Sen. Boozman To Begin Farm Tour

Arkansas’ junior senator will be visiting several farms and agricultural based businesses in Northeast Arkansas during the August recess, the senator’s office said Friday.

Sen. John Boozman, R-Rogers, will be visiting producers, ranchers and farmers throughout the state.

Boozman said the visits, which begin Monday, give him an opportunity to learn more about agriculture and area communities.

“Agriculture is a vital part of Arkansas’s economy. One out of every six jobs in Arkansas is tied to agriculture. This year’s tour is especially important as we need to hear from Arkansas’s farmers, producers and ranchers as we move forward with the implementation of the Farm Bill,” Boozman, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said.

Earlier this year, President Barack Obama signed a reauthorization of the Farm Bill into law. Boozman, who served on a House/Senate conference committee that hammered out differences in the two bills, said the bill will help farmers and ranchers with a goal being able to make sure the bill is implemented properly.

“While the agreement we reached was not perfect, it will establish a strong safety net for all agriculture producers, provide regulatory relief to farmers, ranchers and loggers, and save taxpayers $23 billion. We will now be moving forward with implementing the law and the input I get from Arkansas’s agriculture community at visits like these will help immensely with that process,” Boozman said.

Nearly a dozen places will be visited statewide. The stops in Northeast Arkansas include Coy’s Honey Farm in Jonesboro, the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home and Museum in Dyess, Whitton Farms near Tyronza, Matthews Ridge View Farm in Wynne and Riceland Mill at Jonesboro.

The tour will be one of the first trips to the region for Boozman since he had heart surgery earlier this year.