Newswise — Wednesday, April 25, 2012 - Movement on the 2012 Farm Bill, as previously planned by the Senate Agriculture Committee on Wednesday, April 25 is currently being rescheduled. But the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) is applauding Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow and Ranking Member Pat Roberts for crafting the bipartisan effort to date, and especially continuing investment in critical agricultural research, along with acknowledging the importance of conservation in supporting the stewardship and sustainability of America’s farmland.
“We understand cuts to Farm Bill programs are necessary as part of the deficit reduction process,” says American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America Chief Executive Officer Ellen Bergfeld. “We’re pleased Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Roberts produced a plan that recognizes the significant value of conservation, as well as food and agriculture research to the long-term sustainability of American agriculture.”
“When work is once again underway, we urge support of the Senate Agriculture Committee’s conservation and research title recommendations. And as we look to the future we recognize the need for innovative efforts to increase funding for critical food and agriculture research. We applaud inclusion of the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research. This initiative will create important new public-private partnerships to help meet the challenge of feeding the growing world population." The Science Societies remain hopeful an ongoing effort can continue to move the 2012 Farm Bill forward without it being allowed to lapse later this summer. The issues involved in it are too important in the goal to meet the challenge of producing the food, feed, fuel and fiber needed for an expanding global population.
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