    [Senate Hearing 115-170]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                                                           S. Hrg. 115-170

                                GROWING JOBS AND
                             ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY:
                              PERSPECTIVES ON THE
                          2018 FARM BILL FROM MICHIGAN

    =======================================================================

                                 FIELD HEARING

                                   BEFORE THE

                           COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE,
                            NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY

                              UNITED STATES SENATE

                         ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

                                 FIRST SESSION

                                   __________

                                 MAY 6, 2017

                                   __________

                           Printed for the use of the
               Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

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           Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.govinfo.gov/

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               COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY

                         PAT ROBERTS, Kansas, Chairman

    THAD COCHRAN, Mississippi            DEBBIE STABENOW, Michigan
    MITCH McCONNELL, Kentucky            PATRICK J. LEAHY, Vermont
    JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas               SHERROD BROWN, Ohio
    JOHN HOEVEN, North Dakota            AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota
    JONI ERNST, Iowa                     MICHAEL BENNET, Colorado
    CHARLES GRASSLEY, Iowa               KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND, New York
    JOHN THUNE, South Dakota             JOE DONNELLY, Indiana
    STEVE DAINES, Montana                HEIDI HEITKAMP, North Dakota
    DAVID PERDUE, Georgia                ROBERT P. CASEY, Jr., Pennsylvania
    LUTHER STRANGE, Alabama              CHRIS VAN HOLLEN, Maryland

                 James A. Glueck, Jr., Majority Staff Director

                    Anne C. Hazlett, Majority Chief Counsel

                        Jessica L. Williams, Chief Clerk

                   Joseph A. Shultz, Minority Staff Director

                   Mary Beth Schultz, Minority Chief Counsel

                                      (ii)

                                C O N T E N T S

                                  ----------
                                                                       Page

    Field Hearing(s):

    Growing Jobs and Economic Opportunity: Perspectives on the 2018
      Farm Bill from Michigan........................................     1

                                  ----------

                             Saturday, May 6, 2017
                        STATEMENTS PRESENTED BY SENATORS

    Roberts, Hon. Pat, U.S. Senator from the State of Kansas,
      Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry....     6
    Stabenow, Hon. Debbie, U.S. Senator from the State of Michigan...     3

                                 Welcome Panel

    Hendrick, Ronald, Dean, Michigan State University College of
      Agriculture and Natural Resources, East Lansing, MI............     2

                                    Panel I

    Fritz, Janna, JDF Farms, LLC, Bad Axe, MI........................     9
    Alpers, Chris, RedPath Orchards and Alpers Farms, Lake Leelanau,
      MI.............................................................    11
    Gerstenberger, Rick, Gerstenberger Farms Inc., Snover, MI........    13
    Siemen, Darrin, Prime Land Farm, Harbor Beach, MI................    14
    Snider, Andy, Snider Farms, LLC, Hart, MI........................    15
    Williams, David, W Farms, LLC, Elsie, MI.........................    17
    Adam, Ingrao, Bee Wise Farms, Lansing, MI........................    19
    Miller, Pam Bouma, Hopyards of Kent, Greenville, MI..............    20

                                    Panel II

    Hesterman, Oran, President and Chief Executive Officer, Fair Food
      Network, Ann Arbor, MI.........................................    31
    Watson, Faith, Montcalm County SNAP Recipient, Greenville, MI....    33
    Nugent, Jim, Fruit Grower and Chairman, Michigan Tree Fruit
      Commission, Suttons Bay, MI....................................    34
    Rorah, Kyle, Great Lakes & Atlantic Region Policy Specialist,
      Ducks Unlimited, Ann Arbor, MI.................................    36
    Hebron, Jerry Ann, Farmer and Executive Director, Northend
      Christian CDC, Detroit, MI.....................................    37
    Thompson, Collin, Manager, Michigan State University, USDA
      Organic Certified North Farm, Chatham, MI......................    39
    Matson, Kristen, Inventory & Planning Specialist, Michigan
      Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division, Shingleton,
      MI.............................................................    40
    Hance, Bob, President and Chief Executive Officer, Midwest Energy
      Cooperative, Cassopolis, MI....................................    42
                                  ----------

                                    APPENDIX

    Prepared Statements:
        Alpers, Chris................................................    50
        Fritz, Janna.................................................    56
        Gerstenberger, Rick..........................................    59
        Hance, Bob...................................................    77
        Hebron, Jerry Ann............................................    81
        Hendrick, Ronald.............................................    85
        Hesterman, Oran..............................................    89
        Ingrao, Adam.................................................    96
        Matson, Kristen..............................................   105
        Miller, Pam Bouma............................................   111
        Nugent, Jim..................................................   113
        Rorah, Kyle..................................................   115
        Siemen, Darrin...............................................   118
        Snider, Andy.................................................   128
        Thompson, Collin.............................................   134
        Watson, Faith................................................   138
        Williams, David..............................................   142
    Document(s) Submitted for the Record:
    Roberts, Hon. Pat:
        ``Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices
          Audit Verification Program''...............................   148
    Hance, Bob:
        ``The Need for Better Broadband in Rural America''...........   185
    Miller, Pam Bouma:
        Specialty Crop Block Grants..................................   187
        Export Opportunity Analysis..................................   194
        Pictures submitted for the Record............................   206
    Snider, Andy:
        Animal Agriculture Commission, letter of support.............   217
    Question and Answer:
    Alpers, Chris:
        Written response to questions from Hon. Pat Roberts..........   222
    Fritz, Janna:
        Written response to questions from Hon. Pat Roberts..........   224
    Gerstenberger, Rick:
        Written response to questions from Hon. Pat Roberts..........   225
    Hance, Bob:
        Written response to questions from Hon. Pat Roberts..........   226
    Ingrao, Adam:
        Written response to questions from Hon. Pat Roberts..........   227
    Matson, Kristen:
        Written response to questions from Hon. Pat Roberts..........   229
    Miller, Pam Bouma:
        Written response to questions from Hon. Pat Roberts..........   230
    Rorah, Kyle:
        Written response to questions from Hon. Pat Roberts..........   231
    Siemen, Darrin:
        Written response to questions from Hon. Pat Roberts..........   233
    Snider, Andy:
        Written response to questions from Hon. Pat Roberts..........   234
    Williams, David:
        Written response to questions from Hon. Pat Roberts..........   236

                                GROWING JOBS AND
                              ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY:
                              PERSPECTIVES ON THE
                          2018 FARM BILL FROM MICHIGAN

                             Saturday, May 6, 2017

          Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center,
                                     Michigan State University,
                                                        Frankenmuth, MI
        The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:06 a.m.,
    Eastern Time, at the Saginaw Valley Research and Extension
    Center, Michigan State University, 3775 S. Reese Road,
    Frankenmuth, Michigan, Hon. Pat Roberts, Chairman of the
    Committee, presiding.
        Present: Senators Roberts and Stabenow.
        Chairman Roberts. Good morning. I call this hearing of the
    Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry to
    order. Senator Stabenow, ladies and gentlemen on the panels,
    others here in the room, and those watching across the country,
    welcome to the Committee's second hearing on the next farm
    bill.
        We started the journey to a successful and timely upcoming
    farm bill in Manhattan, Kansas--the Little Apple, home of the
    ever optimistic and fighting Wildcats--several weeks ago, and
    we continue that listening process here in Michigan today.
        I am very proud to welcome my partner, Senator and former
    Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow. We are colleagues, we are friends.
    I am grateful to her for inviting us back to Michigan, and we
    will again work together to craft a new farm bill. We have done
    it before; we can do it again.
        Before we offer our opening remarks, we will hear a welcome
    from the distinguished Dean of Michigan State's College of
    Agriculture and Natural Resources. I now turn to Senator
    Stabenow for her introduction, and then we will turn it over to
    you, Dr. Hendrick, for your remarks.
        Senator Stabenow. Well, thank you so much, Mr. Chairman.
        First, to everyone here, we need to recognize the fact that
    Senator Roberts is the only Chair of the Senate Agriculture
    Committee who has also been Chair of the House Agriculture
    Committee. So welcome to Michigan. We are glad to have you.
        [Applause.]
        Senator Stabenow. I am so pleased to introduce the dean of
    my alma mater's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources,
    Dr. Ronald Hendrick. Dean Hendrick holds both his bachelor's
    and doctorate degrees from Michigan State University. Prior to
    his current role at MSU, he served as interim dean for the
    College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Science at Ohio
    State. We will not hold that against you.
        [Laughter.]
        Senator Stabenow. He saw the light and came home. So,
    again, welcome and thank you so much for sharing your time and
    your remarks with us today.

      STATEMENT OF RONALD L. HENDRICK, PH.D., PROFESSOR AND DEAN,
     MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL
                   RESOURCES, EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN

        Mr. Hendrick. Thank you. Chairman Roberts, Ranking Member
    Stabenow, members of the Michigan agriculture community, on
    behalf of Michigan State University, I would like to welcome
    all of you to the MSU Saginaw Valley Research and Extension
    Center and today's Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
    Committee field hearing, where we will highlight growing jobs
    and economic opportunity. We are all honored that the Committee
    has chosen to hold this hearing on issues important to
    Michigan's agricultural community here in Saginaw Valley.
        I would like to begin by acknowledging our venue. This
    center has served farmers in the Saginaw Valley since the early
    20th century. Here our MSU researchers and area farmers work on
    increasing productivity, profitability, and sustainability.
    With much of Michigan's sugar beet and dry bean production
    located in this part of the State, it makes sense for MSU to
    meet growers where they are. We in turn have been generously
    supported by both industries, as evidenced by this new
    facility.
        I serve as dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural
    Resources, and while I consider myself relatively new to the
    university, I am indeed a two-time alumnus, so my return is a
    bit of a homecoming for me.
        Michigan State University was founded in 1855 on the land-
    grant missions of teaching, research, and outreach. As dean, I
    oversee the college, MSU Extension, and MSU AgBioResearch, the
    entities that serve those mission areas.
        While that mission, the founding mission, is well over a
    century old, it is relevant just as much today as it was in
    1855. It is our charge to pivot, to adapt, and to provide
    leadership in areas of food, energy, and environment. It is
    work we take very seriously, and you will hear today from
    people who have been impacted by the work that we do.
        There are more voices today, though, that you will not
    hear. I think about those we serve daily, our constituents, as
    people who woke up this morning with access to nutritious
    breakfasts and clean water and a clean environment, but also
    those who did not, and their voices matter in this conversation
    as well.
        There is perhaps no greater time to be involved in research
    pertaining to sustainable and nutritious food production. The
    world's population is growing by about 80 million people a
    year. That is expected to continue for decades into the future.
    In our country, the USDA estimates that 13.1 million children
    are living in homes with insufficient food, while at the same
    time children are being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at an
    ever-increasing rate.
        MSU remains committed to discovering practical, adoptable
    solutions that address these and other serious issues. It is
    through research and outreach that these answers will continue
    to be unearthed, shared, and put into practice at home and
    around the globe. Our research in the areas of food, energy,
    and environment happens broadly across campus, across the
    State, and around the world because we do not approach and
    solve problems in a vacuum.
        Solutions to crisis issues like clean water and nutritious
    and abundant food mean not only providing and growing food and
    water, but understanding human behavior and the challenges that
    face people across the country and around the world. We cannot
    just grow more nutritious food and provide clean water; we also
    need to find ways to distribute those and understand the
    importance of both.
        As folks in this room are keenly aware, we all need to
    better communicate about the economics of food and agriculture
    so that people from all walks of life understand the vitality
    of the food and agriculture industry. To that end, MSU works
    hand in hand with community organizations to address issues
    facing growers and producers throughout the State, focusing on
    solutions for everything from disease management to food
    processing.
        As you know, MSU researchers received nearly $40 million in
    USDA grant funding in 2016, which puts us in the top five
    agricultural research institutions in America. We are very
    proud of this accomplishment, and we are also very grateful for
    the Federal investment in that.
        The only thing about this kind of work that we can say is
    that there is always more to do. There is pent-up demand for
    additional capacity for research, for outreach, and for
    teaching. MSU and the Nation's other land-grant colleges stand
    ready to do our part in feeding growing populations with
    healthy, nutritious food and improving the economic climate for
    the food and agriculture industry.
        Again, I want to thank everyone gathered with us today. We
    want to wish you a warm welcome to Saginaw Valley, and I look
    forward to a robust hearing. Thank you.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Hendrick can be found on
    page 85 in the appendix.]
        Senator Stabenow. Thank you, Dr. Hendrick. Thank you.
        [Applause.]
        Chairman Roberts. I now recognize the distinguished Senator
    from Michigan, Deborah Stabenow, for her opening remarks.

    STATEMENT OF HON. DEBBIE STABENOW, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE
                              OF MICHIGAN

        Senator Stabenow. Well, thank you so much, Mr. Chairman,
    and I think we also want to invite our witnesses to come up who
    will be speaking. We are so glad to have witnesses who have
    been willing to take their time this weekend to join us for
    this important hearing, showcasing the breadth and diversity of
    Michigan in this process. So thank you so much.
        I want to thank the Chairman again for once again making
    the trip to our beautiful State. We did this before for the
    last farm bill. We were on Michigan State University campus.
    Now we are out in the middle of farmland, which is only
    appropriate. I appreciate very much, Mr. Chairman, your
    spending time with some of our amazing agriculture,
    conservation, and local food leaders.
        Mr. Chairman, I know that Kansas farmers have had a rough
    start to the year, with both wildfires and more recently a
    late-season blizzard that decimated your wheat crop. I am
    pleased that just a few minutes ago we were able to join some
    of our very generous Michigan farmers who stepped up to donate
    their time and resources. We are so very proud of them. These
    people understand what it is like to care about one another and
    be part of an extended family called farmers. We had members
    that delivered hay to Kansas as well as other supplies to help
    after the devastating wildfires earlier this spring.
        I know you heard from our Michigan farmers that we support
    Kansas farmers. Whether it is a wildfire or a late frost in
    Kansas, or a warm winter and a hailstorm in Michigan, or what
    may be happening on the western side of the State this weekend
    with our fruit growers farmers more than anyone else know the
    danger that weather changes pose.
        We are glad to be part of your extended farm family. In
    fact, as I already said, agriculture is the riskiest business
    there is. Nobody else has to depend on the weather report for
    their success. But farmers also have grit and determination and
    passion for what they do, and for that we all should be very
    grateful.
        Mr. Chairman, I know that you and I and our Senate
    Committee will follow the example of these farmers and keep all
    of agriculture working together so that we can continue
    building our farm bill coalition and pass a 2018 Farm Bill.
    Everyone who is here today understands how important the farm
    bill is to Michigan. But many people outside of agriculture do
    not understand how critical it is to our economy.
        I have always said we do not have an economy unless we make
    things and grows things, and the farm bill plays an important
    role in doing that. The food and agriculture economy supports
    16 million jobs across our country, and here in Michigan,
    agriculture is our State's second largest industry supporting
    one out of every four jobs.
        We last passed a farm bill in 2014, signed by President
    Obama right here in Michigan. I made sure that Michigan was
    reflected on every page. The bill made responsible, bipartisan
    reforms to streamline more than 100 programs and save taxpayers
    billions more than we expected.
        The bill goes a long way to support Michigan families who
    have been growing food for many generations through expanded
    crop insurance, but also creates new opportunities for
    beginning farmers to enter the field, including our veterans.
    It helps our $720 million specialty crop industry access
    stronger risk management tools to protect their crops from
    future disasters. It connects our producers to new markets to
    sell locally to their neighbors or around the world. It
    invigorates the economies of small towns and rural communities
    through bio-based manufacturing and upgraded infrastructure. It
    helps to put food on the table for families who have fallen on
    hard times.
        It brings tourism dollars to our State through significant
    investments in conservation that protects our Great Lakes and
    waterways. It supports cutting-edge research like we have right
    here to advance and safeguard our food and agriculture economy.
    The ground-breaking work that is happening right here at MSU
    Extension is one important example.
        Congress considers the farm bill only once every 5 years,
    and the 2014 Farm Bill that has done so much for our State is
    set to expire next fall. Just as in the last bill, Michigan
    will continue to have a voice in the farm bill process from
    start to finish.
        Going into the 2018 Farm Bill, we know things have changed
    over the last few years. Low prices have pinched margins and
    made it tough for many producers to make ends meet. Right off
    the bat, we know we need to strengthen our farm safety net,
    particularly for us in Michigan, our dairy farmers.
        Throughout the process, I will again be focused on the
    needs of Michigan producers and our State's small towns and
    small communities, like my hometown of Clare. The Congressional
    Budget Office estimates that the farm bill will save $80
    billion more than we had expected because of the policies in
    place and primarily because the economy is getting better and
    fewer people need temporary food assistance.
        We know the farm bill has done more than its fair share to
    reduce the deficit. Any further cuts would be detrimental to
    farmers and families. That is why over 500 groups, including
    some of the groups represented here today, agree we should not
    be making new cuts to the farm bill.
        Writing a farm bill is no simple task, and we certainly
    cannot do it alone, which is why we are here today. Throughout
    the hearing, we will hear from a wide variety of witnesses who
    reflect our State's unique food and farm economy. Believe it or
    not, many people outside of Michigan do not think of us as a
    farm State, but we know better. We in Michigan take great pride
    in our agricultural diversity. If you grew up eating chocolate-
    covered cherries at the Cherry Festival, or picking from the
    wide variety of fruits and vegetables our farmers markets have
    to offer or driving along the highways flanked by sugar beet,
    corn, dry bean, soybean fields, and so much more, you know what
    our State is capable of growing.
        Michigan is the second most diverse State in the country in
    terms of what we grow, and the strength of our agriculture
    economy is rooted in that diversity. We were able to make sure
    Michigan agriculture was strongly represented in the last farm
    bill thanks to the support and input we received, and the broad
    coalition that came together to support our comprehensive,
    bipartisan bill. In order to ensure Michigan continues to have
    a strong voice in the process, we will need to continue that
    tradition of working together to support our jobs, our farmers,
    and our families. I am confident we can achieve that goal.
        Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Roberts. Thank you, Senator Stabenow, for an
    excellent statement.
        Ladies and gentlemen, it is great to be back in Michigan
    today.
        [Laughter.]
        Senator Stabenow. Go green.
        Chairman Roberts. We made her wear purple at K-State.
        Senator Stabenow. I did.
        [Laughter.]

