Support Small Farmers and Consumers, Not Big Ag!
- par: Grassroots International
- destinataire: U.S. Senators
On September 30 of this year, one of the most powerful policies impacting farmers and small producers -- the Food and Farm Bill -- is set to expire.
Starting in the 1970s, the U.S farm policy removed price supports to farmers and let big corporations buy products at ridiculously low prices -- making it impossible for many small farmers to make a living. And even as farmers' pay drastically fell, prices for consumers went up.
Right now, we have the opportunity to create programs and policies that promote fair and democratic control over our food supply. The 2012 farm bill must give farmers and consumers the tools we need to take back our food system.
Tell Congress to fundamentally reconstruct our government policy to ensure that it benefits family farmers, small producers and consumers -- not agribusiness giants.
Starting in the 1970s, the U.S farm policy removed price supports to farmers and let big corporations buy products at ridiculously low prices -- making it impossible for many small farmers to make a living. And even as farmers' pay drastically fell, prices for consumers went up.
Right now, we have the opportunity to create programs and policies that promote fair and democratic control over our food supply. The 2012 farm bill must give farmers and consumers the tools we need to take back our food system.
Tell Congress to fundamentally reconstruct our government policy to ensure that it benefits family farmers, small producers and consumers -- not agribusiness giants.
Dear Senator,
As a constituent, I am extremely concerned about the impacts of U.S. Food and Farm policy on communities in the U.S. and around the world. As the last Food and Farm Bill is set to expire, Congress has an opportunity to listen to the voices of the people who are most impacted by this legislation -- the family farmers and farmworkers who produce the food, as well as the consumers who rely on their production.
[Your comments will be inserted here.]
Ben Burkett is a farmer in Mississippi, state coordinator of the Mississippi Association of Cooperatives, member of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, and President of the National Family Farm Coalition. As someone who knows the challenges of being a family farmer firsthand, Ben explains, "It's not fair that a few middlemen profit from U.S. farm policies while the majority of producers and consumers suffer at their hands. The 2012 farm bill should provide farmers the tools we need while empowering consumers to take back our food system. We must work together to ensure that this happens. As Congress decides whether to craft a new farm bill or extend the last one, it has a chance to create programs and policies based on the principles of food sovereignty -- the fair and democratic control over one's food supply.
First, we need your support for policies that continue support for critical programs that expand opportunities and access for disadvantaged farmers, beginning farmers, farmworkers, and low-income communities. I am writing to you now to support three amendments that help to make a fair and democratic food system possible. The Senate is expected to debate and vote on the farm bill in June 2012.
- Support Senate Udall's (D-NM) amendment to increase funding for Minority Outreach and Education Program, which expands participation in all USDA programs to minority farmers. The Senate Agriculture Committee farm bill expands this program to veterans through cuts the funding from close to $20 million per year to only $5 million. We urge support for an amendment to increase funding to at least $150 million over the life of the farm bill to meet the expanding demand for these important outreach functions in communities across the country.
- Support Senator Tester's (D-MT) amendment to require public support for development of traditional seed varieties. The Senate farm bill increases agriculture research funding through fails component guaranteeing that farmers in the future can choose seeds that are not genetically engineered and are not controlled by corporate interests.
- Support Senator Grassley's (R-IA) amendment to shift more control back to ranchers and family farmers raising livestock. The Packer Ban prohibits a meatpacker to own, feed or control livestock intended for slaughter with directly competes with independent ranchers and farmers. This would help to ensure transparency and increase competition in the marketplace.
Second, we need Congress to take advantage of the Farm Bill's reauthorization process to address the structural inequalities built into the farm bill that make it harder for family farmers to make a living here and around the world, while it facilitates windfall profits for big agribusiness. Two steps toward this goal are:
1. Creating a farmer-owned reserve -- as Ben Burkett puts it, "This would give farmers more control over their crops by keeping grain prices at stable levels."
2. Establishing a price floor that reflects farmers' true cost of production. Ben explains, "This would put the farmer back in the driver's seat, diminishing the excess control held by grain traders and exporters who buy low at harvest time to sell high when it benefits them and their stockholders. This would also benefit taxpayers because the payments to farmers when prices hit very low levels would decline."
Most of all, I am asking you to make sure that rather than allowing such important decisions about our food system to be made in closed-door meetings with big agribusiness interests, those of us who are most impacted by these decisions -- the consumers and the small-scale producers on whom we all depend.
Thank you for your help and support.
signersignerAs a constituent, I am extremely concerned about the impacts of U.S. Food and Farm policy on communities in the U.S. and around the world. As the last Food and Farm Bill is set to expire, Congress has an opportunity to listen to the voices of the people who are most impacted by this legislation -- the family farmers and farmworkers who produce the food, as well as the consumers who rely on their production.
[Your comments will be inserted here.]
Ben Burkett is a farmer in Mississippi, state coordinator of the Mississippi Association of Cooperatives, member of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, and President of the National Family Farm Coalition. As someone who knows the challenges of being a family farmer firsthand, Ben explains, "It's not fair that a few middlemen profit from U.S. farm policies while the majority of producers and consumers suffer at their hands. The 2012 farm bill should provide farmers the tools we need while empowering consumers to take back our food system. We must work together to ensure that this happens. As Congress decides whether to craft a new farm bill or extend the last one, it has a chance to create programs and policies based on the principles of food sovereignty -- the fair and democratic control over one's food supply.
First, we need your support for policies that continue support for critical programs that expand opportunities and access for disadvantaged farmers, beginning farmers, farmworkers, and low-income communities. I am writing to you now to support three amendments that help to make a fair and democratic food system possible. The Senate is expected to debate and vote on the farm bill in June 2012.
- Support Senate Udall's (D-NM) amendment to increase funding for Minority Outreach and Education Program, which expands participation in all USDA programs to minority farmers. The Senate Agriculture Committee farm bill expands this program to veterans through cuts the funding from close to $20 million per year to only $5 million. We urge support for an amendment to increase funding to at least $150 million over the life of the farm bill to meet the expanding demand for these important outreach functions in communities across the country.
- Support Senator Tester's (D-MT) amendment to require public support for development of traditional seed varieties. The Senate farm bill increases agriculture research funding through fails component guaranteeing that farmers in the future can choose seeds that are not genetically engineered and are not controlled by corporate interests.
- Support Senator Grassley's (R-IA) amendment to shift more control back to ranchers and family farmers raising livestock. The Packer Ban prohibits a meatpacker to own, feed or control livestock intended for slaughter with directly competes with independent ranchers and farmers. This would help to ensure transparency and increase competition in the marketplace.
Second, we need Congress to take advantage of the Farm Bill's reauthorization process to address the structural inequalities built into the farm bill that make it harder for family farmers to make a living here and around the world, while it facilitates windfall profits for big agribusiness. Two steps toward this goal are:
1. Creating a farmer-owned reserve -- as Ben Burkett puts it, "This would give farmers more control over their crops by keeping grain prices at stable levels."
2. Establishing a price floor that reflects farmers' true cost of production. Ben explains, "This would put the farmer back in the driver's seat, diminishing the excess control held by grain traders and exporters who buy low at harvest time to sell high when it benefits them and their stockholders. This would also benefit taxpayers because the payments to farmers when prices hit very low levels would decline."
Most of all, I am asking you to make sure that rather than allowing such important decisions about our food system to be made in closed-door meetings with big agribusiness interests, those of us who are most impacted by these decisions -- the consumers and the small-scale producers on whom we all depend.
Thank you for your help and support.
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