WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2005 - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and other top USDA officials continue the nationwide farm bill listening tour. The public is invited to attend and offer comments on farm bill policy.

"I'm very pleased with the caliber of the comments from producers and other stakeholders and we are beginning to identify trends in their responses," said Johanns. "The comments cover the entire spectrum from complete satisfaction to dissatisfaction with current farm policy. We have heard some very thought-provoking suggestions about how best to shape future farm policy."

The following Farm Bill Forums will be hosted by Secretary Johanns:

• Oct.18, Moultrie, Georgia, 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (EDT), Sunbelt Ag Expo Morton Building
• Oct. 24, Greeley, Colorado, 2:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (MDT), Island Grove Park Exhibition Building

The following Farm Bill Forums will be hosted by Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner:

• Oct. 14, Little Rock, Arkansas, 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. (CDT), Arkansas State Fair, Arkansas Building (next to equestrian center)
• Oct. 19, Greensboro, North Carolina, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (EDT), Small Farms Conference

The following specialty Farm Bill Forums will be hosted by Natural Resources and Environment Under Secretary Mark Rey:

• Oct. 14, Narragansett, Rhode Island, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (EDT), Coastal Institute, University of Rhode Island
• Oct. 15, Harrington, Delaware, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (EDT), Delaware State Fair Grounds

The following specialty Farm Bill Forums will be hosted by Rural Development Under Secretary Tom Dorr:

• Oct. 7, Elkins, West Virginia, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (EDT), Elkins Middle School
• Oct. 11, Bangor, Maine 3:00 p.m.-6:00 pm. (EDT), Richard E. Dyke Center
• Oct. 25, Manchester, New Hampshire, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (EDT), Center of New Hampshire
• Oct. 26, South Burlington, Vermont, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (EDT), Doubletree Hotel
• Nov. 12, Kona, Hawaii, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. (HST), Sheraton Keauhou Hotel, Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Merlyn Carlson joins Under Secretary Dorr
• Nov. 16, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (EDT), Hilton Hotel

The following specialty Farm Bill Forums will be hosted by Food Nutrition and Consumer Services Under Secretary Eric Bost:

• Oct. 14, Baltimore, Maryland, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (EDT), Enoch Pratt Public Library, Wheeler Auditorium
• Oct. 18, Detroit, Michigan, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (CDT), Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center
• Oct. 19, Miami, Florida, 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. (EDT), Miami-Dade College
• Oct. 25, Portland, Oregon, 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. (PDT), Portland State Office Building
• Oct. 28, Boston, Massachusetts, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (EDT), Boston Public Library
• Nov 1, Austin, Texas, time and venue TBD
• Nov. 2, Atlanta, Georgia, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (EDT), Atlanta Community Food Bank

The Secretary has now conducted forums in Tennessee, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, California, Pennsylvania, Alabama, New Mexico, Kentucky, Illinois, Kansas, Utah, Nebraska and Ohio. Forums have also been conducted by top USDA officials in Indiana, Wyoming and Alaska, Idaho, South Dakota and Oklahoma.

The public is also welcome to submit their comments via the USDA Farm Bill Forums website at http://www.usda.gov/farmbill. The dates, locations and times of the forums will continue to be announced as they are scheduled and posted on the USDA website.