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FARM BILL FORUM SET FOR JULY 7 ON RFD-TV
The first Farm Bill forum and the topics on which the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be seeking input regarding the development of the 2007 Farm Bill have been announced by Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns. The first forum will be held in Nashville, Tenn. on July 7 from 6-10 p.m. CDT at RFD-TV Northstar Studios. The public is invited to attend and participate in the forum, which will be broadcast live on RFD-TV. In addition to accommodating approximately 300 in the audience, the forum also will accept calls from across the nation. Throughout 2005, Johanns and other senior USDA officials will participate in the Farm Bill Forums that will be held across the country. The dates, locations and times of the forums will be announced as they are scheduled and be available on the USDA website at http://www.usda.gov. The public will be invited to attend the forums and to present oral comments. Six topics have been identified to provide a framework for the forums. The primary topics addressed at the forums will reflect various concerns affecting rural America such as commodity, conservation and rural economic development issues. In addition, some forums will be dedicated to other programs authorized by the farm bill such as food assistance, research and education programs. The public will be invited to provide comments on six specific questions based on these policy considerations:
1. How should farm policy be designed to maximize U.S. competitiveness and our country's ability to effectively compete in global markets?
2. How should farm policy address any unintended consequences and ensure that such consequences do not discourage new farmers and the next generation of farmers from entering production agriculture?
3. How should farm policy be designed to effectively and fairly distribute assistance to producers?
4. How can farm policy best achieve conservation and environmental goals?
5. How can Federal rural and farm programs provide effective assistance in rural areas?
6. How should agricultural product development, marketing and research-related issues be addressed in the next farm bill?
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