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Congresswoman Fudge holds listening session

Marcia Fudge, Ohio’s 11th District Congresswoman and member of the House Agriculture Committee participated in a Farm Bill listening session on Wednesday, May 23, in Geauga County.

“Certainly as a new member of the Committee, the listening forum was especially important because it really did give me more background and more date to actually go in and be knowledgeable about many of the things we are fighting for in the State of Ohio,” said the Congresswoman.

The Congresswoman tells Brownfield a very diverse group of agricultural stakeholders, from traditional farmers, to urban farmers, provided her with some valuable information, including the need for a safety net.

“From our urban gardeners and urban farmers they talked about access to some of the same resources that have heretofore gone to primarily traditional farmers and how they become more involved in urban gardening and urban farming,” Fudge said. “It was a good cross section, but there were some themes that crossed all 14 of the presentations.”

When it comes to writing the 2012 Farm Bill, Congresswoman Fudge believes a bill will get done and that some of the differences may not be as big of an issue as what some believe.

“The biggest obstacle is where we make the deepest cuts,” the House Ag Committee member said. “I don’t think crop insurance is going to be our problem and I honestly don’t believe that nutrition programs are going to be as big an issue as some people believe.”

Audio: Congresswoman Fudge, Ohio’s 11th District (6:55 mp3)

The Farm Bill listening session was sponsored by the Ohio Farm Bureau, The Cleveland Foodbank and the Farm Credit Bureau.