     STATEMENT OF HON. PAT ROBERTS, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF
     KANSAS, CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION,
                              AND FORESTRY

        Chairman Roberts. Before we get started, I want to
    recognize and thank several Michigan farmers, ranchers, and
    other citizens, as well as the director of the Michigan
    Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Jamie Clover
    Adams. As has been said by Senator Stabenow and many of you,
    you surely have heard that, in March, Kansas farmers and
    ranchers were hit by the largest prairie fire on private land
    in our State's history, and we think perhaps in our country,
    with over 750,000 acres, and thousands of cattle euthanized.
        Folks back home lost their homes, their cattle, their
    facilities, their fencing, their livelihoods, but they did not
    lose their future. Many producers in Michigan and elsewhere all
    throughout the country stepped up to help with recovery
    efforts, raising private funds, sending hay and materials to
    rebuild, and other assistance to Kansas. For that, we are
    extremely, extremely grateful.
        These generous activities illustrate the can-do attitude
    and the bootstrap mentality that makes rural America so
    special, regardless if you call Kansas or Michigan or any other
    State home. Just as we did during our recent visit to Kansas,
    it is important for us to get out of Washington--it is always
    pleasant to get out of Washington--to hear directly from folks
    about the farm bill where it matters most: on our farms,
    ranches, businesses, and communities all across the country.
        Our producers, agribusiness, and our rural communities are
    the ones who signed up for the programs. They comply with all
    the regulations and feel the pain firsthand of overburdensome
    or undersupportive policies. Year after year, America's farmers
    and ranchers overcome drought, disease, floods, fires, freezes,
    tornadoes, embargoes, and even their own Government to produce
    the safest, most abundant, affordable food and fiber supply the
    world has ever known.
        Your experience, your story, is what we need to hear before
    we start writing a new farm bill. I think you know that passing
    a new bill will not be easy. That is the understatement of the
    morning. That is why your help in crafting a bill that meets
    the needs of producers across all regions and all crops is
    absolutely necessary. Note that I said ``all regions and all
    crops.''
        All of agriculture today is in a rough patch. We are
    struggling, not just one or two commodities. During the last
    farm bill debate, the agriculture sector enjoyed high prices.
    Now we face multiple years of low prices across the board.
        Senator Stabenow and I are working to make Washington
    understand the differences between the economic conditions then
    and what we are facing now. You all understand that. Washington
    needs to as well.
        So to those who say passing a farm bill in this environment
    is a daunting task, I say, okay, but together we can get it
    done. We have done it before. We will do it again. We must
    embrace the attitude of our producers: optimism and ingenuity.
    A farmer plants a seed believing in a good harvest.
        At the same time, our Government is spending money it does
    not have. That is no surprise to anybody in the room. Our
    national debt exceeds $19 trillion. That is a ``T''--trillion.
    Put 19 and then you put 12 zeroes. My staff and I counted them.
        [Laughter.]
        Chairman Roberts. That is so enormous that it is hard to
    get your hands around it.
        Agriculture, and specifically the farm bill, has
    consistently answered the call to do more with less. That is
    what we do. The last farm bill voluntarily cut spending. The
    previous crop insurance contract for the Agriculture Department
    cut--I do not even like remembering this--$6 billion from the
    program. There was going to be another $3 billion in the
    continuing resolution, but we stopped that. I could go on and
    on where ag has already given at the store.
        Farmers and ranchers and rural families understand fiscal
    responsibility. That is what we are all about. Therefore, we
    must be judicious with the scarce resources that we have. We
    must ensure programs accomplish their fundamental purposes. We
    must ask tough questions and re-examine programs to determine
    their effectiveness. Now is the time to examine the core
    mission of USDA programs to ensure they are operating as
    intended, and if they are not, then we must refocus. We need
    bold thinking and new ideas to address today's challenges
    during these tough economic times.
        Now, Dr. Hendrick said it very well. Let us not forget that
    the global population is rapidly approaching 9 billion people.
    Agriculture production will need to double in the near future
    to meet the increased demand over the next couple of decades.
    Accomplishing this task requires efficiency, not just on the
    farm and the ranch but certainly, most certainly, in our United
    States Government.
        Feeding an increasing global population is not simply an
    agriculture challenge. It is a national security challenge.
    Show me a country that cannot feed itself, and I will show you
    a nation in chaos. This means we need to grow more and raise
    more with fewer resources. That is going to take research, new
    technology, lines of credit, and proper risk management. It
    takes the Government providing an adequate safety net and then
    getting out of the producers' way.
        So that is why we are here today, to hear from the entire
    value chain of agriculture on what is working, what is not, and
    how we can improve. I want to thank all of our witnesses for
    taking the time out of your valuable schedule to provide your
    advice and your perspective. Thank you to those in the audience
    for being here as well.
        Now, for those of you who want to provide additional
    thoughts on the farm bill, we have set up an email address on
    the Senate Ag Committee's website to collect your input into
    the farm bill discussion. You are not going to believe that I
    am up to this task to really get up to speed with technology in
    that you still claim I use carbon paper.
        [Laughter.]
        Chairman Roberts. But please go to ag.senate.gov. That is
    very easy to remember, ag.senate.gov. Then you click on the
    farm bill hearing box--my kids are not going to believe this--
    on the left-hand side of the screen.
        Let me do that again: ag.senate.gov, click on the farm bill
    hearing box on the left side of the screen. Then you can send
    us your own input--just be nice, watch the adjectives, watch
    the adverbs--for the Committee to consider as we write the next
    farm bill. That link will be open for 5 business days following
    today's hearing.
        I now turn to Senator Stabenow to introduce our first panel
    of witnesses. We look forward to your testimony. Unfortunately,
    we are asking you to limit your remarks to 4 minutes. When we
    get to 4 minutes and 30 seconds, you will hear this [tapping].
    That is a very gentle tap. You get to 5 minutes, we will take
    you to Dodge City, and you will never be----
        [Laughter.]
        Chairman Roberts. You will never be heard of again. Senator
    Stabenow.
        Senator Stabenow. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am so
    glad to be able to introduce our witnesses. I should also tell
    you we are tweeting, and someday I will explain what that is to
    you.
        [Laughter.]
        Senator Stabenow. We actually have a Twitter account that
    we are doing now.
        Chairman Roberts. I think I know a man that could help me.
        [Laughter/applause.]
        Senator Stabenow. Okay. He is coming along.
        We have a great group of producers today from all across
    the State representing the diversity that we all know is with
    us, and so welcome to all of you. I will introduce everybody,
    and then we will start with the testimony.
        To kick off the first panel, we have Mrs. Janna Fritz of
    JDF Farms in Bad Axe, not too far from here. Alongside her
    recently, Mrs. Fritz farms--say that three times--1,200 acres
    of corn, soybeans, and edible dry beans. Off the farm, she is a
    district sales manager for a seed company. Mrs. Fritz serves on
    the Board of Directors for the Michigan Corn Growers
    Association, and she received the Michigan Farm Bureau's Young
    Agricultural Leader Award in 2015.
        Next on our panel is Mr. Chris Alpers. Mr. Alpers is a
    third-generation apple and cherry grower from Lake Leelanau. He
    currently serves on the U.S. Apple Board of Directors and
    Executive Committee as well as the Cherry Growers Processing
    Board of Directors. Mr. Alpers and his father own Red Path
    Orchard and Alpers Farms, consisting of 1,000 acres of tart
    cherries, sweet cherries, and apples.
        Along with us today also is Mr. Rick Gerstenberger, a
    second-generation farmer with his two sons, Gerstenberger Farms
    in Snover, Michigan, where they farm almost 2,900 acres of
    sugar beets, corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, and occasionally
    dry beans. Mr. Gerstenberger serves as chairman of the board of
    the Michigan Sugar Company and is also the vice president of
    the American Sugar Beet Growers Association.
        Next on our panel is a fourth-generation farmer, Mr. Darrin
    Siemen of Harbor Beach. Mr. Siemen owns and operates Prime Land
    Farm along with his wife and three children. Their centennial
    farm includes 320 dairy cows, 800 beef cattle, as well as corn,
    sugar beets, alfalfa, and wheat. Mr. Siemen is the past
    president of the Huron County Farm Bureau, and in 2016, he and
    his wife were named the Outstanding Young Dairy Cooperatives by
    the Michigan Milk Producers. I want to also note that both Mr.
    Siemen and his wife are Spartans. Go green.
        Up next is Mr. Andy Snider, owner of Snider Farms in Hart,
    where he and his family raise turkeys, hogs, corn, and
    soybeans. Mr. Snider is a co-founder of the Michigan Turkey
    Producers Cooperative, sits on the Executive Council of Land
    O'Lakes Cooperative, and serves on the Board of Directors for
    GreenStone Farm Credit Services.
        I would like to welcome Mr. David Williams next. Mr.
    Williams is a fifth-generation farmer in Elsie, another
    Spartan. He is an active member of the Shiawassee Conservation
    District and the Michigan Farm Bureau. Mr. Williams serves as
    district director and president of the Michigan Soybean
    Association and also represents Michigan on the United Soybean
    Board.
        Along with us also today is Mr. Adam Ingrao. Mr. Ingrao is
    a fourth-generation U.S. Army soldier--thank you for your
    service--who served honorably following the 9/11 attacks as a
    Patriot missile fire controller. He is a beekeeper in Lansing
    and serves as the vice president of Michigan Food and Farming
    Systems, co-director of the Michigan Veterans in Agriculture
    Network, and is the co-founder of the Michigan Farmer Veteran
    Coalition. Mr. Ingrao is also a Ph.D. candidate in the
    Department of Entomology at Michigan State University.
        One of the things I am so proud that we did in the last
    farm bill is add extra support for farmers that are veterans,
    so thank you so much for organizing the Michigan Coalition.
        Concluding our first panel is Mrs. Pam Bouma Miller. Mrs.
    Miller is the owner and partner of Hopyards of Kent County in
    Greenville, Michigan. She is a founding board member of Hop
    Growers of Michigan and has quickly become an expert and a
    leader in this growing market.
        Welcome to all of you, and we look forward to your
    testimony.
        Did I miss someone here?
        Chairman Roberts. I do not think so.
        Senator Stabenow. I got everybody, okay. Good. Great. I am
    sorry. Mrs. Fritz.
        Chairman Roberts. Mrs. Fritz, you are recognized.
        Senator Stabenow. Mrs. Fritz, yes.

     STATEMENT OF JANNA FRITZ, JDF FARMS, LLC, BAD AXE, MICHIGAN,
       AND SECRETARY/TREASURER, MICHIGAN CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION

        Mrs. Fritz. Thank you. Good morning, Chairman Roberts,
    Ranking Member Stabenow. On behalf of my family farm and the
    Michigan Corn Growers Association, I want to thank you for the
    opportunity to testify and share a few thoughts on the farm
    bill.
        My name is Janna Fritz. I am married to a fifth-generation
    farmer. My husband, Joel, and I have two sons, Wesley and
    Zachary, and we farm 1,200 acres of corn, soybeans, and edible
    dry beans. I did not grow up on a farm, but I have come to love
    it because it is a great environment to raise a family.
    American farmers are some of the most honest, hardworking,
    compassionate people I have ever had the pleasure to know.
    Their ability to grow food, fuel, and fiber for the world is
    truly an inspiration to me. In addition to working on the farm,
    I also am a sales representative for a seed company that puts
    me in touch with farmers throughout the Thumb region.
        In addition to the family farm, I serve as the Secretary/
    Treasurer of the Michigan Corn Growers Association. Michigan's
    corn growers are innovative and efficient at producing corn in
    a sustainable manner. Corn farmers produce more bushels on
    fewer acres with fewer inputs than ever before. Farmers are
    deeply committed to environmental sustainability and are
    utilizing conservation programs like the Environmental Quality
    Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program.
        On our own farm, we have implemented a number of
    sustainability practices. We sample our soils and tailor our
    nutrient applications and only apply what our crop needs. We
    also use cover crops and no-till or minimum tillage to protect
    the soils.
        Corn farmers have seen a drastic drop in corn prices over
    the past several years. Corn prices are at or below their cost
    of production. Low prices mean lower revenues for farmers,
    lower net incomes for Michigan farm families, and increasing
    stress for farm operations, their employees, and our rural
    communities. In this environment, a strong farm safety net is
    critical for Michigan farmers.
        Fundamentally, the safety net in the 2014 Farm Bill under
    then-Chairwoman Stabenow worked well for farmers like myself
    and my neighbors. The combination of crop insurance and the
    commodity safety net have been helpful in offsetting
    significant revenue losses in recent years. The county-level
    agricultural risk coverage, in particular, remains a high
    priority for our growers. We believe the program has performed
    as it was intended and is making sure that farmers have
    assistance when it is needed.
        There are, however, like with any new program, some areas
    where improvements could be made in the new farm bill, and my
    written testimony has some of those suggestions.
        Along with a strong safety net, market development is
    critical to drive increased demand for corn and corn products.
    Trade and export development are consistently ranked as a top
    priority by MCGA members, and exports account for close to 30
    percent of U.S. corn farmers' income.
        I saw the potential opportunities from trade firsthand as
    part of an official trade mission to China last year. To
    continue on trade, USDA's Market Access Program and the Foreign
    Market Development Program continue to be extremely valuable in
    growing new overseas markets for agriculture. These private-
    public partnerships deliver a return on investment of $28 in
    exports for every dollar that we invest. MCGA supports
    increasing the funding for these programs to even further boost
    their effectiveness.
        At the same time we are growing markets abroad, there are
    important policies that support domestic markets such as
    renewable fuels. Michigan is home to five ethanol plants that
    produce clean-burning biofuels from Michigan-grown corn.
    Continued support of the Renewable Fuel Standard and other
    market access programs for biofuels will be more important than
    ever before to ever increase our demand.
        It is hard to understate the importance of the 2014 Farm
    Bill to Michigan's farm families as we have weathered
    tremendous economic challenges over the past few years. Thank
    you for your work and for this opportunity, and I look forward
    to answering your questions.
        [The prepared statement of Mrs. Fritz can be found on page
    56 in the appendix.]
        Chairman Roberts. Thank you very much. I appreciate your
    statement.
        Mrs. Fritz. Thank you.
        Chairman Roberts. We will be asking you questions about
    your written testimony and how we can improve crop insurance.
        Mr. Alpers, you are recognized, sir.

