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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\,,  AZ"Arial Regular(. Z 6Times New Roman Regular(3$ !  'dxd( $ Figure  1   VZY I&mage <=8C HKKKK !  _ ,j\6&"`z1% `E,,%y%y,,%j (#(#        (#(#  ReleaseNo._011 8  7 .00 _Ԁ    XGXXXKXXGRemarks  p  #K+##XXJ#XW XXX0  AsPreparedforDelivery#XX XXW# f (#(#   bỳDeputySecretaryofAgricultureRich_Rominger_2ndAgriculturalMarketingOutreachWorkshop @  @p  J Memphis,Tennessee!April11,2000 @  @  @p  @  :  ]  Kathleen_Merrigan_,thankyouverymuch.AndthankstotheAgriculturalMarketingServiceforallthebehindthescenesworkputtingtogetherthis2ndAgriculturalMarketing   OutreachWorkshop.    Thisispartnershipatitsbest.WeregratefultoSouthernUniversityandA&MforagainsponsoringthisworkshopwithUSDA.Specialrecognitiontothe1890and1862schoolsforworkingcloselywithustobuildonlastyearssuccess.WithusareKirkland_Mellad_,InterimDeanandResearchDirector,SouthernUniversity...andJackBritt,VicePresidentoftheUniversityofTennessee.thankstobothofyouforyoursupport.    :Thiswouldntbeaworkablepartnershipwithouttheparticipationandbackingofprivateindustry.andIwanttosalutethecommunityserviceprovidersherethewonderfulyoung1890USDAscholarsstaffingthecomputerlab.ThesearededicatedyoungpeoplefromSouthernUniversity,_Alcorn_ԀState,TennesseeState,andtheUniversityofArkansasatPineBluff.`  ThisworkshopisalsoamodelforcooperationwithinUSDA.Weneedtodothismore *   often.AgenciesacrosstheDepartmentarecontributinginallkindsofways!funding,know !! how,peoplepower!totargetthebasicmarketingneedsoflimitedresourcefarmers.Thisstrong  " " cooperativeeffortsayslouderthanwordsthatUSDAisthereforthenationssmallfarmers,_woodlot_Ԁowners,andranchers.ThisisthekindofcohesionSecretary_Glickman_ԀhadinmindlastfallwhenherequiredUSDAagenciestointegratesmallfarmissuesintheirwork!thefirsttime $#% smallfarmshavereceivedthiskindofattention.   %$&     Yougaveussolid,positivefeedbackfromlastyearsworkshopandweappreciatethat.Ithelpsusknowwhatyouneedandhowtoimprove.Yousaiditwasimportanttohaverepresentativesfromvirtuallyeverysegmentofthefarmingcommunityinvolved.Thishelpedparticipantsidentifyspecificmarketsfortheirproductsandhearfrombuyersthemselvesthequalityattributestheywantforspecialty,premiumpriceproducts.Youhadthechancetoexchangesuccessstories,andlearnhowothersaresettingtheirproductsapartandcommandingpremiumpricesbothhereandabroad.Itwasimportant,youtoldus,todiscusscurrentregionalandnationalissuesfacinglimitedresourcefarmers.  ӄmoreE  1/2 Ї  ӄ2{Yousaidthenetworkingopportunitieswereamongthegreatestbenefitsandurgedustokeeptheseworkshopsgoing.    OK!Weheardyou.Lastyearwasasolidstartandouraimthisyearisaconferencethatsevenmorepracticalandhandson.Thisyear,175smallfarmersarereceivingtravelscholarshipstoattend.Almosthalfofthescholarshipfarmersattendinglastyearreturnedthesurveyquestionnaire.Thatsagreatpercentage,andhelpedustremendouslytoplanforthisyear.    Forme,oneofthebestpartsofthe99conferencewasthechanceIhad,impromptu,togettogetherwithasmallgroup!about25farmers.Itwasgoodtopullupsomechairs,relax,talk  `  personally,hearwhattheyreupagainst,andwhattheyneedfromustokeepgoing.    