New Farm Bill, Anti-Trust Enforcement Among Farm Policy Demands
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Brenda K. Foster, 202-331-4323, Vanguard Communications
WASHINGTON-Faced with disastrously low commodity prices, unfair competition and bad government policy, family farmers from across the country will converge on the Capitol next week carrying a five-point plan for fixing what ails rural America.
At the Rally for Rural America, scheduled for March 19-21, farm families will demand that the USDA and Congress accept a five-point agenda adopted by more than 40 grassroots family farm groups earlier this year in response to the economic devastation facing our nation's family farmers and rural communities. The plan addresses critical farm issues, including the need for a new farm bill, enforcement of anti-trust laws, consumer and environmental protection, referenda on mandatory pork and beef checkoffs and negotiation of fair trade agreements.
Chief among these proposals is a call from family farmers for a new farm bill that provides a fair, open and competitive market and a fair price for their commodities. Specific recommendations include establishing non-recourse loans at near cost of production levels to ensure that farm income is derived from the marketplace and not from taxpayers, creating farmer-owned reserves to ensure food security, and maintaining planting flexibility.
Rhonda Perry, a Missouri hog farmer and member of the Missouri Rural Crisis Center who is scheduled to speak during the rally activities, says it is not enough for Congress and the president to say they support farmers. The government must take real actions that will significantly improve economic conditions in farm country.
"Family farmers know what they need to survive, and we've put together a comprehensive agenda that outlines those requirements," said Perry. "This rally shouldn't be seen by lawmakers as an opportunity to shore up the farm vote by spouting rhetoric and empty promises. We need real action now. It's time for politicians to stop paying lip service to rural America and start putting an effective plan in place for our long-term survival."
Farmers' determination to reform federal policy is already yielding results. Late last month, independent pork producers won a significant victory when U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman ordered the USDA to conduct a referendum on the mandatory pork checkoff. The decision came as a result of the successful petition drive led by hog farmers in the Campaign for Family Farms who say the mandatory tax is used to promote factory farms and corporate concentration in the hog industry.
"USDA must be accountable to not only those who are forced to petition our government on the checkoffs, but to all farmers seeking access to and fair treatment within all USDA programs," said Ralph Paige, executive director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund and a speaker at the rally. "Neither discriminatory practices nor indifference by USDA can be tolerated. A change in direction is necessary to promote true diversity in agricultural production and ensure truly sustainable farms and rural communities."
Family farmer and National Family Farm Coalition President Bill Christison will speak on behalf of family farmers at the Tuesday rally. He says the farmers' five-point plan will be the core of his message.
"It's time for the federal government to enact a new farm bill that works for family farmers, not the expansion of factory farms and the increasing corporate concentration in our food system. Short-term fixes don't work for family farmers, our rural communities or for taxpayers. We still have the opportunity to change direction in federal agriculture policy. The time for action is now," Christison said.
Specifically, the policy agenda for rural America would:
1) Immediately pass a new farm bill that will:
Establish non-recourse loans at near cost of production levels to ensure that farm income comes from the marketplace and not from taxpayers. Enact short-term conservation measures to avoid wasteful over-production. Create a farmer-owned reserve to ensure food security in times of scarcity and price stability in times of plenty. Maintain planting flexibility. Establish national dairy policy to ensure a farmer's cost of production plus a return on investment.
2) Restore competition to the marketplace through strict enforcement of anti-trust law.
Place a moratorium on mergers and acquisitions in agribusiness, transportation, food processing manufacturing and retail companies. Require a strict enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act to end price discrimination. Enact a ban on packer ownership of livestock.
3) Protect consumers and the environment.
Require labeling of meat and other foods imported into the U.S. to give consumers the right to know and choose the country of origin of their food. Stop the expansion of large-scale factory farms. Protect environmentally fragile lands and habitats.
4) Hold referenda on the mandatory pork and beef checkoffs as petitioned by independent producers.
5) Negotiate fair trade agreements.
Ensure that all countries retain the right to develop farm programs that respond to the needs of their farmers and consumers. Put an end to export dumping (the sale of commodities below the cost of production), that undermines our domestic economy. Ensure that environmental protection, fair wages and worker rights are part of every trade agreement.
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The release of the five-point farm policy agenda is being coordinated by the following groups: Farm Aid; National Family Farm Coalition; Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment; Land Stewardship Project; Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy; Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement; Missouri Rural Crisis Center; Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund; Campaign to Reclaim Rural America.:
