GALESBURG, Ill. — Approximately 300 farmers and others attended the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture’s special farm bill field hearing at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg last Friday.

Leading it off was House Ag Committee Chair Frank D. Lucas (R-Okla.), who explained the field hearing – one of only four scheduled by the committee – was a continuation of what Ranking Member Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) started last spring as a way to get farmers more involved in the process of writing the farm bill.

“Today we’re here to listen,” said Lucas. “One of the reasons we hold field hearings is to get a sense of the diversity of agriculture across this great country.”

Lucas shared his general goals for the 2012 farm bill, stating first and foremost, he wants to give producers the tools they need to continue to produce the safest, most abundant and affordable food supply in the world.

“To do this we must develop a farm bill that works for all regions and all commodities. We have repeatedly heard that a one-size-fits-all program will not work. I can tell you from experience that what works here in Illinois won’t work as well for my constituents in Oklahoma. So the commodity title must give producers options so that they can choose the program that works best for them,” he said.

“I am also committed to providing a strong crop insurance program. The committee has heard loud and clear about the importance of crop insurance and we believe it is the cornerstone of the safety net. Lastly, we’ll work to ensure that producers can continue using conservation programs to protect our natural resources.”

Lucas also identified a number of “universal concerns” facing agriculture across the country. “For instance, my producers in Oklahoma are worried about regulations coming down from the Environmental Protection Agency and how they must comply with those regulations,” he said.

“I’m also aware that the death (estate) tax is creating difficult situations for farming operations. I want to hear how these federal policies are affecting producers here.”

Forming the House Ag Committee panel alongside Lucas were Reps. Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa), K. Michael Conaway (R-Texas) and Randy Hultgren (R-Ill.), along with Robert T. Schilling (R-Ill.), whose 17th legislative district served as “home” for the field hearing. Schilling addressed the crowd and the farmer-witness panel set to testify prior to the hearing, lauding the soil in the17th district as “some of the most fruitful and productive in the world ... In short, we are an agricultural powerhouse.”

Schilling used his remarks to address naysayers who fear a partisan Congress will not be able to collaborate on a farm bill for 2012.

“It’s the question all of you have been asking,” he said. “In the spirit of Mark Twain, the reports of the death of bipartisanship have been greatly exaggerated. Do we have our work cut out for us? Absolutely. But this is a bipartisan committee and we will work together to produce a farm bill that works for America.

“This field hearing is a wonderful opportunity for our area’s farmers to lay out their priorities for the next farm bill to my colleagues on the Agriculture Committee. I’d like to extend my thanks to Chairman Lucas and his staff for recognizing the invaluable contributions of our area to America’s food supply, and for including the 17th Congressional District as one of the settings for farm bill discussions.”

The House Ag Committee heard from 10 witnesses from five states, divided into two panels (see related article on page 10). Though these farmers disagreed on some topics, such as aspects of the conservation title, all were unified regarding the crafting a farm bill that will allow farmers to continue to provide the safest and most consistent food supply in the world.

“Everybody in this country has a vested interest in agriculture: We all eat,” said Boswell. “We’re not making more land. We’re making a lot more people.”

Lucas closed his remarks by reiterating his optimism for a completed, all-inclusive farm bill before the end of 2012: “As I said before, we don’t have an easy road ahead of us. But I’m confident that by working together, we can craft a farm bill that continues to support the success story that is American agriculture.”

Additional field hearings are scheduled this Friday at Arkansas State University and April 20 at the Magouirk Conference Center in Dodge City, Kan. A previous hearing was at North Country Community College in Saranac Lake, N.Y., March 9.