Whattheyneed,theytoldme,isconstantlearning.Abigpartofthebattleinfarmingistostayuptodate,aheadofthecurve,tolearnasmuchasyoucan!andkeeponlearning. L      Werealizethat,andwealsorealizethatinthepastUSDAhasntdoneagoodenoughjobofequippingoursmallfarmerstostaycompetitive.Itsbadenoughthatsmallfarmers,familyfarmers,goodpeoplemakingresponsibledecisions,arepushedtotheedgebyfloods,fires,droughts,andcropdisease.    ButfordecadesnowsmallscalefarmershavebeenupagainstoddseventougherthanMotherNature.Itsnotamatterofcleaningup,replantingandstartingoverwhentheoddsyourefacingareeconomic...increasingnumbersoffactoriesinthefields,efficienciesofscaleandexpensivetechnology.      LastyearIreportedtoyouthatSecretary_Glickman_sSmallFarmsCommissionhadmade146recommendationstoexplorequestionslike:Howcanweensurethatsmallandbeginningfarmershavereadyaccesstonewproductiontechnologies,businessandmanagementskillsandmarketexpertise?      TheCommissionhascompleteditsjob.AndnowtheSmallFarmsAdvisoryCommittee,headedbyMississippisDr.JesseHarness!DirectorofSpecialProgramsandExtension ,  Administratorat_Alcorn_ԀStateUniversity!movesforwardwiththerecommendations.Ifyoure  ! heretoday,Dr.Harness,wouldyoustand?WorkingwithDr.HarnessareSuzanneBertrandand  !" CalvinKing,Sr.,ofArkansas...KarenArmstrongCummingsofKentucky...andHaroldEugene_Garrett_ԀofMissouri.      TheCommitteemetforthefirsttimeinWashingtoninJanuary,andmeetsagainthismonth.Itslayingoutshortandlongtermgoalsandlookingatdisturbingtrendsreportedin ATimetoAct,thereportoftheSmallFarmsCommission.      From1910to1990,asindustrializationspurredthegrowthofprocessors,_packagers_Ԁandmarketers,theshareofthe_ag_Ԁeconomygoingtofarmersdroppedfrom21to5percent.Andsmallfarmersgottheshortestendofthestick.Theyowned94percentofallfarmsandranches,representing72percentofalllandinproduction,butonlytookin41percentofallagriculturalreceipts. `  L, +.                        MORE   more     0/3 Ї  ӄ3 @  @`  @  @  @h rUSDAACTIONSONBEHALFOFSMALLFARMERS p     Wecantturnaroundovernightatrendbuildingforeighttoninedecades,butwecanworkmethodicallytobringsolid,practicalassistancetosmallfarmers.    Onthemosturgentfront,wevebeenhelpingfarmersgetthroughtherecenttoughtimesthroughemergencypayments,morecredit,andfooddonationprograms.InJanuary,Secretary_Glickman_Ԁannounced$125millionindirectpaymentstoassistalldairyfarmershurtbylowprices.Thiswillespeciallyhelpsmallerfarms.    Wevemadeapplyingforsmallfarmloanseasier.Andforthepasttwoyears,ourBusinessandIndustryloanprogramhassetaside$200milliontofinanceprojectsthatinvolvefarmerownedvalueaddedco_ops_Ԁandfarmerspurchaseofstockinstartupcooperatives.Wevefunded10CooperativeCentersundertheRuralCooperativeDevelopmentGrantProgram,includingoneinArkansasandoneinKentuckyformanagement,technicalandeducationalsupport.    Wehaveastrongmarketdevelopmenteffort.Our$1millionplusFederalStateMarketingImprovementProgramismatchedwithstatefundsaimedatsmallfarms.    Congresshasfinallyauthorizedmandatorypricereportingforlivestock.Wefoughtlongandhardforthisbecauseitshouldhelpleveltheplayingfieldforsmallproducers.    