The National Aquaculture Association (NAA) coordinated representation for U.S. aquaculture during three recent Farm Bill listening sessions held in Texas, Minnesota and California. As a brief summary of each session:
- July 31st, San Angelo TX: John Jones, President of the Texas Aquaculture Assn, spoke to a Specialty Crops designation for aquaculture and bird depredation permitting authority. Mr. Jones commented that a huge number of farmers attended and 11 to 12 committee members.
- August 3rd, Morgan MN: Mr. Michael Ziebell, President and CEO of trū Shrimp and Mr. Chad Hebert, owner/manager of the Urban Farm Project attended. Mr. Ziebell was selected to speak and requested a Specialty Crops designation. Mr. Hebert wrote after the event, “There were 11 house AG committee members. Tru shrimp got an opportunity to speak to the panel. The turn-out was amazing; the room was full.”
- August 5th, Modesto CA: Tony Schuur, President of the California Aquaculture Assn, spoke to a Specialty Crops designation and revising/updating the National Aquaculture Policy Act. Mr. Schuur commented that five Committee members were present and the session was attended by an audience of about 200 people.
In each instance, the speakers commented that they were very impressed by the attentiveness of the Committee members and were more than happy that they made the effort to attend and speak. The NAA will be following up with the Committee with in-depth information. To view archived video recordings of each Farm Bill listening sessions that the Committee has subtitled, “Conversations in the Field,” please visit: https://agriculture.house.gov/.
Source: NAA
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