In these times of low farm prices, devastating floods, massive soil loss, wildfires and people demanding an ethical, healthy diet, the time could be ripe to end our system of industrial farming and replace it with agroecology.
Small Gains, Big Disappointments in Status Quo Farm Bill
National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC) applauds the rejection of punitive work requirements to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the inclusion of several “small but mighty” provisions in the final text of the farm bill released today, including measures developed by NFFC to improve credit access. However, NFFC does not support the overall status quo direction of the bill, which does not go far enough to improve the lives and livelihoods of family farmers and rural communities.
Letter to 2018 Farm Bill Conference Committee
Neither the House or Senate version of the farm bill goes nearly far enough to truly improve the lives and livelihoods of family farmers and rural communities.
Farmers Need Fair Prices, Not NAFTA-Lite and Meager Tariff Aid
Trump Administration measures announced this week will not return prosperity to rural America.
NFFC Statement on $12 Billion Trade Bailout
Family Farmers and Ranchers Seek Economic Empowerment, not Taxpayer Bailout
Farmers and Allies Urge Immediate Government Action to End Dairy Crisis
More than 50 family farmer, labor, and consumer organizations urged federal agriculture policymakers to take immediate steps to help US dairy farmers, who have struggled for years with milk prices that are well below their costs of production.
Addressing America’s Dairy Crisis
NFFC today sent this letter to Congressional and USDA agriculture leadership urging immediate action on the dairy crisis.
Demand Food Sovereignty to Commemorate April 17th
On April 17th each year, members of La Via Campesina – the largest umbrella organization in the world for family farmers, fisher and herder folk, hunters/gatherers/foresters, and indigenous peoples – commemorate the massacre of landless peasants in 1996 in the Amazonian state of Pará, Brazil. Nineteen members of the Landless Workers Movement (MST) were attacked and killed while hundreds more peasants were injured by Brazilian military police during their protest for comprehensive agrarian reform. This struggle for justice continues in Brazil today. Events planned for April 17th worldwide may be viewed online (http://bit.ly/2GUu8Y0April17th).
Poll: Farmers Overwhelmingly Oppose Bayer Monsanto Merger
Ben Burkett, NFFC former board president raising soy, old growth pine trees and roughly 20 different vegetables in Mississippi, added, “As a 4th generation family farmer this merger concentrates too much seed stock and intellectual property into one company, further declining rural America.”
NFFC & Rural Coalition Outline NAFTA Concerns to USTR
NAFTA should be replaced with an agreement that encourages and ensures environmental sustainability, economic viability and longevity for the people growing and harvesting our food, as well as their communities, in all three NAFTA countries.
Will Family Farmers and Ranchers Be Left Behind Again?
The Senate is expected to approve Perdue easily, but the question of his loyalty — to family farmers or to agribusiness — is imperative given the gravity of the economic situation facing rural America.
De-pooling Dairy Farmers Is Not the Answer
These 900 dairy farmers deserve a chance to stay in business until a real solution is developed. Contact the Market Administrator’s office by phone in Albany at 518-452-4410, or in Boston at 617-737-7199.