USDAhassetupanAdvisoryCommitteeonBeginningFarmers.Theaverageageoffarmersinthiscountryis57.Asafarmermyself,withthreesonsrunningthefamilyfarm,andgrandchildrencomingalong,Iregardthisissueascritical.LetmetellyouthatthismorningImetwiththeyoungerendofthespectrum.Ihadthechance!andgrabbedit!toattendthestudent ` symposiumandmeetwithhighschoolstudentswhorepresent,Icantellyou,averybrightfuture |P forthefamilyfarmwayoflife. h  l@     Buttheseyoungfarmers,likeallsmallfarmers,needthebenefitofoutreachthroughtrainingandeducationworkshopslikethistobettermanagerisk,gainaccesstotechnicalassistance,andkeepabreastofmarketingstrategies.LastOctober,USDAandLincolnUniversitycohostedtheSecondNationalConferenceonSmallFarms,inSt.Louis!agreatsuccess.And  ! thisOctober,USDAwillfollowuponthisprogramhereinMemphiswithaMarketingOutreachWorkshopinModesto,California.    Fromfiscal1994through2000,USDAhasawarded$32millionforoutreachandtechnicalassistancetosociallydisadvantagedfarmersandranchers.FromLincolnUniversity,to_Alcorn_ԀState,toKentuckyState,andthroughouttheSouth,theseprojectsgivefarmersaccesstoUSDAprogramsandservices!fromexportstonaturalresources!thatinmanycaseshelpthem &%( getbackintofarming.    IwanttothankDr._Mallad_ԀofSouthernUniversityforhisstatementthatprobablysaysitbest.Hesaid, Wetreasurethe2501OutreachProject.Itgivesusmoreaccesstothecommunity.TherearepocketsofthepopulationthatareoverlookedbyUSDA.Weservethosepocketsthrough2501.Thankyouforthat,Dr._Mallad_.                         M     m  O     o  R     r  E     e      K-   0/3    `     h !4 ,   Recently,Dr.Robert_Zabawa_Ԁof_Tuskegee_ԀUniversitydocumentedthesuccessoftheiroutreacheffortonbehalfofUSDA.LookingatspecificcountiesinAlabamatargetedbythe 2501OutreachProgram,hefoundthatof12counties,eightshowedanincreaseinAfricanAmericannumbersbetween1992and1997...twobyasmuchas46and42percent.InGeorgia,resultsalsoshowedadramaticincreaseinAfricanAmericanfarmnumbersinthesameyears,indicatingthattheOutreachProgramisdoingitsjobofprovidingservicestoAfricanAmericans.      Andthereareothersignsthat 2501"ishavingapositiveeffect.InFebruary,USDAs  NationalAgriculturalStatisticsServicereportedasmallincreaseinthenumberoffarmsinthe  p  U.S.between98and99.Moreimportant,theyattributethisincreasetothecontinuedriseinthe  `  numberofsmallfarms,withtheSouthRegionshowingthelargestincreaseinfarmnumbers!up | P  by2,300. `     l @    LAYINGTHEGROUNDWORKFORCREATIVETHINKING L    Wereclearlymakingheadway,buttobuildontheseadvancesweneedfreshideasandinnovation.WeknowatUSDAthatsmallandlimitedresourcefarmersaresomeofourfinestsustainablefarmers.Butwealsoknowthatthemarketplaceischangingatlightningspeed.Topreservethefamilyfarm,weneedtohavelongtermprofitability.Withfarmersmarginssqueezedmorethaneverbylowcropprices,theneedisgreattocapturemoreoftheretaildollar.Smallfarmersneedustobecreativeonthemarketingend. p Letmetellyoualittleaboutwhat  weredoing.  Rightnow,forthefirsttime,USDAisofferinggrantstoencourageproducerstotryinnovativewaystomarkettheirproductsandboostincomes!likefarmersmarkets,ordirect  marketingtorestaurantsandinstitutions,orpickyourownfarms.    ThisisacooperativeeffortwithinUSDA.Wereputtinguphalfamilliondollarstospursomeboldthinkingandclaimasolidmarginoftheconsumerdollar.  Intermsofincreasingvalue,producerscaneithermarketmoredirectlytoconsumersoraddvaluetotheproductthroughcooperativemarketing.    Thissummer,USDAwillkickoffitsfifthfarmersmarketseasonrightatourheadquartersontheSmithsonianMall.Nationwide,farmersmarketshaveincreased56percentinthepastfiveyears.Wereproudofthat.    !"     Theresmuchgoodworkgoingoninthevalueaddedarena,butoneUSDAfundedprojectisuniqueforfocusingonwhatwasonceaboomingindustryinthesouth.In1959,sweetsorghumfarmers!manyoftheminMississippi!producedover2milliongallonsofsyrup.Over $#& time,laborintensiveproduction,winterkill,andlowmarketpricescombinedtocutthatproductiontoafraction.Thisprojectisafirststeptosustainingsyrupandsugarcaneproductiononsmallfarms.Itsproviding_ag_Ԁprofessionalsandproducerswithhandsontraininginaddingvaluethroughprocessing,andencouragingnewproductslikesorghumcider,sugarcaneciderandpasteurizedjuice.    Withdepressedpricesandchanginggovernmentpolicies,thetimeisrighttotakeahardlookatthenewopportunitiesofferedbyfarmerownedco_ops_.They'recalled"newgeneration"or"newwave"cooperatives .  .  . co_ops_Ԁthatofferwaystokeepfarmerswheretheybelonginfarmingandtohelpruralcommunitiesthroughsustainableagriculture.    ӄmore @` > 0/3 Ї @xx)  5   OnestudycomingoutofMichiganStateUniversityfoundthatfarmersrarelyseetheextraincomegeneratedbyaddingvaluetocommoditiesaftertheyleavethefarm.Gettingproducersinvolvedinprocessingthroughco_ops_Ԁiscriticaltoboostingprofits.Asproducersbecomeprocessors,theygainmoreofthecontrolandmoreofthevalueoftheirproduct.Movinguptheverticalintegrationladderevensoutsomeofthepeaksandvalleysofcommodityprices.    Throughfinancialandtechnicalhelp,USDAiscommittedtonewcooperativesandfarmerownedenterprisesthatgeneratemoreincomebylinkingproducerstoprocessing.    ThatphilosophysbeenkeytothesuccessofDeltaPrideCatfish,aprocessingandmarketingcoopthatshelpedturnatraditionalDeepSouthfavoriteintoamultimilliondollarbusinessextendingfarbeyondtheMississippiDelta.  ̀  AsKathleen_Merrigan_Ԁwilltellyou,organicagricultureisanotherexampleofagreat L  opportunityforsmallproducerstobuildasolidnicheforthemselvesandexpandprofitmargins.Demandfororganicproductsissoaring.TheSecretaryannouncedtheproposedruleforthenationalorganicstandardinMarch,andIurgeyoutomakeyourvoiceheardthroughthecommentprocess.ThisrulewillgiveaneconomicboosttoarapidlygrowingsectorofAmericanagriculturedominatedbysmaller,familysizedproducers.      TheorganicruleisjustonemoreexampleofUSDAscommitmenttotheeconomicbettermentofthenationssmallfarmers.ButwerealsodoingthingsthathavelesstodowitheconomicsthanwithremindingthisnationthatourfamilyfarmsarelivingchroniclesofAmericanhistory.      Tohonorfamilieswhosefarmshavecontributedcontinuouslytothenationforahundredyearsormore...tosaythanks...withgreatpride,wepublishedayear2000calendarthatcelebratesthenationscenturyfarms.Theyrepresentallareasofthecountry,allkindsof l@ cropsandproduction,andeverypossiblestoryofsurvival,hardship,andprideinworkingtheland.    TheyrefarmsliketheOldBakerFarmin_Harpersville_,Alabama.At91,EarlVernonBakerstilllivesinthefarmhousewherehewasbornandstillfarmsthelandheloves.Roy_Thigpen_ԀfromMississippijoinedusatUSDAinDecemberonbehalfofhisDad,Chester.Theirfarmhasbeenin_Thigpen_Ԁownershipsincethelate1800s.      ThesefarmsareawindowonthehistoryanddiversityofAmericanagriculture.Theyreintegraltoourheritageandvitaltoourfuture.Itsimportantthatthenationknowsthis.Anditsimportantthatwecontinuewithsolid,practicalworkshopstoprovidetheeconomicsneededtokeepoursmallandlimitedresourcefarmersinfarming.  Thankyou  .