Agriculture
Over the past hundreds of years, farmers in Western North Carolina have become adept at making the most out of the farmable land in our mountain region. Today, agriculture is a thriving industry across Western North Carolina. The quality and diversity of our products and agricultural operations is second to none; from apple orchards and tailgate markets to livestock and Christmas tree farms, Western North Carolina is leading the way.
Supporting local agriculture and farmers
Small farmers
Small farmers are the heart of agriculture in Western North Carolina, and I have made it a priority to ensure small farmers have the support they need from Washington.
For decades the number of small farms across the country has diminished. That trend has turned around in recent years, however, particularly in Western North Carolina where small farms are experiencing a resurgence. For this trend to continue, agriculture policies and regulations must address the needs and challenges of small farmers rather than be done on a “one size fits all” basis.
During the debate over food safety in the 111th Congress, I opposed legislation that would hurt small farmers and advocated for robust provisions to protect these producers from being strapped with undue burden.
Specialty Crop Producers
Many farmers in Western North Carolina produce specialty crops like fruits and vegetables. I have fought for the needs of specialty crop producers and worked to ensure they receive their fair share of federal funding. In 2008, I served as a voice for specialty crop growers on the conference committee for the Farm Bill. For the first time ever, farmers who grow specialty crops will directly benefit from the Farm Bill. Part of the increased funding for specialty growers will come from major additions to Section 32 funding. USDA uses this specific funding to purchase a variety of fruit, vegetable and tree nut products from American farmers for our schools.
Western North Carolina is a leader in the state and the Southeast region of the United States in apple production. I have opposed onerous USDA regulations that threatened to put our apple growers out of business. I have also requested federal support to help build a processing plant so that our apple growers can save money and time by processing locally rather than out of state.
Disaster Assistance
Any farmer in Western North Carolina can attest to the unpredictability of weather conditions in our mountain region. Over the past few years many farmers have seen their crops damaged or destroyed by storms, a freeze, or natural disasters. I have supported increasing federal disaster assistance so that our farmers can receive the immediate relief they need in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
Protecting farmers from fraud
I support reviewing and improving USDA regulations intended to protect farmers from fraud. Through no fault of their own, thousands of livestock producers across the country, including some in Western North Carolina, became victim to a highly-sophisticated check-kiting scheme in 2010. Hundreds of millions of dollars were lost, and many farmers were unable to keep their operations in business. As Congress reviews national agriculture policy in the Farm Bill later this year, I will continue working to address the issue of fraud and urge my colleagues on the House Agriculture Committee to adopt more adequate protection mechanisms for farmers.
Agriculture support services
Our local Farm Service Cooperative Extension agents provide an invaluable service to farmers, students, and rural communities. Unfortunately, these groups are facing the threat of funding cuts on both the federal and state level. As Congress continues to debate the budget, I will fight to protect federal funding for FSA, Extension, 4-H, and other important rural development programs and agricultural support services.
Organic and locally produced agriculture
Organic production is one of the fastest growing segments of agriculture today. Western North Carolina is home to number of organic farming operations and a leader in sustainable agriculture in the Southeast. During my time in Congress, I have supported increasing federal support for organic agriculture research and development so that our local organic farmers may continue to prosper.
In the 111th Congress, I advocated for policies and programs to help our farmers tap into the farm-to-school program, which expands markets for farmers and gives our kids increased access to healthy fruits and vegetables.
The Farm Bill
Congress is set to reauthorize the Farm Bill later this year. The Farm Bill is the primary legislation for federal farming support programs, food and agricultural trade policy, and nutrition assistance programs such as Women Infants and Children (WIC). The Farm Bill also makes investments in renewable energy, rural communities, and land conservation.
During the last Farm Bill reauthorization in 2008, I sat on the conference committee to ensure Western North Carolina’s specific interests were protected and advocated for in this critical legislation.
The 2008 Farm Bill increased federal support for specialty crop farmers and increased investment in renewable energy and programs to protect forest land and bolstered funding for forest management and conservation programs. The bill also increased support for economic development programs to improve infrastructure, health care, and broadband internet access in rural communities, and provided much-needed federal emergency disaster assistance to farmers in Western North Carolina.
As Congress crafts the new Farm Bill, I will continue to play an active role in promoting and protecting the interests of all our farmers in Western North Carolina.
Food Safety
Every year, 3,000 Americans die and 48 million become sick from largely preventable food borne illness. In the 111th Congress, the House considered a number of bills that would have increased the United States Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authority in our food safety system.
While I wholly support making improvements to food safety system, I have often said it should not be done at the expense of small and local farmers like those in Western North Carolina. For this reason, I did not support any food safety legislation until it included adequate protections for small farmers.
On December 21, 2010, I joined the House in passing the Food Safety Modernization Act, S. 510, the most sweeping overhaul of our food safety system in 70 years. I voted for S. 510 because it protects consumers with critical food safety reforms and protects small farmers with the inclusion of the Tester-Hagan Amendment. After reading S. 510 and consulting many farmers and agriculture proponents throughout Western North Carolina, I am confident that the Tester-Hagan amendment protects the overwhelming majority of Western North Carolina’s small farmers from burdensome and unnecessary regulation without stripping the overall bill of its important food safety provisions.
S. 510 gives the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded inspection and recall authority, improves traceability, creates an updated and more accurate food facility registry, and ensures all foreign food imports meet all U.S. food safety requirements. These new and much-needed regulations will better enable the FDA to prevent and respond to food-borne illness outbreaks.