Farm Bill can encourage farm entrepreneurs, control sprawl.
Putting entrepreneurial agriculture to work for America's land and people requires a new type of thinking about farming and economic development. As a congressional conference committee meets this month to complete the 2002 Farm Bill, writer and economist Patty Cantrell makes a convincing case for lawmakers to keep provisions of the bill that help small and medium size farms. In her new piece for the Elm Street Writers Group, Ms. Cantrell argues that like hometown banks or specialty retail stores, small and medium size farms are succeeding. They do it by adding value to their products with a friendly face or specialty processing, by finding new ways to consumers, and by finding profitable market niches -- anyone for goat's milk yogurt? Net returns for entrepreneurial farmers are often 40 and 50 percent versus the conventional farm's 15 to 20 percent. That's a significant economic factor for leaders across the country who are working overtime to generate jobs and save farmland and open space
Thanks to Keith Schneider
FULL STORY: Fresh Fields

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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont