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WHEATLAND, N.D. 鈥� The Grand Farm Innovation Campus hosted major players in ag policy on Thursday, Aug. 15, as Sen. John Hoeven held a Senate Ag Appropriations Committee field hearing focused on the future of ag technology and research.

As ranking member of the committee, Hoeven, R-N.D., organized the field hearing as a way to highlight and discuss North Dakota鈥檚 role in ag technology and innovation. With the Grand Farm Innovation Campus as the backdrop to this hearing, senators were served a steady reminder as to why they were there and what they have set out to accomplish within ag innovation and technology.

鈥淪en. (Tina) Smith and I were just talking about the fact that it can get pretty stuffy in these hearing rooms in Washington where there are no windows, and here we have this incredible reminder of the innovation going on right around us,鈥� said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.

The field hearing centered around setting up the next generation of agricultural innovators for success and making sure they have the tools to compete with other countries around the world as they head into the future. Klobuchar said agriculture is going into its next phase, with the next generation taking over the reins in the industry. She stressed the importance of attracting young people to join the ag industry and to stay in it, through approaching them with innovation and optimism.

鈥淲e have to respect the future of innovation,鈥� Klobuchar said. 鈥淲e need to move to that next generation 鈥� that has to be a big piece of the farm bill.鈥�

U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small was on one of the panels at the hearing and highlighted the importance of backing America鈥檚 farmers and ranchers, saying they are responsible for feeding our country and the world. In order to back those farmers, she said that investing in agricultural research is paramount to farmers' continued success both in and out of the field.

鈥淔armers are some of the most important innovators,鈥� Torres Small said. 鈥淯SDA is so proud to partner with Senator Hoeven, with the ag committee, to make sure we are investing in the innovation of the future.鈥�

It has been a difficult time for farmers, with grain prices less than admirable and other outside factors they have had to overcome as well. The importance of adding value was a topic Torres Small brought up to the ag committee throughout her panel, allowing more dollars to stay close to farmers.

鈥淔inding ways with agriculture associations to add value, so farmers can have a greater share of ag income as well as expanding markets. Everything from trade to local and regional markets,鈥� Torres Small said.

Many agreed that partnerships are going to be vital when it comes to continuing the advancement of agriculture. Building bridges between entities to help further research was brought up on multiple panels.

鈥淩esearch is happening at multiple different levels, private sector, public sector, state-level research, federal research dollars that are also fueling all of that,鈥� Smith, D-Minn., said.

For Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., this field hearing left him with a ringing question about partnerships after seeing the Grand Farm Innovation Campus.

鈥淗ow do we create what they have done here, throughout the rest of the country? With this great public-private partnership,鈥� Boozman asked. 鈥淲e appreciate the great example you have created here and hopefully we can mimic it throughout many other parts of the country.鈥