June 14, 2008

 upport organizations which support small farmers...

The National Family Farm Coalition criticized the recently approved Farm Bill for its failure to address the global food crisis and continued reliance on the industrial food system over small farmers. The Society for Preservation of Poultry Antiquities joins with NFFC in its statement. "Though incremental improvements were made to help fund organic, conservation, local food and diversity initiatives, the underlying bill continues to favor industrial agriculture models at the expense of family farmers and rural communities," the report said.

However, some funding was included that will benefit small producers. Check federal program websites and local offices of federal program to find our how your farm can participate.

Specifically, NFFC criticized the Livestock Title for ignoring the need to support independent livestock producers:

"In addition to continuing with a broken subsidy system, Congress chose to ignore urgently needed reforms for the livestock sector by failing to include the packer ban and captive supply in the livestock title. With the announcement of Brazilian meatpacker JBS Swift's planned takeover of National Beef, Smithfield Beef and Five Rivers Ranch Cattle Feeding, America's independent ranchers and farmers' livelihoods would be endangered by such a merger. Rhonda Perry, a Missouri livestock and grain farmer, said, 'We have seen severe consolidation in our industry, so that four meatpackers now control 80% of our market. The JBS Swift merger might be the final nail in the coffin. Packers and their monopoly have been squeezing farmers out for decades now. We desperately needed the packer ban to restore some fairness and true competition in agriculture.'"

On the positive side, the first ever Livestock Title was included: "The Farm Bill finally contains a livestock title that will provide some much needed protections for independent ranchers and farmers raising livestock under contract. Though many provisions were watered down from the Senate version, there were some key reforms, including:  preventing mandatory arbitration clauses for livestock/poultry contracts; allowing a three-day period to cancel contracts; and requiring contracts to disclose the requirement of large capital investments. Though Congress did not include an Office of Special Counsel within USDA to deal with enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA), the Farm Bill does require USDA to report annually on its investigations into violations of the PSA and directs USDA to define "undue pricing preferences" so that unjust pricing practices do not unfairly discriminate against small and independent livestock producers."

Funding for Community Food Projects and Geographic Preferences: " The Farm Bill provides $5 million in mandatory annual funding for innovative Community Food Projects for matching grants to community groups building sustainable local food systems addressing hunger, nutrition, and meeting food security goals. There is new statutory language clearly stating that preference can be given to local purchasing of agriculture products for schools serving meals that receive federal assistance, resolving a conflict in USDA's interpretation of the 2002 farm bill."

The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program: "The Farm Bill provides $75 million over 4 years in mandatory money for competitive grants to groups providing technical assistance and other services to beginning farmers and ranchers. This program was created in the 2002 Farm Bill but was never funded."

Funds for Local Food Initiatives: "NFFC applauds the $33 million in mandatory funds for the Farmers Market Promotion Program, $56 million for the Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program, and $1.2 billion to expand the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program that will enable 3 million children across the country to have access to healthier food options."

The full statement is available at the NNFC website, www.nffc.net.

Help protect our farming rights. Get involved, at least get educated about what is happening. 

Picture Above: The chicks started hatching late last night. So far there are two of them out. With different laws and fees associated with farming which are now in place in Canada and the US, many people have decided it is not worth the hassle and have quit farming. 50% of vegetable farmers in Delta (down by Vancouver) quit farming last year.