WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today held the first hearing of his chairmanship and breaking with tradition, first heard the concerns of farmers and ranchers on the implementation of the Farm Bill followed by the testimony of U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Chairman Roberts was pleased to welcome Mr. Rich Felts to testify before the Committee on the first panel. Mr Felts is a Wheat, Corn, Soybean, and Livestock Producer from Liberty, Kan. For his prepared testimony go here.

The hearing, titled “The Agricultural Act of 2014 implementation after one year and Farm Credit Administration nominations,” had three panels.

“Today’s hearing is special,” Chairman Roberts said. “Today, we will conduct our first oversight hearing of the one year old Farm Bill by hearing from farmers first, then the administration.

“It is my hope that our witnesses will be able to bring forward testimony of their challenges and successes of the new farm bill — and then the Committee and the Secretary will work to address the challenges raised by our four witnesses and by others who have reached out to our Committee members.

“We thank Secretary Vilsack for his willingness to try something new today. I believe this hearing will send a strong message to America’s farmers and ranchers that their government is listening to them and that we can and will work together on their behalf.”

Senator Roberts is an outspoken advocate for America’s farmers and ranchers. He is the first member of congress in modern history to serve as both Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and as Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Roberts has also served as the ranking member for each Committee.