U.S. Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Bobby Jindal (R-La.) told the Louisiana Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Saturday that they were the future of Louisiana agriculture.

The Young Farmers and Ranchers group gathered at the Comfort Suites in Vidalia to discuss how the legislative process and specific bills affect farming and how they, in turn, can affect legislation.

“The single most important thing happening in Washington this year is the Farm Bill,” Jindal said.

The 2002 Farm Security and rural Investment Act, or Farm Bill, which is geared toward helping domestic farmers, addresses issues like agriculture, energy and trade, and expires in 2008.

The legislature is divided on how to address the bill, he said. Some want to rewrite it from scratch while others, Jindal included, want to stretch its capabilities.

“For years, our country has fed much of the rest of the world,” Jindal said. “For the first time, we are in danger of (having to import food). I don’t think you can be a superpower if you can’t feed yourself.”

It was in part up to young Louisiana farmers to spread the word about farming and its economic benefits, he said.

“So many people in our country think you go to the grocery store and food magically appears,” he said. “They’ve begun to take it for granted.”

Jindal also outlined his goals for Louisiana, including creating jobs, training people to work those jobs and improving healthcare in the state.

With money from a recently-passed law that grants Louisiana more oil and gas money and financial assistance because of Hurricane Katrina, the state has an opportunity to rebuild itself and improve, he said.

“We’ve been hit hard, but as we rebuild, let’s not create the same problems we had before the storm,” he said. “These are some of the most important times we’re living in.”