Governor Addresses U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback today testified before the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry in Wichita. The focus of the Governor’s testimony was on policy options related to the future of the Ogallala aquifer.

“In order to sustain long term economic growth, we must address the challenges of the [Ogallala] aquifer,” Gov. Brownback said. “We are committed in Kansas to working with our stakeholders, creating incentives and eliminating disincentives to conserve, and making progress in sustaining the life of the aquifer.”

“Kansans understand the severity of this issue and are working together to develop state solutions to address the challenges of the declining Ogallala,” Gov. Brownback continued. “However, in order to truly make an impact, a multi-state approach accompanied by appropriate federal policy would be useful.”

The Governor discussed Kansas’ support for the following federal programs:

· High Plains Groundwater Resource Conservation Program and its inclusion in the in Farm Bill

· USDA-Risk Management Agency: Limited Irrigated Crop Insurance

· USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Agency: EQUIP – Ag Water Enhancement Program

· Funding agriculture research for low water usage crops such as sorghum

The hearing, entitled “Looking Ahead: Kansas and the 2012 Farm Bill,” was attended by U.S. Senator Pat Roberts – the Ranking Member of the committee – along with more than a dozen associations and stakeholders.