Rep. Schrier Hosts Farm Bill Listening Session to Hear From Washington State Producers and Agriculture Partners

CARNATION, WA – Today Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) hosted a House Agriculture Committee Listening Session on next year’s Farm Bill. The listening session allowed farmers, producers, and other agriculture partners in Washington State to voice their thoughts and concerns. Committee members will take this information back to Washington, DC to craft legislation that addresses the needs and challenges of today’s farmers as they draft the 2023 Farm Bill. The listening session in full can be found here.

“As the only Member from the Pacific Northwest on the House Agriculture Committee, I am so honored and proud to have hosted a listening session focusing on the Farm Bill’s impact on agriculture, forestry, nutrition, and rural economic development in Washington State,” said Rep. Schrier. “As we heard today, Washington farmers and the agriculture community are facing many challenges right now including rising costs, supply chain issues, and low crop yields. We know research is key to addressing some of these challenges, especially those related to climate change. For the nearly 36,000 farms in this state, I’m glad to have made sure small and mid-size farmers, and the whole agriculture community got a say in the 2023 Farm Bill.”

Last passed in 2018, the Farm Bill funds a number of important agricultural and food programs for the next five to six years. The current Farm Bill, set to expire in 2023, requires reauthorization of existing programs, and updates and revisions in the face of new challenges. Without the passage of the Farm Bill, programs vital to the agricultural community of Washington would expire, including agricultural research, trade and foreign market access, crop insurance, forestry and conservation programs, and nutrition programs.

The House Agriculture Committee has held numerous hearings in Washington, DC and plans to hold other listening sessions across the country to review the efficacy of each bill provision.