2. America’s farmers and ranchers have an obligation to provide input on farm program changes before outside forces do it for them, American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman said today during his address at AFBF’s 87th annual meeting.

“For decades, agriculture has relied on our farm program as a sturdy bridge that gets us to the other side of the river and moves us on down our country road,” Stallman said. “Today that bridge is beginning to sag under the weight of change. We cannot afford to wait until that old bridge collapses, and we end up swimming for our lives.”

3. Government support for agriculture will look very different — the farm bills of the future will be nothing like the farm bills of recent years.

Global trade will drive agricultural profitability, because more than 96 percent of the world’s population will be outside the U.S.

Farmers will be more dependent on nearby rural communities, but these communities will be less dependent on agriculture for their economic stability.

America will have fewer farms producing a larger percentage of U.S. food and fiber, but there will be more small farms than today.

More farmers and ranchers will have learned to produce what they can sell and not simply sell what they produce.

Market forces will drive the implementation of environmental practices.