110^th Congress 2007-2008

Monday, December 8, 2008 – 1:00 p.m.
Full Committee on Agriculture — Public Hearing.
RE: To review the role of credit derivatives in the U.S. economy.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Mr. Terrence A. Duffy, Executive Chairman, CME Group, Chicago, IL
• Mr. Johnathan H. Short, Vice President and General Counsel, IntercontinentalExchange, Inc., Atlanta, GA
• Mr. John O’Neill, Senior Analyst, Fixed Income Derivatives, LIFFE, NYSE/Euronext, London, UK
• Mr. Thomas Book, Member of the Executive Board, Eurex Clearing AG, Frankfurt, Germany

Panel II

• Mr. John Damgard, President, Futures Industry Association, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Robert Pickel, Chief Executive Officer, International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Don Thompson, Managing Director and Associate General Counsel, J.P.Morgan on behalf of J.P.Morgan and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, New York, NY
• Mr. E. Gerald Corrigan, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs & Co., New York, NY
• Mr. Bryan Murtagh, Managing Director, Fixed Income Transaction Risk Management, UBS Securities LLC, Stamford, CT

Thursday, November 20, 2008 – 10:00 a.m.
Full Committee on Agriculture — Public Hearing.
RE: To review the role of credit derivatives in the U.S. economy.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Mr. Ananda Radhakrishnan, Director, Division of Clearing and Intermediary Oversight, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Patrick M. Parkinson, Deputy Director, Division of Research and Statistics, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Erik R. Sirri, Director of Division of Trading and Markets, Securities Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Eric R. Dinallo, Superintendent, State of New York, Insurance Department, New York, NY

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 – 11:00 a.m.
Full Committee on Agriculture — Public Hearing.
RE: To review the role of credit derivatives in the U.S. economy.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• The Honorable Walter Lukken, Acting Chairman, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Erik R. Sirri, Director of Division of Trading and Markets, Securities Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C.

Panel II

• Mr. Robert Pickel, Chief Executive Officer, International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Washington, D.C.
• Professor Henry Hu, Professor, University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas
• Mr. Johnathan Short, Vice President and General Counsel, Intercontinental Exchange, Atlanta, Georgia
• Ms. Kim Taylor, Managing Director and President, CME Group Clearinghouse, Chicago, Illinois

Thursday, September 25, 2008 – 10:00 a.m.
Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry — Public Hearing
RE: To review advances in animal health within the livestock industry.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Dr. John Clifford, DVM, Deputy Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
• Dr. Bernadette Dunham, DVM, PhD, Director, Center for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Maryland

Panel II

• Dr. Craig Rowles, DVM, Pork Producer, on behalf of the National Pork Producers Federation, Carroll, Iowa
• Dr. Michael Rybolt, Director, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, National Turkey Federation, Washington, D.C.
• Dr. Robert D. Byrne, PhD., Senior Vice President, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs, National Milk Producers Federation, Arlington, Virginia
• Dr. Spangler Klopp, DVM, Diplomat, American College of Poultry Veterinarians, Corporate Veterinarian, Townsends, Inc., on behalf of the National Chicken Council, Georgetown, Delaware
• Mr. Blair Van Zetten, Oskaloosa Food Products, on behalf of United Egg Producers, Oskaloosa, Iowa
• Dr. Michael D. Apley, DVM, PhD, Director, PharmCATS Bioanalytical Laboratory, and Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences, Kansas State University, on behalf of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Manhattan, Kansas

Panel III

• Dr. Richard Carnevale, Vice President, Scientific, Regulatory and International Affairs, Animal Health Institute, Washington, D.C.
• Dr. Christine Hoang, DVM, MPH, Assistant Director, Scientific Activities Division, American Veterinary Medical Association, Schaumburg, Illinois
• Dr. Randall Singer, Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota

Thursday, September 11, 2008 – 1:00 p.m.
Full Committee on Agriculture — Public Hearing.
RE: To review dramatic movements in agriculture and energy commodity markets.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• The Honorable Walter Lukken, Acting Chairman, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Washington, D.C.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008 – 1:00 p.m.
Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture — Public Hearing.
RE: To review legal and technological capacity for full traceability in fresh produce.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• The Honorable Diana DeGette, Member of Congress from the First Congressional District of Colorado
• The Honorable Adam Putnam, Member of Congress from the Twelfth Congressional District of Florida

Panel II

• Dr. David W.K. Acheson, M.D., Associate Commissioner for Food Protection, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Maryland
  
• Dr. Lonnie J. King, Director, DVM, National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases (ZVED), Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia

Panel III

• Mr. Anthony J. DiMare, Vice President, DiMare Homestead Inc., DiMare Ruskin Inc., and DiMare Johns Island Inc., Ruskin, Florida
  
• Mr. Henry L. Giclas, Vice President, Strategic Planning, Science and Technology, Western Growers Association, Irvine, California
  
• Mr. Brian Silbermann, President, Produce Marketing Association, Newark, Delaware
  
• Mr. Thomas E. Stenzel, President and CEO, United Fresh Produce Association, Washington, DC

Panel IV

• Dr. James R. Gorny, Ph.D., Executive Director, Postharvest Technology Research and Information Center, University of California, Davis, California
  
• Ms. Jean Halloran, Director, Food Policy Initiatives, Consumers Union, Yonkers, New York
  
• Dr. Michael Osterholm, Director, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Wednesday, July 30, 2008 – 10:30 a.m.
Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research — Public Hearing.
RE: To review electricity reliability in rural America.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Administrator Jim Andrew, Rural Development Electric Programs, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
• Ms. Cynthia A. Marlette, General Counsel, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C.

