Remarks by Dr. Gale Buchanan, USDA Under Secretary For Research, Education, and Economics, Sustainable Small Scale Family Farms in the Southern Black Belt: Nurturing the Land and its People, 115th Annual Farmers Conference, Tuskegee University (February 23, 2007)

It is a special pleasure to be with you today and to bring you greetings from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Secretary Mike Johanns. Secretary Johanns regrets that he was unable to be here today with you. There are significant discussions taking place in Washington. These are related both to the recently approved budget for 2007, beginning discussions on the 2008 budget and the upcoming debates on the '07 Farm Bill. Each of these activities has significant importance to the Department and to the programs that are being showcased today by Tuskegee University.

I would like to acknowledge Dr. Benjamin Payton, 5th President of Tuskegee University, Dean Walter Hill and Extension Administrator Velma Blackwell who have provided excellent leadership for the university and programs in agriculture. I know that Administrator Blackwell and Dean Hill and their staffs were instrumental in providing leadership for this 115th Annual Farmers Conference that provides research-based information to assist citizens, particularly small farmers to improve their quality of life. Your work in partnership with USDA is most appreciated and I want to thank you for your effort.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture was created in 1862 by an act signed by President Abraham Lincoln. At the same, time President Lincoln signed the First Morrill Act of 1862 to create the nation's land grant colleges and universities and establish an important framework of collaboration between the Federal government and the States.

A full partnership with public institutions was established with the passage of the 1890 legislation usually referred to as the second Morrill Act. This Second Act brought an expanded network of institutions that allowed USDA to be more fully engaged in serving the needs of all students who were interested in the food and agricultural sciences.

Today, the partnership with USDA allows colleges and universities to serve the needs of students, communities and farmers through integrated programs of teaching, research and extension.

This relationship was formalized through the Hatch Act of 1887, which created the Agriculture Experiment Stations, and Smith-Lever Act of 1914, which created the Cooperative Extension Service. Over the years, and through the partnership with land grant universities, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has become known as the "People's Department." I might add that the Land Grant Universities are often referred to as the People's Universities. And we are pleased to acknowledge that Tuskegee University is one of our significant partner institutions.

I am also pleased to acknowledge that a major part of the support for agricultural programs comes to Tuskegee University through programs administered by the Research Education, and Economics Mission Area of USDA, for which I am responsible.

For example: In the past five years, discretionary funding, managed through the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES), has provided more than twenty-four millions dollars to Tuskegee University for research, extension and teaching activities and facilities development.

While there is still much to be done, we recognize that a portion of these funds have led to innovations that assist small and disadvantaged farmers in a national and global context.

Current funding authorities administered by CSREES are: 1890 Research Program (Evans Allen Program), 1890 Extension Program, 1890 Capacity Building Grant Program and the 1890 Facilities Program.

In preparing for my remarks, I had an opportunity to review some of the early history of Tuskegee University, and I am quite impressed.

I would also like to acknowledge Dr. B.D. Mayberry as the author of many of the historical facts about Tuskegee University that I am using in my remarks today. One of Dr. Mayberry's books, "The Role of Tuskegee University in the Origin, Growth and Development of the Negro Cooperative Extension System - 1881-1990," was published in October 1989.

If Dr. Mayberry is in the audience today, I would like him to stand and be recognized. I have known Dr. Mayberry since I was a very junior Professor at Auburn University many years ago. I count him as one of my friends. Please join me in recognizing Dr. Mayberry.

Let me share some historical facts with you today. In the formative years and with the encouragement of Dr. Booker T. Washington, many students graduating from Tuskegee Institute returned to their communities and worked to better the conditions of colored farmers. Through this encouragement, Mr. Richard Potts returned to his home in Notasulga, Alabama, and organized the Notasulga Farmers Club in 1885.

As a precursor to today's Farmers Conference, Dr. Booker T. Washington employed Mr. Charles W. Green in 1888 to serve as farm manager. As a part of his duties, Mr. Green was responsible for organizing farmers clubs and classes. Because many needs of farmers were not being met, in 1890 Dr. Washington encouraged Mr. Green to begin holding monthly "little farmers" meetings on campus.

Since these meetings failed to meet the needs of many farmers, so Dr. Washington organized an informal department in the school to serve their needs. In this precursor to what we now know as Cooperative Extension System, teachers from Tuskegee Institute went out to work with farmers in their own environment.

