RECOMMENDATIONS - AGRICULTURE 



1 . The Commission strongly recommends that the General 

 Assembly encourage immediate action by the North 

 Carolina Agricultural Finance Authority and the 

 Governor's Farm Finance Task Force to develop a 

 strategy of action to solve the critical needs of the 

 family farmer in North Carolina. 



2. The Commission recommends that the General Assembly 

 expand the purposes for the Northeastern and 

 Southeastern North Carolina Farmers' Markets 

 authorized during the 1986 Session, to insure that 

 the markets serve the needs of farmers and 

 communities in these areas. The expanded purposes 

 for the markets should include providing processing 

 and packaging equipment and facilities to accomjnodate 

 locally and regionally grown crops and livestock. In 

 addition, the 1987 General Assembly should 

 appropriate funding to provide personnel to promote 

 and obtain markets for products flowing through these 

 farmers' markets. 



3. In 1986, the General Assembly appropriated $300,000 

 to plan a I.aboratorv/Conference Center at the 

 Tidewater Research Station. The Commission 

 recommends that the 1987 General Assembly continue to 

 support the construction of this facility by 

 appropriating $5,091,900. 



