WPC$U ,vd"Q0 Fl=( (&MrғgJby|*ǻ" g"LqX 'Z/9~(ל"[H"UpՉ.M8hG`p4!s];5O10)t?NP9_u-)z`RHھ ψWcfW ԃHuVddTQ_;òx[%Uoz2Si@UyBgqtޘBH̪|5U\`R ,ԒEgѤ#AӪeaK '0qUiD\s VK+6؊=i(]#!UN7 % 0(^ w@4 " m$ @; N{ M}  G    N_NaMccU:gUN 0c 1uR 0w 0> 0 0h 0 0 0 1@06oA=f?RN9S?;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S;S 0DSSS D+T 0K?>?>????????????????? ????`????p??p????????????????????ǁ????ǁ??ǁ??ǁ???ǁ>??~?? ????? ?????? ?????????????????????? ? ?| ??| ?|x?x|8?<8???<0??0?? 0??????8??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????~?~??~??|??|??x?߄?Ä?τ9ς?????τ9ς???Ʌ?τ?<??Ʌ??τ?|/>?C ?>d#Â? ??>Ċpg 'Ͼpg9 ?>C~ϔ8?<8<>d 0?+@g0g83`?g8 p<~ϔyq??|9yǜǞ8q8?<>fy<3<ϟg>g83q|q8q~ϔ? 矙bϞ|?>y9>fy>~g9??9~g\g?933|9~? ?bϞ|?y9>fy><?|>g9?<fLg933|y~@?aϞ|?99>fy><?|>g9?<rI?g933 |g~@?&9Ϟ|?99>fy>?<?|>g9?$>NIgg933|g~??&|Ϟ|?9>fy>?<́?|>g9??g933y|~/<?xxǜϞ|?<fx?<cq99>$?g83s|q|<.|8?<>φ|9<f?<<|>p 8g9$??80s<|.>?q~~ |y >g?|>xLg$?98?>|?Ϗώώώ???????~?>y?g?ς?g?~w~s||g<  >!? ~!!$gs~r!<}>x??<5<888<`8?<?.gp~

p3<5889sy>|q9s9gs|q+~q|s9x|q>gxϟ9<ϙ?3>gϞ|3s9>g>gyϟ"~όsy>g3:>g?<ϙ?0>g9 0s8?>g>gyϟ"~@sx>`02f>`? ϙ?0>g9 0y>O?'<>g>gyϟ&~@sx>`0O>p? ϙ?3>gϓ3y>O'?>g>gyϟǁ ~sy>g3O> ß?O >ϙ?3>ǵ?3y>O'?>g>gyϟ~|sy>g3_>ϟ?O&>yϘ9>sx?9>O'9>g>s|qϟς??<|yǞys|>s9|gx?&?Ϝ898>p8"?<>g>pϜxp~s>p8?px?&?ϟ yy>>x?<>"?>g>|'Ϝ|>x?s>|>?sx?~ߐdžߏǂ?σ{??σ>=<??ρ x8ς'ρ>Oρ>Oρ񟞁ς'ρ>Oρ>Oρ?~?ρς-'σO>OO>O!?<x y<ρ27N>o>o<`yLJ?8p >|q89?ρ2?s8x9yy|9?sg993ρ? 33~ρyy?sg983ρ? ə3&0~s  ?8xyǎx|?3?~8q3-τO8!9s<pg? ????#@*J:\DRAFTS\NRLOGO.WPGJ:\DRAFTS\NRLOGO.WPGhd\,3BV4d\,#@*J:\DRAFTS\NRLOGO.WPGJ:\DRAFTS\NRLOGO.WPGhd\,3BV4d\,(3$ !  'dxd( $ Figure  1  VZY I&mage <=8C HKKKK !  _ 8^XXdd8,  Re,mj\#6&"`z1% `E,,%y%y,,%j (#(#        (#(#ReleaseNo.0058.00  X0 XXXXX Remarks  `  # r?#B#XX^##XXXX2#X2XXX 0  AsPreparedforDelivery#XXXX2c# V (#(# ReleaseNo.0058.00   X^XXX}XX^Remarks  p  #n}J##X^Xni#XF XXX^ 0  AsPreparedforDelivery#X^X XXF#  f (#(#   byU.S.SecretaryofAgricultureDan_Glickman_AgriculturalOutlookForum2000February24,2000!Arlington,Virginia  N"   Goodmorning.First,IwanttothankUSDAChiefEconomistKeithCollinsandhisteam.Everyyear,theydoanoutstandingjoboforganizingthisforum.Andeverydaythroughouttheyear,theyprovideinvaluablecounseltomeandinvaluableservicetotheAmericanpeople.  Youknow,attheriskofsoundinglikeRodneyDangerfield,USDAandagricultureingeneralhavehadahardtimegettingrespectlately.IdontknowhowmanyofyouhaveheardofCraigKilbornhehoststhetalkshowthatsonafterDavidLetterman,whichmeanshisviewingaudienceconsistsmainlyofinsomniacsandcollegestudents.Well,rightaftertheFirstLadyappearedontheLettermanshow,thisCraigKilbornstartedjokingthathesgoingtooneupLettermanbygettingtheSecretaryofAgriculturetocomeonhisshow. TheSecretaryofAgriculture,hesaid,asiftherecouldntpossiblybeanyonemoreobscureonthefaceoftheearth.Andheputmyfaceuponthescreenthreeorfournightsinarow.  Well,wecalledhisbluff,andIappearedonhisshow,andIheldmyownifImaysaysomyself.Butthekickeris!andImnotkiddinghere!thatnight,withmeasaguest,Craig > Kilborntiedhishighwatermarkintheratings.YoumaysayitsacoincidencebutIthinknot.  Nevertheless,thedisrespectkeepscoming.InSportsIllustratedafewweeksago,onewritercomparedUSDAtothelistlessfeelingaroundtheperenniallymediocreWashington_Wizards_Ԁbasketballteam.ThearticlecalledtheWizards thesportsequivalentoftheDepartmentofAgriculture:Everyoneknowsitslocatedinthenationscapitalbut_no_Ԁonereallycares.  MyresponseissimplythattheWashingtonWizardshavearecordofsomethinglike1640,soperhapsitsnotsurprisingthatnoonecaresaboutthem.Butthereareabout2millionfarmersandhundredsofmillionsofconsumersouttherewhocareagreatdealabouttheworkofUSDAandthestateofAmericanagriculture.AndthatswhatImheretotalkabouttoday.  ThisismyfifthappearancebeforetheOutlookForumasSecretaryofAgriculture.Duringthesefiveyears,toparaphrasefromDickens,wehaveseenthebestoftimesandtheworstoftimes.  more 1/2 Є2  WhenPresidentClintonaskedmetobecomeAgricultureSecretaryinDecemberof1994,howcouldI_refuse_?Thefarmeconomywasasbullishasever.Priceswerereachingrecordheights.Exportswerestrong.ItwouldhavebeenliketurningdownthechancetobeCEOofCiscoSystems.  ButIkneweventhenthatfortunescouldeasilyshift,andsureenoughtheydid.Foraboutthreeyearsnow,manyAmericanfarmersandranchershavebeenbatteredbyrockbottomprices,shrinkingglobaldemandandrecordworldwideproduction,nottomentionaslewofnaturaldisasters.  Duringthelasttwoyears,CongressandtheAdministrationwerecompelledtoact$6billioninemergencyaidin1998,followedbyanother$9billionlastyear.Thiscertainlyhelpedmanyfarmers.Plentyofthemwouldnothavemadeitwithoutthatassistance.Nevertheless,Ibelieveitwasmoreofaquick_fix_Ԁthanarealsolution.Weappliedaveryexpensivetourniquet,whenthesituationactuallycalledforabloodtransfusion.  Scramblingatthelastminutetothrowtogetheradhocassistanceisnotbestwaytohelpourfarmers.Whycantwehavealltheassistancemechanismsinplace,readytokickinwhenthefarmeconomyheadssouth?Whycantwefixtheleakyroofbeforeitstartsraining?  Ithinkwecan,andthatswhyweveunveiledanewsafetynetproposalthatoffersafairer,moreefficientandmorecosteffectivewaytoprotectfarmers.Atitsheart_isseveralbilliondollars_,overthenexttwocropyears,incountercyclicalincomeassistancepaymentsgoupwhenincomesgodown,andviceversa.Thisassistanceisalsotargeted.Targetedtosmallerproducerswhogenerallyhavesmallerincomes.Targetedtothosefarmerssufferingthegreatesthardship.Andunlikethelasttwoemergencybills,targetedtothefarmerswhohaveactuallygrownthecrops.  Thatseemslikeaprettycommonsensenotion!thatthosewhoarestrugglingthemost L  deservethemosthelp.ButtheAMTAformulathatwevebeenlivingbyfornearlyfouryears,withitsfixedpayments,hasnosuchlogic.ThankstoAMTA,recentsupplementaryfarmpaymentshaventbeentiedtoneed,tosizeortocurrentproduction.  Still,werenotlookingtoreplaceAMTAwithourplan.Ourproposallaysoverthetopofthe1996FarmBill.Thenewincomeassistancewillcome_inaddition_Ԁto!notinsteadof! "!$ AMTApaymentsandother96FarmBillpayments.AMTAparticipantswouldcontinuetoreceivetheirfullpayments,and98percentofthemwouldalsobeeligibleforanadditionalcheckunderourproposal.  Theresmoretoourplan,ofcourse,thanincomeassistance.Itincludesnewdirectconservationpaymentsdirect,notonacostsharebasis_thatrewardfarmers_Ԁforbeinggoodenvironmentalstewards,anditenhancesexistingconservationeffortsliketheConservationReserveProgram,theWetlandsReserveProgramandtheFarmlandProtectionProgram.  TherearecertainstepsIcantakeadministratively,withoutcongressionalapproval.SoIvedecidedtofreezeloanratesforwheat,corn,soybeans,riceandcottonforthiscropyear.Andwerealsogivingfarmersmoremarketingflexibilitybyprovidinglow-costfinancingtobuildorupgradeon-farmstoragefacilities.  more 0/3 Є3  Ontheriskmanagementfront,werelookingtomakecropinsurancemoreaffordableandmoreaccessible,byextendingthepremiumdiscountonbuyupcoverage,offeringmultiyearcoverage,makingcoverageavailabletomorekindsoffarmersandexpandingourriskmanagementeducationprogram.WealsowouldliketoseeCongresspasswholesalecropinsurancereform,consistentwiththeprinciplesweannouncedlastyear.  Wealsowanttocreateandexpandmarketopportunitiesforfarmers.Onthedomesticside,thatmeanspromotingthegrowthanddevelopmentoffarmcooperatives;exploringalternativeusesofcropsthroughanew_bioenergy_Ԁprogram;andfundingforruralEmpowermentZonesandEnterpriseCommunities.Onthetradeside,forthethirdyearinarow,IamseekingtheauthoritytoredirectunusedmoneyfromtheExportEnhancementProgramtomoreeffectivetradesupportinginitiativeslikeinternationalfoodaid.  Andwhileweretalkingabouttrade,IcantpassupthisopportunitytotalkaboutChina.ApprovingpermanentNormalTradeRelationsandthuseasingChinasaccessiontotheWorldTradeOrganization!isthemostimportanttradeissuefacingtheagriculturecommunitythis  year.  Weretalkingabouttheworldslargestcountry,hometooneoutofeveryfivepeopleonearth,withaneconomygrowingat_7_Ԁpercentayear.Yetlastfiscalyear,everyman,womanandchildinChinaconsumedlessthan1dollarsworthofAmericanagriculturalgoods.Inoneyear_..._lessthanadollaraperson.Thebilateraltraderelationshipiswildlyoutofbalance,withtheChinesesellingusfivetimesmoreintotalgoodsandservicesthanwearesellingthem.Wesimplycannotaffordsuchlimitedaccesstoamarketthislargeandthisfertile.  InjoiningtheWTO,Chinawouldagreetoeliminatemanynontariffbarriersandtocuttariffsdramatically.Thetariffonfrozenbeefcuts,forexample,wouldfallfrom45percentto12percent.Cheesetariffswoulddropfrom50to12percent,andorangesfrom40to12.Whenitsallsaidanddone,basedonconservativeestimates,ChinesemembershipintheWTOwillmeananadditional$2billionayearinU.S.farmexportstoChinaby2005.AnovoteonNTRisavotetocedethislucrativemarkettotheEU,Canada,Australia,Argentinaandothers.Itwouldbeakindofunilateraleconomicdisarmament.  Thismaybethebiggesttestyetofournationscommitmenttoaglobaleconomybasedonfairtradeprinciples.Weallknowhowvocalandintensetheoppositioncanbeontradeissues.Wesawitin1997withfasttrack.WesawitjustafewmonthsagoinSeattle.ThePresidentwilldevoteconsiderabletime,energyandpoliticalcapitaltotheNTRfight.AndIhopetheagriculturecommunitywillaswell.  Wheneveryoucomeforwardwith_something_Ԁnewandambitiouslikeournewsafetynetplan,youmightaswellbeputtingabullseyeonyourback.Andthatsfine;_people_Ԁhavearighttocritiqueanyproposal.ButIcanthelpbutnotetheirony.Manyofthepeoplecallingthisproposalinsufficientaretheverysamepeoplewhomastermindedthe1996FarmBill,whichcutholesinthesafetynetinthefirstplace.Amazinghowafarmcrisiscanturneveryoneintoaprairiepopulist.  more 0/3 Є4-  Tothosewhofind_fault_ԀwiththeAdministrationsplan,Isay:_come_Ԁforwardwithyourownideas.IthinkitwasHarryTrumanwhosaidthatanyjackasscankickdownabarndoor,butittakesastatesmantobuildthebarn.Now,Imnotcallinganybodyajackass.Imjustsayingthatitsawholeloteasiertomakecriticismsthantoofferconstructivesolutionsofyourown!especiallywhenyourefreetopassoffthebooksemergencybillsanddonthaveto  operatewithintheframeworkofabalancedbudget.MymessagetoCongress_is_:_lets_Ԁbuildthebarntogether.Andletsnotallowourfarmerstobecomeanelectionyearpoliticalfootball.  IammorethanhappytobeflexibleandtoworkwithCongress.Ourproposalismeanttobethefirstword,notthelastword,onthesematters.Itisnotaboutrigidfundinglevels,butaboutasetofideas,anewphilosophicalcompassthatcansteerustowardanewfarmbillin2002.  