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This year, more than seven billion people will inhabit the earth. Within forty years, that number will grow to nine billion. This dramatic increase in the world’s population will present extraordinary challenges to every country.

Our Nation has been going through an extremely difficult economic period and many challenges lay ahead. Yet going forward, agriculture stands in a prime position to help lead the country to future growth.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City published a paper, “A Rural Rebound in 2010,” which opened: “In 2010, rural America was at the forefront of the economic recovery.”

The next farm bill will have to confront some very difficult issues including the size of the deficit, direct payments and even whether food stamps should be limited, in some way, to only nutritious foods.

How much do we value conservation on working agricultural lands? That’s a question we all need to keep in mind as we approach the 2012 farm bill.