      STATEMENT OF CHRIS ALPERS, REDPATH ORCHARDS, LAKE LEELANAU,
                                MICHIGAN

        Mr. Alpers. Good morning, Chairman Roberts, Ranking Member
    Stabenow. Thank you for the opportunity to speak today. As
    mentioned before, my father and I manage/own Redpath Orchards
    and Alpers Farms, consisting of 1,000 acres of tart cherries,
    sweet cherries, and apples. The business was established in
    1959 by my grandfather.
        My wife, also a grower, is a sixth-generation tree fruit
    grower, and she and I hope to leave our family farm, poised for
    success, for maybe our 4-month-old son, Raymond, should he
    choose to carry out the family farming legacy. We look forward
    to planting an apple tree this year with our son, grafted from
    a Red Delicious tree my wife's great-great-great-great-
    grandfather planted on their family farm in Sparta, Michigan.
    That is seven generations.
        In addition to farming, my mother and I operate a business
    selling tree fruit nursery stock. We work with C&O Nursery--
    owned and operated by the Snyder family since 1906--from
    Wenatchee, Washington. This is an example of how tree fruit
    growers across the country work together closely in order to
    put our industry forward.
        Apples are Michigan's largest, most valuable fruit crop and
    have a farm gate value of $245 million. Building on the success
    of the 2008 legislation, the current farm bill made a number of
    important strides toward each of these goals. I would like to
    touch on a few of them briefly.
        Export Programs: A strong export market is critical to the
    health of the apple industry. Nationally, about 30 percent of
    the crop is sold overseas. This leads me to this important
    point. I would like to take a quick second to mention the
    importance for protecting the provisions for agriculture in
    NAFTA. Mexico and Canada represent the two largest export
    markets for apples, totaling more than $450 million in sales
    last year. Disruption to these important markets would have a
    devastating impact on our entire industry.
        The apple industry also strongly supports the Market Access
    Program, which has helped level the playing field as it allows
    us to compete with countries that have a much lower cost of
    production, such as China and Chile.
        The MAP program is a public-private partnership, with
    growers contributing $2 for every Federal dollar the industry
    receives. Recent studies have shown a return on investment of
    24:1 for MAP.
        Crop Insurance: The apple industry is one of a handful of
    specialty crops that participates in the Federal crop insurance
    program. In fact, according to the USDA's Risk Management
    Agency, nearly 75 percent of the apple crop is insured.
        A risk management tool such as crop insurance allows
    producers like me to invest back into our own businesses,
    creating good jobs for the local community. Modern apple
    plantings cost upwards of $40,000 an acre before a single apple
    is harvested, sometimes 3 to 4 years later.
        This enormous startup cost scares many talented young
    entrepreneurs--and lending institutions--away from investing
    their talents--and capital--into the apple industry. I am
    thankful many producers and lenders recognize crop insurance as
    an important risk management tool.
        Without the ability to purchase a solid insurance policy
    and limit my exposure, I would not be able to justify investing
    my future into the apple business.
        I would be remiss to not point out that labor continues to
    be our number one issue on our farm, and I must say there is no
    insurance for no labor. A solution to this problem must come
    sooner than later. I have personally witnessed crops wasting
    away on trees because the producer was not able to secure a
    domestic workforce or there had been extreme delays in the H-2A
    program.
        Due to the lack of a viable domestic workforce, our farm is
    in the process of recruiting foreign guest workers for the
    upcoming 2017 cherry and apple harvest. Many producers in my
    area are being forced to do the same thing. My single greatest
    concern on our farm is having a steady workforce come harvest
    season.
        Again, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to be able
    to testify before this Committee, and I look forward to any
    questions you might have.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Alpers can be found on page
    50 in the appendix.]
        Chairman Roberts. We thank you, Mr. Alpers.
        Let me get this right. Gestenberger, right?
        Mr. Gerstenberger. Gerstenberger.
        Chairman Roberts. Gerstenberger. I am on a slant.
        Senator Stabenow. I know. It is hard to see.
        Chairman Roberts. That helps. That helps a lot, gentlemen.
    We need the fifth-generation farmer. If you could slant your
    name, sir. Mr. Williams. All right. You are all in trouble now.
        [Laughter.]
        Chairman Roberts. Mr. Gerstenberger, thank you so much.

      STATEMENT OF RICK GERSTENBERGER, GERSTENBERGER FARMS, INC.,
      SNOVER, MICHIGAN, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, MICHIGAN SUGAR
                                COMPANY

        Mr. Gerstenberger. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and
    Ranking Member Stabenow. My name is Richard Gerstenberger, and
    I am testifying today on behalf of the Michigan Sugar Company.
        For the last 9 years, I have served as Chairman of the
    Board of Directors of the Michigan Sugar Company, which is a
    farmer-owned cooperative. I know the sugar business from the
    genetics in the seed to when the sugar arrives at the loading
    docks of our customers.
        When Congress looks at the sugar policy in the 2018 Farm
    Bill, there are seven key elements to consider: Support for
    U.S. sugar policy is support for our Nation's food security.
    Sugar is a strategic commodity in our Nation's food system. The
    Michigan sugar industry is a key supplier to Midwest markets,
    where 500 food manufacturers and retail businesses depend on
    reliable supplies of high-quality, safe sugar. A sugar policy's
    focus must put American beet and cane farmers' interests first.
        Support for U.S. sugar policy is support for responding to
    foreign unfair trade practices. American sugar farmers are
    among the lowest-cost producers in the world, but we cannot
    compete against foreign subsidies and predatory dumping
    practices that terribly distort world sugar markets.
        The recent damage to our industry caused by Mexican
    subsidies and dumping is a sad case in point. Our growers have
    lost billions in revenue. Some of our younger growers have
    already gone out of business, and today only 73 percent of our
    consumption is supplied by domestic production. Twenty years
    ago, 85 percent was supplied by domestic production. Growing
    dependence on foreign suppliers is an alarming trend that must
    be reversed.
        Support for U.S. sugar policy is support for fiscal
    responsibility. U.S. sugar producers have run at zero cost for
    the last 14 years. The only exception was in 2013 when Mexico
    dumped massive amounts of sugar in our market. USDA predicts we
    will be at zero cost for the next 10 years.
        Support for U.S. sugar policy is support for innovative and
    highly efficient American family farmers. U.S. producers are
    among the most efficient in the world because we have reduced
    costs by vertically integrating. We have formed cooperatives,
    and the growers now own all of the Nation's 22 beet factories.
        Adoption of modern biotechnology has raised beet sugar
    yields by 30 percent and dramatically reduced energy, chemical,
    and water use. Sugar beets are now one of the most sustainable
    crops in the country, if not the world. We support strong
    research in the next farm bill.
        Support for U.S. sugar policy is support for farming and
    manufacturing jobs in rural America. I want to thank Senator
    Stabenow for constantly reminding her colleagues and the Nation
    that agriculture is about jobs. The farm bill is about jobs.
    Our cooperative employs 2,400 workers and provides employment
    for 1,000 farm families and their workers. Nationally, the
    industry supports 142,000 jobs in 22 States. Many of these
    good-paying jobs represent the economic lifeblood of small
    towns throughout the region.
        Support for U.S. sugar policy is support for a stronger
    national economy. Michigan Sugar Company generates $1.5 billion
    in economic activity in the State of Michigan, and nationally,
    the sugar industry generates $20 billion in annual economic
    activity.
        Farmers are the original stewards of the land, and sugar
    farmers in Michigan strongly support voluntary conservation and
    widely adopt best conservation practices. But we also believe
    regulations should not overly burden farmers and would welcome
    the opportunity to work through concerns we have on wetlands
    and other issues.
        The beet sugar industry has been in Michigan for over 120
    years, and we plan to be here indefinitely. But our future
    depends on Congress passing strong sugar provisions in the 2018
    Farm Bill and the administration's implementation of that
    policy. We look forward to working with you in the months ahead
    to determine the modifications that are needed to ensure sugar
    growers in Michigan and beet and cane growers across the U.S.
    continue to survive and prosper.
        Thank you.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Gerstenberger can be found
    on page 59 in the appendix.]
        Chairman Roberts. Thank you, sir.
        Mr. Siemen.

      STATEMENT OF DARRIN SIEMEN, PRIME LAND FARM, HARBOR BEACH,
                                MICHIGAN

        Mr. Siemen. Good morning, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member
    Stabenow. My name is Darrin Siemen. My wife and I own and
    operate Prime Land Farm in Harbor Beach, Michigan.
        We are a centennial farm, and I am a proud fourth-
    generation dairy farmer. We milk 320 cows with LELY Robots. We
    raise about 800 beef cattle and farm 1,500 acres of sugar
    beets, alfalfa, corn, and wheat.
        I attended Michigan State University, where I met my wife,
    and we returned to the family farm in 2001. We assumed
    ownership in 2013. We have three children who are very
    passionate for our cows and farming.
        I am pleased to be delivering testimony on behalf of my
    cooperative, Michigan Milk Producers Association, and National
    Milk Producers Federation.
        In 2014, Congress passed legislation establishing a new
    safety net under Title I for dairy farmers known as the Margin
    Protection Program, MPP. During the legislative process,
    changes were made by Congress that fundamentally altered the
    safety net designed by NMPF and other dairy leaders around the
    country. Unfortunately as a result of these changes, MPP has
    failed to deliver the protection dairy farmers need and expect.
        MPP remains the right model for our future for dairy, but
    changes are needed if Congress wants to prevent farmers like
    myself from going out of business.
        In 2015, dairy farmers paid more than $70 million into the
    MPP program and received payments totaling only $730,000; in
    2016, those figures were $20 million and $13 million. I am not
    asking for a program that guarantees a profit, nor do I want a
    program that will incentivize excess production. However, MPP
    has actually made the Government a profit of $130 million in
    fiscal years 2015 and 2016, according to the Congressional
    Budget Office.
        In determining the margin under MPP, USDA is required to
    calculate two factors: the ``All Milk Price'' and feed costs.
    While the ``All Milk Price'' remains accurate, the feed price
    determination remains in question. The feed cost formula was
    cut by 10 percent in order to address broader budget concerns.
    These concerns regarding the budget costs that resulted in this
    10-percent arbitrary reduction were simply inaccurate, and this
    10 percent must be restored.
        Other adjustments that should be considered is the feed
    formula calculation as it relates to corn and alfalfa hay
    prices.
        Due to congressionally mandated restrictions in MPP, a
    dairy producer must decide at the beginning of the farm bill
    whether to cover their milk under the Livestock Gross Margin
    program or MPP, not both. With this restriction in place, dairy
    farmers are left without the benefit of all possible tools that
    other farmers have at their disposal regarding risk management
    for their operations.
        In addition, dairy farmers also remain concerned about
    challenges to our export markets, immigration, tax reform,
    child nutrition, and the environmental sustainability, and we
    look forward to working with the Committee to help address
    these challenges.
        I do want to publicly thank Senator Stabenow for her recent
    efforts to work with other Members of Congress and the
    administration to seek short-term solutions to help improve the
    safety net for dairy farmers. Also, a special thanks to both
    Senator Roberts and Senator Stabenow for their efforts to bring
    more milk options and flexibility to the School Lunch programs.
        Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member Stabenow, the dairy
    industry is committed to working with you to improve Federal
    policies that impact farmers like me as well as consumers. I
    appreciate the opportunity to speak with you today and thank
    you for your advocacy on behalf of agriculture.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Siemen can be found on page
    118 in the appendix.]
        Chairman Roberts. We thank you very much. Thank you, Mr.
    Siemen.
        Andy Snider, you are up next.

     STATEMENT OF ANDY SNIDER, OWNER, SNIDER FARMS, HART, MICHIGAN

        Mr. Snider. Good morning, Chairman Roberts and Ranking
    Member Stabenow. Thank you for receiving my testimony as you
    work to develop the new farm bill. Snider Farms is a
    multigenerational family farm, currently run by my wife, Beth,
    and myself, along with our son, Zack, and his wife, Priscilla,
    and 11 dedicated employees.
        As you can see in my introduction, farm cooperatives are
    very important to us. Like most farm operations, we have run
    into challenges over the years. We experienced a catastrophic
    dairy barn fire in 1996 from which we moved forward with just
    hogs and turkeys as our focus.
        One year after the fire, we and other Michigan turkey
    contract growers for Sara Lee were informed that they were
    exiting the live turkey business immediately. Fifteen turkey
    producers, including myself, banded together to form Michigan
    Turkey Producers Co-op. We received assistance of the USDA
    Rural Development Loan Guarantee Program for the facility as
    well as a value-added producer grant for an expansion which
    allowed us to enter the ready-to-eat and cooked-product market.
    Today Michigan Turkey ensures economic viability for its member
    owners as well as economic well-being for hundreds of farm and
    plant employees across west-central Michigan.
        In serving on the GreenStone board, I see firsthand the
    benefits that our Farm Credit System provides to rural
    communities and farmers, such as extending credit and
    supporting rural infrastructure for ag producers to operate for
    generations. This farmer-owned credit cooperative is critical
    to maintain as well as preserving its GSE status.
        Growing up in Michigan, surrounded by the State's beautiful
    lakes, I understand the importance of being a good steward of
    our natural resources. The conservation ethic runs deep on my
    farm, and we have enrolled in State and Federal conservation
    programs like CSP that will help sustain the land and the water
    for our children and future grandchildren. Snider Farms has
    also utilized EQIP funding. As you prioritize conservation and
    with programs made available through the farm bill, we have put
    into practice many that have allowed us to expand in both
    environmental and economically sustainable ways.
        Since 2015, the poultry industry has made significant
    strides in recovering from highly pathogenic avian influenza
    after suffering through the worst animal disease outbreak in
    U.S. history. The road ahead remains long, and as an industry
    we will need renewed support from Congress to assist USDA and
    APHIS to reduce the long-term impacts. High-path AI is not
    going away overnight. It is a global problem, and the time is
    now to start an international discussion on eradication
    strategies for high-path AI, including the use of vaccines.
        As the Committee embarks on the reauthorization of the farm
    bill, the MTF and its turkey farmers will be joining many that
    rely on the animal agriculture in asking for the inclusion of a
    forward-looking, mandatory Animal Pest and Disease Disaster
    Prevention and Response Program to the farm bill.
        Additionally, I would like to submit for the record a
    letter signed by 67 agricultural organizations supporting this
    initiative.
        [The following information can be found on page 180 in the
    appendix.]
        Mr. Snider. One final point I would like to raise related
    to my operation, specifically the organic portion of the recent
    USDA rule on Organic Livestock Production Practices. The
    organic program has long been focused on sound organic
    production from an ingredients standpoint. This new rule
    dictating outdoor space requirements moves the goalpost in a
    significant way.
        The organic sector has been a bright spot for growth in
    Michigan. The new rule could put many committed organic
    producers out of business. Furthermore, this rule is in direct
    conflict with what producers are currently doing to avoid
    future high-path AI outbreaks.
        Chairman Roberts, Senator Stabenow, I ask you personally to
    contact Secretary Perdue in the next week and express how
    imperative it is that he delay the implementation of the rule
    before May 19th.
        I trust you see the passion I have as a farmer for the
    health of our land, the ability to produce profitable, safe,
    and abundant food for our country and the world, and for the
    privilege God has given me to raise my family and continue the
    proud heritage of farming. I thank you for the invitation to
    speak about these important issues as you consider
    reauthorization of the farm bill. I welcome any questions.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Snider can be found on page
    128 in the appendix.]
        Chairman Roberts. Mr. Snider, we just had breakfast with
    Sonny Perdue here--was that 2 days ago?
        Senator Stabenow. Thursday.
        Chairman Roberts. Thursday. This man knows agriculture, and
    we have already announced changes in the School Lunch Program--
    not changes. We just gave the nutritionist a little flexibility
    there, 1-percent milk--I am still holding out for whole milk--
    and we will be delighted to ask the Secretary to delay that
    rule. That was the question I already had written out for you,
    but I wanted to respond very quickly.
        Mr. Snider. Thank you.
        Chairman Roberts. I would just make the observation on
    behalf of both of us that Sonny Perdue not only knows
    agriculture, he knows all of the rules around it, so on and so
    forth. He had enough time to study because of all the time that
    he had to sit there and wait.
        [Laughter.]
        Chairman Roberts. Mr. Williams, we look forward to your
    testimony, sir.

