(RALEIGH) -- Forth District Congressman David Price said there is a lot to be optimistic about in the agriculture sector.  At his annual Farmers Briefing at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh Tuesday, he said farmers are making the best living they can.

"Some of these specialty crop operations, the smaller operators are not operating on a huge profit margin, they're doing pretty well too though. It is an upbeat area of the economy and it's one where we thing there's lots of room for growth," said Rep. Price.

A deputy undersecretary at the USDA told those gathered that farmers did pretty well nationally in this poor economy with more that $100 billion in net income.

The possibilities of a new federal farm bill were also discussed at the meeting.  Rep. Price said for a new farm bill to have a chance at making it through Congress, there will have to be close attention paid to issues that support the livelihood of farmers.  Specifically, Price said it is critical aid be included for disasters from storm damage.