Farm Service Agency Online
September 6, 2005
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Spotlight for August 26, 2005 |
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A crowd
of New Mexico farmers and ranchers estimated at over 500 sat in the morning
sun as Secretary Mike Johanns conducted another in a series of USDA Farm Bill
Forums. Positioned at an impromptu
stage on a flatbed trailer and flanked by the Organ Mountains in Las Cruces,
Johanns listened as the audience identified four major opportunities. First,
with four states now featuring “minority-majority” populations (New Mexico,
Hawaii, California and Texas) the crowd asked the Secretary to develop new
programs that target immigrant and farm laborers who will become the new
farmers and ranchers of tomorrow.
Second, they asked USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to consider hiring
bilingual staff in its county offices.
Third, they wanted Johanns to develop more programs for small and disadvantaged
producers. And finally, the Las
Cruces audience voiced their support for continued national communication
campaigns touting the value of agriculture. Attendees
at the First Annual National Association of Latino / Hispanic Farmers and
Ranchers Conference took time out from their meetings to join the Secretary
at the August 26th forum.
The audience included producers from New Mexico, the Navajo Nation,
Texas, Colorado, Florida, Washington and Mexico. FSA New Mexico State Executive Director Rick Lopez,
Communications Coordinator Brandon Terrazas and FSA state and county staff
contributed to the successful execution of the forum. |
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