5 Key Points for Agriculture’s Next Generation

Adopted by the young and beginning agricultural leaders attending Agriculture’s Promise 2010

1. Congress and USDA should support organizations that tell agriculture's story.

• Why is it important?
  • The average age of the American farmer increases every year. Encouraging a younger generation of farmers to start producing food and fiber for America will be vital to the future of our country.
  • The American consumer wants to know the source of their food. Educational programs are critical.
• Solutions:
  • Agriculture’s Promise participants feel that it is the young and beginning producer’s responsibility to carry the message to the public, but help is needed. The USDA "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" program has taken a great step in educating non-agricultural populations about food production.
  • Provide public support for organizations that multiply the effectiveness of the young producer’s voice.
    

2. Public policy should balance agricultural production with environmental protection and energy independence

• Why is it important?
  • Farmers are the first environmentalists. Without a pristine environment, agricultural production will suffer. With the emphasis on energy independence, American agriculture can play a vital role in providing resources. The beginning producer is creative in markets and production but new products require funding and support.
• Solutions:
  • Regulations should be based on sound science rather than emotional-based assumptions
  • Policy should encourage incentive based programs to balance production with environmental issues.
  • Policy should encourage support for agriculture's role in the nation's goal of energy independence.
    

3. Congress should assist new farmers as they transition into production agriculture.

• Why is it important?
  • The next generation of farmers must be able to start producing without the heavy tax burden that might force them to give up portions of their farm.
• Solutions:
  • Restructure the Federal Estate Tax to provide exemptions for agricultural land use.
  • Continue new farmer and producer grants to help beginning farmers enter the workplace.
  • Expand young farmer loans through FSA.
    

4. Policy should be designed to continue federal funding for agricultural-based education programs.

• Why is it important?
  • The next generation must be equipped with the technical, scientific, and communications skills to produce and market tomorrow's agricultural goods.
• Solutions:
  • Increase funding for Pre K - Ph.D. for agricultural education
    • Continued Perkins Act funding for CTAE in the Department of Education
    • Increase funding for land grant universities and cooperative extension
    • Maintain agriculture research funding as a high priority
  • Continue funding program where young farmers and agri-business professionals learn through networking and collaboration
    

5. Congress should adopt a Farm Bill that promotes the marketing of agricultural products

• Why is it important?
  • The next generation must be competitive in the world market.
• Solutions:
  • American agriculture's standing must be protected by crop insurance and farm payment programs.
  • The Farm Bill should support agricultural subsidies as well as food support programs. American agriculture needs support programs to maintain global competitiveness.

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From visits to the historically significant and inspirational monuments to discussions with key policy makers at both USDA and in Congress, Agriculture’s Promise provides a forum for representative groups from every major commodity and policy entity to converge on the nation’s capital for a day of connecting with the issues and the leaders that implement policy. With young agriculturalists from collegiate backgrounds to active businessmen and women, the participants will represent all corners of the nation, all in Washington to address the issues facing the next generation of agriculture's producers and agribusiness professionals.

Agriculture’s Promise is designed to bring together agriculture’s future leaders and today’s decision makers to identify challenges and opportunities, examine them openly and to develop a plan for moving forward with the goal of designing a framework to support agriculture’s future.

Agriculture’s Promise is not just a two day event held annually in Washington. It is a living, year round effort to support the next generation. Issues and best practices identified at the forum will be addressed during the year through the Agriculture’s Promise network established at the Washington meeting. Participants will have the opportunity to continue their dialogue and to bring in new participants throughout the year.

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The event was hosted at the Gaylord National in Washington D.C. and coordinated by the National Young Farmer Educational Association (NYFEA).

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Forum Participants and Presenters:
Participants will be identified by NYFEA and the agricultural community in each state. Generally, each state will have eight representatives. Emphasis will be placed on participants that represent the ethnic, cultural and experience diversity of today’s agriculture. Presenters will be agricultural leaders representing government, producers, lenders, associations, and other agribusiness and commodity interests will conduct lectures and lead panel discussions.

Purposed Forum Topics (will include but will not be limited to):

• Agricultural Leadership: The role of today’s young farmers in recruiting the next generation of agricultural leaders.
• Agricultural Finance: The importance of having capital available for young producers.
• Agricultural Marketing: The ability of the agricultural industry to develop new opportunities for product development.
• Agricultural Policy: The critical issues facing the agricultural community relative to current environmental and agricultural policy.
  

Forum Structure: Participants will learn through seminars, panel discussions, exhibitions and tours. During the event participants will be exposed to leaders in the agricultural community and will have a chance to interact with them and with each other to share experiences.

The purpose is not to influence agricultural policy but to identify, educate and motivate the next generation of agricultural leaders. Participants will be encouraged to take the knowledge gained and relationships formed back to their communities in order to practice their profession more effectively and to encourage others to become involved in agricultural education and awareness.

Expected Results: A networking opportunity that will enhance the awareness of young and beginning agricultural leaders in the challenges and opportunities facing the industry. This networking opportunity will be continued after the Washington meeting. Future forums will build on information gained in 2010.

• A deeper understanding of how collectively the different commodity and agribusiness organizations can work together to improve the future of the industry.
• A richer and more engaged understanding of the political process for the next generation of agricultural leaders.

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