WASHINGTON, D.C. —
U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) will serve as the Senate co-chairs of the Congressional Farmer Cooperative Caucus during the 112th Congress. The bipartisan and bicameral caucus is designed to promote greater awareness and understanding of issues important to rural economies and farmer cooperatives as the Congress considers the 2012 Farm Bill. Both Thune and Klobuchar serve on the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, which is responsible for drafting the Farm Bill. U.S. Representatives Sam Graves (R-Mo.) and Tim Holden (D-Pa.) will also co-chair the caucus for the U.S. House of Representatives.
"It has been an honor to serve as a co-chair of the Congressional Farmer Cooperative Caucus for the past two years and I am pleased to continue serving as a co-chair for the 112th Congress," said Thune. "Farmer cooperatives have a long history of strengthening our agriculture economy, and as member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I am in a position to ensure that South Dakota's farmer cooperatives have a seat at the table during the drafting of the 2012 Farm Bill."
"From small family farms to Land-O-Lakes, farm cooperatives play a vital role in Minnesota's economy," Klobuchar said. "As we look toward the next Farm Bill, it is critical that we hear directly from our farming community about the issues that are important to our rural economies."
"Throughout their time in the Senate, both Senators Klobuchar and Thune have been stalwart supporters of agricultural co-ops and their farmer-owners in Minnesota, South Dakota, and around the country," said Chuck Conner, president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. "I look forward to working with the Senators and other caucus members as the 112th Congress begins work on a wide range of issues affecting co-ops and agriculture."
Thune was a co-chair of the Congressional Farmer Cooperative Caucus during the last session of Congress and has served on the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee since 2007. He played a critical role in the passage of the 2008 Farm Bill in the U.S. Senate and served on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee during the drafting of the 2002 Farm Bill.
Klobuchar serves on the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee and worked closely with House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson to pass the 2008 Farm Bill. With over 200 cooperatives including the Whole Farm Co-op and the United Farmers Co-op, Minnesota leads the country in cooperatives. Agriculture is a leading export in Minnesota and accounts for over $75 billion in economic activity and supports more than 300,000 jobs.
The caucus has 18 Senate members and 44 House members, including Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota, and Representatives Collin Peterson, Betty McCollum, John Kline, Michele Bachmann, and Tim Walz, all of Minnesota.
"It has been an honor to serve as a co-chair of the Congressional Farmer Cooperative Caucus for the past two years and I am pleased to continue serving as a co-chair for the 112th Congress," said Thune. "Farmer cooperatives have a long history of strengthening our agriculture economy, and as member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I am in a position to ensure that South Dakota's farmer cooperatives have a seat at the table during the drafting of the 2012 Farm Bill."
"From small family farms to Land-O-Lakes, farm cooperatives play a vital role in Minnesota's economy," Klobuchar said. "As we look toward the next Farm Bill, it is critical that we hear directly from our farming community about the issues that are important to our rural economies."
"Throughout their time in the Senate, both Senators Klobuchar and Thune have been stalwart supporters of agricultural co-ops and their farmer-owners in Minnesota, South Dakota, and around the country," said Chuck Conner, president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. "I look forward to working with the Senators and other caucus members as the 112th Congress begins work on a wide range of issues affecting co-ops and agriculture."
Thune was a co-chair of the Congressional Farmer Cooperative Caucus during the last session of Congress and has served on the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee since 2007. He played a critical role in the passage of the 2008 Farm Bill in the U.S. Senate and served on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee during the drafting of the 2002 Farm Bill.
Klobuchar serves on the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee and worked closely with House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson to pass the 2008 Farm Bill. With over 200 cooperatives including the Whole Farm Co-op and the United Farmers Co-op, Minnesota leads the country in cooperatives. Agriculture is a leading export in Minnesota and accounts for over $75 billion in economic activity and supports more than 300,000 jobs.
The caucus has 18 Senate members and 44 House members, including Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota, and Representatives Collin Peterson, Betty McCollum, John Kline, Michele Bachmann, and Tim Walz, all of Minnesota.