Panel II

• The Honorable Glenn English, CEO, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Arlington, Virginia
• Mr. Revis James, Director, Energy Technology Assessment Center, Electric Power Research Institute, Washington, D.C.
• The Honorable Jim Nichols, former Minnesota Secretary of Agriculture, and former Minnesota State Senator, Lake Benton, Minnesota (witness attachments)
• Mr. Paul T. Champagne, President, PPL Development Company, Allentown, Pennsylvania

Thursday, July 24, 2008 – 10:00 a.m.
Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research — Public Hearing.
RE: To review Renewable Fuels Standard implementation and agriculture producer eligibility.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• The Honorable Robert J Meyers, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.

Panel II

• Ms. Jetta Wong, Agriculture and Energy Policy Analyst, Environmental and Energy Study Institute, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Arthur “Butch” Blazer, Forestry Division, New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, Santa Fe, New Mexico
• Mr. John W. Burke III, Partner, McGuire Woods LLP., Richmond, Virginia
• Mr. Duane Grant, Farmer, Rupert, Idaho
• Dr. Kenneth G. Cassman, Director, Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research, Lincoln, Nebraska
• Dr. Marc E. McDill, Associate Professor of Forest Resource Management, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 – 2:30 p.m.
Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development, and Foreign Agriculture — Public Hearing.
RE: To review the state of health care in rural areas and the role of federal programs in addressing rural health care needs.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• The Honorable Thomas Dorr, Under Secretary. Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Tom Morris, Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD

Panel II

• Mr. Charles W. Fluharty, President Emeritus and Director of Policy Programs, Rural Policy Research Institute, Truman School of Public Affairs, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO
• Dr. Wayne Myers, M.D., Trustee, Maine Health Access Foundation, on behalf of
  National Rural Health Association (NRHA), Waldoboro, ME
• Mr. Jeff Spade, Vice President. North Carolina Hospital Association, and Executive Director, North Carolina Rural Health Center. Cary, NC
• Dr. Karen Rheuban, Professor of Pediatrics, Senior Associate Dean for External Affairs and Continuing Medical Education, Medical Director, Office of Telemedicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 – 10:00 a.m.
Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry — Public Hearing.
RE: To review the short- and long-term costs of hunger in America.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Mr. Mark Nord, Sociologist, Economic Research Service, USDA, Washington, D.C.
  • Accompanied by Mr. Steven Carlson, Director, Office of Research and Analysis, Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
• Dr. J. Larry Brown, Harvard University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
  • Accompanied by Dr. Donald S. Shepard, Economist, Schneider Institutes for Health Policy, Heller School, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
• Dr. Diana Cutts, Principal Investigator, Children's Sentinel Nutrition Assessment Program (C-SNAP), Faculty Physician, Hennepin County Medical Center, Assistant Professor Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
• Mr. George Manalo-LeClair, Senior Director of Legislation, California Food Policy Advocates, Oakland, CA
• Mr. James D. Weill, President, Food Research and Action Center, Washington, D.C.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008 – 10:00 a.m.
Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development, and Foreign Agriculture — Public Hearing.
RE: To review efforts to deliver international food aid and provide foreign agricultural development assistance.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Mr. Michael W. Yost, Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. James Kunder, Acting Deputy Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Washington, D.C.

Panel II

• Mr. Sean Callahan, Executive Vice President for Overseas Operations, Catholic Relief Services, Baltimore, Maryland
• Dr. Andrew Barnes, Director of Food Security, Food for the Hungry, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Avram “Buzz” Guroff, Senior Vice President, Food Security and Specialty Crops Portfolio, ACDI/VOCA, Washington, D.C.
• Dr. Nicholas Minot, Senior Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, D.C.
• Dr. Theo A. Dillaha, Program Director, Office of International Research, Education, and Development, Virginia Tech University

Friday, July 11, 2008 – 9:00 a.m.
Full Committee on Agriculture — Public Hearing.
RE: To review legislation amending the Commodity Exchange Act.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Mr. Mark Young, Futures Industry Association, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. David Peniket, President and COO, ICE Futures Europe, London, United Kingdom
• Mr. Gerry Ramm, Inland Oil Company, on behalf of Petroleum Marketers Association of America, Ephrata, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Michael Greenberger, University of Maryland School of Law, Baltimore, Maryland

Panel II

• Mr. Terrence A. Duffy, Executive Chairman, CME Group, Chicago, Illinois
• Mr. Kendell Keith, President, National Grain and Feed Association, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. John Johnston, Independent Trader, Morristown, New Jersey

Panel III

• Mr. Tim Lynch, Senior Vice President, American Trucking Association, Arlington, Virginia
• Mr. Daniel J. Roth, President and CEO, National Futures Association, Chicago, Illinois
• Mr. Tyson Slocum, Director, Public Citizen’s Energy Program, Washington, D.C.
• Captain John Prater, President, Airline Pilots Association, International, Washington, D.C.

Thursday, July 10, 2008 – 10:00 a.m.
Full Committee on Agriculture — Public Hearing.
RE: To review legislation amending the Commodity Exchange Act.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Mr. Greg Zerzan, Counsel and Head of Global Public Policy, International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Charles A. Vice, President and Chief Operating Officer, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE), Atlanta, Georgia
• Mr. Michael Comstock, Acting Director, City of Mesa, Arizona Gas System, on behalf of the American Public Gas Association (APGA), Mesa, Arizona
• Dr. Michael Greenberger, University of Maryland School of Law, Baltimore, Maryland
• Dr. Craig Pirrong, Professor of Finance, Director, Global Energy Management Institute, Bauer College of Business, University of Houston, Houston, Texas

Panel II

• Ms. Robin Diamonte, Chief Investment Officer, United Technologies Corporation, on behalf of the Committee on the Investment of Employee Benefit Assets (CIEBA), Hartford, Connecticut
• Dr. Scott H. Irwin, Professor, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois
• Mr. Paul N. Cicio, President, Industrial Energy Consumers of America, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Jeffrey D. Korzenik, Chief Investment Officer, Vitale, Caturano & Company, Boston, Massachusetts
• Dr. Craig Pirrong, Professor of Finance, Director, Global Energy Management Institute, Bauer College of Business, University of Houston, Houston, Texas

