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agriculture to use technology, education and incentives to 

 produce more food better can enhance global food security and 

 ecological preservation. 



Technological. The widespread and rapid introduction of 

 technology and advances from research has been proven a 

 significant advantage to U.S. agriculture. This will be true 

 as we enter the 21st century, even though the "information 

 highway" is stretching around the globe. 



Since passage of the last major piece of farm legislation in 

 199 0, the number of computers on farm and in agricultural 

 businesses has increased exponentially, offering software and 

 communication features that already are shaping the 

 marketplace. Software is offering producers both economic and 

 scientific analyses that let them make better purchasing, 

 production and marketing decisions. 



Computer communication is linking the farm ever closer to the 

 customer. The result can be increased efficiency, lower 

 costs, better product and less resource stress. The 

 technological leadership of U.S. producers and agribusiness 

 will give the United States a competitive edge, if we nurture 

 and use that leadership effectively. 



Policies for the 21st Century 



Significant change is occurring in the marketplace. The 

 policies written by this committee will profoundly affect how 

 American agriculture responds to them. Speaking as an 

 exporter and as a major investor and employer in rural America 

 with customers throughout the nation, we believe American 

 policies should build upon U.S. agriculture's strengths — its 

 abundant land resources, its technological leadership, its 

 efficient infrastructure and its educated resource base of 

 farmers and workers. 



The foundation for that policy might be built around three 

 policy goals: economic opportunity, environmental 

 responsibility, and technological leadership. 



Economic Opportunity. Several policy goals could be 

 identified. One is to give full-time commercial farmers the 

 tools they need to cope with business risks they face, without 

 distorting their production or marketing decisions. A second 

 goal is to build opportunities for those living on farms or in 

 rural areas whose incomes predominantly come from off-farm 

 sources; this may require better education and training 

 opportunities and employment assistance. A third goal is to 

 strengthen rural communities as centers of both commercial 

 opportunity and social services. 



