GLICKMAN ANNOUNCES NATIONAL COMMISSION ON SMALL FARMS
                                                                 
                                            Release No. 0234.97
                                                               
                                   Laura Trivers (202) 720-4623
                                              ltrivers@usda.gov
                                    Jim Brownlee (202) 720-2091
                                             jbrownlee@usda.gov


GLICKMAN ANNOUNCES NATIONAL COMMISSION ON SMALL FARMS

     WASHINGTON, July 16, 1997--As part of his continuing efforts to
support small and limited resource farmers, Agriculture Secretary Dan
Glickman today announced the formation of a national commission to study the
problems of these farmers and recommend ways to help them.

     "We cannot let America's small farm heritage, the foundation of our
rural communities, just slip through our fingers," Glickman said. "We must
carefully look at the barriers facing small farms and seek solutions to
these problems. This is the charge I have given to the men and women who
will serve on this commission."  

     The Civil Rights Action Team report issued in February recommended
establishing a commission to examine the problems facing small and limited
resource farmers.  According to published reports and testimony during last
winter's civil rights listening sessions, African American farmers are
losing their land at a rate three times higher than farmers overall. 

     Glickman directed the commission to look at a wide range of programs
and issues, including credit, risk management, education, and outreach, and
to recommend improvements to better serve small and beginning farmers.  The
commission will also look at ways in which USDA can ensure that small farms
are treated fairly and have an equal opportunity to compete in vertically-integrated agricultural systems, and at ways to encourage small farms to
adopt farm operations and production practices, such value-added
cooperatives or direct marketing, that can help to improve their
profitability.

     Glickman said, "The average age of an American farmer today is 58.  We
need to do more to encourage the younger generation to farm, and we must
continue to find ways to help small and disadvantaged producers find ways to
make a decent living, keep their land, and make their small farms
economically viable."
                                
     In addition to establishing the commission, Glickman is leading the
effort to address the trend toward concentration in agriculture.  Glickman
is also an active supporter of farmers' markets to provide additional
revenue to small and medium sized producers.

     Harold L. Volkmer, former congressman from Hannibal, Missouri, was
appointed by Glickman to chair the commission.  Desmond A. Jolly, Davis,
California, and Kathleen Sullivan Kelley, Meeker, Colorado, were named vice
chairs.  

                                
                             -more-


                                
                              -2-
                                
     Other commission members include: Charles W. Albertson, Beulaville,
North Carolina; Greg T. Gunthorp, LaGrange, Indiana; Karen S. Armstrong-Cummings, Frankfort, Kentucky; Roger J. Barber, Middleburgh, New York;
Carrol D. Bolen, Waukee, Iowa; Marion Bowlan, Manheim, Pennsylvania; Ben F.
Burkett, Petal, Mississippi; Nelson Carrasquillo, Clayton, New Jersey;
Walter E. Coward, Larchmont, New York; Robert M. Daniels, Valley Center,
Kansas; Richard M. Foster, Richland, Michigan; Raymond E. Gomez, Alcalde,
New Mexico; Dario V. Guerra, Edinburg, Texas; Jesse Harness, Fayette,
Mississippi; Charles H. Hassebrook, Walthill, Nebraska; Douglas G.
Henderson, Beresford, South Dakota; Gregory E. Smitman, Billings, Montana;
Frederick R. Magdoff, Burlington, Vermont; Jaclyn Kae Reid, Olympia,
Washington; Toulu Thao, Fresno, California; Thomas J. Trantham, Pelzer,
South Carolina; John Zippert, Eutaw, Alabama; Ernest L. Blount, Elberon,
Virginia, Ronald A. Stewart, Hood River, Oregon.

     The commission's first hearing will be July 28 in Memphis, Tennessee. 
Additional hearings will be scheduled in August. The public is encouraged to
participate. The commission's report will be released this fall. 

     For more information about the National Commission on Small Farms,
contact Jennifer Yezak Molen at USDA; P.O. Box 2890; Room 5237, South
Building; Washington, D.C. 20013.  The phone number is (202) 690-0648 or
690-0673.

                                 
                                #

NOTE: USDA news releases and media advisories are available on the Internet.
Access the USDA Home Page on the World Wide Web at http://www.usda.gov