Recent Press Releases

Washington, D.C. —  Senator John Thune will once again call together Senate Republicans for a meeting of the Ag Posse in his office on Wednesday. This week the Posse will be joined by Agriculture Department Secretary Mike Johanns.

The Ag Posse is comprised of Republican Senators who are not members of the Senate Ag Committee, but who represent states with agricultural interests. The Ag Posse, chaired by Senator Thune, provides these Senators the chance to meet informally with Senate Republican Agriculture Committee members to discuss the 2007 Farm Bill, and related issues.

"Our first meeting was very beneficial as it showed me that a number of Senators who do not sit on the Senate Ag Committee are very interested in having their voices heard in this Farm Bill debate," said Thune. "At tomorrow's Ag Posse meeting I will be sharing highlights of my Biofuels Innovation Program legislation (S.36) with Secretary Johanns and my Senate colleagues. In addition, we will be hearing from Secretary Johanns about the Administration's farm bill proposals."

"The Ag Posse is an opportunity for me to build support for the inclusion of a strong Energy Title in the farm bill as well as combine forces for effective Commodity, Rural Development, Conservation and other important Titles from Senators outside the Ag Committee. These coalitions will be very important to South Dakota agriculture when the farm bill debate moves from the Ag Committee to the Senator Floor," said Thune. "The Ag Posse is one more venue for me to represent and gather support for South Dakota interests in the U.S. Senate."

The Ag Posse convenes every two weeks in Senator Thune's office.