Panel III

• Dr. James E. Newsome, President and Chief Executive Officer, New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (NYMEX), New York, New York
• Ms. Christine M. Cochran, Vice President, Government Relations, Commodity Markets Council (CMC), Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Joseph T. Nicosia, President, American Cotton Shippers Association, Memphis, Tennessee
• Mr. Adam K. White, Director of Research, White Knight Research and Trading, Alpharetta, Georgia

Wednesday, July 9, 2008 – 2:30 p.m.
Full Committee on Agriculture — Public Hearing.
RE: To review legislation amending the Commodity Exchange Act.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• The Honorable Jim Matheson, Member of Congress from the Second Congressional District of Utah
• The Honorable Chris Van Hollen, Member of Congress from the Eighth Congressional District of Maryland
• The Honorable Rosa L. DeLauro, Member of Congress from the Third Congressional District of Connecticut
• The Honorable Bart Stupak, Member of Congress from the First Congressional District of Michigan
• The Honorable John B. Larson, Member of Congress from the First Congressional District of Connecticut
• The Honorable Peter Welch, Member of Congress from Vermont At Large

Thursday, June 26, 2008 – 10:00 a.m.
Subommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture — Public Hearing.
RE: To review the status of pollinator health including colony collapse disorder.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Dr. Edward Knipling, PhD, Administrator, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
• Dr. Keith S. Delaplane, PhD, Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
• Ms. Maryann Frazier, Senior Extension Associate, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania

Panel II

• Mr. Steve Godlin, Beekeeper, Visalia, California
• Mr. David Mendes, Vice President, American Beekeeping Federation, North Fort Myers, Florida
• Mr. Robert D. Edwards, Producer, Whitakers, NC
• Mr. Edward R. Flanagan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jasper Wyman and Son, Milbridge, Maine
  

Panel III

• Ms. Kathy Pien, Brand Director, Haagen Dazs Ice Cream, Oakland, California
• Mr. John Replogle, President and CEO, Burt’s Bees, Durham, North Carolina
• Ms. Laurie Davies Adams, Executive Director, Pollinator Partnership, San Francisco, California

Tuesday, June 24, 2008 – 2:30 p.m.
Full Committee on Agriculture — Public Hearing.
RE: To review trading in energy markets

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Mr. Walter Lukken, Acting Chairman, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Washington, D.C.
  • Oil net speculation and swaps graph (requires Microsoft PowerPoint)

Thursday, May 15, 2008 – 10:00 a.m.
Subommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management — Public Hearing.
RE: To review the source of dramatic movements in commodity markets (agriculture and energy): a change in market fundamentals or influence of institutional investors?

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Mr. Jeff Harris, Chief Economist, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Washington, D.C.

  Accompanied by:

  Mr. John Fenton, Deputy Director, Market Surveillance Section, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Washington, D.C.

Panel II

• Mr. Bob Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau Federation, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Terrence A. Duffy, Executive Chairman, Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group, Inc., Chicago, Illinois
• Mr. Gerry Ramm, President, Inland Oil Company, on behalf of Petroleum Marketers Association of America, Ephrata, Washington
• Dr. James Newsome, President and CEO, New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc., New York, New York
• Ms. Laura Campbell, Assistant Manager of Energy Resources, Memphis Light, Gas, and Water, on behalf of American Public Gas Association, Memphis, Tennessee

Panel III

• Mr. Garry Niemeyer, Corn and soybean producer, on behalf of National Corn Growers Association, Auburn, Illinois
• Mr. Layne G. Carlson, Corporate Secretary and Treasurer, Minneapolis Grain Exchange, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Mr. Rodney Clark, Vice President, CGB/Diversified Services, on behalf of National Grain and Feed Association, Mt. Vernon, Indiana
• Mr. Thomas Farley, President and COO, ICE Futures U.S., New York, New York
• Mr. Adolph “Andy” Weil, III, President, American Cotton Shippers Association (ACSA), Montgomery, Alabama

Thursday, February 7, 2008 – 10:30 a.m.
Subommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry — Public Hearing.
RE: To review the National Veterinary Medical Service Act.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• The Honorable Jack Kingston, Member of Congress from Georgia’s First Congressional District

Panel II

• Dr. Gale Buchanan, Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics, USDA, Washington, D.C.

  Accompanied by:

Dr. Ralph Otto, Associate Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), USDA, Washington, D.C.

Mr. Curtis Anderson, Deputy Administrator, Rural Utilities Service, USDA, Washington, D.C.

Panel III

• Dr. Gregory S. Hammer, DVM, President, American Veterinary Medical Association, Dover, Delaware

Wednesday, November 7, 2007 – 2:00 p.m.
Subommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry — Public Hearing.
RE: To review recent recalls in the meat industry.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Dr. Richard Raymond, Undersecretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 – 1:30 p.m.
Full Committee on Agriculture — Public Hearing.
RE: To review technologies in the meat industry.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Dr. Phil Minerich, Vice President, Research and Development, Hormel Foods Corporation, Austin, Minnesota
• Mr. Scott Eilert, Vice President, Research and Development, Cargill Meat Solutions, Wichita, Kansas
• Mr. Rick Roop, Senior Vice President, Science and Regulatory Affairs, Tyson Foods, Inc., Washington, D.C.
• Dr. Joseph Sebranek, Professor, Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Panel II

• Mr. Alfred V. Almanza, Administrator, Food Safety Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.  

