WASHINGTON, March 1, 2012 – House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) announced a series of field hearings today on the 2012 Farm Bill to take place throughout March and April. The first House Agriculture Committee Farm Bill hearing of this year is scheduled for upstate New York with other stops slated for Illinois, Arkansas and Kansas.

The field hearings are the next step in the farm bill development. Since last June, the House Agriculture Committee has held 11 audit hearings on agriculture programs to look for ways to improve programs for farmers, increase efficiency, and reduce spending.

"Field hearings represent one of the best parts of writing the farm bill because it gives us a chance to see the countryside and visit with folks who are directly impacted by our policy decisions in Washington,”  said Chairman Frank Lucas.

The full schedule is below. For those who cannot attend the hearings, the House Agriculture Committee plans to provide a live webcast at this link.

Friday, March 9, 2012 – 9:00 a.m. EST
North Country Community College, Sparks Athletic Complex
23 Santanoni Ave
Saranac Lake, NY 12983

Friday, March 23, 2012 – 9:00 a.m. CDT
Carl Sandburg College, Student Center Building B
2400 Tom L. Wilson Blvd.
Galesburg, IL 61401

Friday, March 30, 2012 – 9:00 a.m. CDT
Riceland Hall, Fowler Center
Arkansas State University
201 Olympic Drive
State University, AR 72467

Friday, April 20, 2012 – 9:00 a.m. CDT
Magouirk Conference Center
4100 W. Comanche
Dodge City, KS 67801

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