{"id":952,"date":"2017-08-24T14:21:02","date_gmt":"2017-08-24T18:21:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.presbyterianmission.org\/food-faith\/?page_id=952"},"modified":"2017-08-24T14:40:46","modified_gmt":"2017-08-24T18:40:46","slug":"2017farmbill","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/centernet.pcusa.org\/food-faith\/2017farmbill\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Critical Areas for Farm Bill Reform"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Download Full Document with Farm Bill Principles in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.presbyterianmission.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/Farm-Bill-Principles-and-5-Focus-Areas.docx\">Word<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.presbyterianmission.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/Farm-Bill-Principles-and-5-Focus-Areas.pdf\">PDF<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left\"><span style=\"color: #000080\"><strong>A) \u00a0Food Security, Rural Support and Sustainable Regional Food Economies<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Whereas<\/strong>\u00a0inequality has become extreme and many people are falling through the cracks of our weakened safety net, especially in rural areas of the United States.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Therefore<\/strong>:<br \/>\n1) We advocate for strong governmental involvement in guaranteeing the right to food for all people as well as a basic standard of living. Regarding SNAP, food access, and support for regional food economies, we support:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Sustained funding for SNAP<\/li>\n<li>Broader and increased use of EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer)<\/li>\n<li>Increased funding for <a href=\"http:\/\/www.farmtoschool.org\/\">Farm to School<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/sustainableagriculture.net\/publications\/grassrootsguide\/local-food-systems-rural-development\/community-food-project-grants\/\">Community Food Projects<\/a>, and other programs to strengthen local food economies.<\/li>\n<li>Addition of a federal Farm to Food Bank policy to allow sales of surplus produce<\/li>\n<li>A well-funded <a href=\"http:\/\/sustainableagriculture.net\/publications\/grassrootsguide\/local-food-systems-rural-development\/value-added-producer-grants\/\">Value Added Producer Grants Program<\/a>\u00a0(VAPG)<\/li>\n<li>Full funding for the <a href=\"http:\/\/sustainableagriculture.net\/publications\/grassrootsguide\/local-food-systems-rural-development\/farmers-market-promotion-program\/\">Farmers Market and Local <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sustainableagriculture.net\/publications\/grassrootsguide\/local-food-systems-rural-development\/farmers-market-promotion-program\/\">Food<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sustainableagriculture.net\/publications\/grassrootsguide\/local-food-systems-rural-development\/farmers-market-promotion-program\/\"> Promotion Program<\/a>\u00a0(FMLFPP) and adjustments to ensure direct benefits for family farmers and ranchers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>2) \u00a0 We call for the government to reinstate a strategic and farmer-owned grain reserve system to protect family farmers from unstable price fluctuations and ensure resilience in the event of weather-related disasters.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #000080\">B) \u00a0Access to Resources and Land\u00a0for people of color, immigrants and farmworkers, and beginner farmers.<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Whereas<\/strong>\u00a0the dispossession of lands from Native Americans and our country\u2019s history of slavery along with ongoing suppression of immigrants compels us to confess our complicity and failure to fully learn and pass along this history, and to call for reparations for past harms:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Therefore<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p>1) \u00a0We advocate for policies which provide affordable access to land and resources for Native American, Black and other people of color farmers and ranchers, with special attention to small- and medium-scale producers.<\/p>\n<p>2) \u00a0We call for reparations of past discrimination as exemplified in the Pigford class action suits and an end to ongoing discriminatory lending practices at all levels of USDA.<\/p>\n<p>3) \u00a0We call for ample support and funding for land-link programs, technical assistance for transition and succession planning, and access to credit, crop insurance and other risk management, cooperative development support, training, and technical assistance, with a priority on providing these to low-resource and people of color farmers, livestock producers, and ranchers through increased funding of the 2501 Program.<\/p>\n<p>4) \u00a0We call for an end to land grabs and other land speculation by individuals, corporations, pension funds and governments, which raise land prices out of the reach of farmers, and often cause deforestation and ecologically destruction.<\/p>\n<p>5) \u00a0We call for stricter rules in the <a href=\"http:\/\/sustainableagriculture.net\/publications\/grassrootsguide\/conservation-environment\/environmental-quality-incentives-program\/\">Environmental Quality Incentives Program<\/a>\u00a0(EQIP), which would limit inappropriate use of EQIP funds by large, \u00a0polluting operations, and support adjustments to discourage overproduction and pollution of water resources.<\/p>\n<p>6) \u00a0We call for policies that support the economic resiliency of coastal communities, particularly for independent small and medium scale\u00a0fishermen.<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000080\"><strong>C) \u00a0Land, Environment, and Climate Stewardship<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Whereas <\/strong>changes in climate and weather patterns are already disrupting farming around the world, and these will only become intensified in coming years;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Whereas<\/strong> the dominant practices of chemical- and fossil fuel-intensive, single-cropping agriculture used around the world damage and erode the soil, often cause desertification, and poison land, water, air and people;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Whereas<\/strong> prior year disinvestment has drastically reduced public plant breeding programs which increase farm resiliency;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Whereas<\/strong> genetic engineering and seed ownership is not democratically controlled and research decisions are influenced by the corporations that profit in these areas:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Therefore<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p>1) \u00a0We advocate for conservation incentives, in particular agroecological, regenerative approaches, that build up (sequester) carbon in the soil in the\u00a0Comprehensive Conservation Title and in these critical programs, which deserve increased funding:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/sustainableagriculture.net\/publications\/grassrootsguide\/conservation-environment\/conservation-stewardship-program\/\">Conservation Stewardship Program<\/a>\u00a0(CSP)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/sustainableagriculture.net\/publications\/grassrootsguide\/conservation-environment\/conservation-reserve-program\/\">Conservation Reserve Program<\/a>\u00a0(CRP)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/sustainableagriculture.net\/publications\/grassrootsguide\/conservation-environment\/environmental-quality-incentives-program\/\">Environmental Quality Incentives Program<\/a>\u00a0(EQIP)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>2) \u00a0We call for increased funding for <a href=\"http:\/\/sustainableagriculture.net\/blog\/house-ag-farmbill-hearing-research\/\">public sector breeding and research programs<\/a> in land grant university system and USDA research facilities, which will reinvest in ecological public plant breeding programs that address climate change and extreme weather patterns so farmers are prepared with diverse, adaptable seed stocks and agroecological approaches.