Thursday, October 25, 2007
Full Committee on Agriculture — Public Hearing.
RE: To review agriculture disaster conditions across the nation.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• The Honorable Mike Simpson, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

Panel II

• Mr. Bradley R. Rippey, Agricultural Meteorologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
  • Accompanied by Dr. Gerald A. Bange, Chairperson, World Agricultural Outlook Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

Panel III

• The Honorable Mike Easley, Governor of the State of North Carolina, Raleigh, North Carolina

Panel IV

• The Honorable Ken Givens, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Nashville, Tennessee
• Mr. Zippy Duvall, President, Georgia Farm Bureau, Macon, Georgia
• Mr. Bill McKinnon, Executive Secretary, Virginia Cattlemen’s Association, Daleville, Virginia

Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management — Public Hearing.
RE: To review reauthorization of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• The Honorable Walter Lukken, Acting Chairman, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Washington, D.C.
• Ms. Orice M. Williams, Director, Financial Markets and Community Investment, U.S. Government Accountability Office, Washington, D.C.
  

Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Full Committee on Agriculture —Public Hearing.
RE: To review structural changes that are taking place in the agricultural economy and their impacts

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Dr. Keith Collins, Chief Economist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
• Dr. Howard Gruenspecht, Deputy Administrator, Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, D.C

Panel II

• Dr. Pat Westhoff, Research Associate Professor, Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute, Columbia, Missouri

Thursday, October 4, 2007
Full Committee on Agriculture —Public Hearing.
RE: To review the labor needs of American agriculture

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Dr. James Holt, PhD, James S. Holt & Co., LLC, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Bob Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau Federation, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Bruce Goldstein, Executive Director, Farmworker Justice, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Lee Wicker, Deputy Director, North Carolina Growers Association, Vass, North Carolina
• Mr. Scott Herring, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Farm Credit of Western New York, ACA, Batavia, NY
• Mr. Mike Brown, Senior Vice President for Legislative Affairs, American Meat Institute, Washington, D.C.
  

Panel II

• Mr. J Allen Carnes, President, Winter Garden Produce, Vice President, Carnes Farms, Inc., and Chair, Texas Vegetable Association, Uvalde, Texas
• Mr. Mason G. Smoak, Citrus Producer and Cattle Rancher, Lake Placid, Florida
• Mr. Harry B. Yates, Board Member, National Christmas Tree Association, and Christmas Tree Producer, Boone, North Carolina
• Mr. Randy Mouw, Misty Morning Dairy, Ontario, California
• Mr. Keith Atkinson, Apple and Tobacco Producer, Java, Virginia
• Mr. Rick Roth, Specialty Crops Producer/Packer, Rother Farms, Inc., Belle Glade, Florida

Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture —Public Hearing.
RE: To examine the joint performance of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security in protecting U.S. agriculture from foreign pests and diseases.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Mr. John Jurich, Investigator, House Committee on Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
• Ms. Lisa Shames, Director, Natural Resources and the Environment, U.S. Government Accountability Office, Washington, D.C. (condensed GAO testimony here)
• Mr. James L. Taylor, Acting Assistant Inspector General for the Office of Audits, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington, D.C.
  • Accompanied by Ms. Kathleen S. Tighe, Deputy Inspector General, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

Panel II

• The Honorable Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Tallahassee, Florida
• Mr. John M. McClung, President and CEO, Texas Produce Association, Mission, Texas
• Mr. Joel Nelsen, President, California Citrus Mutual, Exeter, California

Thursday, September 27, 2007
Full Committee on Agriculture —Public Hearing.
RE: To review H.R. 1011, the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act of 2007

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Mr. Joel Holtrop, Deputy Chief for State & Private Forestry, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
  
  

Panel II

• Mr. Paul Howe, Executive Vice President, Virginia Forestry Association, Richmond, Virginia
• Mr. C. Dowd Bruton, Senior Regional Wildlife Biologist, National Wild Turkey Federation, Traphill, North Carolina
  
• The Honorable John A. Muffo, Virginia Board of Supervisors, Montgomery County, Virginia, Blacksburg, Virginia
• Mr. Tom R. Davenport, Business Manager, Mt. Rogers Outfitters, Damascus, Virginia
  

Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management —Public Hearing.
RE: To review reauthorization of the Commodity Exchange Act.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Mr. Terrence A. Duffy, Executive Chairman, Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group Inc., Chicago, Illinois
• Dr. James E. Newsome, President and CEO, New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc., New York, New York
• Mr. Layne G. Carlson, Corporate Secretary and Treasurer, Minneapolis Grain Exchange, Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Mr. Jeffrey C. Sprecher, Chairman and CEO, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia
• Dr. Michael Walsh, Executive Vice President, Chicago Climate Exchange, Chicago, IL
  
  

Panel II

• Mr. Daniel J. Roth, President and CEO, National Futures Association, Chicago, IL
• Mr. Gregory P. J. Zerzan, Counsel and Head of Global Public Policy, International Swaps and Derivatives Association, on behalf of ISDA and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), Washington, D.C.
• Mr. John M. Damgard, President, Futures Industry Association, Washington, D.C.
• Ms. Terri Becks, CFO and Secretary, Campbell & Campbell, Inc., on behalf of Managed Funds Association, Baltimore, MD
• Mr. William J. Brodsky, Chairman and CEO, Chicago Board Options Exchange, on behalf of U.S. Options Exchange Coalition, Chicago, IL
  
  

Thursday, July 12, 2007
Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management —Public Hearing.
RE: To review trading of energy-based derivatives.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• The Honroable Walter Lukken, Acting Chairman and Commissioner, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Washington, D.C.
• Ms. Orice M. Williams, Director, Financial Markets and Community Investment, U.S. Government Accountability Office, Washington, D.C.

