This afternoon, Senator Michael Bennet held a community meeting at the Dolores Water Conservancy District to discuss the recently passed Farm Bill, which he worked with Coloradans to help write and finalize. He also heard input on future priorities for the state’s farmers and ranchers.
As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Bennet helped craft the Farm Bill with the help of Coloradans across the state. He was also selected to serve on the conference committee convened to work out the differences between the House of Representatives and Senate versions of the bill. Bennet helped ensure that Colorado priorities were in the final version of the Farm Bill, including a strengthened crop insurance program, improved conservation easements, reauthorization of the livestock disaster program, important forestry measures for reducing the risk of wildfires, and the continuation of Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for Colorado counties.
“The Farm Bill contains important provisions to improve the health of our forests, reduce the severity of wildfires, and boost rural economies. It also provides hardworking farmers and ranchers with the stability and certainty they need to plan for the future,” Bennet said. “Coloradans played a critical role in crafting the Farm Bill, and we’re pleased that Congress was finally able to come together to pass this important measure.”
Today’s meeting is part of a larger series of meetings Bennet is holding throughout the state to share information about the final Farm Bill and discuss agriculture priorities for the future. Last month, Bennet met with farmers and ranchers in Delta, Hayden, Alamosa, and Greeley. Yesterday, he held a meeting in Limon, and tomorrow he will hold a meeting in Rocky Ford.