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Small Farm Commission, DC meeting




        For more information, contact Jennifer Yezak Molen at (202)
690-0648 or (202) 690-0673.

					September 2, 1997

Dear Farmers and Friends of Farmers:

	I am writing to invite you to attend and participate in a public 
meeting of the National Commission on Small Farms, September 10 and 11, 
1997 in Washington, D.C.

	As you know, Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman formed this 
30-member commission to look at a wide range of programs and issues 
affecting small farms, and to recommend improvements to better serve 
them.  He has asked the commission to provide a report of findings and 
recommendations to him by September 30, 1997.

	The meeting is being held at the Jefferson Auditorium of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, 
D.C.  On September 10, the Commission will meet from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 
p.m.  Public testimony will begin at 
10:30 a.m.  On September 11, the Commission will meet from 8:00 a.m. to 
5:00 p.m. to conduct Commission business.  The meetings are open to the 
public.

	Those wishing to testify should contact the Commission office by 
September 8, 1997 to be placed on a list of witnesses on a first come, 
first served basis.  Oral presentations will be limited to 5 minutes.  We 
are asking each organization or group to have one representative testify 
before the Commission on September 10.  Written statements will be 
accepted at the meeting; or, they may be mailed or faxed to (202) 
720-0596 by September 17, 1997.

	We are seeking testimony from various sources -- farmers, tribes, 
community based organizations, academics, businesses, community leaders, 
educators, agricultural and trade associations -- to arrive at 
conclusions and recommendations that will ensure the continued viability 
of small farms.
	
	The Commission believes that the best way to do that is to ask 
that testimony include ideas and recommendations based on the following 
questions.  The questions are:

	1.  How are current USDA programs helping or hurting the 
viability of small 	farms?
	2.  What are the needs of small farms in terms of financing, 
research, extension, 	marketing and risk management and other areas?  
What recommendations would 	you make about these needs that could be 
part of a long-range strategy to ensure 	the continued viability 
of small farms?
	3.  Are there innovative non-governmental or state efforts to 
assist beginning and 	smaller independent farms that might be 
replicated or supplemented at the Federal 	level?
	4.  What changes in USDA policy or practices are needed to make 
USDA 	programs in the areas of credit, research, extension, marketing, 
risk management 	and other areas more effective in enabling small 
farms to survive and thrive?
	5.  What new programs could provide effective and affordable 
support for small 	farmers as commodity programs are phased out?
	6.  What can be done to assist beginning farmers and farm workers 
to become 	farmer owners?
	7.  What role should the Federal government play to ensure a 
diversified, 	decentralized and competitive farm structure?
	8.  What do small farms contribute to your community and your state?
	9.  What other generic issues pertaining to small farms should 
the Commission 		consider?

	On behalf of the Commission, I hope you will be able to attend 
this important event.  If you need any additional information, please 
call Commission Director Jennifer Yezak Molen at (202) 690-0648 or (202) 
690-0673.  Thank you in advance for your interest.

						Sincerely,
						Harold Volkmer
						Chair


PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
NATIONAL COMMISSION ON SMALL FARMS

Where:		United States Department of Agriculture
			Jefferson Auditorium
			1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
			Washington, DC
			
Purpose:	The Commission will hear public testimony on ideas and 					
recommendations that will ensure the continued viability of small 
farms 			and improve services to small farms.  The 
Commission will also conduct a 		business meeting.

Time:	9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  September 10, 1997 - Public Testimony
		8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. September 11, 1997 - Business Meeting

	
	To sign up as a presenter:

	Contact the office of the National Commission on Small Farms by 
September 8	to be placed on a list of witnesses on a first come, 
first served basis.  The phone 	numbers are (202) 690-0648 or (202) 
690-0673.  Oral presentations will be limited to 	5 minutes.  We 
are asking each organization to have only one representative testify 	
before the Commission on Sept. 10. Written statements will be accepted at 
the 	meeting; or, they may be mailed or faxed to (202) 720-0596 by 
September 17, 1997.
  
	For more information, contact Jennifer Yezak Molen at (202) 
690-0648 or 
	(202) 690-0673.
  


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