    STATEMENT OF DAVID WILLIAMS, W FARMS, LLC, ELSIE, MICHIGAN, ON
      BEHALF OF MICHIGAN SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION AND AMERICAN SOYBEAN
                              ASSOCIATION

        Mr. Williams. Chairman Roberts, Ranking Member Stabenow,
    and Committee members, thank you for holding this hearing. I am
    pleased to provide testimony on behalf of both the Michigan and
    the American Soybean Associations. My nephew and I manage 3,500
    acres on our sesquicentennial farm on which we plant soybeans,
    corn, and winter wheat.
        My testimony today focuses on ASA's support for
    conservation and biobased programs. Conservation programs have
    been critical to the great strides American farmers have made
    in land conservation and sustainability. ASA strongly supports
    working lands conservation programs like the Conservation
    Stewardship Program, CSP, and the Environmental Quality
    Incentives Program, EQIP.
        I signed my first CSP contract and adopted the practice of
    seeding cover crops using a combination of oilseed radishes,
    oats and peas. Recently, I seeded cereal rye. I have seen
    firsthand that cover crops prevent soil erosion and improve
    water quality by reducing drainage rates.
        We chose cornstalk nitrate testing in our second contract
    period. This testing provides a good assessment that the crop
    is receiving the right amount of nitrogen in our corn crop.
        The cost sharing provided under EQIP helped us build a
    chemical and fertilizer containment facility which assisted in
    our compliance with Michigan State water quality regulations.
    This is a good example of how leveraging private investment
    with farm bill dollars leads to improved water quality for
    everyone.
        I would also like to highlight the importance and benefits
    of the farm bill Energy Title programs in supporting
    agriculture's role in the emerging bioeconomy. USDA's 2016
    economic impact analysis showed that the U.S. biobased products
    sector supported 4.2 million jobs, $127 billion in direct
    sales, and $393 billion in total value to the U.S. economy.
        The U.S. soybean industry and the Michigan soybean industry
    have made significant investments into research, product
    development, and promotion of biobased products. Michigan is a
    leader in the world bioeconomy thanks to a long history of
    innovation by companies like Ford and Lear and their
    collaboration with U.S. soybean growers. Every Ford car made in
    North America now contains soy in its seat cushions.
        The State of Michigan enacted procurement preference
    legislation last year that extends to 97 categories of biobased
    products identified by USDA, ranging from engine oils to carpet
    and cleaning supplies. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in
    Michigan has set an award-winning example to other State and
    Federal agencies on the performance and environmental benefits
    of biobased products.
        We appreciate the support of the Senate Agriculture
    Committee and the leadership of Senator Stabenow especially for
    three key farm bill Energy Title programs:
        The Biobased Market Program encompasses the Federal
    biobased procurement program and biobased products labeling
    program.
        The Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels supports
    domestic producers of advanced biofuels and bioenergy derived
    from dairy farms and forest products.
        The Biodiesel Education Program supports technical outreach
    efforts to engine manufacturers, truckers, and fuel marketers
    which translates into increased use, more jobs, and more
    economic value in rural communities.
        While these programs do not have budget baselines going
    forward, we believe that their relatively low cost and the
    benefits they provide warrant their continuation in the 2018
    Farm Bill with an increased level of mandatory funding.
        We look forward to working with you on the development of a
    farm bill that maintains the income safety net for farmers and
    continues important Conservation and Energy Title programs.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Williams can be found on
    page 142 in the appendix.]
        Chairman Roberts. Thank you, sir.
        Mr. Ingrao, as a U.S. Marine veteran, let me thank you one
    veteran to another for your service to this country. Army
    strong.
        Mr. Ingrao. Thank you, sir.
        Chairman Roberts. As you mention in your testimony--oh,
    that is a question I have got for you down the road, so we are
    just going to recognize you for your statement. It might be a
    good idea to hear your statement first before I ask you
    questions.
        [Laughter.]
        Mr. Ingrao. I appreciate that, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Roberts. But get ready.
        [Laughter.]

      STATEMENT OF ADAM INGRAO, BEE WISE FARMS, LANSING, MICHIGAN

        Mr. Ingrao. Thank you. Chairman Roberts and Ranking Member
    Stabenow, thank you for the opportunity to testify today. I am
    truly honored to be here.
        Within each of the areas that I work in here in Michigan,
    the programs funded by the 2014 Farm Bill have been
    instrumental in the success of the organizations I represent,
    the farmer veterans I work with, and the research I conduct at
    Michigan State University.
        When I returned home from the Army, I experienced a lot of
    the same challenges that my brothers and sisters face in coming
    to terms with being a disabled veteran, the sudden loss of
    camaraderie, the guilt of not being there to have the backs of
    your battle buddies, and the depression that comes along with
    all of this.
        But I found that a lot of what I was experiencing was
    alleviated by spending time working in my parents' garden. It
    was digging into the soil, caring for the plants, and observing
    and reconnecting the natural cycles of life that allowed me to
    heal both physically and mentally.
        Since this realization, I have dedicated my life to help my
    fellow veterans realize that farming can address not only the
    financial but also the personal wellness challenges that many
    of us face. These careers in agriculture also speak to our
    veterans who desire to continue to serve their country and
    community by producing healthy food.
        The 2014 Farm Bill has been critical in providing the
    educational, programmatic, and resource connections necessary
    for veterans to identify farming as an opportunity and make the
    transition to this career. For Michigan food and farming
    systems and the Veterans in Agriculture Network, the beginning
    farmer/rancher development program and the 2501 Program have
    been crucial in allowing us to develop the programs necessary
    to educate farmer veterans and develop a strong and resilient
    farmer veteran community here in Michigan. This work has
    allowed us to identify the challenges facing farmer veterans
    that limit their utilization of USDA resources and services,
    and we are now working directly with NRCS and FSA staff through
    cooperative agreements to develop USDA navigation services that
    include one-on-one, veteran-to-veteran consulting and advocacy
    in USDA offices.
        These connections have resulted in many success stories of
    veterans transitioning to successful careers here in
    agriculture in Michigan, and today I am going to share the
    story of a Marine, just like yourself, Chairman Roberts.
        Sergeant Jeremy Huffman, a U.S. Marine, served in
    Afghanistan, and he and his wife now run Huffman's Homestead in
    Swartz Creek. We have been working with them for about the last
    2 years in a one-on-one relationship to help develop their 10-
    acre hobby farm into a farm that now offers a full Community
    Supported Agriculture Program and direct sales at two farmers
    markets, including the Flint Farmers Market. After using our
    USDA navigation services, he was awarded a high tunnel for
    season extension through the NRCS High Tunnel Program through
    EQIP. This has allowed him to increase production and develop
    new markets to sell his products. Additionally, Jeremy is also
    using the Double Up Food Bucks Program to reach the most
    vulnerable populations affected by the Flint water crisis by
    offering high-quality vegetables, fruit, and poultry to the
    children of Flint.
        The farm bill stands as a foundation of the support for
    American farms and our national prosperity. Through the 2018
    Farm Bill, it is my home that Congress realizes the importance
    of the programs created in the 2014 Farm Bill and builds upon
    them to invest in the training and success of beginning farmers
    and those looking to produce agricultural products in new and
    unconventional venues, like urban farming, all while
    recognizing the importance of new farmer demographics such as
    military veterans that have unique training that complements
    the work ethic, leadership, and commitment necessary to be
    successful in the agricultural industry.
        It is critical for Congress to build upon this progress to
    include new initiatives that continue to foster the growth and
    success of the next generation of American farmers by engaging
    and supporting these communities to feed the world.
        Thank you.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Ingrao can be found on page
    96 in the appendix.]
        Chairman Roberts. We thank you for your statement, sir.
        Mrs. Miller.

