Home Background Testimonials Student Programs Adult Programs Video Clips Recent Clients In The News On The Farm Contact Information	Lohr Family Hosts Congressional Farm Visit BROADWAY — Once upon a time Carroll Ryan's poultry litter lured countless customers. Today Ryan's refuse collects dust. "I used to sell my litter for 10 to 12 dollars a ton," the 62-year-old said. "Now I can't give it away." The waste woes of Ryan and other Shenandoah Valley farmers reached relevant ears Tuesday, when House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke, met with area agriculturists at Valley Pike Farm to discuss key district concerns. Poultry-beef-crop producers Gary and Ellen Lohr, who along with son Matt and daughter-in-law Andrea manage a 250-acre spread in northern Rockingham County, hosted the event that comprised a third stop in Goodlatte's central Interstate 81 ag tour. Goodlatte also visited farms in Buchanan and Weyers Cave and concluded his excursion with a stop at a Mount Jackson apple orchard. Goodlatte and his audience also addressed such timely topics as Mad Cow Disease and global trade. Goodlatte agreed with area farmers that aggressive federal and state litter laws burden farmers. The house ag committee, Goodlatte adds, urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration to use legislative restraint. A January FDA ruling banned farmers from feeding poultry litter to "ruminants;" that is, such cud-chewing, multi-stomached livestock as cows, as one way to fight mad cow threats. The measure, which quickly left litter merchants with no markets, followed earlier federal and state measures aimed at controling poultry-waste storage. "The FDA ban hits home," group spokesman Matt Lohr said. "Our biggest concern is moving the litter." Adapting to new litter laws may be farming's best bet, Goodlatte says. "We need to find new ways to use litter, because we'll probably never get litter regulations back to where they were." Global Trade On matters of trade, Goodlatte praised what he termed America's higher food-safety standards and accused foreign nations that boycott U.S. goods of practicing "protectionism" instead of safety. Goodlatte warned listeners that U.S. farmers must not make overly strict trade demands on trading partners. "Europe has some incredibly difficult [trade] standards," Goodlatte said. "Don't give them more reasons not to trade." Domestic issues also need attention, Goodlatte added. Goodlatte applauded USDA efforts to address state and local ag needs, but admitted that farm-friendly legislators face officials with little or no ag interest. "There seems to be a good response [to ag concerns] at high levels, but we still have to deal with beaurocracy," Goodlatte said. "My role is to make sure that the free enterprise system works, but also in making sure that we in this country have the safest and most abundant food supply in the world." Area farmers see Goodlatte's visit as time well spent. "It shows that our government representatives are concerned about us in the Shenandoah Valley," said Gary Lohr, 60. "I'm glad that we are in a position to give our viewpoint." Goodlatte, 51, toured Valley farms shortly after the House Republican Conference elected him house ag chairman last year. "We definitely need to get more people in government to come out to farms," Goodlatte said. "I think that would help them when it comes time to make [farm] policies."