Lyons, NE - Justin Doerr, a beginning farmer and military veteran from Plainview, NE, will travel to Washington D.C. on Thursday, May 10, to participate and testify at the House Ag Committee Hearing on the Farm Bill Credit Title.
"I'm honored to have the opportunity to testify about the value of federal credit, training and land access programs that are absolutely crucial in helping beginning farmers get started in agriculture," said Doerr.
Doerr, who recently finished planting, commented further on the importance of his testimony,"I believe these credit programs and other efforts targeted specifically at new farmers, are very important investments the farm bill can make in ensuring that young farmers like myself have the tools and resources we need to successfully contribute to our local farm economies, spur rural economic development, preserve our natural resource base, and do our part in ensuring our nation's food security."
When: May 10, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. (EDT)
Who: Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight and Credit - U.S. House of
Representatives Committee on Agriculture
What: Subcommittee Hearing on Formulations of the 2012 Farm Bill Credit Programs
Where: 1300 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC
Contact the Center for Rural Affairs to schedule an interview or reach Justin Doerr directly at:
Justin D. Doerr
Doerr grew up on a small farm in Northeast Nebraska where his family raised hogs, cattle, and some hay. After high school he joined the Army. During this time, things got tough on the farm so Justin's father sold the livestock and rented out the farm ground. When Justin got back from overseas he wanted to move home and farm. "What I found later was I had the desire to farm but did not have the means, as I lacked the capital and resources to begin farming after the folks sold their operation," commented Doerr.
"We face a lot of barriers as beginning farmers as far as access to land and credit and barriers in crop insurance," said Doerr. "As a beginning farmer one way of getting a start is through niche markets and raising non-conventional crops, but it's hard to gain access to crop insurance for that... that problem should be addressed."
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