in this section: TAKE ACTION - Contact your US Congress Members

UPDATE - 2/1/2012

A Real Chance to Reform the Farm Bill

For the first time in decades, there is legislation in Congress that would make comprehensive reforms to the federal Farm Bill.  We have a chance to make history.

Back in October, two Senators and two House members attempted to write a new five-year Farm Bill in complete secrecy, without input from the public.  Their goal was to plug this ‘black box’ Farm Bill into the huge deficit reduction bill created (also behind closed doors) by the so-called Congressional Super Committee. 

Now that the Super Committee has failed to agree on a budget, the normal, open process for a new Farm Bill is back on track for next year, and our community will have a fair chance to influence this critical legislation. 

Let’s not waste the moment!

Two bills in Congress comprehensively address the needs of local and regional food systems, organic agriculture, and new and beginning farmers.  These bills, the Local Farms, Food and Jobs Act (bill no. HR 3286 in the House of Representatives, S 1773 in the Senate) and the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act (HR 3236/S 1850), together would make huge strides in reforming the Farm Bill. 


TAKE ACTION
Rep. Mike McIntyre of North Carolina has already signed on as a co-sponsor of both bills!  Call his office to thank him at 202-225-2731. Rep. David Price has signed on to the Local Farms, Food and Jobs Act.

Call your Senators and Representative today and ask them to sign-on to both bills! 

> You can find the contact info for your Congressmembers here: http://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/alert_congress.shtml.

> For detailed information about both bills, visit the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s Beginning Farm Bill and Local Food Bill pages.

The campaign to change the 2012 Farm Bill starts now!  Thank you for taking action today!