Panel II

• Dr. James E. Newsome, President and CEO, New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc., New York, New York
• Mr. Jeffrey C. Sprecher, Chairman and CEO, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia
• Mr. Robert G. Pickel, Executive Director and CEO, International Swaps and Derivatives Association, New York, New York
• Mr. Arthur Corbin, President and CEO, Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia, on behalf of American Public Gas Association, Kenesaw, Georgia
• Mr. Paul Cicio, President, Industrial Energy Consumers of America, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Craig D. Eerkes, President, Sun Pacific Energy, on behalf of Petroleum Marketers Association of America, Kennewick, Washington

Thursday, June 7, 2007
Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management —Public Hearing.
RE: To review the integrity and efficacy of the Federal Crop Insurance Program.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Mr. Ron Brichler, President, Crop Insurance Division, Great American Insurance Company, Cincinnati, Ohio
• Dr. G.A. (Art) Barnaby, Jr., Ph.D., Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University Research and Extension, Manhattan, Kansas
• Mr. David C. Herring, Jr., Branch Manager, East Carolina Farm Credit, Kinston, North Carolina
• Mr. Mike Mock, Senior Risk Manager, The Andersons, Inc., Maumee, Ohio
• Dr. Bert Little, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Academic Research, Professor of Computer Science and Mathematics, Executive Director, Center for Agribusiness Excellence, Tarleton State University, Stephenville, Texas
• Mr. Nick Ferens, Manager, U.S. Civil Market, DeticaDFI, Washington, D.C.
  
  

Panel II

• Administrator Eldon Gould, Risk Management Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
  Accompanied by:
  • Dr. Keith Collins, Chief Economist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
• Ms. Kathleen S. Tighe, Deputy Inspector General, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Robert A. Robinson, Managing Director, Natural Resources and Environment, Government Accountability Office, Washington, D.C.
  
  
  

Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management —Public Field Hearing.
RE: To review the state of agriculture in Kansas

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Mr. Troy Dumler, Professor of Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University, Garden City, Kansas
• Mr. Bill Miller, Cattle Producer, Princeton, Kansas
• Mr. Steve Rome, Crop Farmer, Hugoton, Kansas
• Mr. Brian Starck, Corn, Soybean, and Wheat Farmer, Sow Producer, Fairbury, Nebraska

Panel II

• Mr. John Pracht, Grain and Cattle Producer, Westphalia, Kansas
• Mr. Barry Childs, Consultant and Part Owner, Farm Management Services, Inc., Irrigated and Dryland Grain Farmer, Cow/Calf Producer, Bellville, Kansas
• Mr. Gary Parker, Soybean, Wheat, and Milo Farmer, Moran, Kansas
• Mr. Mark Meisinger, Wheat Farmer, Lincolnville, Kansas
• Mr. Lee Robbins, Cow/Calf Producer and Hay Farmer, Yates Center, Kansas
  
  

Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture —Public Hearing.
RE: Review of industry response to the safety of fresh and fresh-cut produce.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Administrator Lloyd Day, Agricultural Marketing Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
• Dr. David Acheson, M.D., F.R.C.P., Assistant Commissioner for Food Protection, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Maryland
  

Panel II

• Dr. Robert J. Whitaker, Ph.D., Vice President, Processing and Technology, NewStar Fresh Foods, LLC, on behalf of United Fresh Produce Association, Salinas, California
• Mr. Joe Pezzini, Vice President of Operations, Ocean Mist Farms, on behalf of Western Growers Association, Castroville, California
• Dr. Martha R. Roberts, Ph.D., Personal Assistant to the Director, Florida Experiment Station, University of Florida, on behalf of the Florida Tomato Exchange, Tallahassee, Florida
• Ms. Lorna Christie, Vice President, Produce Marketing Association, Newark, Delaware
• Ms. Caroline Smith DeWaal, Director of Food Safety, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, D.C.
  
  

Monday, May 14, 2007
Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management — Public Hearing.
RE: Review of the Federal Crop Insurance Program.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Ms. Caren Wilcox, Executive Director and CEO, Organic Trade Association, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Hilton R. Segler, President, Georgia Pecan Growers Association, Albandy, Georgia
• Mr. W. Scott Marlow, Director, Farm Sustainability Program, The Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA, Pittsboro, North Carolina
• Mr. David Gillen, Farmer, on behalf of National Corn Growers Association, White Lake, South Dakota

Panel II

• Mr. Bill Kubecka, Past President, National Sorghum Producers, Palacios, Texas
• Mr. Gary Iverson, Executive Director, Great Northern Growers Cooperative, Sunburst, Montana
• Mr. Steve Chapman, President, American Sesame Growers Association, Lorenzo, Texas
• Mr. Tim J. Watts, President, Watts & Associates, Inc., Billings, Montana

Thursday, May 10, 2007
Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development, and Foreign Agriculture— Public Hearing.
RE: To review food aid and agriculture trade programs operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• The Honorable James McGovern, Member of Congress from Massachusetts
• The Honorable Jo Ann Emerson, Member of Congress from Missouri
  

Panel II

• Administrator Michael Yost, Foreign Agriculture Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. William Hammink, Director, Office of Food for Peace, U.S. Agency for International Development, Washington, D.C.
  
