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Purpose
The underlying
premise of this paper is:
"There
will be no agriculture if it is not profitable
for producers to remain in agriculture."
This, in turn, generated five goals that must be accomplished to retain
and sustain agriculture's commodity
and resource
values. These goals are described below.
The
purpose of the concept paper, "A New Look at Agriculture,"
is
to take a new look at the role that agriculture plays in our economy,
landscape and environment. It also strives to underscore the importance
of agriculture to our personal well-being as well as to the well-being
of local and global economies.
The paper is called "A New Look at Agriculture." That’s
because there is a tendency in our planning and policy making, and even
our every day lives, to think of agriculture as expendable ... if we even
think of it at all.
For this reason, the paper is directed particularly to policy makers in
an effort to inform them of the consequences of their actions on agriculture,
and to show them what actions can be taken to benefit all segments of
society that rely agriculture.
The Concept Paper describes the obstacles faced by agriculture and actions
that can be taken to overcome them. These actions are grouped under two
major headings:
ECONOMICS
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GOAL
#1 Improve profitability
for producers. Quite simply: Without
profit, there will be no agriculture. Section
1 identifies techniques and tools
to assure an economically viable agriculture for producers. These
techniques and tools include improved marketing strategies to develop
new markets and new crops, improved trade policies, product labeling
and improved consumer education |
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GOAL
#2 Create
a conducive business climate for the entire agriculture industry.
Section 2
identifies techniques and tools conducive to a strong agribusiness
environment — including regulatory streamlining; business inducements
aimed at strengthening ag industries, suppliers and markets; and
ways to tie together economic and environmental issues to both promote
business and protect the environment. |
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GOAL
#3
Ensure adequate infrastructure.
Section 3
identifies the infrastructure needed for a viable agriculture industry
— support for research, roads, airports, ports, and water management;
improved labor policies; and constructive involvement of agriculture
in environmental restoration projects. |
ENVIRONMENT
|
GOAL
#4 Enhance environmental
compatibility. Section
4 identifies production practices
that enhance compatibility with the environment — such as Best
Management Practices, or BMPs, and ways to encourage private stewardship. |
|
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GOAL
#5
Integrate agriculture into the landscape.
Section 5
identifies techniques and tools that federal, state and local governments
can use to integrate agriculture into the landscape and retain the
societal benefits that are derived from agriculture, such as water
recharge, open space and wildlife habitats. |
This paper also
contains eight brief articles that elaborate on several themes central
to the future of agriculture -- Agricultural Land Values, How Much are
Natural Resources Worth?, The Problems with Regulations, Common Perceptions
About Agriculture, An American Tragedy, the Economics of Land Use, the
Case for Eliminating Estate Taxes, and the Impact of Consolidation.
It is hoped this paper will provide you with a new understanding about
agriculture — about how it affects you personally, every day —
and how you can become involved to help ensure a viable future for this
critical industry.
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