The Ag Secretary wants the commission to explore several areas where USDA might help small farmers stay on the farm - or assist young farmers to get started. Ways to improve small farm profitability. Glickman wants the commission to determine if USDA can make a real difference. Glickman said USDA shouldn't have to shoulder all the effort, but visualizes cooperative programs with state, local, and private entities on this major issue. The Ag Secretary said that at the very least, stabilizing the loss of farms would be in the farmer's political interest.
Fewer farmers mean that the ag sector has even fewer votes.
Glickman already had hinted that he was about to create such a commission when he met in June with leaders of the National Cotton Council. Among those hardest hit have been dairy farms, Glickman noted. Many dairymen protested in Washington earlier this week - saying the industry was in a crisis. E.W. Scripps Publications , All Rights Reserved. Site users are subject to our User Agreement .