U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) was part of a congressional panel on Thursday that heard comments from more than 300 people about their priorities for the upcoming Farm Bill for 2018, marking the panel’s fifth listening session.
The listening session was held at Richland Community College in Decatur, Illinois, during the annual Farm Progress Show. Davis and U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) were among members of the House Agriculture Committee who participated.
“It’s critical we hear from farmers and ag leaders as we work to craft the 2018 farm bill, and it’s only fitting that we’re here during the Farm Progress Show, the largest outdoor agricultural event in the country that shows how important agriculture is to our local economy,” Davis said.
U.S. Reps. Mike Conaway (R-TX), the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, and U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), the committee’s ranking member, convened the listening session in order to hear from those producers who would be impacted by the Farm Bill.
“We heard a lot about increasing ag research and education, developing programs for beginning farmers, protecting rural broadband and ensuring strong nutrition programs that help those who need it most,” Davis said. “These are all issues important to growing Illinois’ economy, creating jobs and making sure we remain an agriculture leader and continue to feed the world.”