Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) joined his colleagues in the House Committee on Agriculture for a field hearing in Lubbock, Texas, to review U.S. agriculture policy with Texas farmers and ranchers as the Committee begins the process of writing the 2012 Farm Bill. Congressman Cuellar, who represents over 11,300 farms and ranches in addition to over seven million acres of farmland in his congressional district, is the only Texas democratic member of Congress who serves on the House Agriculture Committee.

"I am working hard to ensure Texas has a voice in the 2012 Farm Bill," said Congressman Cuellar. "Thousands of farmers and ranchers in Texas rely on the assistance of this critically important legislation. This is why it is so important to engage in a first-hand dialogue with our agricultural producers in Texas."

Monday’s meeting was one of eight national field hearings in advance of the 2012 Farm Bill. Producers representing a spectrum of agricultural goods, including dairy, citrus, corn, cotton, cattle, wheat, vegetable, rice, sugar and soybean, met with over half a dozen House lawmakers including Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson (MN-7) and Texas Congressmen Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Randy Neugebauer (TX-19) and Mike Conaway (TX-11).

The U.S. Farm Bill is passed by Congress every four to six years and is the federal government’s primary agriculture and food policy mechanism for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The 2012 Farm Bill is expected to create and extend federal assistance programs for the nation’s agricultural commodities, including disaster and flood relief, rural development, conservation and agricultural research, in addition to extending national food and nutrition programs. The last Farm Bill was passed in 2008.

"This is the nation’s primary vehicle to create better policy for our farmers and ranchers," said Congressman Cuellar. "In my district, agriculture is a major player in our local economy with producers growing a cornucopia of products that are important to trade and jobs. This new Farm Bill will ensure that we meet the evolving needs of our farmers and producers."

To learn more about the 2012 Farm Bill and other agriculture related legislation, please visit the House Committee on Agriculture http://agriculture.house.gov

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Congressman Henry Cuellar is a member of the U.S. House Homeland Security, Agriculture, and Government Oversight & Reform Committees in the 111th Congress. Accessibility to constituents, education, health care, economic development, and national security are his priorities. Congressman Cuellar is also a Senior Whip and member of the Blue Dog Coalition