Hutchinson Advocates for Arkansas Agriculture at USDA Meeting

Washington D.C. - Asa Hutchinson, the 2006 Republican nominee for Governor, met today with the high-ranking federal officials to advocate for Arkansas farmers' interests in the development of the 2007 farm bill, including calling for more federal funding for biofuels research. Hutchinson met Monday morning with Chuck Conner, the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to discuss the needs of Arkansas farmers and how the next farm bill could better serve this vital sector of the Arkansas economy. Hutchinson noted that Conner would play a key role in developing the 2007 Farm Bill that will come before Congress next year, so it's important to let him know about the situation facing Arkansas farmers.

"I emphasized that this is a tough time for Arkansas farmers, with the high cost of fuel and other agricultural inputs making it more difficult for them to stay afloat," Hutchinson said. "I told him that the farm support payments and the safety net that was put into place in the '02 Farm Bill have helped tremendously, but we need to continue the work of providing for the needs of our farmers through more investment in biofuels research, expanding grants for surface-water retention programs for irrigation and other key initiatives." Hutchinson has vowed to be a strong advocate for Arkansas farmers and agricultural producers by drawing on his extensive experience in Congress to fight for the state's needs in the 2007 farm bill and by supporting the new state Department of Agriculture.

In addition, Hutchinson wants to help Arkansas lead the nation in the development and marketing of biofuels and other bioproducts derived from Arkansas agricultural commodities. He argues that these innovative products offer tremendous opportunities for the future for the state's rice, soybean and cotton farmers. Hutchinson has focused on support for the bio-industry in Arkansas, which is why he has called for increased investment in research and development at the state's universities, which are on the cutting edge of such research around the nation. Arkansas State University's program in biosciences and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff's aquaculture research program are just two examples of the great work taking place in Arkansas, Hutchinson has noted.