Ithinkitstimewebrokeoutofsomeofthefarmpolicyparadigmsandassumptionsthathavehemmedinourthinkingforseveralyears.Ivecomeupwith5broadprinciples!manyof , themreflectedinoursafetynetproposal!thatIthinkshouldguidethenextgenerationoffarm  policy.  Thefirstisthatfarmprogramsshouldsupportfarmers,notcommodities.Inotherwords,letsbaseourpaymentsandgovernmentassistanceonfarmincomeratherthancropprices.Afterall,itsincome!notjustprice!thatallowsfarmerstopaythebills,upgradetheir  equipmentandhaveadecentstandardofliving.Thecommoditydrivensystemwevehadfordecadeshelpssomepeople,butitallowsmanyotherstoslipthroughthecracks.Italsoseemstohaveencouragedthemassiveconsolidationweveseeninagriculture.Becausewhenfarmsupportisissuedonacropspecificorperbushelorperpoundbasis,thelargeryou_arethebiggeryourpayment_.  Second,weneedafarmpolicythatismorecomprehensiveandnationalinscope.Ivealwaysthoughtitwascuriousthatthe96FarmBillwassupposedtoencourageplantingflexibility,andyetwecontinuetohaveanarrow,sevencrop,regionalsystemthatdoesntsupportorrewardfarmersforbranchingoutintonewandspecialtycrops.  Itwasntuntillastsummersdrought,whichwascenteredintheNortheastandmidAtlanticregions,thatcertainpeoplelikethenationalmedia,forexamplebegantorealizethatthereareactuallyfarmersinthesepartsofthecountry.Infact,fromMainetoVirginia,thereare200,000farmers.Theytoodeservesupportandprotection,andoursafetynetbeginstoprovideit.  Sowhattoolsdoyouusetodirectmoreresourcesto_lesstraditionalgrowers_?Onewayistoshakeupourriskmanagementprograms,tomakethemmoreinclusive,whichismythirdprinciple.Underthefederalcropinsuranceprogram,westilldonothavetheauthoritytoprovideaffordableprotectionforlivestock,eventhoughranchersaccountforabouthalfofallagriculturalsalesandproceeds.Sooursafetynetplanincludesapilot_livestock_Ԁinsuranceprogram,whichIhopewecanexpandinthefuture.AnotherthingwewanttodoislifttheareawidetriggeronourNonInsuredAssistanceProgram,makingiteasierforfarmersofuninsurablecropstoreceiveassistanceafteramajorloss.  more 0/3 Є5=  Fourth,conservationthepreservationofourlandandsoilmustbeacenterpieceoffarmpolicy,notanafterthought.Bycreatingincentivesforallfarmerstobeenvironmentallyresponsible,wecanincreasefarmincomeatthesametimethatweprotectournaturalresources.Thelandisnotsomethingthatcanbereplacedlikeapieceofmachinery.Weneedtorespectitaboveandbeyonditscropproducingcapability;_we_Ԁmustrecognizeitforwhatitis:_our_Ԁmostvaluablecommodityofall.Longafterthisyearscropisgrown,harvestedandsold_..._andthenextyearsandthenextyears...whatstillwillremainistheland.Wemusthandittothenextgenerationinasgoodashapeaswefoundit.Andwecandothatwhilestillhavinganagriculturesectorthatisproductiveandprofitable.  Myfifthprincipleinvolvesintegratingruraldevelopmentintofarmpolicy.Intodaysworld,mostpeopleinruralAmericacannotmakeadecentlivinginproductionagriculturealone.Iwishtheycould,butthefactisthatmanyfarmersneedtosupplementtheirincomewithofffarmopportunities;_often_Ԁthatstheonlywayforthemtostayontheland.Soweneedadiversifiedruraleconomy,onewhereentrepreneurshipcanflourish,onewith_soundphysicalandinformationinfrastructure_.Ruralcommunitiesmustalsohavethesolidtaxbase,thecleanstreets,thesafeneighborhoods,thegoodschools,theskilledlaborpool!everythingthatwould   makesomeone_want_Ԁtobringtheirfamilyorbusinesstoacommunity.  