    STATEMENT OF PAM BOUMA MILLER, OWNER, HOPYARDS OF KENT COUNTY,
                          GREENVILLE, MICHIGAN

        Mrs. Miller. Thank you, Chairman Roberts and Ranking Member
    Stabenow, for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Pam
    Bouma Miller, and I am the owner of Hopyards of Kent County and
    a founding board member of Hop Growers of Michigan. Hopyards of
    Kent was established in 2011 and is one of the largest family-
    owned hops farms in Michigan. We are dedicated to consistently
    producing the highest-quality hops available, through hard
    work, teaching, training, and commitment to the hop industry.
    We also have a harvest center that opened in 2016 for our
    network of over 30 growers to bring in their yields to be
    picked, dried, baled, and passed on to the merchant for further
    processing and sales.
        Today Michigan is ranked fourth in the Nation with over
    1,000 acres in farm hop production. There are approximately 200
    growers supplying 400-plus breweries in our State alone. It is
    critical that the next farm bill protect and strengthen the
    Market Access Program, which is the key for specialty crop
    growers to access new international markets. Michigan accounts
    for 5 percent of the $252.6 million hop export market in the
    U.S. Last year, the Michigan hop industry used a specialty crop
    block grant to establish hop quality standards, provide
    education and training to growing and developing a two-level
    voluntary certification program. Value-added producer grants
    have been used to help hop farmers pelletize hops for sale and
    distribution. Specifically, the equipment to process and handle
    hops is highly specialized and extremely costly. Getting the
    equipment into the community of growers requires the use of
    grants.
        Continued funding for research, including the Specialty
    Crop Research Initiative, is critical to the future of the hop
    industry to control pests and disease like downy mildew. It is
    also important to recognize the unique opportunity the hop
    growers of Michigan are pursuing through a farm-to-glass bill
    to provide tax savings for the use of Michigan hops and
    Michigan beer.
        As the Michigan hop industry continues to expand, growers
    are looking at new market opportunities through trade
    expansion. Standardizing regulations for herbicide and
    pesticide use should be set at the national level. Research
    funds should also be used to develop new public varieties
    breeding programs at the university level.
        Michigan State University Extension are critical for
    support in every aspect of the science, planning, and
    management of this agriculture specialty commodity. In
    addition, the labor issues center on the lack of a reliable
    workforce, and this remains a big concern as hops are a very
    labor-intensive crop. The labor pool is dwindling fast.
        As part of the success of my farm is a special relationship
    and understanding with my financial partner. This is a capital-
    intensive business, and its specialization demands dollars.
    GreenStone Farm Credit Services was there for me to the full
    extent they were able at the outset and remains an intricate
    part of my success as one of the first major hop farms in
    Michigan.
        The hops industry has grown 148 percent in the last 10
    years, and I look forward to being a part of the continued
    growth and development of this industry and the thousands of
    jobs that our industry supports in Michigan.
        Thank you for taking an interest in Michigan hops, and I am
    happy to answer any questions that you may have.
        [The prepared statement of Mrs. Miller can be found on page
    111 in the appendix.]
        Chairman Roberts. We thank all the witnesses. There are
    going to be two rounds of questions. Everybody out there just
    relax.
        The distinguished Senator from Michigan has just informed
    me that the next time I am in Michigan, I am to join her on a
    microbrewery tour.
        [Laughter/applause.]
        Chairman Roberts. She figures we can last 20.
        [Laughter.]
        Chairman Roberts. Sampling the products.
        You started in your statement, Mrs. Miller--I am going in
    reverse order. I do not want my staff to freak out here. But
    you stated in your testimony that you support how many
    breweries now?
        Mrs. Miller. In Michigan alone, 400-plus.
        Chairman Roberts. Four hundred. No wonder everybody is
    happy.
        [Laughter.]
        Mrs. Miller. We are known as ``Beer City, USA,'' yes.
        Chairman Roberts. We are going to have a hearing on
    pesticides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, FIFRA, the
    Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, and we
    have some problems, and so we are going to try to fix them.
        Senator Stabenow. Mr. Chairman, I just want to make note
    that that does not include our wine.
        Mrs. Miller. This is true.
        Senator Stabenow. We will keep you going between beer and
    wine.
        [Laughter.]
        Chairman Roberts. What do you mean by keep me going?
        [Laughter.]
        Chairman Roberts. You can see we get along pretty good
    here.
        Janna, you and Mr. Alpers and Mr. Williams, all of you
    really, have mentioned crop insurance as a risk management tool
    that you support and personally utilize. For those of you that
    have crop insurance policies available--and I am specifically
    mentioning corn, soy, and apples; I am not trying to leave
    anybody out--are they largely working for you? In other words,
    where would we--somebody said in his written testimony--no, I
    think you said that you have 11 different suggestions or
    something in your written testimony. Could you sort of just
    highlight for me--I am the self-declared godfather of crop
    insurance, along with the distinguished Senator from Nebraska,
    Bob Kerrey, back in the day. So if anybody would like to go
    forth, Mrs. Fritz, do you want to take that on?
        Mrs. Fritz. Absolutely. On our farm, we have access to crop
    insurance for all of our commodities and have utilized it every
    year that I have been involved with the farm, every year that
    it has been available to us. It was absolutely critical even as
    recently as last year. We had an issue with a failure in our
    dry bean crop last year, so we were able to implement the crop
    insurance and save some overall revenue that we need on our
    farm, especially in light of all prices in the commodity market
    being low and very close to overall margins, the crop insurance
    was necessary for us to remain viable for future years.
        Chairman Roberts. Mr. Alpers?
        Mr. Alpers. Yes, we utilize crop insurance in all three of
    the commodities that we produce. It is a necessary tool for a
    grower in the apple industry as well as the cherry industry. I
    just want to give a quick example real quick. The startup cost
    to put a block of apples into production now has gotten so much
    higher than it was 5 years ago due to the increased land values
    in our area. This might sound totally crazy, but the farms in
    our area in the Leelanau peninsula sometimes go for $20,000 an
    acre. So you can imagine being a young grower trying to
    establish a living in the apple business, A, finding a lender
    that is going to lend you money to purchase the land, to then
    invest $16,000 to $18,000 worth of trees on that one acre, and
    then you are going to take care of it for 2 or 3 years before
    you even start to pick an apple off of it. Without crop
    insurance tools, there is no way that a young person could
    venture down that road with a clear mind. The lenders would
    laugh at you and turn you away if it was not available.
        With that said, there are some issues with it that I think
    really could benefit younger growers and more established
    people. Part of that has to do with you have to establish a
    150-bushel-per-acre yield before you are able to purchase a
    crop insurance program. Now with these high-density systems
    that we are planting, we go from zero bushels per acre in the
    second year to maybe 400 or 500 in the third year. Well, I was
    not able to buy insurance going into that third year. Should
    there have been a disaster or something in that third year, I
    would not be able to buy it for the fourth year because I did
    not have a salable crop. That is exactly what happened to me,
    and that is why I am here. In my third year, I had a hailstorm
    July 8th in Traverse City. It ruined my first salable crop. I
    did not have insurance on it because I had not met that minimum
    150-bushel-per-acre, which I think needs to be looked at a
    little bit.
        Now, next year I will not be able to purchase insurance
    because I did not have a salable crop because of the hailstorm,
    and I hope to be producing 700 to 800 bushels per acre next
    year, but I will not have the ability to purchase insurance on
    that. That is an issue for me.
        Chairman Roberts. That is an excellent suggestion. Thank
    you so much for that.
        Why don't we go back and forth on this? Go ahead.
        Senator Stabenow. Well, thank you so much, to each of you,
    and I want to continue on the topic crop insurance. Senator
    Roberts really was the founder of the whole effort on crop
    insurance, and I was pleased to take that to the next step in
    the last farm bill for specialty crops. Thank you, Mr. Alpers.
    I was making a note here on this because we want to make sure
    it is working as well as intended.
        Most commodities have the ability to tap into the farm
    safety net and crop insurance. One exception is milk, let me
    ask you, Mr. Siemen, as I mentioned before that the concept of
    the Margin Protection Program as a risk management tool makes
    sense, however the numbers were not quite right, so there is a
    problem. We have seen prices drop dramatically, as with other
    crops, but certainly you and other dairy farmers have seen
    tight margins. We have some real challenges related to the
    dairy safety net. My staff and I support the proposal, brought
    forth by American Farm Bureau, National Farmers Union and
    National Milk Producers, to offer milk the opportunity to do
    what other commodities can do, which is purchase crop
    insurance.
        We are working with the Secretary of Agriculture on
    expanding crop insurance for milk. There is capacity to do that
    administratively through the Crop Insurance Board, so we are
    working to be able to do that.
        I wonder if you might speak about that or, again, offer
    some other suggestions. I know we have to look at the issue
    around feed prices, but you have also said that you believe the
    Margin Protection Program conceptually works. There are two
    issues; One is, what can we be doing to make sure the safety
    net really works for dairy farmers? Secondly, how do we then
    convince dairy farmers to give the MPP program another chance
    and include more people? It works if dairy farmers buy into the
    program.
        Mr. Siemen. So, yes, we believe that the MPP program is a
    very good program if we can just get the feed cost like our
    portion of our inputs, a level playing field. We would also
    like the opportunity as other producers to have several options
    because, again, everybody is high risk, kind of high overhead.
    There is just no guarantee there that when you input high
    finances into your operation that there is a level there where
    you cannot drop underneath. If we could get the MPP program and
    the LGM program both fixed and working together, I think just
    with working with the co-ops and National Milk--dairy farmers
    trust who they work with and the companies they own--that dairy
    farmers would step right up and participate in the program
    again.
        Senator Stabenow. All right. Thank you. I do not mean to
    minimize what has happened with all of our commodity prices,
    but what I am hearing is that the Agriculture Risk Coverage
    program, which we use the most in Michigan, has relatively
    worked. That there may be some concerns around programs as
    well. But, unfortunately, the MPP did not hit the same level of
    success as the ARC or PLC programs.
        Mr. Ingrao, again, I am so pleased that you have chosen to
    focus on agriculture and farming. I know that the Michigan
    Farmer Veterans Coalition is one of the most successful
    organizations in the country for getting veterans involved. So
    I congratulate you for that, and I am proud that we were able
    to incorporate veteran farmer priorities with some loan
    programs and allow veterans and liaison position in the last
    farm bill.
        I am wondering, going forward, if are there any barriers
    for veterans interested in agriculture that we should be
    looking at? What are some specific examples of how we could
    encourage and support our veterans who have served abroad,
    returned home, many from small towns like where I grew up and
    around Michigan, and started looking for jobs, to look within
    the agriculture industry? Are there other things we should be
    focused on in this next farm bill as they relate to veteran
    farmers?
        Mr. Ingrao. Well, I think, Senator Stabenow, one of the
    most important things to consider when we are working with the
    veteran demographic is that they struggle with a lot of the
    same issues that most beginning farmers do. Farmer veterans
    tend to be individuals that are not coming from a family farm.
    A lot of them are discovering farming for the first time. Being
    that they are in that beginning farmer demographic, I think
    keeping a lot of the provisions in that assist beginning
    farmers, like the BFRD Program and the 2501 that really focus
    on educating those individuals to have them be prepared to be
    successful farmers, is absolutely critical.
        I can just say from the organizations that I work with, the
    set-asides that are there for military veterans within those
    programs are very important to us, and without those, I really
    feel like we would be losing a lot of the farmer veteran
    demographic because we just would not have the tools to reach
    them individually. Because it is a unique demographic--and we
    deal with a lot of post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic
    brain injuries, which are things that a lot of veterans are
    dealing with, it creates a sense where oftentimes those
    individuals are not willing to go in and actually access USDA
    services simply because their disability is prohibiting them.
    So going into a USDA office can oftentimes exacerbate the
    symptoms related to those particular injuries. I think that
    recognizing those challenges that face beginning farmers, also
    farmer veterans, is really important.
        I would just like to end on when we deal with the farmer
    veteran demographic and beginning farmers overall, there are
    usually three big things that come up for those individuals,
    and it is access to land, it is access to equipment, and it is
    access to capital. If there are provisions that can be put in
    to actually incentivize organizations or GreenStone Farm Credit
    or Farm Credit to actually help those individuals access those
    types of materials, even at that beginning farmer stage, that
    would be imperative to the success of the farmer veteran
    demographic here in Michigan and abroad.
        Senator Stabenow. Thank you. Well, we know in general that
    the average age of American farmers is 58 years old for the
    principal operator, and fewer farmers are seeing the next
    generation coming on to the farm. I know many of you are in
    multigenerational farms, which I love to hear about. But in
    general we have to keep focused on bringing more folks into
    agriculture. So thank you for doing your part.
        Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Roberts. I have got a question for all the
    witnesses. You do not go on a farmstead in Kansas and say, ``I
    am from the Federal Government, and I am here to help.''
        [Laughter.]
        Chairman Roberts. We all know about the overly burdensome
    regs. That is usually the number one issue or it used to be the
    number one issue in town hall meetings that I have had in the
    105 counties that we have in Kansas. Sometimes somebody raises
    a piece of paper and says, ``Pat, what in the heck is this all
    about?'' I do not even know about it. It is very helpful when
    you give us the real cost and problem that any regulatory thing
    might add up to.
        I think, Mr. Snider, you brought up this poultry rule. We
    will get in touch with Sonny Perdue.
        Senator Stabenow. Yes.
        Chairman Roberts. He did issue three proclamations about 1
    percent in the milk, including strawberry, and chocolate milk
    that kids will now drink, and he also alleviated the whole
    grains necessity. I had a nice sweet roll this morning. It was
    not whole grains. Then he left the salt content criteria the
    same, which was scheduled to go down again. We had fifth
    graders who were going into fast-food franchises and picking up
    little packets of sugar and salt and then coming back and
    selling them to their fellow students. Sort of an elementary
    mafia here.
        [Laughter.]
        Chairman Roberts. That is crazy. So we will follow up on
    the poultry rule.
        Anybody on the panel want to mention what would be--and
    there are probably too many to mention, but can you mention a
    regulatory challenge that is really causing you a hard time?
    Mrs. Fritz, why don't we just go down the line?
        Mrs. Fritz. I believe one of the biggest regulatory
    challenges that we face is freedom to operate relative to
    bringing new technologies into the market in the way of seed.
        Chairman Roberts. I thank you for that.
        Mr. Alpers?
        Mr. Alpers. I would echo that same statement. I look at
    what has happened a lot in the last few years since I came back
    to the family farm. We have hired a part-time person to manage
    all the different inspections and all the different paperwork
    that go along with farming. I never thought there would be a
    day--and I know my dad definitely did not--where you would have
    to document all the wildlife that crosses your land in a cherry
    orchard. That is a true story. It is part of the GAP Program. I
    think there are a lot of tweaks that could be made to some of
    these audits, and it is much more detail than we can go into in
    the amount of time, but we would be happy to pass that along.
        Chairman Roberts. I would be delighted to get that, and I
    know that my distinguished partner here would like the same
    thing.
        [The following information can be found on page XX in the
    appendix.]
        Chairman Roberts. You have to identify all the wildlife
    that go across your farmstead?
        Mr. Alpers. You do.
        Chairman Roberts. What happens if you miss one or two?
        [Laughter.]
        Chairman Roberts. Do you have somebody out there counting
    with you, or what?
        Mr. Alpers. Well, as long as the auditor at that time feels
    that you have done an adequate job documenting that, along with
    many other things, typically they will let it go if you miss a
    deer here or there. But there are times when you know somebody
    that----
        Chairman Roberts. What agency does that auditor come from?
        Mr. Alpers. USDA.
        Chairman Roberts. Okay. All right. That is utterly
    ridiculous.
        Mr. Gerstenberger, please.
        Mr. Gerstenberger. In production agriculture and living in
    Michigan surrounded by the Great Lakes, water is a key for us,
    so wetland determinations, things like that. I sit on the
    county committee of the FSA, and I know that growers, when they
    receive notification that something has been certified as a
    wetland, we have 30 days to respond. But on that committee, I
    know that we have asked for second determinations when we have
    appealed them, and some of them go back as far as 2011.
        Chairman Roberts. My gosh. Okay.
        Mr. Gerstenberger. So I would certainly think that the
    Government should respond----
        Chairman Roberts. Timely responses, in other words. Good.
    Thank you.
        Mr. Siemen.
        Mr. Siemen. As far as my operation, we went to robotic
    milkers, and inspection for robotic dairies is not the same
    across--nobody really knows what to do. So one inspector will
    go to one place and flag you for something----
        Chairman Roberts. What are you talking about, robotic what?
    Theories?
        Mr. Siemen. Robotic dairies. So on our farm people do not
    actually milk cows. It is just a machine.
        Chairman Roberts. Oh, I got it. I got it. All right.
        Mr. Siemen. So as it is growing in popularity----
        Chairman Roberts. We have that in Kansas as well.
        Mr. Siemen. Yeah, probably.
        Chairman Roberts. Big time. Thank you so much. I did not
    mean to be so ignorant.
        Mr. Snider.
        Mr. Snider. For sure--it was mentioned before--the amount
    of time spent on documentation and regulation, as a senior
    partner in an operation, I spend a lot of time doing that. One
    specific thing on our farm, our turkeys, we raise 170,000
    turkeys a year. A small portion of those are organic, about 15
    percent. The rest of them we raise as antibiotic-free.
    Recently, to raise antibiotic-free, a GAP agency was created. I
    do not need to get into all the details, but it has totally
    gotten out of hand. It is not about practices of doing a good
    job of raising birds. To make it short, animal rights came in.
    The president of HSUS was on the panel, and it was not intended
    to start out that way. We know how to raise birds and to do it
    fair and safe and provide a good product. The regulation for to
    be GAP-certified ABF birds is next to impossible.
        Chairman Roberts. Mr. Williams.
        Mr. Williams. I, too, would go along with some kind of
    simplification of regulations for what we are trying to do. We
    have worked with NRCS and FSA on a number of programs, and it
    just seems like everything takes a lot longer to do than it
    really should. Give us some credit for what we are doing, and
    we know what we are doing. With some guidelines we can
    implement what needs to be done.
        Chairman Roberts. Mr. Ingrao.
        Mr. Ingrao. Yes, Mr. Chairman, the two areas that really
    are--well, I would say have not come to fruition as far as
    struggles for regulations with our farmer veterans but there is
    a lot of anxiety around is the new Food Safety and
    Modernization Act. One of the other areas that I think has been
    touched on here as well is the GAP certification as well. Our
    organization, Michigan Food and Farming Systems, has piloted a
    program here in the State of Michigan for group GAP to allow
    producers, especially small producers, to GAP certify
    collectively, and we have seen some success there. But, again,
    there is quite a bit of anxiety around the Food Safety and
    Modernization Act.
        Chairman Roberts. Mrs. Miller.
        Mrs. Miller. Yes, I would say one of the regulations that
    we are dealing with is in the lender side of it. Because our
    industry here in Michigan is considered relatively new, we are
    finding that as some of the--especially GreenStone Farm Credit
    Services, they were allowed to help us as agricultural lending
    to our farmers. But when it got to the vertical stance of
    growing and then processing, it stopped at the processing
    level, and it really tied our hands to be able to move forward
    within the agricultural industry, and we had to go outside of
    them as lenders to find another avenue to help with the
    equipment and the processing facilities.
        So what we are asking is for a more vertical line and
    understanding that we can grow hops all day long and dry them,
    but if we do not have the processing centers to pelletize and
    move them on, it is a stop-gap for us to get it to the brewer.
        Chairman Roberts. Deborah, I am 3 minutes and 50 seconds
    over, so I am sentenced to go to Dodge City, it looks like.
        Just a couple of things. One of the first things that
    President Trump did was to hopefully take action on WOTUS, the
    Waters of the U.S., which seemed to be the number one issue
    with regards to overregulation. Thank you all for your
    suggestions. They will be part of the record.
        Mr. Williams, I do not know what to say. I did not know
    that I was sitting on soybeans in terms of my car seat.
        [Laughter.]
        Mr. Williams. It is okay.
        Chairman Roberts. That sort of sounds like a country-
    western song.
        [Laughter.]
        Chairman Roberts. Anyway, thank you all for that.
        Please, Deborah, get me off the hook.
        Senator Stabenow. Well, thank you, Senator Roberts. You
    know, I could talk forever about biobased manufacturing, and we
    have spent a lot of time on this. But I will say that, as was
    mentioned, in any Ford product now, you are sitting on soy-
    based foam rather than petroleum-based foam. So you have
    soybeans in the seats, and if you get hungry, you know what you
    can do.
        [Laughter.]
        Senator Stabenow. There is a lot more being done with corn
    byproducts, wheat byproducts and so on. These value-added
    processes are creating jobs in biobased manufacturing, which I
    think is a very exciting extension of bringing together what we
    do in Michigan, which is make things and grow things. It is
    something I am very enthused about and we need to make sure we
    keep it going in the Energy Title.
        Mr. Snider, I wanted to talk about conservation for a
    moment. I am really impressed with the conservation efforts on
    your farms, so I wondered if you could talk about how these
    practices support the long-term health and viability of your
    farm. Do you think the farm bill should continue to prioritize
    voluntary working lands conservation programs?
        Mr. Snider. So I believe they would be CSPs, specifically.
    We were in the first round of contracts for 7 years, and now we
    are in the third year of the second 5-year round. Each year or
    each time, we identified practices that we were either already
    doing or would like to do, and from a cost standpoint, it kind
    of took us to the next level. I consider our farm being kind of
    out front, probably leading in a lot of things. This year, we
    are doing now less than 20 different cover crop mixes, that
    many fertilizer combinations, multiple applications of nitrogen
    and things that we are doing to try to conserve fertilizer.
    Some of those are supported by CSP; some of them are things
    that maybe will be in the next CSP, if there is another one.
    But they have propelled us forward and taken us to the next
    level, I guess is how I like to say that.
        Senator Stabenow. Great. Thanks.
        Mr. Gerstenberger, Rick, let me ask you, your testimony
    states that Michigan sugar draws supplies from over 150,000
    acres of sugar beets grown by farm families and the economic
    impact beyond the farm. I wonder if you could talk about the
    different kinds of jobs that sugar production supports in
    Michigan, How many people in Michigan communities would you
    estimate are really dependent on our sugar industry for their
    livelihood?
        Mr. Gerstenberger. Well, LMC International estimates that
    just over 5,000 individuals are directly related to farmers and
    factories in the sugar industry in Michigan in 2011. There are
    numerous outside contractors that are used all the time through
    the factories and people--plumbing contractors, builders,
    steelworkers, electrical contractors, and many more.
        Michigan Sugar Company 3 years ago undertook a process of
    updating some of our over-100-year-old factories and facilities
    in small towns like Croswell, Caro, and Sebewaing. These
    factories are the lifeblood of those communities. They are the
    number one employer in those facilities, and many of these type
    of contractors work there. Even in Bay City, if Michigan Sugar
    Company was to go out of business, the loss would be felt in
    the large town also, large communities.
        So those are some of the things, those are some of the
    people that we rely on to get those jobs done, and it is an
    industry that we need to keep in this State. Thank you.
        Senator Stabenow. Thank you. We need to make sure that
    Mexico is doing the right thing as well, on the trade front,
    but we certainly focus on that. We talked with the Secretary of
    Agriculture about that, as well as dairy in Canada, when we had
    breakfast with him on Thursday.
        Mr. Alpers, I am so glad we have a Specialty Crop Title in
    the farm bill. We put that in the 2008 Farm Bill, and include
    the block grants to provide flexibility to states based on
    commodities, local needs and so on. I wonder if you might
    describe how these grants have been used from your perspective?
        Mr. Alpers. I am going to go off the farm a little bit and
    talk about that. It has allowed the Michigan Apple Committee to
    reach markets in places with social media, things that they
    never would have been able to do without those programs in
    place. To piggyback on your question about what that means
    trickling down, we have been lucky enough to have you in our
    area a lot of times up in Traverse City, and it is the cherry
    capital of the world, and we do grow some apples there, too.
    But when you drive from Traverse City north, you would be hard-
    pressed going down any one of those roads to not find a home
    that did not have somebody that was working in agriculture in
    the household. So money spent on programs like that comes back
    down to a grassroots level and keeps the economy going in our
    local area. We are lucky enough to have tourism and agriculture
    in the Traverse City region, but without ag, we would--there
    are not enough jobs working at all the restaurants and the
    hotels and the breweries that you might be coming to visit next
    year.
        [Laughter.]
        Senator Stabenow. Well, it really does all fit together,
    right? That is why when we connect it all in Michigan. We can
    say one out of four jobs are dependent in some way on the food
    and agriculture industry in Michigan, and that is a big deal.
    So thank you again for your testimony. I know we have one more
    panel of witnesses that will be joining us as well. Again, we
    are very grateful for all of you being here today.
        Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Roberts. Excellent testimony. Thank you so much.
    Thanks to the first panel.
        I ask the second panel to quickly take their seats.
        [Applause.]
        [Pause.]
        Senator Stabenow. I am going to start introducing folks
    because we are running a little behind and we are so interested
    in all the testimony. We promised Senator Roberts he is going
    to be leaving here to catch a plane to get back home, so I am
    going to move through quickly with our second panel.
        Starting off our second panel is Dr. Oran Hesterman. Dr.
    Hesterman currently serves as president and CEO of the Fair
    Food Network, a national nonprofit that pioneers solutions that
    support farmers, strengthens local economies, and increases
    access to healthy food. Before launching Fair Food Network, Dr.
    Hesterman served as a program director in food systems at the
    W.K. Kellogg Foundation and taught at Michigan State
    University.
        With us today is Ms. Faith Watson. Ms. Watson has lived
    most of her life in Michigan, holds a degree from Cornerstone
    University, and she is a mother of two young children, ages 4
    and 6. Faith is very active in her local church and community.
    We are so glad you are here today.
        Next on our panel is Mr. Jim Nugent. Mr. Nugent and his
    wife own Sun Blossom Orchards in Suttons Bay, another beautiful
    part of Michigan. He holds a bachelor's and master's degree
    from Michigan State University and retired in 2007 as the MSU
    district extension horticultural agent and coordinator of the
    Northwest Michigan Horticulture Research Station. Mr. Nugent
    currently chairs both the Michigan Tree Fruit Commission and
    Graceland Fruit's Board of Directors, and is active with the
    Leelanau Conservancy and Michigan Farm Bureau.
        Next I would like to welcome Mr. Kyle Rorah. Mr. Rorah is
    from southeast Michigan, growing up in Algonac. He is a
    graduate of the University of Michigan and holds a master's
    degree from Bard College in New York. He joined Ducks Unlimited
    in January 2016 where he now works as the Great Lakes and
    Atlantic Region policy specialist.
        Also with us today is Detroit native and urban farmer, Mrs.
    Jerry Ann Hebron. Mrs. Hebron worked for the Third Judicial
    Circuit Court for almost 30 years and in real estate for 25
    years. She has served as director for both the Detroit
    Association of Realtors and the State of Michigan Realtor
    Association. In 2008, Mrs. Hebron became the executive director
    of the Northend Christian CDC in Detroit and started the
    Oakland Farm Way in the historic Northend community. She is the
    current treasurer of the Detroit Food Policy Council. So glad
    to have you.
        Next on our panel is Mr. Collin Thompson, who serves as the
    farm manager for Michigan State University's Upper Peninsula
    Research and Extension Center and USDA Organic Certified North
    Farm in Chatham, Michigan. He has worked on farms around the
    world, and his experience has provided him with a global
    perspective and a local approach when it comes to sustainable
    food production.
        We also want to welcome Mrs. Kristen Matson to our panel.
    Mrs. Matson received her bachelor's in forestry from MSU and an
    MBA from Lake Superior State University. She began her career
    with the U.S. Forest Service in the Panhandle National Forest
    in Idaho before moving to the Huron-Manistee and Hiawatha
    National Forests in Michigan. Mrs. Matson currently works as
    the East Upper Peninsula inventory and planning specialist for
    the Forest Resources Division of the Michigan Department of
    Natural Resources in Shingleton. You have the award for the
    longest title of anyone here.
        [Laughter.]
        Senator Stabenow. We are so glad to have you.
        To round out our last panel, we have Mr. Bob Hance. Mr.
    Hance began his current role as president and CEO at Midwest
    Energy Cooperative in 2002. He is currently the board chairman
    for RESCO and serves on the Board of Directors for the Michigan
    Electrical Cooperative Association, National World
    Telecommunications Cooperative, and the Spartan Renewable
    Energy and Utilities Telecom Council. He is the founding member
    and current vice chairman of the Rural Broadband Council, an
    independent operating unit of UTC, and a member of the Rural
    Broadband Coalition.
        We thank you and welcome all of you.
        Chairman Roberts. Let us start with Dr. Hesterman.
        Dr. Hesterman, please.

