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Center for Rural Affairs, www.cfra.org out and prioritize research that responds to the needs and aspirations of their constituents and helps create the kind of future they want. There are promising research avenues for strengthening family farming and ranching. We need research fo- cused on developing new knowledge and production systems that enable producers to increase their incomes by using more intensive management and skilled labor in the field and barn to reduce the need for purchased inputs and add value to their production. Such research would build on the competitive strength of family operations relative to corporate agriculture — the presence of a highly motivated, skilled and experienced owner operator working in the field and barn. More research is needed in new livestock production systems like hoop houses for hogs and intensively man- aged grass -based dairy and beef cattle systems that minimize capital expenditures and maximize management in the field and barn. A great need exists for research in agro ecology — the study of the interactions between living organisms in the field and how they are affected by management practices. Such research would provide new knowledge and management strategies that farmers could use to minimize pest problems, enhance nutrient availability, and reduce the need for purchased inputs. Research is needed to enable family farmers and ranchers to secure premium markets. Today, the best oppor- tunities to increase farm income lie in responding to unique demands of consumers not met by conventional agriculture. There are a variety of high value niche markets. Land grant universities can help family farmers and ranchers capture those opportunities by providing market research — to determine the demand, price, and key product characteristics for premium markets — and pro- duction research on how to produce for them. Although individual researchers have responded to many of these needs, there is a profound absence of insti- tutional leadership. It's time for land grant universities to focus their agricultural research programs on sup- porting the kind of agriculture most of their constituents want. There are good places to start, including: Create an integrated research strategy to reinvigorate family farm and ranch livestock production. Family farm hog and dairy production is particularly under siege. Rural people and the public con- sistently demonstrate a strong preference for family farm livestock production. Our land grant uni- versities should respond. Create an integrated research program on strategies to earn a middle class income on 640 acres. Analyze the strategies being used by. the farmers making it work. Focus research on production strategies and systems that generate more income per acre. • Establish research centers focused on enabling family farmers and ranchers to tap high value mar- kets. Page 11 7 � v