Recommendations

Key Innovations for the Farm Bill

Prosperous farms | Healthy people | Vital communities Sustainable lands | Diversity and equity
Full report
Key Innovations (pdf)

I. Prosperous farms and ranches: Renewing American agriculture

Advancing New Opportunities and Markets in Farming
A strong agricultural economy and healthy food supply are part of the foundation of our society. If better designed and managed, federal farm and food policies can provide critical tools and resources needed to maintain a strong and vibrant farm sector. The 2007 Farm Bill can provide the tools and investments needed to foster a new generation of farmers to seize the growing opportunities in sustainable energy production, changing consumer demands, and value-adding enterprises. Learn how

II. Healthy people: Reducing hunger and improving nutrition

Reducing Hunger, Improving Health, and Increasing Food Access
The first measure of both a healthy food system and a responsible society is its capacity to provide for the basic nutritional needs of all members of society. Despite being the wealthiest country in the world, more than 35 million Americans have inadequate access to affordable, healthy food. New stakeholders are bringing the ideas needed to make our nation's food system healthier and more responsive to the needs of all Americans through market-based innovations. Learn how

III. Vital communities: Building rural businesses and promoting entrepreneurship

Building Local Assets for Rural Communities
Spurring innovation and job creation in rural communities is the key to ensuring the long term future of rural America. As more than half of all new jobs in rural areas come from small, non-farm business ventures, farm subsidies cannot substitute for the power of home-grown business opportunities. Rural entrepreneurship, micro-enterprise development, savings incentives for families, and other tools help to provide the secure foundation needed for our agricultural and rural economies. Learn how

IV. Sustainable lands: Cultivating stewardship

Securing the Future of Farming through Conservation
Farmers and ranchers can produce far more than food, energy, and fiber - they can also produce clean air, clean water, and improved wildlife habitat. Yet, current policies demand that farmers squeeze more and more from the soil - putting short-terms gains ahead of the land's capacity to supply our food into the future. Conservation programs are popular among farmers and communities, yet to deliver on their public goals the 2007 Farm Bill needs sufficient funding and programs which support the innovative and community-based approaches. Learn how

V. Diversity and equity: Advancing opportunities for all

Increasing Prosperity for All Farmers and Ranchers
Equal opportunity to advance and prosper is a core American value. Despite the well-documented under-representation of minorities in farm programs and successful civil rights suits against farm bill program administration, an unfair cycle of diminished opportunity persists. The 2007 Farm Bill must break the patterns of the past - ensuring redress to those unjustly denied assistance, removing barriers that continue to limit access, and opening new doors to participation. Learn how