Farm Viability Programs

Farm Viability Programs—National farm viability policy can and should be relevant to all operations, from the maple sugar producer in New England to the shellfisheries off our nation's coasts, from the tree and shrub production regions in the Northwest to the citrus groves of the South. Farm viability programs administered by states and supported by the federal government must recognize all sectors of the industry are important. They must acknowledge all of agriculture needs to grow to sustain the versatility and diversity of the industry.

In doing so, these programs will nurture a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship that will result in the creation of new markets, both close to home and abroad, and the development and improvement of new and existing products. This will create a stream of new ideas and actions that will help us to achieve the three goals that all states have for their agriculture sustaining working farmland, improving farm profitability and preparing new and next-generation farmers to carry on. Ultimately, success in all these efforts will lead us to our goal of strengthening all agricultural sectors.

These types of investments have proven successful for agriculture in the past. For example, the emphasis on biofuels has boosted the grain industry, while the success of farmers markets has helped strengthen the connection between farms and the people who depend on them for healthy, nutritious foods. These investments also must focus on retaining agricultural and rural youth in next-generation businesses, attracting new, non-traditional residents to farming, pursuing new capital, and meeting the demand for fresh products that support healthy diets. While these are important projects, providing cost-share dollars to states that have established farmland viability programs would allow USDA Rural Development to more closely fulfill its mission of facilitating economic development in rural areas.

In short, agriculture faces the need to continue to reinvent itself, adapt to new market opportunities, and capitalize on emerging trends, all while remaining relevant to its core customers.