(Hanover, NH) - Today, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) joined local farmers, foresters, conservationists and other stakeholders at Dartmouth College’s Organic Farm to discuss the 2018 Farm Bill and hear their thoughts about this critical legislation. The Farm Bill, which is reauthorized every five years by Congress, covers programs related to agriculture, such as nutrition, conservation, forestry, and rural development.

“Local agriculture plays a crucial role in the success of New Hampshire’s economy, and this highly comprehensive bill will help support new and beginning farmers,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “I appreciate the hardworking Granite Staters who joined me today to discuss this issue and how we can make this legislation work better for the people of New Hampshire, and I look forward to sharing their thoughts with my colleagues in Washington.”

Kuster was joined at today’s discussion by Lorraine Merrill, Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture; Roger Noonan, President of the Northeast Farmer’s Union and Owner of the Middle Branch Farm; Rick Ellsmore, NH State Director of the USDA-National Resources Conservation Service; and Linda Brownson, President of the New Hampshire Association of Conservation Districts, among others.  

“These listening sessions are so important for both New Hampshire farmers and eaters. We have had great turnout at this listening session which reflects the diversity of New Hampshire agriculture,” said Merrill, New Hampshire’s agriculture commissioner. 

“This was a great opportunity for New England farmers to have a local Member of the House Agriculture Committee provide a forum to hear their issues and concerns with the Farm Bill,” said Noonan, of the New England Farmers Union.

As the first Representative from New Hampshire to serve on the House Agriculture Committee in decades, Congresswoman Kuster is proud to advocate for the Granite State’s richly diverse agricultural industry.  To date this year, she has introduced legislation reauthorizing the Northern Border Regional Commission, as well as the Homegrown Organic Act and the Improving Access to Farm Conservation Act, which will reform and improve USDA National Resource Conservation Service programs.     

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