Statement Issued on 12/4:
At the forum on jobs and economic growth convened by President Obama on Thursday December 3rd, Ben Burkett, President of the National Family Farm Coalition, Mississippi farmer and director of the Mississippi Assn of Cooperatives, and Rhonda Perry of the Missouri Rural Crisis Center and Rural Coalition were two of 130 guests at the forum.
Rhonda Perry had the opportunity to ask President Obama a question and raise the profile of family farmer and rural issues when she stated, "Around this country, in rural communities, independent family farmers are the biggest bang for our buck in terms of creating jobs, with independent businesses that depend on farmers, from the people we buy our seed from, to the people we use to process our meat, to the transportation system to haul our grain.
We create a lot of jobs in rural Missouri, so we want to make sure that's not overlooked. And one of the things that you and the first lady have highlighted is this incredible move that's underfoot where thousands of farmers are producing food for local markets. So we need to make sure that we have the infrastructure in place, from the meat processing to the transportation and storage, to make that a reality. And whereas we have tended in the past to put a lot of money into the hands of corporate agribusiness out here in our rural communities, they have not proven to be the bang for the buck that independent family farmers have in terms of job creation that are good- paying and fair jobs in our communities. So thank you for all you're doing on competition and on local food. And we just want to remember that we are a job creator out here. So thank you."
Ben Burkett stated, "I was the only person representing agriculture in the entrepreneurial business session. On the issue of credit, we discussed banks not lending to small businesses and farmers despite the millions of dollars in stimulus funds dispersed, something noted by everyone in the room. I presented Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner a report on credit issues and how credit unions can support rural economies, by Jerry Pennick of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives. Secretary Geithner promised to follow up."
NFFC Executive Director, Kathy Ozer stated, "The National Family Farm Coalition and Rural Coalition appreciate being represented at this important forum. We urge the Obama Administration to address the real needs and the opportunities in rural America to retain family farms, revitalize rural communities and strengthen our nation's economy