      STATEMENT OF ORAN B. HESTERMAN, PH.D., PRESIDENT AND CHIEF
       EXECUTIVE OFFICER, FAIR FOOD NETWORK, ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN

        Mr. Hesterman. Thank you, Chairman Roberts and Ranking
    Member Stabenow.
        I am the CEO of Fair Food Network. I come to this work as a
    farmer, business owner, philanthropist, agricultural scientist,
    and now as a nonprofit executive. I want to provide an update
    on the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive program, or FINI,
    which was created in the last farm bill. There are two points I
    would like to make.
        First, produce incentives work. They are improving the
    diets of SNAP participants and increasing farm income,
    especially when tied to local production.
        Secondly, FINI has been a success and warrants
    reauthorization.
        Fair Food Network developed Double Up Food Bucks, which you
    heard mentioned by Mr. Ingrao in the last panel, in 2009. It is
    simple. For every SNAP dollar that a shopper spends on fresh
    produce, they get another dollar to spend on Michigan-grown
    produce. This season, Double Up will be in 70 grocery stores
    and over 150 farm stands and markets across the State of
    Michigan and in northwest Ohio.
        We are also working with partners in more than 20 other
    States, including Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Arkansas,
    and Texas, not traditionally specialty crop States but all
    successfully integrating regional production into their
    programs. This progress would not have been possible without
    Congress' commitment of $100 million to the FINI program in the
    last farm bill.
        Fair Food Network received a $5.1 million FINI grant in
    2015, which we matched with private dollars. It is allowing us
    to expand, evaluate, innovate, and improve the program in
    Michigan through 2019. For example, in grocery stores, Double
    Up can operate with coupons, with automatic discount, with
    store loyalty cards, or through a reloadable Double Up card.
        Last year, groups in Kansas and Missouri received a FINI
    award to expand a Double Up pilot which started at Ball's Price
    Chopper Stores. By 2019, Double Up will be in 117 grocery
    stores and 68 farmers markets across those two States,
    including groceries in small rural communities in Kansas like
    Humboldt and Pittsburgh.
        Incentives have multiple benefits which programs nationwide
    are documenting. For families, incentives simultaneously
    alleviate hunger and improve diet. SNAP recipients shop more
    frequently and buy more produce when Double Up is in place. In
    fact, last year, our major grocery partner in Michigan found
    that fresh produce accounted for 17.5 percent of Double Up Food
    Bucks shoppers' baskets as compared to only 7 percent for non-
    Double Up shoppers.
        Grocers like Double Up. In an Arkansas pilot this spring,
    produce sales doubled in the month that the incentive program
    was operating, and grocers appreciate the connection to rural
    agriculture. As Mike Beal, the COO Ball's Food Stores, noted,
    ``We increased our local produce sales in participating stores
    12 to 15 percent in the first year.''
        Incentives also support farmers and farmers markets. In
    Iowa last year, 74 percent of the farmers said they earned more
    money because Double Up Food Bucks was at the market. In Mount
    Pleasant, Michigan, a new influx of customers are coming to the
    market because of Double Up.
        The FINI program's structure is sound. I am suggesting only
    minor adjustments. A center could promote best practices and
    provide technical assistance. We need better technology options
    for incentive delivery, and I recommend funds be set aside for
    this. Additional evaluation approaches should be explored. We
    should also consider adding flexibility to the match
    requirement. Finally, we should maintain the connection to
    regional production; it works and makes every dollar go farther
    and do more.
        I know you often hear about what is not working in Federal
    farm and food programs, and my message today is the opposite.
        Produce incentives work. Our experience and that of others
    nationwide demonstrates the positive impact they are having.
    FINI is making a difference and should be reauthorized.
        Thank you.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Hesterman can be found on
    page 89 in the appendix.]
        Chairman Roberts. I thank you, sir.
        Faith Watson. Ms. Watson, please.

      STATEMENT OF FAITH WATSON, MONTCALM COUNTY SNAP RECIPIENT,
                          GREENVILLE, MICHIGAN

        Ms. Watson. Thank you. Chairman Roberts and Senator
    Stabenow, thank you for inviting me to testify today. I
    appreciate the opportunity to tell you about my story and how
    the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, has
    helped my family.
        My name is Faith Watson. I am from Greenville, Michigan,
    which is a rural community of about 9,000 people located in
    western Michigan. Honestly, I never thought that I would be in
    a position to testify about my experience as a SNAP
    participant. I have a bachelor's degree from Cornerstone
    University. I am an adventurous go-getter. I have always cared
    about other people and have tried to give back to my community
    through service and through my church. I worked hard throughout
    my twenties--first at a news radio program in Grand Rapids and
    then a variety of jobs as I moved around the country with my
    husband. Even when I took a job at a Starbucks in a new town, I
    quickly worked my way up to a shift manager. But life does not
    always work out as you expect.
        Almost 2 years ago, I found myself separated from my
    husband, and I became the sole caregiver to and wage earner for
    my two young children. I had been a stay-at-home mom for
    several years and was completely unprepared for this unexpected
    change in our lives. All at once, I had to find work and sort
    out how I would manage to raise two small children on my own.
        I found a part-time sales job at a large retail chain. It
    was only minimum wage, but it was a job that helped me get back
    on my feet. I also applied for help at the local Department of
    Health and Human Services, and I was approved and qualified for
    about $300 a month in SNAP benefits. It was a huge weight off
    my mind to get that help. Because of SNAP, I knew I could put
    food on the table and still pay my other bills. It also meant
    that I could afford to give my kids some special treats, like
    some of their favorite squeezable yogurt snacks. Eating healthy
    foods has always been important, and SNAP just made that easier
    to do.
        Each day moves us forward, and things today look very
    different for us. It is still hard to juggle it all, but we are
    all much better. I have a part-time position as a
    communications coordinator at a local civic organization, which
    is in the field my degree. So I also do temporary work at my
    church. I volunteer at my son's school and my daughter's
    preschool. I am slowly but steadily growing a home business as
    part of a health and wellness direct sales company. Now because
    I am earning more, my SNAP benefit is about $120 a month. It
    still makes a big difference in our family budget. Knowing that
    I have this help lets me create an environment for my kids
    where they are safe, secure, and thriving.
        SNAP's benefit to my family has been about more than just
    groceries. This little bit of security lets me think forward to
    the future. I do not plan to be in this situation forever. But
    I do not know how long it will take me to get out of this, but
    it is something I think about every day. My goal is to be in a
    place where I am financially independent, to provide for my
    kids without needing help, and to be in a place where I can
    give back to my community both financially and with my time.
    SNAP has helped me take steps toward that goal of a different
    kind of future.
        I know I am not the only one struggling to make ends meet.
    My county has one of the highest poverty rates in Michigan. I
    see many single moms working several part-time jobs and still
    barely making it. I am always quick to encourage them to apply
    for SNAP to help them get by and care for their kids.
        There is definitely a lot of good the program does, but
    there is stigma about those who depend on SNAP benefits. There
    seems to be a pervasive stereotype about what kind of person
    uses SNAP: they are lazy, they do not care, they do not work.
    But that is just not me, and it is not the people I know who
    have needed Government assistance. We are hard workers who want
    a different future.
        Of course, the program is not perfect. The application
    process and eligibility redetermination are tedious and highly
    involved, with all the paperwork taking a lot of time to gather
    and submit. The state needs so much proof of everything that is
    going on in my life to calculate my benefits--from employer
    statements, to child care expenses, pay stubs, bank info,
    utility bills, and a lot more. The State's website technology
    also leaves much to be desired, repeatedly crashes in the
    middle of entering required information, is not user friendly,
    and often fails to deliver uploaded documents. Hopefully, this
    will get better.
        Reducing paperwork would be something participants and case
    workers would likely both agree could improve the process.
    Another improvement could be to avoid reducing SNAP benefits
    immediately after a participant reports an increase in their
    income, which seems more like a punishment for working more and
    trying hard to get ahead, instead perhaps allowing a short
    window of time of stable benefits, which could potentially help
    participants get back on their feet faster.
        I hope that sharing my experience helps you appreciate the
    importance of this program to families like mine that really do
    need help, and that my story can help inform your work on
    writing next year's farm bill. Please know that for many of us,
    it is a lifeline that we did not know we would need, and it
    provides stepping stones that are a key to future success.
    Thank you for providing the benefit. It has made a huge
    difference to my family.
        I welcome any of your questions. Thanks for your time.
        [The prepared statement of Ms. Watson can be found on page
    138 in the appendix.]
        Chairman Roberts. Faith, thank you for that most unique and
    helpful statement. I can only say you have got a great first
    name.
        Senator Stabenow. That is right.
        Chairman Roberts. Mr. Nugent.

