In Northern New Mexico, Luján Hosts Roundtable with New Mexico Agriculture Industry on Nutrition Access

Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) hosted a roundtable discussion with a variety of New Mexico agricultural partners to discuss improving nutrition access, farmer crop and livestock programs, and other priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill reauthorization. Following their discussion, Senator Luján toured the local farm at the NMSU Sustainable Agriculture Science Center in Alcalde. As a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Senator Luján will play a critical role in shaping the legislation, ensuring it better serves the needs of New Mexican agriculture producers and consumers.

Reauthorized every five years by Congress, the Farm Bill is a critical piece of legislation that ensures the federal government works collaboratively with farmers, ranchers, and rural communities to provide access to important programs that promote and strengthen the U.S. agriculture economy and address food insecurity. Last week, Senator Luján joined New Mexico Agriculture Secretary Jeff Witte in Las Cruces to host a roundtable discussion with New Mexico agriculture industry stakeholders to discuss priorities regarding the next version of the Farm Bill.

"As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I will use my position to ensure that this Farm Bill reauthorization meets the needs of New Mexico's vibrant agricultural communities. This industry has been on the frontlines of the climate crisis, wrestling with extreme weather conditions that have greatly impacted their ability to care for livestock and maintain their crops," said Senator Luján. "That's why this discussion is so critical in understanding what this legislation does well and how it can be strengthened to address New Mexicans' important concerns like nutrition access. As negotiations for the Farm Bill reauthorization are quickly approaching, I will carry these conversations with me to Washington and work with my colleagues to draft legislation that makes a significant investment in agricultural, nutrition, and conservation needs in New Mexico."

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