<\/p>\n<p>3)\u00a0 We call for stronger review of proposed genetically-engineered crops, seafood, and livestock prior to approval, and GE labeling laws at state, national and international levels, and for fair and open access to and ownership of heritage, hybrid and conventional (non-genetically modified) seeds; ecology-based biodiversity of seeds, crops, livestock and seafood.<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #333399\"><strong>D) \u00a0 Food Chain &amp; Farm Workers, and At-Risk Farmers &amp; Producers<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Whereas\u00a0<\/strong>armers, Farm Workers and other Food Chain Workers are threatened with detention and deportation, human trafficking, sub-poverty wages, wage theft, lacking and unenforced labor laws, and dangerous conditions, legislative and corporate advocacy in support of these workers is a priority;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Whereas\u00a0<\/strong>small- and medium-scale farmers and producers and food chain workers are disadvantaged by current policies and corporate practices:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Therefore:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>1) We advocate in support of Dairy Farmers, Contract Poultry &amp; Livestock Producers, and Fisherfolk by supporting policies which:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Support dairy farmers and other producers by opposing corporate manipulation of prices and contract abuse.<\/li>\n<li>Resist the monopolization of corporations in this sector and oppose abuse of contract producers. Specifically, by:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>Opposing amendments to the Agricultural Fair Practices Act that would undermine the ability of farmers to negotiate fair contracts with processors.<\/li>\n<li>Opposing amendments to the Packers and Stockyards Act that would undermine enforcement authority for GIPSA over all livestock operations.<\/li>\n<li>Advocating for the economic, social and ecological sustainability of small and medium-sized fishermen and their communities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>2) We oppose increasing the loan cap limits for Farm Service Agency (FSA) Direct Operating Loans (DOL), Guaranteed Operating Loans (GOL), and Guaranteed Farm Ownership Loans; doing so is unnecessary and would primarily benefit large Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs).<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000080\"><strong>E) \u00a0International Food Aid that Strengthens Food Sovereignty<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><strong>Whereas<\/strong>\u00a0 the US is the world\u2019s biggest food donor and responds to food emergencies and humanitarian crises, but the program is wasteful and slow because of rules requiring that US commodities be purchased and sent on US ships;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Whereas\u00a0<\/strong>a\u00a0flood of food aid, that often arrives after the crisis, may cause a food glut, price depression, and the bankrupting of local farmers:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Therefore:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Funding should be maintained or increased for international food aid, and reforms to improve responsiveness and effectiveness should be enacted.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Funding for local and regional procurement (LRP) should be dramatically increased in our foreign food aid programs.<\/li>\n<li>The response times to famine, drought and natural disasters should be improved by opening additional overseas facilities to strategically pre-position food aid.<\/li>\n<li>Rather than wasteful and market distorting monetization program, NGO partners implementing Food for Peace Title II programs should be allowed to use all Food for Peace funds on non-commodity expenses.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Sign up for the PC(USA) Office of\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/capwiz.com\/pcusa\/mlm\/signup\"><strong><em>Public Witness Email Alerts<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>\u00a0so you can join with other Presbyterians and people of conscience in advocating for these important policies.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-963 alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.presbyterianmission.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/bee-500x333.jpeg\" alt=\"yellow jacket bee drinking from a droplet of water on a leaf\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" srcset=\"https:\/\/centernet.pcusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/bee-500x333.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/centernet.pcusa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/bee.jpeg 864w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Download Full Document with Farm Bill Principles in Word or PDF A) \u00a0Food Security, Rural Support and Sustainable Regional Food Economies Whereas\u00a0inequality has become extreme and many people are falling through the cracks of our weakened safety net, especially in rural areas of the United States. Therefore: 1) We advocate for strong governmental involvement in&#8230;  <a class=\"excerpt-read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/centernet.pcusa.org\/food-faith\/2017farmbill\/\" title=\"ReadFive Critical Areas for Farm Bill Reform\">Read more &raquo;<\/a>","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-952","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.5 (Yoast SEO v23.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Five Critical Areas for Farm Bill Reform - Food and Faith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Call for Farm Bill which reduces hunger and poverty in the U.S. and around the world, and encourages sustainable stewardship of soil, land, water, and air.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/centernet.pcusa.org\/food-faith\/2017farmbill\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Five Critical Areas for Farm Bill Reform\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Call for Farm Bill which reduces hunger and poverty in the U.S. and around the world, and encourages sustainable stewardship of soil, land, water, and air.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/centernet.pcusa.org\/food-faith\/2017farmbill\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Food and Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2017-08-24T18:40:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.presbyterianmission.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/bee-500x333.jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/centernet.pcusa.org\/food-faith\/2017farmbill\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/centernet.pcusa.org\/food-faith\/2017farmbill\/\",\"name\":\"Five Critical Areas for Farm Bill Reform - 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