SARANAC LAKE – One of only four field hearings in the country on the next version of the federal Farm Bill will be held in Saranac Lake on Friday, and all are welcome, but if you can’t make it, it will be shown on the web.

Field hearings are open to the public and the press, but there will be no “open mic” at the hearing. The only people to speak at the hearing will be House members, other officials, and the witnesses called by the House Agriculture Committee.

U.S. Rep. Bill Owens of the 23rd Congressional District, which covers the North Country including Saranac Lake, is a member of the committee.

Though no one else will speak, there will be a feedback page on the congressman’s web site, http://owens.house.gov, for people to make comments on the hearing and on proposed agriculture policy.

If you can’t make it to Saranac Lake and want to witness the proceedings, you may watch them through your web browser by plugging in this link:

http://agriculture.house.gov/singlepages.aspx?NewsID=70&LSBID=71|72|73