Farm Action News Roundup: Our 2023 Farm Bill Priorities March 31, 2023

 

FARM ACTION FOCUS: 2023 FARM BILL PRIORITIES   Every five years, Congress passes legislation through the farm bill that shapes the structure of and funding for our food and farm system. This week, Farm Action released our 2023 Farm Bill priorities for transforming our food system into one that pays farmers and workers a fair price for delivering nutritious, affordable food, including: Increasing funding for the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), supporting local foods for healthier neighbors Passing the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act, which would ensure checkoff programs are transparent, accountable, and out of the hands of lobbying organizations Increasing funding for technical assistance and grants directed toward farmers of color Increasing and improving access to risk management tools like crop insurance for diverse, organic, specialty crop, and limited-resource producers Fully funding voluntary programs that incentivize farmers to meet basic conservation standards “We’re putting this straightforward guide of concise, concrete, and actionable recommendations into the hands of every decision-maker in Washington,” said Joseph Van Wye, Farm Action’s policy and outreach director. “This is a blueprint for a pro-competition farm bill, one that empowers farmers to grow healthy food for their communities, treats people fairly, respects our land, and revitalizes rural America.”   Take action! Congress wants your farm bill feedback. Time is running out to get your farm bill feedback to the Senate Agriculture Committee before they start writing the bill. The deadline for congressional offices to submit priorities is today, so be sure to take a few minutes right now to submit your feedback! Not sure where to begin? You can pull out a few policies from Farm Action’s Fair Farm Bill Policy Handbook to help inform your feedback.    OUR PRIORITIES     FARM ACTION FUND AND ALLIES CALL FOR CHECKOFF PROGRAM REFORM   Farm Action Fund joined R-CALF USA and a coalition of 129 groups representing farmers, the food system, the environment, animal welfare, and antimonopoly advocacy to call on Congress to restore accountability and transparency to commodity checkoff programs by supporting the inclusion of the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act in the 2023 Farm Bill.   Checkoff programs are funded through mandatory fees on farmers and ranchers producing milk, eggs, cattle, hogs, and many other commodities. These programs have well-documented histories of conflicts of interest and misuse of funding.    The OFF Act would empower and protect farmers by improving checkoff program transparency and reining in conflicts of interest and anti-competitive behavior.   “America's farmers and ranchers are tired of their checkoff tax dollars being funneled through the government and into the hands of trade and lobbying groups that work against fair competition and market transparency,” said Angela Huffman, vice president of Farm Action Fund. “It’s time to end the corruption running rampant through these programs.”    LEARN MORE     FARM ACTION MOVEMENT NEWS   Saul Elbein, The Hill Five Fights Brewing in the Crucial $1.4 Trillion Farm Bill Farm Action’s Joe Maxwell explains that decades of farm bill programs have driven family farmers out of business and enabled a handful of giant corporations to dominate our food system.   Willie Cade, Progressive Farmer Fact-Checking John Deere's Falsehoods: The Battle Over Right to Repair “These myths are put forth by corporations like John Deere to maintain a stranglehold on the lucrative repair market. This is to the detriment of farmers and independent repair shops, which are the backbone of many rural economies," writes Farm Action Local Leader Willie Cade.   Mark Huffman, Consumer Affairs Eggs Are So Expensive a Discount Chain Will No Longer Sell Them Farm Action notes that the leading firms in the egg industry have a history of engaging in “cartelistic conspiracies” to limit production, split markets, and increase prices for consumers.   Lisa Held, Civil Eats This Farm Bill Really Matters. We Explain Why. Farm Action hosted the Food Not Feed Summit to call attention to how commodity payments and insurance programs mainly subsidize crops that end up as animal feed.   Autumn Swiers, Tasting Table Cal-Maine Is Reporting Record Profits Despite Egg Shortage. Here's Why. In January, Farm Action asked the Federal Trade Commission to launch an investigation into Cal-Maine to determine whether the company is engaging in fair pricing practices.      SUPPORT FOR LABELING REFORM RAMPS UP   The USDA recently announced a proposed rule to ensure the “Product of U.S.A.” label is used only on meat, poultry, and eggs derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the U.S.   Under current policy, multinational corporations can use the “Product of U.S.A.” label on imported meat that’s been repackaged in the U.S., passing it off as a higher-quality product raised by U.S. farmers and ranchers. This fraudulent labeling deceives customers and puts U.S. farmers and ranchers out of business.   In support of the proposed rule — which would close this heavily exploited loophole — Farm Action joined American Grassfed Association’s #ProductofUSAChallenge on social media — and you should, too! Simply submit a comment to the USDA telling them to end fraudulent “Product of U.S.A.” labeling, then share our post and tag three others to do the same.   Check out our website for helpful sample comments, and watch White Oak Pastures’ Will Harris explain why labeling reform is so critical for independent farmers and ranchers.   LEARN MORE     UPCOMING EVENTS: FARM BILL WEBINAR SERIES   Join Farm Action and panels of farm and policy experts to learn how we can create a more fair food system that works for everyone in the 2023 Farm Bill. Our first webinar is on Tuesday! Justice for All: Centering Equity in the Farm Bill April 4, 5:00-6:30 p.m. EST Marginalized farmers and communities have long been denied participation in agriculture programs and policy development. Learn how we can reform our food and farm system to make it fair and inclusive from our panelists:     Our next two webinars will focus on building up local and regional food systems and supporting conservation and regenerative farming practices in the Farm Bill. Stay tuned for more details!    LEARN MORE     A COUNTRY WITH NO FARMERS   On the latest episode of Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s “Building Local Power” podcast, Farm Action’s Sarah Carden explains how the rapid consolidation of agriculture across the U.S. has posed monumental challenges for farmers and consumers alike.   As this consolidation hollows out rural America, “farmers are going extinct,” she says. We must shift our ideology away from misguided notions of “efficiency” and instead implement policies that support a decentralized farming system. Check out the podcast to hear more.   LEARN MORE     WHAT’S THE TALK?   Here’s what the Farm Action team has been reading:   Vox explains that corporate profits are so high — at a time when regular people feel increasingly strapped — because a small number of players have gobbled up most of the food chain.   The planned closure of a Virginia Tyson plant has left dozens of chicken growers scrambling to find new buyers in a region with few other options, reports Reuters. It could also expose Tyson to fines under the Packers and Stockyards Act. Almost 25% of American adults are food insecure as grocery prices have surged 20% over the last two years, reports CBS News. Adults whose grocery costs increased significantly were about twice as likely as other adults to be food insecure. CNN reports that Cal-Maine Foods, the largest egg producer in the U.S., doubled its revenue and profits surged 718% last quarter because of sharply higher egg prices. The company has had zero cases of avian flu at its facilities.     Written and edited by: Jessica Cusworth, Dee Laninga, and Angela Huffman     ABOUT US   Farm Action leverages its research, policy development, and advocacy campaigns to create a food and agriculture system that works for everyday people rather than a handful of powerful corporations. Our political partner organization, Farm Action Fund, is building the political muscle to take action in our state and federal capitols and at the ballot box.     Together, our two organizations represent a seamless chain of action from research and policy development, to the adoption of the policy through legislative action by elected officials who support our vision.