Priorities for people’s farm bill

By John R. Whitaker

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Last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack laid out his priorities for the upcoming farm bill. This bill is about a whole lot more than farming: It's about supporting the jobs of the future, keeping pace with the changing needs of agriculture and rural America and providing a food and fuel supply for the nation - all while conserving our natural resources.

Lawmakers working on the bill will have to look for ways to do more with less. They must simplify programs and find innovative solutions to future challenges while still making targeted investments to keep agriculture productive and rural communities vibrant.

It's our responsibility to maintain the strength of agriculture, a bright spot in the U.S. economy. Congress should build on that record by focusing on three core principles that have shaped the success of the American farmer: maintaining a strong safety net, supporting sustainable productivity and promoting vibrant markets.

In businesses as risky as farming, a strong safety net can keep natural disasters from putting farm families out of business. Our safety net should quickly provide assistance to producers of all types and only when they need it.

USDA is helping to develop a biofuels economy in Iowa by promoting research at major universities and working with private industry to pursue new opportunities. We're helping establish the infrastructure to put renewable fuel in Americans' gas tanks. Farm bill assistance for energy must be targeted, but we shouldn't lose the momentum we have to grow non-food feedstocks in order to expand production of advanced biofuels and other emerging bio-based technologies.

Farmers also must be able to produce an affordable, quality product. That means continuing investments in research to maintain our farmers' leadership as the most productive in the world. It also means investing in conservation to support healthy, productive soil and plentiful water.

The farm bill should continue to promote vibrant, fair and diverse markets at home and abroad, expanding on record agricultural exports and more than 1 million American jobs this year. We also need to grow opportunities in Iowa for local and regional markets.

And the farm bill legislation must address the needs of all Americans. In the past two years, USDA has helped create or save more than 250,000 rural jobs. The farm bill should improve rural development programs.

The new farm bill should help move our nation and our economy forward while building on the incredible success and strength of American agriculture.

John R. Whitaker is executive director, Iowa Farm Service Agency. Comments: john.

whitaker@ia.usda.gov