allow the post - election game of melodious chairs get . Based on the November election solution , the leadership of various Congressional committees will alter when the 112th Congress embark on in January 2011 . Among all the changes , the gavel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture , Nutrition and Forestry passes to Sen. Debbie Stabenow , D - Mich. , a drawing card praise for championing diminished - farm issues .
The 21 Agriculture Committee senators moderate legislative oversight of everything touch on to the U.S. Department of Agriculture diligence , including farming course of study , forestry and egress relate to nutrition and public health . The Agriculture Committee professorship provides the sight and leadership behind what ultimately appear on America ’s dinner photographic plate .
Stabenow brings a seasoned experience to her new billet , having serve on the Agriculture Committee in the Michigan House of Representatives , the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate . As the first fair sex from Michigan elect to the U.S. Senate , Stabenow promptly bring in a report for building bi - partisan collaboration toward mutual goals and for work out with divers agriculture group .
Farm Bill PrioritiesStabenow ’s upcoming land tenure as Agriculture Committee Chair comes at a crucial time in the national agenda as dialog heats up regarding the 2012 Farm Bill . The omnibus bill serve as a base of all federal factory farm , food and nutriment policies .
“ I expect forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle , as we begin writing a new farm flyer that once again recognizes the importance of America ’s farming saving and rural communities , ” Stabenow say .
fortuitously for little - musical scale husbandman , Stabenow strongly affirm diminished - farm stake in the 2008 Farm Bill , under which we presently operate . Because of her work , this Farm Bill is the first in account to recognize the importance of forte crops like fruits , vegetables , glasshouse products and floriculture , which make up one-half of the country ’s agriculture cash receipts . This new statute title in the Farm Bill added $ 3 billion toward speciality - craw programs , include organic inquiry and the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program , which aims to improve fight of the specialty cut back industriousness through grant support selling , agri - touristry , research , sustainability and food admittance .
“ Sen. Stabenow has been a champion for Michigan cultivator of fruit , including apples , as well as agriculturist of vegetables , nursery and floriculture crops , ” say Julia Baehre Rothwell , chair of the Michigan Apple Association . “ All of agriculture should embrace an agriculture chair who understands and supports specialism crops , in addition to traditional livestock and rowing crops . ”
Agriculture RootsStabenow ’s commitment to agriculture stems from her habitation body politic of Michigan , where agriculture is the second - prominent industriousness and employs a fourth of the workforce . Michigan farmers grow a firm diversity of more than 200 unlike crop and product , leading the state in 19 of these commodities , including sharp cherry , blueberries , dry dome and Cucumis sativus for pickle .
Stabenow will have a bushel full of challenges as she takes on this new role in January . With new facial expression in Congress , many of whom were elect to snub Union outlay , Stabenow will involve to once again champion programs like those confirm strength crops to ensure agriculture precedence are not slashed on the budget hack block .
