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and feeling that the most professionally rewarding experience I had when I had the opportunity to serve was to pass a bipartisan, multi-year farm bill, and to see that an opportunity like no other was squandered because of ideology and partisan politics was incredibly disappointing."
• Herseth Sandlin was a member of the House Agriculture Committee when it passed the 2008 farm bill, and says that legislation is the reason agriculture has seen incredible profitability in recent years and is the reason agriculture was able to weather the economic recession better than other sectors of the economy.
• "The ag sector remained strong despite that record drought because of the risk management tools, and the crop insurance, and the safety net that was offered in the 2008 farm bill," she said. "The reason agriculture was able to weather the economic crisis and slow economic recovery is because of the 2008 farm bill and the predictability of strong policy that was balanced across commodities, conservation, energy, rural development, science, marketing and all of the other titles in the farm bill. I can't tell you proud I was to represent you at that time, to take your counsel and guidance and to pass a strong bill in a bipartisan way through regular order that served agriculture and America so well," she told Farmers Union members.
• "Thankfully (Senate Agriculture Committee) Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow has convinced (Senate Majority) Leader (Harry) Reid to make the farm bill in 2013 at top priority and I hope that despite what we've seen on sequestration and the budget that the farm bill can experience the same kind of momentum, the same kind of bipartisan support, the same kind of commitment to pass it into law as I expect immigration reform will get in this Congress," Herseth Sandlin said.
• Now an attorney and vice president for Raven Industries of Sioux Falls, Herseth Sandlin said her current job keeps her engaged in agriculture because of the company's commitment to technology and entrance into precision agriculture markets. She discussed the issue of sustainability in agriculture, and using new technologies to work smarter and create a more sustainable future.
• "When you look at what we need to do to feed 9 billion people by 2050 we have to do it by continuing to enhance productivity in American agriculture, and we're doing it. And we need to keep doing it supported by smart, long-term public policy that's right for American agriculture," she said. "It's about incorporating innovative new technologies, and smart, sustainable agricultural practices that use the best science of our land grant universities in partnership with developing countries to make sure we can feed 9 billion people by 2050."
• Herseth Sandlin spoke during the evening session Friday of the South Dakota Farmers Union convention which runs through Saturday in Aberdeen.