    STATEMENT OF JIM NUGENT, FRUIT GROWER AND CHAIR, MICHIGAN TREE
                FRUIT COMMISSION, SUTTONS BAY, MICHIGAN

        Mr. Nugent. Thank you, Senator Roberts and Senator
    Stabenow.
        Michigan is blessed with a wide range of soils and
    topography and surrounded by the Great Lakes, creating the
    natural conditions that foster the second-most diverse
    agriculture in the Nation.
        My wife and I farm on the Leelanau Peninsula in northwest
    Michigan, an area that is exceptionally well suited for cherry
    and other fruit production. We are challenged to grow high-
    quality food in a globally competitive and sustainable manner.
    Hence, we in agriculture rely extensively on land-grant
    universities for the research and information to keep our
    industries viable. I strongly support increased Federal funding
    for research and extension.
        Here is an example of why research is so critical. An Asian
    insect called ``spotted winged drosophila,'' or SWD, was found
    in California in 2008. Females lay eggs in thin-skinned fruits
    where the larvae develop. SWD was found in Michigan in 2010 by
    the Michigan State University Extension fruit team. Since then
    the population has exploded and now seriously threatens the
    Michigan cherry and blueberry industries.
        As growers, we turn to MSU researchers and extension for
    answers on how to manage SWD. Federal research funding is
    critical to address this type of serious threat. Specialty Crop
    Research Initiative funding has really helped address major
    issues like SWD that affect crops across the country. MSU has
    also applied for SWD research funds from the new Rapid Outcomes
    from Agriculture Research program which is part of the
    Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research. The Rapid
    Outcomes program is a great way to help agriculture quickly
    address emerging issues through research.
        MSU has four research centers strategically placed in major
    fruit-growing areas which complement research conducted on
    campus. The apple and cherry industries have grower-funded
    programs that support research, but falling Federal and State
    funding was straining MSU's campus and field infrastructure to
    meet grower needs.
        As a result, growers established the Michigan Tree Fruit
    Commission. It is a grower-funded program created to ensure MSU
    has adequate facilities and personnel to conduct research and
    extension programming. The commission has been successful, but
    works because it has a strong partnership with MSU. For MSU to
    remain that strong partner requires adequate Federal funding to
    support the scientists and the facilities needed to address
    grower issues and to fund projects beyond the scope of industry
    dollars.
        I also wish to express my support for the Agricultural
    Conservation Easement Program, or ACEP, and the Regional
    Conservation Partnership Program, RCPP. Production of tree
    fruits and wine grapes in Michigan is found on the rolling
    hills close to the shores of Lake Michigan. But these scenic
    areas are also highly desirable for development. The Leelanau
    Conservancy has worked with farmers and USDA's NRCS to protect
    nearly 3,300 acres of prime and unique farmland with
    conservation easements so it can remain viable for food
    production. This work is made possible through ACEP.
        To expand protection efforts, the conservancy was one of
    the recipients of a recent RCPP award. This has created a
    partnership that includes the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and
    Chippewa Indians, Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, and
    the Conservation Resource Alliance. The program will allow the
    two conservancies to permanently protect land that is valuable
    both for agriculture and water resource protection with
    conservation easements, while partners implement other
    practices to protect the area's water resources and improve
    critical fish habitat.
        I strongly encourage your continued support of these and
    other conservation programs. Sustaining a viable agricultural
    economy that produces healthy food to feed our country and the
    world requires an investment in resource protection. We know
    that much more conservation is implemented when USDA is a
    strong partner in the effort.
        Thank you.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Nugent can be found on page
    113 in the appendix.]
        Chairman Roberts. We thank you for your statement.
        Mr. Rorah.

    STATEMENT OF KYLE RORAH, GREAT LAKES AND ATLANTIC REGION POLICY
            SPECIALIST, DUCKS UNLIMITED, ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN

        Mr. Rorah. Good afternoon, Chairman Roberts, Ranking Member
    Stabenow. It is a tremendous honor and privilege to testify
    here before you today. I thank you both for the opportunity to
    express the importance of the farm bill to the conservation
    community here in Michigan and around the country. The farm
    bill's conservation programs represent the single largest
    investment in private landowner conservation that this Nation
    makes on an annual basis, and it is critical to farmers here in
    Michigan, Kansas, and around the country to enhance profitable
    farming operations, maintain healthy soils, produce abundant
    wildlife, and protect critical wetlands and clean water.
        These programs in turn help support Michigan's multi-
    billion-dollar hunting and recreational fishing economy, that
    supports 72,000 jobs here in the State alone, and we have some
    members in the crowd here that represent part of that wearing
    orange today.
        DU appreciates the leadership of you both and your staff in
    securing a robust Conservation Title in 2014. Our top goal
    heading into the 2018 Farm Bill is preserving and advancing
    many of the gains made in conservation. Simply put, there is a
    lot at stake here, and conservation is a critical part of our
    Nation's agricultural safety net.
        DU supports voluntary, incentive-based conservation
    programs that are streamlined, efficient, and friendly to both
    producers and wildlife. We believe this is the best defense
    against unnecessary regulatory actions.
        One such incentive that is paramount is conservation
    compliance. During the last farm bill, a broad coalition of
    commodity, crop insurance, and conservation leaders
    collaborated to support and defend attacks on crop insurance
    and support conservation compliance. We stand ready to assist
    in those efforts again today.
        The farm bill provides many important voluntary programs
    that benefit farmers as well as sportsmen and women. They
    include the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. This
    innovative new program is currently supporting eight projects
    here in Michigan totaling more than $55 million. DU wants to
    maintain this important partnership program in the 2018 Farm
    Bill while making some changes that will improve program
    delivery, further spur innovation, and ensure partners have the
    resources and tools they need to be successful.
        The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, ACEP, is
    another farm bill program that DU has found to be mission
    critical. Due to its documented success and high landowner
    demand, we support efforts to restore baseline funding back to
    at least $500 million per year, as well as changes to improve
    management and landowner flexibility on ACEP sites.
        The Conservation Reserve Program, CRP, is yet another
    important component of the farm bill and gives landowners the
    opportunities to conserve soil, water, and habitat that are
    critically important to our target game species, like deer,
    ducks, and pheasants. DU supports a robust increase in the
    national CRP cap from the current 24 million acres, more
    working lands options, and an increased CRP grasslands
    allocation.
        The final program I will mention is the Volunteer Public
    Access-Habitat Incentive Program, which helps advance the
    sportsmen's heritage by providing financial incentives to
    landowners who practice conservation and allow the public to
    hunt their land. This program is critical to continue to ensure
    that current and future generations of sportsmen and women have
    places to hunt and enjoy the outdoors.
        On behalf of Ducks Unlimited's 1 million supporters across
    the U.S., including more than 29,000 Michigan members and
    15,000 Kansas members, I want to thank you for the opportunity
    to testify. A strong Conservation Title is essential to the
    economic prosperity of our Nation's producers and serves as a
    backbone to conserve our Nation's valuable soils, wetlands,
    grasslands, and wildlife populations.
        Thank you.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Rorah can be found on page
    115 in the appendix.]
        Chairman Roberts. We thank you for your statement.
        Jerry Ann Hebron.

     STATEMENT OF JERRY ANN HEBRON, FARMER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
               NORTHEND CHRISTIAN CDC, DETROIT, MICHIGAN

        Mrs. Hebron. Good afternoon, Chairman Roberts and Ranking
    Member Stabenow. Thank you for the opportunity to testify at
    today's hearing and share my perspective on urban farming.
        I am a native Detroiter. Detroit was once the capital of
    the United States auto industry, which almost single-handedly
    helped to create the American middle class. But Detroit has
    been crippled, by closing factories, falling home prices, the
    exodus of tens of thousands of residents, and now we have a
    multitude of vacant land.
        The Great Recession started early in Detroit and can still
    be felt in some quarters. When the Nation's unemployment rate
    was hovering around 9 percent, the jobless rate in the metro
    Detroit area was over 11.5 percent. In the city proper, the
    unemployment rate was probably around 20 percent--although,
    unofficially, that figure was much higher for those of us
    viewing things on the ground. In fact, a 2009 article in the
    Detroit News suggested the true unemployment figure might be as
    high as 50 percent. Couple that with the estimated 80,000
    housing units needing demolition and the city's 20 square miles
    of vacant land, roughly equal to the size of the city of
    Manhattan. What you get is the need for creative paths forward
    like the Oakland Avenue Farm Way.
        When we started farming in 2009, the neighborhood was not
    safe. It was filled with vacant lots and houses and a liquor
    store on every corner selling greasy food. To respond to this,
    we started growing a variety of vegetables that were culturally
    appropriate for the community that we work in.
        In 2011, we started adding fruit, opened farmers market on
    the farm, and started selling at six Chrysler plants throughout
    the metro tri-county area. In order to meet the demand of these
    farmers markets, we had to increase our production, so we
    purchased more land. We also started a value-added production,
    which included a line of AFRO Jams so we can increase our
    sales. Over the last 3 years, we purchased over 30 properties
    surrounding our farms and have created the Oakland Avenue Farm
    Way, which currently is a 4.8-acre farm. It is an incubator
    space for food-related businesses and educational programs
    around food and nutrition. In addition, we have two
    greenhouses, one funded through USDA Environment Quality
    Incentive Program. We have purchased and renovated an abandoned
    house which is now used as our community space for youth
    programming, meetings, and a shared kitchen.
        What is needed now to grow these businesses is access to
    more USDA funding for crop insurance, low-interest loans for
    equipment and integrated farm business development, and
    infrastructure for water.
        Urban agriculture is a great environment to work and grow
    skilled workers who traditionally have been denied employment
    because of background checks and drug problems. On our farm we
    work with people where they are, and what we find is our
    environment is one in which we are able to train people basic
    employment needs. We have been able to hire people in the
    community as seasonal workers, and we recently started an
    initiative to train our farm workers on how to grow fruit trees
    and manage large-scale farm equipment, giving them specialty
    skills and machine training.
        The Oakland Avenue Farmers Market is one of 16 members
    operating farmers markets in communities across Detroit. Thanks
    to the 2014 Farm Bill, all of these markets are able to process
    transactions for families receiving food assistance and we use
    Double Up Food Bucks. They also offer a variety of educational
    programming regarding nutrition, food preparation, and food
    safety. The Oakland Avenue Farmers Market in partnership with
    the Detroit Community Markets received funding through the USDA
    Farmers Market Promotion Grant for 2017 and 2018 to support
    outreach, growth, vendor support, and programming in our
    community.
        Transitioning into urban farming and working in a community
    environment has proved to be the best thing I could have done
    to address basic community needs and to work to increase
    employment opportunities.
        Thank you.
        [The prepared statement of Mrs. Hebron can be found on page
    81 in the appendix.]
        Chairman Roberts. Thank you very much for your statement.
        Collin Thompson.

    STATEMENT OF COLLIN THOMPSON, COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEMS EDUCATOR,
        MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION, AND MANAGER, UPPER
      PENINSULA RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER'S ORGANIC CERTIFIED
                     NORTH FARM, CHATHAM, MICHIGAN

        Mr. Thompson. Chairman Roberts, Ranking Member Stabenow,
    thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
        My name is Collin Thompson. I am a community food systems
    educator for Michigan State University Extension housed at the
    Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center. Part of my job
    entails managing the North Farm, which is a USDA-certified
    organic produce farm, where I work with members of our
    community to learn the latest techniques for farming in the
    UP's challenging northern climate.
        I am privileged to work with beginning and seasoned growers
    with the goal of improving their farms through educational
    programming and on-farm research.
        Each year, we invite thousands of visitors to participate
    in workshops, trainings, school visits, and other learning
    opportunities. In addition, we host a farm business incubator
    where we provide resources to farmers as they start their fair
    enterprises.
        We also conduct on-farm research, hoping to better
    understand the challenges of producing specialty crops and
    small grains, again, in our unique climate.
        My work focuses in two primary areas, that of the local and
    regional food systems, and organic agriculture. Michigan, and
    specifically the UP, is fortunate to support incredibly vibrant
    food systems. However, the central UP economy tends to drain
    away from the region, resulting in an annual net loss of $540
    per farm. In fact, while the rest of the State boasts about
    Michigan's growing agriculture economy, growers in my region
    saw a $3.4 million reduction in commodity sales from 1969 to
    2011.
        Despite these challenges, my region is seeing tremendous
    growth in specific areas of the food economy. The number of
    farms pursuing direct-to-consumer sales has increased 22
    percent since 2002, boosting those sales figures by 24 percent.
    Programs funded through the farm bill, such as the Farmers
    Market Promotion Program and the NRCS High-Tunnel Initiative,
    have kept food dollars in the region through the expansion of
    local farmers markets and helped over 100 farmers build more
    resilient businesses by installing seasoned extension
    structures on their farms. Simply put, these critical programs
    are strengthening the UP's economy.
        Organic is the fastest growing sector in the U.S. food
    economy, now representing over $43 billion dollars in sales.
    Since 2008, the industry has grown by nearly $20 billion, with
    a 300-percent increase in the number of certified organic
    farms. Still, domestic production does not come close to
    matching the demand. The 2014 Farm Bill made critical
    investments to strengthen the organic sector, but more work
    needs to be done to support the industry.
        Despite the incredible growth of organics, funding for the
    two primary organic research funds--the OREI and the ORG--has
    remained steady. Additionally, only two-tenths of a percent of
    the funding through the Agriculture and Food Research
    Initiative, the USDA's premier competitive research program,
    goes to organics. Funding we received through AFRI in 2014 is
    the only reason I can do the work I do every day.
        Agricultural research is essential for continued growth in
    the organic sector as every $1 invested in public agricultural
    research generates $10 to $20 in domestic economic activity. We
    simply cannot lose this opportunity to help our farmers.
        The programs currently supported by the farm bill, such as
    the OREI, the ORG, and the Organic Cost Share Program, are
    allowing more farms to certify and are enhancing soil,
    environmental, community, and farmer health.
        I am fortunate to work every day with individuals invested
    in the local, regional, organic food systems in the Upper
    Peninsula. Utilizing support through programs funded by the
    farm bill, they are continuing to lead the agricultural
    industry.
        As both a certified organic producer and a professional in
    the industry, I urge Congress to support local/regional and
    organic agriculture by significantly increasing funding that
    supports these industries in the next farm bill.
        Again, thank you for the opportunity to testify, and I look
    forward to your questions.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Thompson can be found on
    page 134 in the appendix.]
        Chairman Roberts. We thank you for your testimony.
        Mrs. Matson.

        STATEMENT OF KRISTEN MATSON, EUP INVENTORY AND PLANNING
     SPECIALIST, MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, FOREST
                RESOURCES DIVISION, SHINGLETON, MICHIGAN

        Mrs. Matson. Thank you, Chairman Roberts and Ranking Member
    Stabenow, for the invitation to testify. Today I hope to give
    the Committee a summary of how the 2014 Farm Bill is already
    helping us create more forestry jobs in Michigan and how the
    2018 bill can build on that progress. I will also talk about
    the serious problems caused by a broken Forest Service budget
    and will conclude by outlining a new opportunity for job
    creation in the forest products sector.
        Michigan has 20 million acres of forest, which is
    approximately 56 percent of our land. This land supports a $20
    billion industry and employs 96,000 people statewide. A recent
    example of the sector's impact comes by way of the new Arauco
    Forest Products Mill in Grayling, Michigan, which is a rural
    community about 115 miles northwest of here. This plant is a
    $400 million investment which will create 700 construction jobs
    and 200 full-time jobs in the region. The economic activity
    from this company and others is often driven in part by smart
    Federal policy.
        Good Neighbor Authority, created in the last farm bill, is
    a prime example of one of those policies. As you know, the
    program authorizes State foresters to carry out restoration and
    logging projects on Federal lands. DNR used this new authority
    to put up 1,300 acres of Federal land for timber sales in 2016
    and 1,800 acres this year. Good Neighbor sale acres are
    expected to increase in future years as we gain experience with
    this new program.
        I am happy to report that work began just this week on a
    Good Neighbor sale on the Hiawatha National Forest where the
    logging is being done by a small, family-owned, Upper Peninsula
    company based in Rapid River.
        Whether it was assuring Arauco that their mill would have a
    steady supply of logs or this week's timber sale that gave
    loggers out of Rapid River a new contract, the farm bill Good
    Neighbor Authority is creating new and good-paying jobs right
    here in Michigan.
        To help us build on that success, DNR and the National
    Association of State Foresters recommends that Congress
    slightly amend the program to allow for repair of existing
    national forest roads in the 2018 reauthorization. The current
    program excludes road maintenance from the projects that Good
    Neighbor allows, thereby limiting the amount of acres that DNR
    can treat. The flexibility to conduct road maintenance will
    allow us to restore even more acres and to support increased
    economic development in forested communities.
        Moving on to other policy areas, I would like to draw your
    attention to a more systemic issue which has the potential to
    undermine many of our other forest management tools. That issue
    is the broken Forest Service budget, and it is profoundly
    hurting not only the national forests but also State agencies
    like Michigan DNR and private landowners.
        During my 8 years working for the Forest Service and my 23
    years with the Michigan DNR, I helped suppress several large
    wildfires in Western States and in Michigan. My experience has
    taught me that the old Forest Service budget model is not well
    suited to face the actual costs of modern-day wildfire threats.
    We strongly encourage Congress to enact a comprehensive fix for
    the Forest Service budget, either in the context of the 2018
    Farm Bill or elsewhere.
        Finally, I wanted to conclude my testimony on a positive
    note by drawing the Committee's attention to a relatively new
    forestry-based commercial building material referred to as
    ``mass timber.'' Mass timber panels are different than normal
    building materials in that they arrange traditional dimensional
    lumber in a new and stronger fashion using state-of-the-art
    engineering, a specialized press, and advanced adhesives. We
    encourage the Committee to enact policies that support mass
    timber products, like Senator Stabenow's Timber Innovation Act,
    which will create new jobs in our rural forested communities.
        Once again, thank you for the opportunity to share my
    perspective with you this morning.
        [The prepared statement of Mrs. Matson can be found on page
    105 in the appendix.]
        Chairman Roberts. Thank you, Mrs. Matson.
        Batting cleanup is Bob Hance.

