The U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee held its first official farm bill hearing Thursday – and Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow highlighted the steps agriculture has made throughout the past several decades – specifically the fact that the average U.S. farmer feeds 150 people. She says agriculture has continued to grow, farmers have innovated and become even more productive and better stewards of the land despite economic and budget struggles throughout the last decade.

Michigan farmer Barry Mumby testified at the hearing – stressing the need for a safety net that buffers farmers from weather losses or unexpected financial meltdowns such as those experienced in recent years. He believes American farmers have realized their moral obligation to be as productive as they can on every acre to help feed the world. Stabenow says the world is being fed not only because of farmers’ innovations – but also by farmers in every part of the world learning new strategies to be more productive.