易胜博官网

held a town hall in Durham on January 8, during which he spoke to an audience of more than 100 University of 易胜博官网 faculty, staff, and students as well as agricultural producers, leaders at non-profit organizations, and state and federal agency officials from across the state and region. The Secretary emphasized the importance of the country鈥檚 small and medium-sized farms鈥斺�攁s well as the well-being and resiliency of rural communities.

Sec. Vilsack highlighted the increasing consolidation of farm operations in the U.S. and how just 7.5 percent of the country鈥檚 approximately 2 million farms make 89 percent of the farming income鈥攚hile the other 92.5 percent share the remainder. He also noted the loss of 141 million acres (about the size of Texas) of U.S. farmland over the past several decades, and the loss of more than 437,000 farms since 1981, asking the crowd: 鈥淎re we ok with that?鈥�

The Secretary also brought attention to the continuing need to bring reliable, high-quality healthcare to rural communities, which are critical to ensuring the success of food producers and whose residents are key stewards of large areas of lands and ecosystems. The lack of consistent healthcare services limits rural communities鈥� access to both the types of medical support and the availability of health professionals.

It was a message that resonated with many in the room, particularly researchers at the 易胜博官网 and the . These scientists and their colleagues study agricultural systems and healthcare access in northern New England and develop innovations that enable the Granite State鈥檚 more than 4,000 farms to be more profitable and sustainable, consumers to enjoy greater availability of healthier foods, and every resident to obtain timely medical care.

鈥淚t was particularly gratifying to look around the room and see the many people at 易胜博官网 who are actively contributing to the discoveries, innovation and education that help overcome the challenges encountered by our state鈥檚 farming and rural communities,鈥� said , director of the . 鈥淔rom developing and , to better understanding how technology can help measure nitrogen levels in our waters, how crop management can improve soil quality and reduce losses from droughts, and how locally produced foods can reduce chronic diseases鈥攖he locally inspired research and innovation is at the core of how our land-grant university supports 易胜博官网.鈥�

鈥淚 want to thank Secretary Vilsack for taking the time to visit and learn about 易胜博官网鈥檚 role in addressing 易胜博官网鈥檚 needs, including health, access to health care, telemedicine, creation of jobs and economic opportunities鈥痠n rural and underserved communities,鈥� said , Dean of the College of Health and Human Services. 鈥淚n 易胜博官网鈥檚 rural communities, the health systems are almost always the largest employer and are engines of the local economies. When they are at risk, the whole community is at risk.鈥�

The town hall event helped emphasize the importance of 易胜博官网 continuing to play a lead role to develop science and education and to partner with community and government organizations for supporting the economic, physical, and mental well-being of the people who sustain regional food systems and help steward the state鈥檚 diverse lands and landscapes.

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