The House Agriculture Committee will begin preparatory hearings on the 2012 Farm Bill next week.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) spoke about the upcoming hearings during debate of the agriculture appropriations bill by the full House this week.  “The process of developing the 2012 farm bill would begin in the Agriculture Committee next week,” Lucas said while arguing against a proposed amendment to limit commodity payments to producers making less than $250,000 annually.

“Our first step will be a comprehensive audit of current farm programs to determine which are working, which are not, and how to best insure that America’s farmers and ranchers remain competitive and productive into the 21st century.  Our farm program audits are just the beginning of what will be a very transparent, inclusive, thorough process of developing the 2012 farm bill.  During that process, we will be careful to consider how best to stabilize, how to provide stability and certainty to farmers during lean years.  Without appropriate risk management tools in place, a few bad seasons could put farming operations out of business permanently.”

The Committee has scheduled the following hearings:

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 – 10:00 a.m.
1300 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry–Public Hearing
RE: Agricultural Program Audit: Examination of conservation programs.

Thursday, June 23, 2011 – 11:00 a.m.
1300 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Subcommittee on Rural Development, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture –Public Hearing
RE: To review the opportunities and benefits of agricultural biotechnology.

Friday, June 24, 2011 – 10:00 a.m.
1300 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management–Public Hearing
RE: Agricultural Program Audit: Examination of crop insurance programs.