Davids Continues Farm Bill Listening Tour in Franklin County
OTTAWA, KS – Today, Representative Sharice Davids continued her Farm Bill listening tour in Franklin County, visiting the Ottawa Cooperative Association (Co-op) and meeting with local producers and agriculture community leaders. The tour will continue at farms, ranches, and businesses across the Third District as Davids prepares to consider the 2023 Farm Bill through her position on the House Agriculture Committee. This package of legislation is typically renewed every five years and determines federal agriculture and nutrition policy impacting Kansas families both urban and rural.
"From yesterday's stop at Bauman's Cedar Valley farm to the Ottawa Co-op today, I'm visiting with folks all across the district on this listening tour to make sure I'm prepared for the upcoming Farm Bill discussion in Congress," said Davids. "I'm hoping we will find common ground to pass a Farm Bill that supports our entire food system and economy. That starts with an understanding of where Kansans' priorities are, from all corners of our district."
Along with the board members of the Ottawa Co-op, Davids was joined by representatives from the Franklin County Farm Bureau, Conservation District, and Farm Service Agency as well as the Kansas Cooperative Council. They discussed key topics in this year's farm bill, including protecting crop insurance policies that farmers rely on and supporting Market Access Programs so Kansas producers can get their products to global markets.
"We are grateful to Representative Davids for coming to Franklin County to discuss the importance of the upcoming Farm Bill to Franklin County farmers and ranchers. This legislation is vital to providing a safety net for production agriculture, implementing conservation practices and offering nutrition assistance for urban and rural residents," said Aaron Dunbar & Matthew Rossi, Franklin County Farm Bureau Association Advocacy Committee Chairpersons. "We look forward to working with Rep. Davids to create the best bill possible to support agriculture locally and across the country. And as Rep. Davids continues to serve on the House Agriculture Committee, we look forward to being a conduit for her agricultural inquiries going forward."
Rep. Davids hosts a farm bill listening tour stop at the Ottawa Co-op
The Ottawa Co-op is the second stop on Davids' listening tour, following her stop at Bauman's Cedar Valley Farms in Garnett earlier this week. The Co-op has been operating since the early 1900s and now covers 14 locations and several departments, including grain handling and storage, feed mixing, seed cleaning, petroleum products and delivery, chemical and fertilizer sales and application, car care facilities, and more. With over 1,500 members, the Ottawa Co-op provides trusted service and support to all aspects of the agricultural community in eastern Kansas.
Last year, Davids has hosted U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretaries Jennifer Lester Moffitt and Xochitl Torres Small for visits to the Third District to learn about the area's meatpacking and dairy industries, respectively. She was also named a Friend of the Farm Bureau by the Kansas Farm Bureau in 2022.