    STATEMENT OF BOB HANCE, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER,
        MIDWEST ENERGY AND COMMUNICATIONS, CASSOPOLIS, MICHIGAN

        Mr. Hance. Thank you, Chairman Roberts and Ranking Member
    Stabenow, for inviting me to testify today. My name is Bob
    Hance. I am the president and CEO of Midwest Energy &
    Communications, based in Cassopolis, Michigan.
        ``Vibrant, relevant, and sustainable rural communities''--
    that is our vision statement. I suggest it is appropriate for
    all rural electric cooperatives. While our history is firmly
    rooted in delivering reliable, affordable electricity to our
    members, our purpose is much greater. We are the engines that
    drive economic opportunity across rural America, creating jobs
    and improving the quality of life for millions. That is why the
    farm bill is essential. It contains important rural development
    tools that support our efforts to strengthen our communities.
        For over 80 years, loans from the Rural Utilities Service
    have helped build and improve the infrastructure across rural
    America necessary to provide power, deliver clean water, and
    deploy advanced telecommunications technologies. It has been
    the most successful public-private infrastructure investment
    program in the history of the country.
        In 2015, Midwest was one of the first electric cooperatives
    in the country to access the RUS Smart Grid loan program. With
    a $60 million RUS loan, we are constructing more than 2,000
    miles of fiber infrastructure that will improve grid security,
    help consumers manage their energy consumption, improve system
    reliability and operational performance. Leveraging that
    investment, Midwest has been able to use other non-RUS
    financing to deliver fiber speed voice and data solutions to
    our largely unserved and underserved rural membership.
        Geography should not define your scope of personal and
    professional opportunity in 2017, but there is a pervasive
    digital divide in the rural space. We are changing that. We now
    have more than 4,000 members using our fiber Internet solution,
    and we receive daily affirmations of the importance of this
    project.
        We are changing the landscape of opportunity for rural
    Michigan, affording the opportunity for members to participate
    in the digital space just like their urban counterparts. This
    means access to health care, education, and jobs. The RUS Smart
    Grid Initiative is providing long-term transformational
    benefits to your rural Michigan constituents.
        Besides the RUS loan program, the farm bill includes other
    important rural development tools like the Rural Economic
    Development Loan and Grant Program, or REDL&G, which is an
    economic tool used by many Michigan electric cooperatives. It
    has helped create hundreds of new jobs across the State over
    the last couple of decades.
        As an example, Cherryland Electric, our sister co-op in the
    Grand Traverse region, worked with RUS to secure a $57,000 zero
    interest loan through REDL&G to Great Lakes Potato Chip to
    provide additional slicers, scales, conveyers, and other
    associated equipment to support the organization's continued
    growth. This loan supported the company's move to a second
    shift with 10 new jobs in rural Michigan. I can attest that 10
    new jobs in rural Michigan is a meaningful number and that
    REDL&G was a key component in that growth. There are a dozen
    other REDL&G stories like that.
        Michigan co-ops are actively using Rural Energy for America
    Program, or REAP, to implement efficiency programs and
    integrate new renewable sources. Just last year, Spartan
    Renewable Energy secured a $500,000 REAP grant to help
    construct Spartan Solar, one of Michigan's largest community
    solar projects. Several hundred Michigan co-op members have
    already purchased panels. It is an exciting project.
        Senator Stabenow, I know this program was a big priority
    for you, and you played an important role in securing REAP
    funds for the project. Thank you very much.
        Electric co-ops continue to enjoy a productive partnership
    with the Federal Government to promote the health of rural
    America. We look forward to continuing to work with you toward
    that important goal. Thank you, and I look forward to any of
    your questions.
        [The prepared statement of Mr. Hance can be found on page
    77 in the appendix.]
        Chairman Roberts. Bob, thank you very much.
        Debbie and I were just mentioning here--we were paying very
    close attention to you; do not worry about that--that we could
    probably have 10 questions for every witness, the first panel
    and this panel. You all have had excellent testimony. I want to
    make it very clear that all of this testimony will be part of
    the written record. I am going to share the testimony we got in
    Manhattan, Kansas, of 21 witnesses and the testimony we have
    here in Michigan, and I am going to share it with all the
    members on my side of the aisle, and I know Deborah will do the
    same thing with hers. I think that every member will want to go
    over that very, very carefully.
        So in the interest of time, I am going to ask you one
    question. Somebody has to be the bad news bearer. I do not like
    being a bad news bearer, but this is for the entire panel, and
    I am not going to ask each of you to respond, but if anybody
    feels like it, they can.
        You have all given valuable testimony, and you have all
    supported the various programs across all titles of our farm
    bill. Some of you have shared recommendations for increased
    funding. That is natural. You are doing a good job. You would
    like to have increased funding. I would like for you to have
    increased funding, and so would Deborah.
        This might be a tough question for both you and for us in
    Congress, but the reality is we are going to have to do more
    with less. That is just the way it is. I mentioned the number
    19, it is soon going to be 20, and then 12 zeroes. We cannot go
    on like this. We have to do our share. We would like to think
    that we have done our share. But there are others in the
    Congress that certainly think otherwise.
        Even to merely extend the current farm bill as is, we are
    in a constrained budget environment, so there are challenges
    with regards to any increasing program dollars. What we give to
    some section, some title of the farm bill, we are going to--
    there is a pay-for we are going to have to find with
    efficiencies. We do not like the word ``cut,'' but that is the
    way it is.
        What policy changes should we make that would provide
    greater administrative flexibilities and efficiencies so we can
    achieve some budget savings? Anybody raise their hand here?
    Yes, Mr. Rorah.
        Mr. Rorah. Just on the CRP, we believe that increasing
    flexibility within the program to allow landowners, ranchers
    and farmers to do more wildlife-friendly haying and grazing,
    can stretch available CRP dollars out and cover more acres than
    are covered currently.
        Chairman Roberts. I appreciate that. We can do that with
    existing authority, and we have done it in times of need, and
    we are going to sure look at it in Kansas. Thank you for that.
        Anybody else? Yes, sir, Mr. Hance.
        Mr. Hance. To your point on efficiency in the Federal
    Government and the opportunities that are there that, I would
    argue, are maybe being misused, we have been trying to gain
    access to the Connect America Fund for the last 5 years. It is
    a $2.5 billion fund that would benefit rural America
    substantially with advanced telecommunications across the
    country. It seems to be reserved for incumbent providers, and
    it would be great if somehow it would actually get to rural
    America.
        Chairman Roberts. Anybody else? Yes, sir, Dr. Hesterman.
        Mr. Hesterman. Yes, it seems to me that there could be some
    efficiencies gained by us figuring out how to combine some of
    the programs that are focused on local, regional, urban
    agriculture together, and instead of having many, many
    different programs, we may be able to combine some and create
    efficiencies there.
        Chairman Roberts. That is an excellent suggestion.
        Faith, do you have any suggestions?
        [No response.]
        Chairman Roberts. I am not picking on you. I am just sort
    of picking on you.
        [Laughter.]
        Senator Stabenow. I think Mrs. Hebron had her hand up.
        Chairman Roberts. Yes?
        Mrs. Hebron. Yes, thank you. I would just echo what Dr.
    Hesterman said about the combining of the programming for local
    and urban ag. You know, being new, a lot of the programming
    opportunities have not been designed for urban agriculture, and
    we are growing, and so just being able to access and recognize
    that our work is a little different in communities, making that
    combination so that it is more reachable for us.
        Chairman Roberts. Anyone else?
        Ms. Watson. I think I might have something. I think it
    would be echoing what has been said, just the collaboration. I
    think it cannot be left to one sector to handle hunger and all
    the other issues that are--speaking from food and nutrition, I
    think addressing poverty, addressing hunger, there has to be
    collaboration and communication across the board, like
    churches, nonprofits, Government. Somehow there has got to be
    that collaboration that everybody does a different part, and if
    we work together, the funds can go further. There is a lot more
    than just hunger. There are physical needs, there are emotional
    needs, mental needs, spiritual needs, and all the different
    sectors can work together if they try.
        Chairman Roberts. Well, thank you, Faith, for that.
        My personal favorite is the one that Chris brought up about
    somebody who is really concerned about the number of wildlife
    that is crossing his farm. I will volunteer for one week.
        [Laughter.]
        Chairman Roberts. That is just goofy. But, anyway, thank
    you all for your testimony. Senator?
        Senator Stabenow. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are
    abbreviating questions on this panel only in the interest of
    time because of a flight commitment. So let me first start with
    Ms. Watson. Thank you for being here and sharing your story. I
    do want to reiterate the fact that with policies we put in the
    place in the 2014 Farm Bill, the Budget Office has indicated
    major savings because the economy is improving; more jobs are
    being created, people are going back to work, so the family
    safety net, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
    will save $80 billion. SNAP works. We have two safety nets. We
    have a farm safety net and a family safety net. Because the
    economy is getting better there are more opportunities and we
    wish you well as you are working hard, but as the dollars you
    are receiving to feed your family goes down as your income goes
    up, that indicates how the program is working. This is a good
    thing.
        We know on the farm safety net side that prices are down.
    They were high when we wrote 2014 the farm bill. Commodity
    prices are down now so we have issues to address on that end.
        I also know, in listening to all of you, that what you are
    talking about is creating jobs, whether it is in rural
    development--and, by the way, if we have more time, Mr. Hance,
    I would talk about broadband, which ought to be connecting
    everybody everywhere. Instead of the farmer at the end of the
    road being connected to the telephone, it is now broadband and
    Internet. We have work to do to make sure we have kids coming
    back and staying in small towns. They are going to need to have
    access to high-speed Internet. Connectivity is a big concern
    also for hospitals and all other rural businesses.
        If we talk about forestry and the jobs streaming from that
    industry, or if we talk about the growing area of organics, or
    about urban agriculture, all of these areas are a great
    opportunity for jobs. Mrs. Hebron, thank you for all that you
    are doing to take the extra land in Detroit and the need for
    fresh food, and turn it into a project that creates jobs and
    grows fresh local food. That is part of the grit in
    agriculture, and I am so grateful that all of you are doing
    that. We could talk forever about conservation and research,
    but I am only going to ask one question. Senator Roberts asked
    one.
        As we conclude, I want to thank everyone here. When the
    situation in Flint happened with the high lead levels in
    drinking water and over 100,000 directly exposed to this heavy
    metal it was Michigan agriculture that came forward first. It
    was Michigan Milk Producers that stepped up and donated milk.
    It was fruits and vegetable growers that helped by donating
    excess food to salad bars in schools. I have learned more about
    lead exposure than I ever thought I would in my entire life. We
    know that for children this exposure is extremely damaging and
    continues their whole life. The only way you can mitigate and
    overcome lead exposure is through good nutrition.
        I want to thank you, Dr. Hesterman, for coming in and
    working to expand to grocery stores, farmers markets and so on.
    I wonder if you might take a minute to talk about how you are
    integrating SNAP redemption at farmers markets and groceries.
    This goes to, again highlight, the partnerships built around
    agriculture, local foods, and access to food.
        Mr. Hesterman. Thank you, Senator Stabenow. What we were
    able to do with the support of the State of Michigan, MDARD, as
    well as USDA and private foundations, is to really expand the
    Double Up program in Flint. It had been in the farmers markets
    since 2011, but we have expanded it to now eight sites, all
    kinds of retail sites around Flint, grocery stores, farmers
    market, and some mobile markets where you move the produce to
    where it is needed in the city. We got the program going year
    round. We know those kids need access to fresh fruits and
    vegetables all year round, so we made it not a seasonal program
    but year round. Because Double Up has a uniform design, we were
    able to create a citywide communications program. So outreach
    in all kinds of ways, through social media, through on-the-
    ground outreach, billboards, bus signs, direct mail, really get
    the word out.
        But what we think really made the difference was the
    technology that got developed for Flint. That is the first in
    the Nation and now spreading to other places where folks can
    get this Double Up Food Bucks card. This card can be used at
    the farmers market, the grocery store, the mobile market. We
    call it ``interoperable,'' and it makes the customer experience
    really convenient and easy for Double Up Food Bucks. So
    somebody can earn their Double Up Food Bucks by purchasing
    produce at the farmers market, spend the Double Up off those
    cards at the grocery store, or the other way around.
        So the results in just less than a year, over twice as many
    dollars being used to purchase fresh produce in Flint with
    Double Up than the year before, and we are now reaching over 25
    percent of the SNAP population in Flint with this program.
        So we are really proud of all--it took a lot of
    partnerships to do that. We are proud of that. We are going to
    keep it going because it is needed there.
        Senator Stabenow. Great. Thank you.
        Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Roberts. Well, thank you again to all of our
    witnesses for joining us here in Michigan. We appreciate you
    sharing your experiences, your thoughts--good thoughts, good
    suggestions. Thank you to those in the audience, everybody
    present, those who have listened from around the country for
    your interest, especially on a Saturday.
        When I took the gavel 2 years ago, I indicated that our
    Committee is the voice of the producer, and we both declared
    that we were champions on behalf of agriculture. Our Committee
    will not only provide folks a platform to spread the word about
    the value of production agriculture, but also be the forum for
    our farmers, our ranchers, and consumers, and rural communities
    to participate in shaping the next farm bill. This is just
    another step in doing that.
        Today we have continued that important process. We have
    heard about agricultural research, crop insurance, the
    diversity of American agriculture, and some of the other
    policies that we are working on as well. We have heard about
    the burdens of Government regulation, from Mr. Alpers, and
    programs where we need to raise more questions and craft
    solutions, from Faith.
        We will continue to listen to farmers, ranchers, and other
    stakeholders across the country at additional hearings in
    Washington. We have less than 2 years to pass the next farm
    bill. We have our work cut out for us.
        A lot of my producers out west, way out west in Kansas, I
    had one old boy come up to me, and he pulled down on his cowboy
    hat and said, ``Pat, I do not care what you do to me. Just let
    me know.''
        [Laughter.]
        Chairman Roberts. That pretty well simplified it under the
    banner of predictability and stability. To get the farm bill
    done in the Congress of the United States is a difficult task.
    It is a tough trail. We are going to try to do this in a manner
    that could hopefully provide some predictability because of the
    tough times that we are facing. But we have our task, as I
    said, that lies before us.
        But I know, in working with Senator Stabenow in the past,
    and other members of the Committee, I know, I have no doubt,
    that we can craft a bill for producers across the countryside,
    and we can do it in a timely manner so that you will know and
    be able to continue the good work that you are doing.
        This Committee stands adjourned. I have to get on a plane
    to get into Dodge, not out of Dodge.
        [Laughter.]
        Senator Stabenow. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. All right.
        [Applause.]
        [Whereupon, at 12:40 p.m. Eastern Time, the Committee was
    adjourned.]

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