Chairman’s Note: With agricultural land values booming and credit markets tightening, beginning farmers and ranchers are finding it harder and harder to keep working the land. That’s why Senator Tim Johnson is co-sponsoring the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act, a measure that gives beginning farmers and ranchers greater access to farm ownership, operating loans, and conservation programs. Finding ways to ensure our long history of agriculture extends to the next generation is a real problem in need of real solutions. We’re glad Senator Johnson is there to help our farmers and ranchers when others are there just to scare them.