WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, discussed budget cuts, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations and the value of production agriculture at the annual Kansas Farm Bureau Delegation Dinner in Washington:

"Total U.S. national debt is at $14 trillion," Roberts said. "You’re fed up with it, I’m fed up with it, and the vast majority of taxpayers are fed up with it.

"Unfortunately the Administration continues to focus on agriculture spending for cuts.

"Farm program spending accounts for 0.16 percent of total federal spending.

"USDA is also proposing to cut $6.9 billion from the crop insurance program through the Standard Reinsurance Agreement negotiation. This is on top of the $6 billion in cuts from the Farm Bill. This is unacceptable and jeopardizes the viability of the program.

"EPA is once again stirring up dust in agriculture. They are expanding regulations over carbon emissions, spray drift, atrazine, rural dust, and will require every producer to acquire a Clean Water Act permit.

"I am a cosponsor of a resolution to strip EPA’s authority to unilaterally regulate carbon in a way that grinds our economy to a halt."

And finally, Roberts spoke on behalf of production agriculture.

"‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food’" is USDA’s new initiative aimed at connecting farmers with consumers. USDA believes it’s important to bring together farmers from the fields and consumers from town in one place to get to know each other, understand each other, and appreciate one another.

"As you know, in Kansas we call that Church.

"‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food’" is well intentioned but too narrowly focused. It should include all of agriculture, not just farmers markets and organic crops.

"By 2050 global agriculture production must double to meet the nutrition demands of our growing population. This increased production won’t be met through building new farmers’ markets and urban community rooftop gardens.

"Each Kansas farmer feeds 144 people in a global marketplace. The miracle of modern agriculture has overcome great challenges in the past and with your help, will continue to do so."

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