  

Panel III

• Ms. Ellen Levinson, Executive Director, Alliance for Food Aid, Washington, D.C.
• Ms. Annemarie Reilly, Vice President and Chief of Staff, Catholic Relief Services, Baltimore, Maryland
• Mr. John Gillcrist, Chairman, Bartlett Milling Company, on behalf of the Agricultural Food Aid Coalition, Kansas City, Missouri
• Mr. Cary Wickstrom, Wheat Producer, Orchard, Colorado
• Mr. Robert Binversie, Volunteer, Farmer-to-Farmer, Kiel, Wisconsin
  

Panel IV

• Mr. James Sumner, President, USA Poultry and Egg Export Council, on behalf of the Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports, Stone Mountain, Georgia
• Mr. Patrick Ford, Ford’s Gourmet Foods, Raleigh, North Carolina
  

Thursday, May 10, 2007
Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research — Public Hearing.
RE: Review of agricultural research programs.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Dr. Gale Buchanan, Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

Panel II

• Dr. William H. Danforth, Chancellor Emeritus, Washington University, Chairman of the Coalition of Plant and Life Sciences, and Chairman of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, Missouri
• Dr. Bruce A. McPheron, Associate Dean for Research and Director of the Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station, Pennsylvania State University, on behalf of National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, University Park, Pennsylvania
• Dr. George W. Norton, Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia
• Dr. Joe Bouton, PhD., Senior Vice President and Director, Forage Improvement Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc., Professor Emeritus, University of Georgia, Ardmore, Oklahoma

Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Full Committee on Agriculture— Public Hearing.
RE: To review the impact of imported contaminated food and feed ingredients and of recent food safety emergencies on food safety and animal health systems.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Dr. Kenneth E. Petersen, Food Safety Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
• Dr. David Acheson, M.D., F.R.C.P., Assistant Commissioner for Food Protection, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Maryland

Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry — Public Hearing.
RE: To review the welfare of animals in agriculture.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• The Honorable Charlie Stenholm, Olsson, Frank, and Weeda, P.C., Washington, D.C.

Panel II

• Mr. Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO, The Humane Society of the United States, Washington, D.C.
• Dr. Gail C. Golab, PhD, DVM, Associate Director, Animal Welfare Division, American Veterinary Medical Association, Schaumburg, Illinois
• Mr. Steven L. Leary, DVM, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Veterinary Affairs, Washington University, on behalf of National Association for Biomedical Research, St. Louis, Missouri
• Mr. Gene Gregory, President, United Egg Producers, Alpharetta, Georgia
• Mr. Guillermo Gonzalez, Sonoma Foie Gras, on behalf of Artisan Farmers Alliance, Sonoma, California
• Mr. David Martosko, Director of Research, Center for Consumer Freedom, Washington, D.C.

Panel III

• Mr. Gene Baur, President, Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen, New York
• Mr. Paxton Ramsey, Member, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Devers, Texas
• Ms. Barbara Determan, National Pork Producers Council, Early, Iowa
• Ms. Leslie Vagneur Lange, National Director, American Quarter Horse Association, Greeley, Colorado
• Ms. Karen Jordan, DVM, Owner, Large Animal Veterinary Services, on behalf of National Milk Producers Federation, Siler City, North Carolina

Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Full Committee on Agriculture— Public Hearing.
RE: Review of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s release of program beneficiaries’ Social Security numbers and of the Department’s information systems, generally.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• The Honorable Charles Christopherson, Chief Financial Officer, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

  Accompanied by:

  • The Honorable Boyd Rutherford, Assistant Secretary for Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
  • Mr. Dave Combs, Chief Information Officer, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development, and Foreign Agriculture -- Public Hearing
RE: Review rural broadband programs operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Administrator James Andrew, Rural Utilities Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
  • Accompanied by Jacqueline Ponti, Assistant Administrator for the Telecommunications Program,United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

Panel II

• Dr. Jack Geller, President, Center for Rural Policy and Development, Saint Peter, Minnesota
• Mr. Tom Simmons, Senior Vice President of Public Policy, Midcontinent Communications, Sioux Falls, South Dakota on behalf of National Cable and Telecommunications Association, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Walter B. McCormick, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, United States Telecom Association, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Denny Law, Eastern Regional Manager for Golden West Telecommunications Cooperative, Wall, South Dakota on behalf of National Telecommunications Cooperative Association
• Mr. Kevin Felty, General Manager, Plains Cooperative Telephone and President, Colorado Telecommunications Association, Joes, Colorado

Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management — Public Hearing.
RE: Review of the crop insurance industry.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Dr. Keith Collins, Chief Economist, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
• Administrator Eldon Gould, Risk Management Agency, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
  

Panel II

• Mr. Robert Parkerson, President, National Crop Insurance Services, Overland Park, KS
• Mr. Steve Harms, Chairman, American Association of Crop Insurers, Johnston, Iowa
• Ms. Kathy Fowler, President, National Association of Crop Insurance Agents, Memphis, Texas
• Mr. Steven C. Rutledge, President, Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company, on behalf of The Crop Insurance Research Bureau, West Des Moines, Iowa

Thursday, April 26, 2007
Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management — Public Hearing.
RE: Review of proposals to amend the program crop provisions of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Mr. Joseph Nicosia, Second Vice-President, American Cotton Shippers Association, Cordova, Tennessee
• Mr. Joseph Kapraun, Financial Planning/Marketing Manager, GROWMARK, Inc., on behalf of National Grain and Feed Association, Bloomington, Illinois
• Mr. Rick L. Schwein, Chairman, North American Millers’ Association, Eden Prairie, Minnesota
• Ms. Audrae Erickson, President, Corn Refiners Association, Washington, D.C.

Panel II

• Mr. Bob Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau Federation, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Tom Buis, President, National Farmers Union, Washington, D.C.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry — Public Hearing.
RE: Review of Federal Milk Marketing Order rulemaking procedures.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Administrator Lloyd Day, Agricultural Marketing Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Kelly Krug, Director of Marketing Services, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento, California
  

Panel II

• Mr. Chris Kraft, Member/Owner, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., Fort Morgan, Colorado
• Mr. Dennis Donohue, General Manager, Manitowoc Milk Producers, Alexandria, Virginia
• Mr. Billy French, Dairy Farmer, on behalf of Virginia State Dairymen’s Association, Maurertown, Virginia
• Mr. Eric Ooms, Diary Farmer, Old Chatham, New York
• Mr. Ed Gallagher, Federal Order Analyst, Dairylea Cooperative Inc., Syracuse, New York
  

