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Panetta starts ag research caucus

June 5, 2017

20th District Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) and Rodney Davis the Republican Congressman from Illinois joined together to start the bipartisan Congressional Agriculture Research Caucus.

The Caucus focuses on topics related to agriculture research, innovation, and mechanization efforts, and is coming at a time as Congress prepares for the 2018 Farm Bill.

"As a representative of the Salad Bowl of the World, I believe it is of the utmost importance to equip our growers, shippers, and farmworkers with the most effective tools possible," said Panetta in a news release. Panetta supports research for plant breeding, crop protections, and mechanization as potential remedies for the water and land limitations farmers face along with the severe labor shortage.

To address the continued problem of labor shortage, Panetta also supports an amended visa system that supports citizenship.

"By investing in agricultural research today, we will ensure U.S. agriculture remains competitive globally and continues to lead the way in food and agriculture innovation," said Davis, adding that agriculture offers many opportunities for partnerships between the public and private sectors including industry and academia.

Issues:Agriculture