Rep. Robin Hayes, R-N.C., chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture, convened a hearing in Springfield, Mo., Monday to hear from Missouri and Arkansas agricultural producers about current farm policy and gather input about future farm policy.

This was the subcommittee's second field hearing in preparation for reauthorizing the farm bill next year. The hearing was hosted by Rep. Roy Blunt, R-MO, who represents Missouri’s 7th Congressional district.

The subcommittee heard from two panels of witnesses representing Missouri and Arkansas agriculture including livestock, dairy, crop and specialty crop producers.

"One issue that continues to get a lot of attention is establishing a national animal identification program," Hayes said. "Producers expressed a need to have clear details from the U.S. Department of Agriculture about how a program will work and we will continue to encourage USDA to lay out a transparent plan so producers know what to expect."

In July, the House ag committee completed its series of 11 field hearings to review federal farm policy as it prepares to reauthorize the omnibus farm bill legislation later next year. The subcommittee will be hearing from producers in various regions of the country the full committee did not visit in its farm bill field hearing series.

Rep. Robin Hayes, R-N.C., chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture, convened a hearing in Springfield, Mo., Monday to hear from Missouri and Arkansas agricultural producers about current farm policy and gather input about future farm policy.