Panel III

• Mr. Mike Reidy, Senior Vice President, Procurement, Logistics & Business Development, Leprino Foods Company, Denver Colorado
• Mr. Warren Erickson, Executive Vice President and COO, Anderson Erickson Dairy Company, Des Moines, Iowa
• Mr. Douglas J. Wells, Co-President, Well’s Dairy Inc., Le Mars, Iowa
• Mr. William Ahlem, Co-Founder and Vice Chairman, Hilmar, California
• Mr. John Hitchell, General Manager, Raw Milk Procurement & Regulations, The Kroger Co., Cincinnati, Ohio

Thursday, April 19, 2007
Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research — Public Hearing.
RE: Review of USDA Farm Bill conservation programs.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Mr. Jeff LaFleur, Executive Director, Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association, on behalf of New England Farmers Union and National Farmers Union, Wareham, Massachusetts
• Mr. Charles “Jamie” Jamison, National Corn Growers Association, Dickerson, Maryland
  
• Mr. Lawrence Elworth, Executive Director, Center for Agricultural Partnerships, Asheville, North Carolina
• Mr. Joel Nelsen, President, California Citrus Mutual, Exeter, California
• Mr. Steve Foglesong, National Cattleman’s Beef Association, Astoria, Illinois
• Mr. Douglas Wolf, Wolf L&G Farms, LLC., on behalf of the National Pork Producers Council, Lancaster, Wisconsin
• Mr. Slade Lail, American Tree Farm System, Plumbdent Farms, Duluth, Georgia

Panel II

• Mr. David E. Nomsen, Vice-president of Governmental Affairs, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, on behalf of Agriculture and Wildlife Working Group and the American Wildlife Conservation Partners, Garfield, Minnesota
• Mr. Ralph Grossi, President, American Farmland Trust, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Olin Sims, President, National Association of Conservation Districts, McFadden, Wyoming
• Mr. Thomas W. Beauduy, Deputy Director & Counsel, Susquehanna River Basin Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
• Mr. Ken Cook, President, Environmental Working Group, Washington, D.C.
• Ms. Loni Kemp, Senior Policy Analyst, The Minnesota Project, Canton, Minnesota
  
  

Wednesday, April, 18, 2007
Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture — Public Hearing.
RE: Review of economic impacts of production, processing, and marketing of organic agricultural products.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Ms. Caren Wilcox, Executive Director, Organic Trade Association, Greenfield, Massachusetts
• Mr. Robert B. Marqusee, Director, Department of Rural Economic Development, Woodbury County, Sioux City, Iowa
• Ms. Bea James, Category Leadership Program Manager, National Cooperative Grocers Association, St. Paul Minnesota
• Mr. Mark Lipson, Policy Program Director, Organic Farming Research Foundation, Santa Cruz, California
  

Panel II

• Mr. Manuel Vieira, A.V. Thomas Produce, Livingston, California
• Ms. Mary-Howell R. Martens, Lakeview Organic Grains, Penn Yan, New York
• Mr. Scott Lively, President and CEO, Dakota Beef, LLC, Howard, South Dakota
• Mr. Robert Pike, Vice President/General Manager, Braswell Foods/Glenwood Foods, Nashville, North Carolina
  

Panel III

• Ms. Sandra Marquardt, President, On the Mark Public Relations, Silver Spring, Maryland, on behalf of Ms. La Rhea Pepper, Chief Executive Officer, Organic Essentials, Inc., O’Donnell, Texas
• Mr. Lynn Clarkson, President, Clarkson Grain Company, Inc., Cerro Gordo, Illinois
• Mr. Rich Ghilarducci, President and CEO, Humboldt Creamery, Fortuna, California
• Ms. Nicole Bernard-Dawes, President and COO, Late July Snacks, Hyannis, Massachusetts
  

Tuesday, April, 17, 2007
Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry – Public Hearing.
RE: Public Hearing to review the market structure for the livestock industry.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Administrator James E. Link, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
• Ms. Mary Muth, Program Director for Food and Agricultural Policy Research, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

Panel II

• Ms. Kay Doby, Poultry Grower, on behalf of Campaign for Contract Agriculture Reform, RAFI, Cameron, North Carolina
• Mr. John Crabtree, Development and Outreach Officer, Center for Rural Affairs, Lyons, Nebraska
• Mr. Tom Buis, President, National Farmers Union, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Bob Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau Federation, Washington, D.C.
• Dr. Robert Taylor, Alfa Eminent Scholar, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama

Panel III

• Ms. Joy Philippi, Pork Producer, on behalf of National Pork Producers Council, Bruning, Nebraska
• Mr. William P. Roenigk, Senior Vice President, National Chicken Council, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. John Queen, President, National Cattleman’s Beef Association, Waynesville, North Carolina
• Mr. J. Patrick Boyle, President & CEO, American Meat Institute, Washington, D.C.

Thursday, March 29, 2007
Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture – Public Hearing.
RE: Public Hearing to review the colony collapse disorder in honey bee colonies across the United States

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Associate Administrator Caird E. Rexroad, PhD, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Washington, D.C.
• Dr. Diana Cox-Foster, PhD, Professor, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
• Dr. May R. Berenbaum, Professor and Head, Department of Entomology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois

Panel II

• Mr. Paul Wenger, First Vice President, California Farm Bureau Federation, Modesto, California
• Mr. David Ellingson, Commercial Bee Keeper, Ortonville, MN
• Mr. Gene Brandi, Legislative Chairman, California State Beekeepers Association, Los Banos, California
• Mr. Jim Doan, Commercial Bee Keeper, Hamlin, New York
• Mr. Richard Adee, Legislative Committee Chairman, American Honey Producers Association, Bruce, South Dakota

Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management – Public Hearing.
RE: Review of proposals to amend the program crop provisions of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Mr. John Pucheu, Jr., Chairman, National Cotton Council, Tranquility, California
• Mr. Ken McCauley, President, National Corn Growers Association, White Cloud, Kansas
• Mr. Dan Gertson, Chairman, U.S. Rice Producers Association, Lissie, Texas
• Mr. Richard Ostlie, President, American Soybean Association, Northwood, North Dakota
• Mr. Lance Russell, President, Kansas Sunflower Commission, Hays, Kansas
• Mr. John Thaemert, President, National Association of Wheat Growers, Sylvan Grove, Kansas

Panel II

• Mr. Larry Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer, American Corn Growers Association, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. Evan Hayes, President, National Barley Growers Association, American Falls, Idaho
  • Accompanied by Mr. Richard Groven, Vice President, National Barley Growers Association, Northwood, North Dakota
• Mr. Jim Evans, President, USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council, Genesee, Idaho
• Mr. Greg Shelor, Past President, National Sorghum Producers, Minneola, Kansas

Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research – Public Hearing.
RE: Review of credit availability in rural America.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• Associate Administrator Glen L. Keppy, Farm Service Agency, USDA, Washington, D.C.
  • Accompanied by Deputy Administrator Carolyn Cooksie, Farm Service Agency, USDA, Washington, D.C.
• Ms. Nancy C. Pellet, Chairman of the Board and CEO, Farm Credit Administration, McLean, Virginia
  • Accompanied by Mr. Charlie Rawls, General Counsel, Farm Credit Administration, McLean, Virginia

Panel II

• Mr. Frank Pinto, President, Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
• Mr. Jeff Greenlee, President, NBanc, Altus, Oklahoma
• Mr. Doug Stark, President, Farm Credit Services of America, Omaha, Nebraska
• Mr. Armin Apple, Director, Agribank, McCordsville, Indiana
• Mr. John Zippert, Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Epes, Alabama
• Ms. Karen Stettler, Director, LSP Farm Beginnings, Lewiston, Minnesota

Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development, and Foreign Agriculture -- Public Hearing
Review of USDA’s Rural Development Programs and the Agency’s Rural Development Proposal for the 2007 Farm Bill.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• The Honorable Tom Dorr, Under Secretary for Rural Development, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
  

Panel II

• Mr. Chuck Fluharty, Director, Rural Policy Research Institute, Columbia, Missouri
• Ms. Colleen Landkamer, Commissioner, Blue Earth County, Minnesota and President, National Association of Counties, Mankato, Minnesota
• Mr. Billy Ray Hall, President, North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center, Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina
• Mr. Rick Harris, President, Sunkist Taylor, LLC., Salinas, California

Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry -- Public Hearing
Review of the federal food stamp program and its impact on children’s health.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• The Honorable Nancy Montanez-Johner, Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
  • Accompanied by:
    • The Honorable Kate Coler, Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
    • The Honorable Clarence Carter, Deputy Administrator for Food Stamp Program, USDA, Washington, D.C.

Panel II

• Mr. James D. Weill, President, Food Research and Action Center, Washington, D.C.
• Dr. Mariana Chilton, Ph.D, MPH, Principal Investigator, The Philadelphia GROW Project at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Ms. Janet Murguia, President and CEO, National Council of La Raza, Washington, D.C.
• Ms. Rene Massey, Director, Baldwin County Department of Human Resources, Bay Minette, Alabama
• Mr. Gary Brunk, Executive Director, Kansas Action for Children, Topeka, Kansas
• Ms. Kim McCoy Wade, J.D., Executive Director, California Association of Food Banks, Sacramento, California

Thursday, March 8, 2007
Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry -- Public Hearing
Review of the impact of feed costs on the livestock industry.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• The Honorable Chuck Conner, Deputy Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
  • Accompanied by:
    • Dr. Joe Glauber, Deputy Chief Economist, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

Panel II

• Mr. Ernie Morales, Member, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Devine, Texas
• Mr. Rob Wonderlich, Dairy Farmers of America, Ollie, Iowa
• Ms. Joy Philippi, Immediate Past President, National Pork Producers Council, Bruning, Nebraska
• Mr. Ted Seger, Farbest Foods, Inc., Huntingburg, Indiana
• Mr. Matthew Herman, Complex Manager, Tyson Foods, on behalf of National Chicken Council and North Carolina Poultry Federation, Monroe, North Carolina
• Mr. Ron Truex, President and General Manager, Creighton Brothers, LLC, on behalf of United Egg Producers, Atwood, Indiana
• Dr. Gerald Shurson, Professor, Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota

Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research -- Public Hearing
Review of the financing structure of renewable energy resources.

Witnesses:

Panel I

• The Honorable Thomas C. Dorr, Under Secretary for Rural Development, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
• The Honorable Andy Karsner, Assistant Secretary, United States Department of Energy, Washington, D.C.
• The Honorable Kathleen McGinty, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Panel II

• Mr. John Denniston, Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Menlo Park, California
• Mr. Kevin Book, Senior Vice President, Friedman Billings Ramsey & Company, Inc., Arlington, Virginia
• Mr. Larry Ward, Vice President Project Development, Broin Companies, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
• Mr. Tim Barker, Executive Vice President, Orion Ethanol, Pratt, Kansas
• Mr. Doug Stark, President, Farm Credit Services of America, Omaha, Nebraska
• Mr. Dave Reyher, President, Colorado Eastern Bank & Trust, Lamar, Colorado
  

Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture -- Public Hearing
Review of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Proposals For the 2007 Farm Bill With Respect to Specialty Crops and Organic Agriculture

Witness:

• The Honorable Chuck Conner, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture
  

Wednesday, February 14, 2007
House Committee on Agriculture -- Public Hearing
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Proposals For the 2007 Farm Bill

Witness:

• The Honorable Mike Johanns, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • Accompanied by:
    • The Honorable Chuck Conner, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture
    • Dr. Keith Collins, Chief Economist, U.S. Department of Agriculture

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