September 14, 2000

Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman took a look ahead Wednesday to some of the challenges that will face his successor in the top USDA job. In an address to the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association, he suggested that the next farm law encompass far more than the large row crops that traditionally have been the focus of farm laws.

I would suggest there needs to be a broader role not necessarily a bigger one for USDA in American agriculture, he said. USDA's focus has historically been weighted toward the big row crops. But as our proposals for the new farm bill demonstrate more coverage for more crops, targeted payments, focus on conservation, rural development, additional risk management tools and more I believe that we've got to make USDA's services more available to everyone across the agricultural landscape to keep our farmers competitive and on top of world agriculture.

Although advances in technology communications, transportation and consumer preferences have altered the business landscape fundamentally and created tremendous opportunities, there also are challenges, Glickman cautioned, for example, in the way food is marketed.

We're seeing people, albeit in small numbers, buy groceries and specialty foods over the internet. How will that play out in years to come? T rade is increasingly playing a bigger role in your business? How will new trade agreements affect your bottom line? he asked rhetorically.

He also noted the increase in concentration from hardware to transportation to telecommunications to agriculture. How is this altering the marketplace? Are smaller producers being put at an unfair competitive disadvantage? If so, what can we do about it?