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Small Farm Commission, DC meeting
For more information, contact Jennifer Yezak Molen at (202)
690-0648 or (202) 690-0673.
September 2, 1997
Dear Farmers and Friends of Farmers:
I am writing to invite you to attend and participate in a public
meeting of the National Commission on Small Farms, September 10 and 11,
1997 in Washington, D.C.
As you know, Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman formed this
30-member commission to look at a wide range of programs and issues
affecting small farms, and to recommend improvements to better serve
them. He has asked the commission to provide a report of findings and
recommendations to him by September 30, 1997.
The meeting is being held at the Jefferson Auditorium of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington,
D.C. On September 10, the Commission will meet from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. Public testimony will begin at
10:30 a.m. On September 11, the Commission will meet from 8:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m. to conduct Commission business. The meetings are open to the
public.
Those wishing to testify should contact the Commission office by
September 8, 1997 to be placed on a list of witnesses on a first come,
first served basis. Oral presentations will be limited to 5 minutes. We
are asking each organization or group to have one representative testify
before the Commission on September 10. Written statements will be
accepted at the meeting; or, they may be mailed or faxed to (202)
720-0596 by September 17, 1997.
We are seeking testimony from various sources -- farmers, tribes,
community based organizations, academics, businesses, community leaders,
educators, agricultural and trade associations -- to arrive at
conclusions and recommendations that will ensure the continued viability
of small farms.
The Commission believes that the best way to do that is to ask
that testimony include ideas and recommendations based on the following
questions. The questions are:
1. How are current USDA programs helping or hurting the
viability of small farms?
2. What are the needs of small farms in terms of financing,
research, extension, marketing and risk management and other areas?
What recommendations would you make about these needs that could be
part of a long-range strategy to ensure the continued viability
of small farms?
3. Are there innovative non-governmental or state efforts to
assist beginning and smaller independent farms that might be
replicated or supplemented at the Federal level?
4. What changes in USDA policy or practices are needed to make
USDA programs in the areas of credit, research, extension, marketing,
risk management and other areas more effective in enabling small
farms to survive and thrive?
5. What new programs could provide effective and affordable
support for small farmers as commodity programs are phased out?
6. What can be done to assist beginning farmers and farm workers
to become farmer owners?
7. What role should the Federal government play to ensure a
diversified, decentralized and competitive farm structure?
8. What do small farms contribute to your community and your state?
9. What other generic issues pertaining to small farms should
the Commission consider?
On behalf of the Commission, I hope you will be able to attend
this important event. If you need any additional information, please
call Commission Director Jennifer Yezak Molen at (202) 690-0648 or (202)
690-0673. Thank you in advance for your interest.
Sincerely,
Harold Volkmer
Chair
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
NATIONAL COMMISSION ON SMALL FARMS
Where: United States Department of Agriculture
Jefferson Auditorium
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, DC
Purpose: The Commission will hear public testimony on ideas and
recommendations that will ensure the continued viability of small
farms and improve services to small farms. The
Commission will also conduct a business meeting.
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. September 10, 1997 - Public Testimony
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. September 11, 1997 - Business Meeting
To sign up as a presenter:
Contact the office of the National Commission on Small Farms by
September 8 to be placed on a list of witnesses on a first come,
first served basis. The phone numbers are (202) 690-0648 or (202)
690-0673. Oral presentations will be limited to 5 minutes. We
are asking each organization to have only one representative testify
before the Commission on Sept. 10. Written statements will be accepted at
the meeting; or, they may be mailed or faxed to (202) 720-0596 by
September 17, 1997.
For more information, contact Jennifer Yezak Molen at (202)
690-0648 or
(202) 690-0673.
Follow-Ups: