Shelley -- thanks for this information.  Is the meeting open to anyone and will listeners be allowed to sign up to make comments?  I checked with Iowa Environmental Council and they know nothing about this.  How is it being publicized?

CNBC carried a few hours of Farm Bill discussion last night.  Unfortunately, I tuned in late, but Patty Judge and Darrel McLaren (former state senator appointed to FSA) were two of the people on the program.

If you have more information, please post it to this list.

Thanks,
Jane Clark
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Shelley Sheehy 
  To: [log in to unmask] 
  Sent: Friday, August 17, 2001 6:40 AM
  Subject: Re: Farm Bill hearing this Saturday


  Jane- 
  Frank is doing the production for the hearing and I will be attending with 
  him.  I spent some time with Richard Bender, Senator Harkin's DC staffer, 
  this week.  Ann Venaman, Ag. Secretary is in Des Moines today.  My 
  understanding is that Mark Halverson, Harkin's main Ag. staffer will be at 
  the hearing with him as well.  Ellen Huntoon is splitting her time between 
  committee work in DC and Iowa as "Rural Initiatives" liaison.  She would be a 
  very good person to meet with in Iowa.  She spent eight years heading up the 
  USDA-Rural Development office during the Clinton administration. 
  Shelley