ways of life, but it has never been stagnant. Farmers and ranchers have always looked for new and better ways to increase crop yields, conserve resources, and keep their land and livestock healthy and productive. Today's agricultural producers explore new farming practices, grow more resilient crops, and adopt new technologies to produce more and to use less. And the resilience of our food supply and America's ability to feed our country and the world are in no small measure thanks to these farmer-driven advances. As I said, farmers and ranchers are always looking for ways to improve their operations, but they can face challenges when they are looking for reliable data. While the U.S. Department of Agriculture collects a lot of data, little has been done to analyze and organize it so it is useful for farmers. Right now, many producers have to rely on anecdotal information to determine the value of things, like conservation and other production practices, and decide what to adopt on their farms and ranches. Better data would make it easier for farmers to decide what practices are the best option for them. A recent study of Department of Agriculture data from farms in several States confirmed anecdotal reports about certain conservation practices. It demonstrated that farmers who use these practices were more likely to be able to plant during an exceptionally wet spring.…”