With another year of farm policy discussions and decisions coming up, this is the first of a series of three articles reviewing the problems of agriculture, the effects and roles of past farm policies and the possible directions ahead.

This month: Jewel Graham suggests that family mealtimes can mean much more than eating food. When you're called upon to help with many outside tasks, Marcene VerPloeg says that some thought and "sorting out" may be worthwhile.

Nutrition shouldn't be left to guesswork or chance. Science has shown the nutrients we need as well as the foods that contain them. Still, we tend to eat happily, but not wisely, when we could be eating happily and wisely.

Using the fuel that gives you the most work for its cost is one way of trying to get the most from your farm fuel dollar. But you also should consider costs equipment and problems of handling the different fuels.