Farm Bill Workshop, Wednesday, October 4, 2017
What do you mean you don't cover the farm bill? Agriculture everywhere has a major impact on the environment.
Soil scientist Eton Codling notes excellent corn growth on manured soil treated with alum residue, which cuts ammonia emissions to the air and phosphorus losses in runoff water. |
NOTE: This workshop is by invitation only and is full.
Veteran reporters covering the farm bill explain the nuances of the legislation and issues impacting different audiences.
Moderator: Chris Clayton, veteran farm-policy editor for DTN/The Progressive Farmer
Speakers:
Chuck Abbott, long-time Reuters reporter who now covers farm-policy issues for the Food and Environment Reporting Network
Ellyn Ferguson, agricultural reporter for CQ Roll Call
Representatives from industry and environmental groups lay out their agendas for the farm bill and explain the differences in the legislation between the carrot and the stick approach.
Moderator: Chris Clayton, veteran farm-policy editor for DTN/The Progressive Farmer
Speakers:
Craig Cox, farm policy expert for Environmental Working Group
Ferd Hoefner, policy director for the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Beverly Paul, lobbyist for the American Soybean Association
11:45 a.m. Load buses for lunch and tour
En route to our tour we’ll enjoy a special lunch created by local chef Sonja Finn of Dinette, one of Pittsburgh’s top restaurants. Finn grows much of her own produce on the roof of Dinette and sources as many ingredients as possible from local farms. She has traveled to D.C. many times lobbying for Food Policy Action and will share her positions on the Farm Bill and passion for fresh local food.
Tour Leader: Doug Oster, Home and Garden Editor, Pittsburgh Tribune Review and Everybody Gardens
12:30-2:30 p.m. Garden Dreams Urban Farm
We’ll visit Garden Dreams Urban Farm and Nursery in Wilkinsburg. The quarter-acre organic farm supplies gardeners and local retailers with a wide variety of unique seedlings. Garden Dreams was founded by Mindy Schwartz who will be on site to explain the importance of having a place for locals to get plants and fresh produce in this underserved inner-city neighborhood.
3:00 p.m. Return to the Wyndham Grand hotel
SEJ conference attendees will be gathering in King’s Garden 5 near registration for a meet-and-greet event from 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Sponsored by the Walton Family Foundation.