AtUSDA,wehaveprogramsthataddresstheseissues.Weofferloansandgrantsforruralbusiness,ruralhousingandruralutilities.WealsohaveaDistanceLearningandTelemedicineprogramthatallowsruralstudents,forexample,touseinformationtechnologytoconnectlongdistancewithmuseums,librariesandotherclassrooms.Theprogramalsoallowsruralcitizenstogetpropermedicalcarebyconsultingelectronicallywithspecialiststhousandsofmilesaway.Wemustmakesurethatsmalltownsandruralareashavethemoderninformationinfrastructurethatthecitiesandsuburbshave.Intodaysworld,youcanstartabusinessfromanywhereandstillbeabletoaccessandcommunicatewithpeoplearoundtheglobe_..._aslongasyouhavethepropertools.  Anewfarmpolicymustgobeyondjustthewheatprogram,thericeprogram,thecottonprogramandsoontoaddressthemorefundamentalquestion:_how_Ԁcanwehelppreservethenationsagrariantraditionbyprovidingmoreruraleconomicopportunity,whetheritsinfarming,retail,tourismorInternetstartups?  Overthelast60years,agriculturehasbeendramaticallytransformed,andyetfarmpolicyhasremainedrelativelystagnant.Peoplegenerallydonotandcannotfarmthewaytheydidinthe1930sand40s,sogovernmentsroleinhelpingthemhastochangeaccordingly.  Thedayswhenmostfarmerscouldmakeendsmeetbysimplybringingbulkcommoditiestomarketareover.Thatswhyanewfarmpolicymusthighlightnewanddifferentwaysforfarmerstomakemoneyandcaptureagreatershareofthe_consumer_Ԁdollar.Thatmeanspromotingfarmcooperatives,directmarketingand_farmersmarkets_.Itmeansencouragingtheuseofcropsintheproductionofrenewableenergysources.Itmeansprovidinggreateropportunitiesforfarmersinvalueadded,consumerreadygoods,organicsandsoon.Itmeansnotjust freedomtofarmbutfreedomtomarket.Anditmeansgovernmentmustbetheretohelpensurethatthemarketsarefreeandcompetitivebyactivelyenforcingourantitrustandpricediscriminationlaws.  more 0/3 Є6M  Ofcourse,traditionalrowcropfarmingwillcontinuetobetheheartofAmericanagriculture.Andthegovernmentwillcontinuetosupportthepeoplewhogrowtraditionalcrops.Butanewcenturycallsforamoreholisticapproachtofarmpolicy,onethatreflectsandembracesthediversityofAmericanagriculture.  Forexample,newimmigrantsfromplaceslikeSoutheastAsia,AfricaandLatinAmericaarefindingopportunitiesinagriculture.TheyresettlingnotjustinIowa,NebraskaandKansasbutinplaceslikeVirginia,MassachusettsandWashingtonstate.Andtheyregrowingandexportingspecialtycropslikeapples,blueberries,strawberriesandwaterspinach.Shouldnttheyhavethesameopportunityforsupportastraditionalheartlandrowcropproducers?  Anewfarmpolicymustcontinuetocelebratefarmers,theircontributionandtheiruniqueroleinsociety.AnditmustdothatbyembracingamorecompletevisionoftheAmericanfarmer:farmeraseffectiveriskmanagerfarmerasconscientious_landsteward_Ԁfarmerasboldinnovatorfarmerasresourceful,multifaceted,flexiblebusinessperson.  Lookingaheadtothe21stcenturythatsjustbegun,thefutureforagricultureisbright.  Withinthenextquartercentury,weexpectthattherewillbe8billionpeopleonearth,manyofthemwithhigherincomesandmorevarieddietsthaneverbefore.AnewfarmpolicycanhelpAmericanfarmersreapthebenefitsofthisextraordinaryopportunity.  Butthatnewfarmpolicymustbeasfairandinclusiveaspossible.Itmustgobeyondcommoditybasedprograms.Itmustbenationalinscope,encompassingmoreregions,morefarmersandmore_crops_.Itstimeforafarmpolicythatisfocusedlessonhistoriccroppricesandbureaucraticformulasandmoreonpeopleandtheirdreams.  Thankyouverymuch.  #