[Watch] Farm Bill 101: What the 2023 Farm Bill means for Minnesota

Watch the recording of the March 1, 2023 webinar above. Download the webinar slides here. 

Every five years, the United States Congress works on the nation's most important farm, food and nutrition policy: The Farm Bill. The bill sets the direction for the country's food system, from farm to the fork. The Farm Bill has a tremendous impact on farmers’ livelihoods, access to food, and support for sustainable farming and conservation efforts. Here in Minnesota, where agriculture is the cornerstone of our economy, the Farm Bill impacts the lives of all who live in our state — even if you have never heard of it!

In the leadup to the 2023 Farm Bill negotiations, community-rooted Minnesota farm and food systems organizations are working to make sure that Farm Bill policies and programs: increase financial and capacity investments in infrastructure, small and mid-size processing and market development statewide; Enable land access and farm viability for emerging farmers; leverage Minnesota agriculture to create positive climate and ecosystem impact; and link nutrition and food access needs to Minnesota agricultural producers.

Cohosts the MinneAg Network, Partners to End Hunger, MN Food Justice Network and the Land Stewardship Project share more about the Farm Bill, its implications for Minnesota’s farmers and eaters, and how you can get involved to influence the outcome of the 2023 bill. The presentation was followed by a Q&A session. 

Watch the recording for the following:

• An overview of the Farm Bill, including the process and timeline for the 2023 Farm Bill and a breakdown of MN Farm Bill players — Sarah Goldman, Organizer, Regional Food Systems and Federal Policy, Policy Department, Land Stewardship Project
• An overview of Farm Bill funding for antihunger and recent changes to SNAP benefit funding — Colleen Moriarty, Executive Director, Hunger Solutions
• An overview of how the Farm Bill intersects with climate and conservation, and how you can engage with the Farm Bill as a Minnesotan — Michael Happ, Program Associate for Climate and Rural Communities, IATP

Presenters

• Moderator: Erin McKee, Community Food Systems Program Director, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) 
• Michael Happ, Program Associate for Climate and Rural Communities, IATP
• Sarah Goldman, Organizer, Regional Food Systems and Federal Policy, Policy Department, Land Stewardship Project
• Colleen Moriarty, Executive Director, Hunger Solutions

Webinar Slides

Download the slides here. 

Additional Resource 

• Land Stewardship Project's farm bill platform and landing page.
• NSAC Farm Bill Landing Page.
• Congressional Research Service Farm Bill Primer.
• FRAC Farm Bill Primer.
• Congressional Research Service Farm Bill Primer.  
• Overview from the national Farm Bureau.
• IATP Farm Bill landing page.
• A preview of Farm Bill dynamics this year provided by Monument Advocacy.
• IATP’s new report, Still Closed Out: More progress needed to connect farmers with federal conservation programs, on conservation program funding.
• A directory of House and Senate Ag committee members with some background on each person and staff information provided by Monument Advocacy.
• New/emerging farmers advocacy.
• Resource on the hunger/nutrition part of the Farm Bill.
• A helpful resource for organic policy from the Swette Center for Sustainabile Food Systems at Arizona State University.