and later, ashley judd on a mission. tonight's american spirit. ♪ ♪ ( cheers ) >> glor: when the u.s. sent 30,000 more troops to afghanistan earlier this year, it also beefed up another front in the war against the taliban. american farmers are trying to persuade their afghan counter- parts to grow something other than poppy, the source of the opium that finances insurgents. but terry mccarthy reports tonight it's a tough sell. >> reporter: for horse and cotton farmers david and donna mull, the chance to go from the green fields of georgia to the arid lands of afghanistan was a calling of sorts. >> i look at it as an opportunity to not only serve my country but help some people that are probably in need worse than i am in afghanistan. >> i think growing up on a farm, taking that experience over with me, will help them, help me, even. >> reporter: so far, more than 60 american farmers have been sent by the u.s. department of agriculture to afghanistan as part of president obama's civilian surge. their mission: to wean afg