Rocky Ford, CO – Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry and Natural Resources, today met with farmers and organic growers at the Arkansas Valley Research Center in Rocky Ford to discuss their ideas to boost agriculture in the state, the importance of agriculture to Colorado’s economy and the 2012 Farm Bill.
“Colorado’s agricultural producers provide us all with a reliable, safe supply of food and fuel,” said Bennet. “It is important that their voices are heard in Washington to ensure they have the support they need for farming and ranching in Colorado to continue to thrive. As we begin work on the Farm Bill, I will keep the concerns and ideas I heard today in mind and strive to make Colorado the best state for agricultural producers.”
During the discussion, Bennet heard about some of the ongoing projects at the Arkansas Valley Research Center, including efforts to increase production efficiency and environmental protection. He also heard about the need to protect the integrity of the organic label to ensure Colorado producers can continue to benefit from growing consumer demand for organics.
Bennet also unveiled a new Farm Bill survey on his website to garner feedback as Congress looks ahead to work on the 2012 Farm Bill. The survey can be found at https://www.bennet.senate.gov/farmbill/ or by clicking on the Farm Bill link on his website.
The discussion was part of a series of events Bennet is holding in southeastern Colorado and the San Luis Valley that will highlight the need to create jobs, support family farmers and ranchers, and boost economic development in Colorado’s rural communities.