Carnation, WA – Today, the House Agriculture Committee held the third in a series of listening sessions entitled “A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: Perspectives from the Field” at Remlinger Farms in Carnation, Washington.

Two Members of Congress were joined by approximately 325 members of the public participating in person or streaming online. Audience members discussed topics including specialty crops, organics, small-scale farming, and nutrition assistance programs.

Washington State is home to over 35,000 farms, where the majority sit on less than 50 acres of land. Producing over 300 different commodities, Washington is a nationwide leader in the production of crops such as blueberries, hops, pears, sweet cherries, and apples. In fact, according to the Washington State Department of Agriculture, the state’s apple industry accounts for 70 percent of total U.S. production.

Members of the House Agriculture Committee issued the following statements following today’s event.

“I appreciate House Agriculture Subcommittee Chair Stacey Plaskett of the U.S. Virgin Islands for chairing this farm bill listening session, and Congresswoman Kim Schrier for hosting it in her home state of Washington,” said Chairman David Scott. “This series of listening sessions has already provided us with a lot of valuable information as we head into the 2023 Farm Bill. Thank you to the people of Washington for making your voices heard.”

“As the only Member from the Pacific Northwest on the House Agriculture Committee, I am so proud to have hosted a listening session focusing on the Farm Bill’s impact on agriculture, forestry, nutrition, and rural economic development in Washington State,” said Congresswoman Kim Schrier. “As we heard today, Washington farmers and the Ag community are facing many challenges right now including rising costs, supply chain issues, and low crop yields. We know research is key to addressing some of these challenges, especially those related to climate change. For the nearly 36,000 farms in this state, I’m glad to have made sure small and mid-size farmers, and the whole agriculture community got a say in the 2023 Farm Bill.”

“Today, as part of a series of House Agriculture Committee listening sessions, we had an informative conversation with farmers and producers,” said Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett. “I thank Congresswoman Schrier of Washington for hosting this event and providing the opportunity to engage with farmers and others who contribute to our country’s economy. The perspectives shared by agriculture stakeholders today will help inform and guide our preparations for the 2023 Farm Bill. Agriculture is a key economic driver in rural economies, and I look forward to continuing conversations to ensure these communities are supported.”

Photos from the event will be available here.

Full video of the listening session can be found here.