Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California

WASHINGTON – Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced) today delivered the following statement to open the first meeting of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture. Chares F. Conner, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, testified before the subcommittee.

Introductory Statement by Chairman Cardoza:

Deputy Secretary Conner, thank you for joining us today.  Let me start by saying that, overall, I think the Department’s recommendations for the 2007 Farm Bill are thoughtful, coherent and innovative. 

You have sent a crystal clear message that the Department, under the leadership of Secretary Johanns, wants to be a partner with Congress in this process and I commend your eagerness.

This Farm Bill will not be an easy one.

It is a classic case of “be careful what you wish for”.

Continued high farm prices have created a beneficial market scenario for rural America on the one hand, but on the other hand will now create a far lower baseline than anticipated for the Farm Bill we are tasked with writing.

In addition, there are a number of legitimate crops, many covered under this Subcommittee, who have waited FAR too long to become part of federal farm programs. 

Specialty crops in particular, comprise over 50% of the farm gate value in this country but receive far less than their fair share in federal support. 

Organic farmers comprise one of the fastest growing sectors of American agriculture, but lag behind traditional crops in representation at the federal level.

However, let us be clear, these growers are not interested in traditional subsidy programs afforded to the program commodities. 

So we - their advocates in Congress -  must be creative, and think outside the box. 

We must look for resourceful and imaginative ways to weave non-traditional commodities into existing programs and create new ones that suit the unique needs of these industries.  

Unfortunately, “being creative” and “thinking outside the box” have historically not been an easy task for Congress or the Department. 

But, the Department has made what I believe is a good faith first step in this process. 

I applaud many of their recommendations,  including the proposals for the research title, steps for breaking down trade barriers, and the Department’s commitment to controlling invasive pests.

I urge caution on some of the other proposals such as the elimination of the plating prohibition and the lack of meaningful programs to improve competitiveness—such as the popular block grant program.

I called this hearing in order to give the Subcommittee members additional time to question the Department on the various proposals for specialty crops and organics. 

There are many folks on the Committee who are not only new to the House Committee on Agriculture, but they are new to Congress in as well.

I intend to give every member as many rounds of questioning as Deputy Secretary Conner’s schedule allows. 

This hearing is meant to be informative, thoughtful and cordial.  As Committee members we can utilize this time to learn from the Department their thoughts on how certain programs may or may not be implemented. 

In turn the Department can hear from us what recommendations in their proposal are welcomed for inclusion into the 2007 Farm Bill and which ones might need some additional consideration.

With that I turn to Ranking Member Neugebauer for comments.