Washington, D.C. - Today the U.S. House Agriculture Committee completed the next farm bill, which includes improvements requested by Rep. Rick Larsen for Western Washington state farmers.

“A large percentage of funding still goes to farmers in the Midwest but, for the first time, significant consideration was given to our specialty crops and conservation efforts,” Larsen said. 

The new farm bill more than doubles funding for the Market Access Program, increases funding for conservation efforts by 75 percent, extends a safety net for our dairy farmers, and includes a marketing order for raspberry farmers, which enables them to work together to stabilize their market.

Larsen added, “I’m especially pleased with the increase in conservation funding.  Farmers are the best stewards of the land and this bill recognizes and rewards them for their efforts.  With the costs of regulations increasing for our farmers, the conservation programs will help our farmers stay competitive.” 

The farm bill, officially The Agricultural Act of 2001, will guide the nation’s agriculture agenda over the next ten years.  Larsen is the first member of Congress from Western Washington to sit on the U.S. Agriculture Committee in over half a century.