Tuskegee University and its antecedent have had several firsts. The first Farmers Conference was held at Tuskegee Institute on February 23, 1892 to work with farmers and focus on solutions impacting agriculture and community development. The second conference in 1893 was attended by some 800 persons representing almost every section of Alabama and the South. And in 1894 and 1895 there were over 2,000 in attendance at the Farmers Conference.

Let me ask, "Is there any conference -- pertaining to agriculture -- in America that can trace its roots this far back? I personally do not know of any. It's certainly the oldest such conference I am aware of or that I have attended.

The first agricultural experiment station at a Black college was established under the leadership of Dr. George W. Carver. It was at Tuskegee University that the first Cooperative Extension Agent in the United States, Thomas Monroe Campbell, worked and headed the first Cooperative Extension Program in the nation. Mr. T.M. Campbell, a Field Agent for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was appointed Farm Demonstration Agent in Macon County, Alabama, in 1906.

Mr. T.M. Campbell participated in a technical international agricultural survey in Togo, Africa in 1944 focused on cotton production. From these early efforts, Tuskegee's focus was on addressing local, state, regional and international needs.

In view of the unique role it played in higher education, in 1974 Congress established the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site. This made Tuskegee the first and only educational institution in the United States to be so designated.

Dr. George W. Carver saw the need to devise practical farming methods for a small, rural farmer, and in 1906, he designed the Jessup Wagon, a demonstration laboratory on wheels that allowed farmers and distant communities to be served by campus-based faculty and outreach staff. He believed that this was his most significant contribution toward educating farmers.

This is truly taking the University to the people. The Jessup Wagon was a forerunner of the extension trains, which were popular in the South. Dr. Carver led the way for taking information to those who need it.

We are here today in the shadow of that historical backdrop with the significant contributions of so many to U.S. agriculture. This year's conference focuses on enhancing the lifestyle of small-scale farmers and landowners while addressing the emerging concerns of all people in their State and region. This effort continues to recognize the vision of Dr. Washington and later of Dr. Carver in addressing the needs of the people.

USDA has had a stellar relationship with this great university that continues today. We have continued out partnership though the pioneering endeavors of Dr. Carver, T.M. Campbell and their successors. The investment and commitment of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to this institution is strong and is ongoing.

The limited-resource farms or family farms, as defined by the Economic Research Service, are those farms with gross sales less than $100,000, farm assets less than $150,000, or household income less than $20,000. These criteria describe a large percentage of the small farms in the Black Belt region of Alabama and other southern states (MS, LA and TX).

USDA recognizes that it is critical to develop special efforts to serve limited-resources farmers. The small farmers in this group may not be restricted to one major occupation due to the economic demands of survival. However, they do account for a significant part of the U.S. production of agricultural products in the rural remote sectors of the nation.

Enhancing the viability and economic livelihood of America's small farmers and ranchers is one of USDA's important priorities. The Department's small farms coordinator represents all USDA agencies. The USDA's Small Farms Coordination programs and services are critical to the quality of life of small farmers and ranchers in sustaining their operation. Please note a few examples.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service conducts the Census of Agriculture every 5 years, providing the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every county in the United States.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) promotes the development of marketing opportunities for small farms by conducting and supporting research and providing information on farmer direct marketing activities.

Through the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP), AMS provides matching funds to state departments of agriculture or other State agencies for a wide range of research/service projects aimed at improving the marketing and distribution of agricultural products.

CSREES produces the Small Farm Digest newsletter that disseminates direct marketing and other timely information to 15,000 subscribers. CSREES also provides leadership for train-the trainer regional and national small farm conferences.

Through funding administered by CSREES, several significant impacts have resulted:

With Evans-Allen Research Program Funds - A great deal of excellent research has been supported through this program. For example, studies to evaluate non-pesticide approaches such as UV. light to control soil borne pathogens and post harvest storage diseases of vegetables.

Research has been focused on the growing of sweet potatoes on plastic mulches in order to control weeds while increasing yield.

Other research has focused on improving access of government programs and policies affecting the under served in the Black Belt region of Alabama rural communities. Micro loans from out-of-state financial institutions through the SBA Community Express Loan Program have supported agricultural endeavors.

Through 1890 Extension Program funding - Tuskegee University Extension Program has directed efforts in 12 Alabama Black Belt counties to assist Small-Scale Farmers and Landowners to increase profitability and sustainability.

With 1890 Facilities Grants Program funding - Tuskegee University over the past several years has been able to renovate, upgrade and construct several facilities for research, extension, and teaching -- utilizing 1890 Facilities Grant funds.

