Fight for reasonable funding levels for beginning farmer loan programs. The Extension Service can do much more to enhance beginning farmer opportunities. We stand ready and willing to work with you. There are growing opportunities to strengthen family farms by developing new markets that reward them for producing food consumers want, in ways that consumers support. Surveys indicate that over half are willing to pay some premium for food produced in an environmentally sound way.
Many consumers seek better tasting food, such as free-range chicken.
But farmers lack access to markets that reward them for producing the food consumers want. We urge you to use the rural development and market development programs of USDA to support new markets and cooperatives that strengthen family farms. Hope and Vision Above all Mr. Secretary, give rural Americans hope by providing vision and leadership.