On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall launched a monthly video series — “Ag Talk with Doc.” During each 10 to 15-minute video, Marshall sits down with a top national agricultural leader.
The Senator discusses the latest news affecting America’s farmers, ranchers and producers. For the first episode, the Senator spoke with former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue at the American Farm Bureau Convention. The two discussed inflation, fertilizer prices, innovation, conservation, and the next Farm Bill.
“I get to meet some of the brightest, most interesting folks in the world here in D.C., and I want to share that with them (Kansans),” Marshall said. “I want to share whatever agricultural insights that they have that might help my farmers and ranchers back home.”
Marshall said the leaders will vary for each video, which will be placed on his homepage.
“Our goal is to launch a new episode of Ag Talk with Doc every month,” said Michawn Rich, spokesperson for Sen. Marshall. “The topics are going to depend on who the person is and what the latest agriculture news is.”
Next month, Marshall will speak with former Interior Department Secretary Ryan Zinke. Zinke will speak about the cattle industry in Montana – his home state.
“With Secretary Zinke, for example, Senator Marshall spoke about rising fertilizer prices, conservation and public lands,” Rich said.
Marshall said these leaders will help farmers and ranchers know what is happening around the country, saying his “ag folks” are the most inquisitive group of people he interacts with. They love learning, he said.
In addition to farming legislation, Marshall hopes to integrate energy experts into the mix. He also wants Congress to start speaking about the next Farm Bill and will find an expert to speak on the topic for his “Ag Talk with Doc” series.
“Well, there’s not enough happening in Washington in relationship with agriculture,” Marshall said. “I’ve not heard anything out of the Senate Ag Committee on any interest in doing a Farm Bill. We should be focused on that.”
Along with telling his constituents about legislation, the Senator wants to bring the people he communicates with to producers in Kansas and in the nation.
“I just love sharing my world with Kansans and really all folks in agriculture,” Marshall said. “It’s fun for me, and hopefully it’s fun for the ag producers across the country to listen to it.”
As reported in The Hutchinson News.