This includes renovations of Campbell, Milbank, and Morrison Mayberry Halls, and construction of a Food Safety and Processing Center.

1890 Capacity Building Grants Program - Tuskegee University was awarded, in the last five years, (2002-2006), Capacity Building Funding from USDA of over $3 million. In carrying on the tradition of Dr. Carver, Tuskegee continues research on many aspects of peanuts. I'm sure that if Dr. Carver was still here today, he would probably be studying how to get energy out of peanuts!

Another important effort involves "Integrating Water Quantity and Quality in the Agriculture and Environmental Science Curriculum.

This is a Multidisciplinary Teaching project enabling the establishment of a food engineering technology laboratory and will build partnerships with other university and USDA laboratories.

This will enhance the teaching, training, outreach, and technology transfer activities within the IFT-approved Food Science program.

Obviously, this will strengthen the program by building the institutional capacity through cooperative linkages with other universities and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS).

The Black Belt Family Farm Fruit & Vegetable Market Center to be located in Dallas County, Alabama, is a commendable enterprise that has the support of the Governor of Alabama. This project has broad support including Alabama's three Land Grant institutions working together under the Alabama Agricultural Land Grant Alliance (AALGA) banner.

This Market Center effort led by Tuskegee University will be central to the future of the Black Belt and the survival of small farmers and remote rural farmers. This endeavor is central to the survival of rural agricultural communities and provides an entry into the agricultural commerce of this Nation.

USDA has resources through the many agencies that are available to help small farmers. Through this Market Center, there is potential for spin-off activities and commercial enterprises!

The youth engaging in small, rural agriculture activities can participate in restoring rural communities through agricultural commerce and will find economic opportunities that keep them within these communities and sustaining family farms.

The budget of the U.S. Department of Agriculture carries many discretionary programs that, through institutions such as Tuskegee University and others, small farmers may participate in grant programs that make a difference.

There are opportunities for collaborative work among 1890 land grant institutions, 1862 land grant institutions and agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

This 115th Annual Farmers Conference can be the springboard for collaborations between small farmer endeavors and other entities who have common interests.

A 2003 grant to Tuskegee University is allowing their outreach and technical assistance (2501 Grant Program) efforts to include socially disadvantaged and minority farmers and family members. The 2008 budget calls for a modest increase in the 2501 program.

We all recognize that the small farms are the major suppliers of produce to local farmers' markets and roadside stands in rural communities. Small farmers make up a significant portion of the rural population employed in the off-farm workforce as recipients of local government services.

This population makes up a significant constituency of the Nation. The regional and local small farm populations continue to strive to be recognized as full participants the nation's agricultural enterprise.

As you know, this is the year for the reauthorization of the Farm Bill. Some of you may have participated in the Listening Session with Secretary Johanns that was held here in Tuskegee in 2005. Inputs related to the needs of the small disadvantaged farmers have been received.

The small American farmer is under intense pressures relating to access to capital and markets. Many young people (19 - 30 years old) want to engage in the farming enterprise of their parents and continue to keep their agricultural lands productive while being economically successful. These youth are finding it difficult to get the capital needed to become engaged and sustain the agricultural viability of their farms and their rural communities.

There are opportunities for the industrious and innovative small farmer. For example, there will be opportunities for small farmers in renewable energy. We recognize that small farmers are seeking to learn how they can participate in the competition that is looming around development of renewable energy resources and biobased products.

The proposed President's FY 2008 budget addresses funding for critical agricultural areas.

Let me point out that in the Administration's 2007 Farm Bill proposal, there are several items that will be of interest to you. In Title VII (the Research Title) is $100 million of annual mandatory funding for programs in specialty crops. This will provide opportunities for research that is relevant to small farms.

I would also point out that in Title II (conservation) that 10% of all Farm Bill conservation program spending is for beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers.

I want each of us to recognize and emphasize the significant role of Tuskegee University in serving the needs of Small and Disadvantaged farmers. It is also important to acknowledge the significant support provided by USDA to strengthen the capacity of Tuskegee University in Agriculture. Through my presence here today, I want you to know that we value the partnership between USDA and Tuskegee University.

I would like to hear from you ways that our programs might be more effective in serving small farmer needs. Your comments, ideas, and suggestions can help us refocus programs as we seek ways to better serve you.

As I close, I want to thank each of you for being here today and thank Tuskegee University for its continued leadership in shaping programs that make a difference to the small farmer community of this State, and indeed, our Nation.

Thank you.