[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 69 (Tuesday, May 15, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E799]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CELEBRATING THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY

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                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 15, 2012

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its 150th year of service. 
President Abraham Lincoln established USDA 150 years ago today in 1862.
  American agriculture has been the second most productive sector of 
our nation's economy in the past decade. United States farm income is 
forecast at $91.7 billion in 2012, the second highest on record. 
Agriculture now accounts for 1 in 12 jobs in the United States.
  United States agricultural exports have been particularly strong. 
Exports reached record levels in fiscal year 2011 of $137.4 billion. 
This level supported 1.15 million jobs here at home and contributed to 
a trade surplus of $42.7 billion in agriculture. Agriculture is one of 
the few sectors that the United States has consistently had a trade 
surplus.
  American farmers and ranchers provide us with 86 percent of the food 
we consume. This efficiency results in American consumers spending less 
than 10 percent of their disposable incomes on food. By comparison, 
most European consumers spend more than double that, and in developing 
counties, the percentage is often as high as 50 percent.
  USDA has played a vital role in the success of American agriculture. 
There is no doubt that without assistance from USDA American 
agriculture would not be as strong as it is today.
  With the support of Congress, USDA provides a strong safety net for 
America's farmers and ranchers to ensure the United States continues to 
be the world's leader in agricultural production. USDA's crop insurance 
insures 264 million acres on about 500,000 farms. Crop insurance has 
helped more than 325,000 farmers who lost crops due to natural 
disasters over the past three years.
  I want to highlight USDA's recent efforts in strengthening local and 
regional food systems. For many years, I have advocated and worked to 
provide federal assistance in supporting local food systems. Local food 
sales were valued at $4.8 billion in 2008 and are expected to grow in 
the coming years. We need to harvest this economic power to help create 
American jobs and strengthen our local economies.
  The Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food (KYF) initiative represents a 
good first step in using USDA's programs to improve local food systems. 
KYF provides a one-stop shop for information on more than 25 USDA 
programs that could assist in developing and improving local food 
systems, encourages much needed collaboration across agencies to reduce 
bureaucratic barriers in supporting and expanding marketing 
opportunities in local food markets, and works to connect farmers 
directly to consumers, which helps increase the availability of healthy 
nutritious foods.
  KYF efforts have been hugely successful related to farmers' markets. 
We have seen a 54 percent increase in the number of farmers' markets 
since 2008. Over 2,400 farmers' markets and farm stands are now 
authorized to accept EBT, an increase of 51 percent over last year.
  Mr. Speaker, while there are many challenges still facing American 
agriculture, there is no doubt in my mind that USDA is up to the task. 
From my perspective, the future success of USDA and American 
agriculture will depend on our support for local food systems and other 
emerging markets such as the specialty crop market.
  I congratulate USDA for its 150th Anniversary and thank all the 
department's employees for their service.

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