Yesterday, RAFI signed on to a letter urging Congress to write a Farm Bill that is final, full and fair before the current farm bill extension expires on Sept. 30. The joint statement speaks with urgency to the need for real farm policy reform, equity for all parts of agriculture, and strong nutrition assistance measures. We are proud to join 243 food and farm organizations throughout the country to develop, circulate, and issue the statement.
The letter is written in accordance with RAFI’s mission for family farmers to possess the power to earn a fair income; for everyone who labors in agriculture to be respected, protected, and valued; for the preservation of air, water, and soil; for healthy food access to all; and for the diversity of seeds and breeds.
An excerpt of the letter states:
We support equity, justice, opportunity, and access across all titles of the Farm Bill. Therefore, we support removing elements that make the bill less fair and that weaken protections for consumers, including those in need of food assistance; or of farmers, labor and the environment. These include provisions restricting SNAP eligibility as well as those related to the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Act (GIPSA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the Commerce Clause.