my name is michael gergen, i really appreciate the opportunity to be here today and talk with you about some very important programs and really an important part of the american economic picture when we think about forestings and i'm very pleased with this panel, much of what i would like to tell you this morning actually has been said by my colleagues here today, which is outstanding and i will try to save as much time on your busy schedules as i can. with that said, i do want to point out that we represent more than 12,000 people across the country who have really dedicated their lives to the professional management care and protection of america's forests. these folks have really committed themselves to ensure that the forests of the united states are taken care of and managed in the best possible way, and some of the programs that are contained within the farm bill are very important to their ability to do their jobs. we have heard about some of them today and i'll touch on those as well. the damaging bark beetle issue that we have, particularly in the western part of the united sta