Willie Nelson Urges President Obama To Support Family Farming

NEW YORK (CBS) Country Singer Willie Nelson teams with Farm Aid next week to highlight family farming and agricultural initiatives in a series of Washington, D.C., events.

The 77-year-old performer is president of Farm Aid, which will release a new report called "Rebuilding America's Economy with Family Farm-Centered Food Systems" during a briefing teleconference on June 2.

Surrounding the briefing are a series of events that outline business models aimed to keep mid-sized farmers and ranchers from being pushed off their land.

The singer is working in tandem with the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition to provide evidence to President Obama, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and members of Congress of the need to transform U.S. agriculture into a system that fosters innovation and economic growth.

Since 1985, Farm Aid has raised more than $36 million to support programs that expand the reach of family farms. The money is raised at concerts conducted by Nelson and his fellow Farm Aid founders, John Cougar Mellencamp, Neil Young, and Dave Matthews.

Information on "Farm Aid 25: Growing Hope for America" is available at FarmAid.org.