[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 70 (Wednesday, May 16, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H2723]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   CELEBRATING THE 150TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF 
                              AGRICULTURE

  (Mr. McINTYRE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say happy birthday to the 
United States Department of Agriculture, which celebrated its 150th 
birthday on May 15.
  In my home State of North Carolina, we have contributed to our 
Nation's agricultural success, and the Seventh Congressional district 
is the most productive agricultural district in the State, with over 
$2.5 billion worth of agricultural products sold each year.
  Because our farms and our farmers and our agribusinesses are so 
critical to our State's economy, it is vital that the USDA partner with 
us, as it does with States throughout our country, helping farmers 
manage risk; providing a safety net for producers who experience 
disasters from weather, pests, or price collapse; giving rural 
communities the tools they need to be able to make infrastructure 
improvements; investing in cutting-edge agricultural research at our 
country's premiere research institutions and land grant universities. 
These all allow for breakthroughs in crop science and animal 
agriculture.
  Indeed, we say happy birthday to our USDA. We know that the State of 
North Carolina, and all of our States that benefit from its services, 
allow our farmers and our rural communities in rural America to enjoy 
the strong positive relationship to share our future together. Let's 
keep our farmers and our rural communities strong.

                          ____________________