Jackie Walorski this week visited farmers in her district to gather input on the development of the federal farm bill. Walorski (R-Dist. 2), who took her congressional seat in January, visited the 10 counties she represents on Monday and Tuesday. She said Tuesday she heard from 10 to 20 farmers at each stop, in places like farms, homes and grain elevators. Resistance to environmental protection regulations was a common theme, she noted, though each region had its own concerns as well. In Kosciusko County, she heard issues raised over rules on animal waste disposal and prevention of digging in wetlands. She said farmers spoke against agencies like the Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency excercising their rule-making power rather than lawmakers. The results sometimes leave farmers unsure of how to follow the rules. “Farmers are following the law as they understand it,” she said. “So they get a permit, then the law changes and they have to re-permit and repay.” Congress will begin looking at a new five-year farm bill in summer, Walorski said. They last passed one in 2008 – the $288 billion Food, Conservation and Energy Act, which, having failed to write a new one last year, they renewed until September. In preparation for the bill she said she plans to invite the House Agriculture Committee chair to her district and to present the committee the concerns raised during her two-day tour. “I want to advocate for them by bringing our issues to the ag chair and the ag committee. I want to make sure we have a voice,” she said.
