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Dear Steven:
Thank you for writing. America depends on our farmers and ranchers to clothe our families, feed our people, and fuel our cars and trucks. Because of their hard work and know-how, we are enjoying one of the strongest stretches of farm exports in our Nation’s history. My Administration is committed to expanding on this record growth by helping rural communities spur innovation, find profitable markets, and succeed in a changing climate.
I signed the Farm Bill to support our Nation’s farmers and ranchers—those who grow our food and help hardworking Americans put that food on the table—while reducing our deficits through smart reforms. This Farm Bill provides new opportunities and expanded markets for organic and locally produced foods. It provides crop insurance, so that when disasters strike, farmers don’t lose everything they have worked so hard to build. And since fewer people are taking up farming, this law puts special focus on new and beginning farmers and ranchers, including our Nation’s veterans—assisting the next generation of growers and producers with getting off to a good start. Additionally, my “Made in Rural America” initiative is helping rural businesses expand, hire, and sell more products made here at home to the rest of the world.
As climate change continues to threaten our lands and the communities that depend on them, my Administration is joining with the agriculture industry to both prevent and prepare for the effects of a changing climate. We’re developing biofuels, boosting conservation efforts, and working with farmers, ranchers, and forest land owners to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions.
Agriculture drives our country, and as long as I’m President, I’ll keep striving to lift up those whose livelihood supports us all. To learn more about my plans to support rural communities, please visit www.WhiteHouse.gov/Issues/Rural. More information on farm loan programs can be found at www.FSA.USDA.gov. Again, thank you for writing.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
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