The 2007 Farm Bill and Rural Entrepreneurship

2007 is likely to be a busy year for those with an interest in supporting rural development and rural entrepreneurship. That’s because, in 2007, Congress will be considering reauthorization of the Farm Bill. While most people think of the Farm Bill only as it relates to agriculture subsidies and programs, the bill covers much more than that. In effect, it is the primary opportunity to influence the Federal government’s approach to rural America. In an effort to obtain community input, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Mike Johanns has sponsored a series of Farm Bill Forums across the US.

These Forums provide rural residents with an opportunity to provide their own ideas on what should be in the 2007 Farm Bill. A summary of these forums has been published, and USDA staff have published a series of papers on key topics such as rural development, crop supports, and the like. Overall, the Farm Forums and other discussion have highlighted strong interest in entrepreneurship among rural Americans.

To learn more about the Farm Bill Forums and to access papers on various issues related to agriculture and rural development, visit the US Department of Agriculture’s Farm Bill Forums webpage at http://www.usda.gov/farmbill.