• December 19, 2008

    McIntyre Receives Farm Bureau Award: Honored for Work on Behalf of North Carolina Farmers

    Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre has received the American Farm Bureau “Friend of the Farm Bureau Award” for his legislative record on agriculture issues and strong support of North Carolina farmers.

                Congressman McIntyre, who is Chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development, and Biotechnology, stated, “Farmers are a critical part of our economy and our national security.  The food and fiber they produce is the best in the world, and I am honored to fight for them in the halls of Congress.”

               McIntyre was instrumental in helping pass several key components of the recently-enacted Farm Bill including:

    • Authorization of the Southeast Crescent Authority to put a much needed federal focus on job creation;
    • $120 million in mandatory money for the water infrastructure backlog at USDA Rural Development;
    • $15 million in mandatory funding for the brand new Rural Entrepreneur and Microenterprise Assistance Loan Program;
    • Expansion of the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program in our schools;
    • $1.1 billion to fund programs which will help the renewable energy industry invest in new technologies;
    • Farm program safety net extended and modernized;
    • Budgeted standing natural disaster assistance program for crops destroyed by natural disasters;
    • Conservation program spending increased by $6.6 billion. 

             The Friend of the Farm Bureau Award is given at the end of each Congress to those Members of Congress who were nominated by their state Farm Bureaus and approved by the American Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors.  The award is based in voting record, sponsorship and co-sponsorship of legislation, leadership role, and accessibility and responsiveness to Farm Bureau members.