A P R I L 2 0 1 8 POTATO GROWER 9 Randy Russell, of the Russell Group, interviewed DaNita Murray, chief counsel for the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee on the process for writing the 2018 Farm Bill. Russell said that passage will be a challenge and will require bipartisan cooperation among ag producing states and the more urban states. Probably the biggest stumbling block in the Farm Bill is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Russell said. “The Farm Bill is really a nutrition bill,” Russell said. “SNAP rep- resents 80 percent of the Farm Bill budget.” Following lunch, Amy Walter, national editor of the Cook Political Report, spoke on the political outlook for 2018. Walter is a regular guest on a variety of political commentary broadcasts including Face the Nation, Washington Week, Fox News Sunday and Meet the Press and she spoke about the continued bad blood and lack of civility between Democrats and Republicans in Congress resulting in lack of any bi-partisan legislative accomplishments in the House or Senate. Following the lunch, the event moved to the Congressional Auditorium of the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center to hear from Rep. Dan Newhouse, (R-WA); Senate Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS); Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID); Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR); House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX); Sen. Angus King (I-ME); and Dan Glickman, former secretary of Agriculture during the second term of the Clinton admin- istration. Following the speakers we held the annual “Standing Up for Potatoes” reception for Senators, Congressmen and their staff aides in the visitor cen- ter. On Wednesday, armed with position papers and talking points, state delega- tions and individuals came to Capitol Hill to spend the day walking the halls of the Senate and Congressional office buildings and meeting with Senators, Representatives and staff aides to make the case for the domestic potato indus- try. The Fly-In concluded on Thursday with visits to the EPA and the USDA. If you couldn’t make this year’s Fly-In, make plans to come next year and let your voice be heard. The 2019 Fly-In will be at the Capital Hilton from February 25-28. We need you there. www.mayomfg.com Design and Layout Barrel & Brush Washers Stainless Steel Surge Hopper Piler & Conveyor Line Tare Elevator