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Tag Archives: United States farm bill
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Farm Bill Countdown
Farm Bill Countdown
The clock is ticking on Congress’ latest attempt to pass a Farm Bill. We have just 173 days until the current extension expires. By taking action, you are joining others who are keeping up the pressure on Congress to pass the Farm Bill.
Take Action Today!
Tell Congress to Support the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act
It sounds like simple advice: “Eat your fruits and veggies.” But it’s not so easy. Our country spends too much money subsidizing crops like corn and soybeans that get turned into processed junk food, instead of expanding access to foods that are healthier for us and the planet.
Now we have the chance to begin to reorient how our federal dollars are spent.
The Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act—a proposal to improve the federal Farm Bill—will encourage greater production of sustainably produced fruits, vegetables, meats, and other healthy foods; make these foods more accessible for all individuals; and stimulate local economies. The bill will also expand access to healthy food for all consumers by improving the ability for families and seniors to use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits at farmers markets and other outlets for local, healthy foods. Our analysis shows that these programs can create jobs and encourage healthier eating.
Tell your members of Congress to cosponsor the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act!
Take Action Today!
Sincerely, 
Jenn Yates National Field Organizer Food & Environment Program Union of Concerned Scientists
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Pass the Farm Bill
Tell Congress to Pass a Healthy Farm Bill
Farmers growing healthy food items such as organic milk often face hurdles that others do not. Congress is past overdue in passing legislation that would address these imbalances. Tell Congress you want a Farm Bill that invests in organic dairy & healthy-food farmers, NOW!
A Farm Bill for Organic Dairy & Healthy-Food Farmers 
Imagine this: billions of taxpayer dollars support the production of unhealthy processed foods and sugary drinks, while farmers supplying healthier items such as organic milk are overlooked or even penalized. Worse, despite an overdue and ticking timeline, Congress is sitting on its hands instead of passing legislation to address these imbalances.
Sound like a bad dream? Unfortunately, it’s reality—but it doesn’t have to be.
Recent reports from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) showed how smarter agriculture policies can help farmers grow more of the healthy fruits and vegetables we need and boost local economies along the way. Now, a new UCS study, Cream of the Crop: The Economic Benefits of Organic Dairy Farms, reveals that public investment in organic dairy farmers would pay off in multiple ways. In addition to producing a healthier product and safeguarding the environment, organic dairy farms generate greater economic opportunity and more jobs in rural communities compared with conventional dairies.
But current agriculture policy favors big polluting CAFOs (confined animal feed operations) over organic dairy farms. And because Congress has failed to act on the now-overdue 2012 Farm Bill—the 5-year legislative package that shapes U.S. agriculture—the limited programs that currently help organic dairy farmers are at risk.
We can change this, but we need quick action. Tell Congress: pass a Farm Bill—one that calls for investments in organic dairies and other healthy-food farmers—NOW.
Sincerely, 
Ashley Elles National Field Organizer UCS Food and Environment Program
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Call Congress: Protect food stamps and family farms …Rashad Robinson, ColorOfChange.org
Congress wants to cut food stamps — but keep subsidizing Big Agribusiness?
Demand a Farm Bill that fully funds critical nutrition assistance programs and protects Black family farms.
Since last week, you and over 33,000 ColorOfChange members urged the U.S. Congress to protect healthy food, hungry people, and struggling family farmers. The Congress is likely to vote this week to finalize the text of the 2012 Farm Bill. Amending the bill now is crucial to ensuring that our families — on the farm and off — will continue to be able to put enough food on the table even in the toughest of times.
The current version of the bill would give billions in wasteful subsidies to Big Agribusiness, while cutting critical food programs. Can you make a call urging your Representative to support an amended Farm Bill that fully funds SNAP and safeguards livelihoods for Black family farmers? A personal call is a really powerful way to make a statement, and it only takes a moment:
http://act.colorofchange.org/call/farmbill_calls_house/
The 2501 Program and SNAP provide necessary resources to improve equity for Black farmers as well as ensure access to healthy food and vegetables for our families. Congress should prioritize safeguarding human lives and livelihoods over pandering to huge agribusiness corporations that don’t need the help. Join us in urging Congress to fully fund those portions of the Farm Bill that our community relies on the most. And when you do, please ask your friends and family to do the same:
http://act.colorofchange.org/call/farmbill_calls_house/
Thanks and Peace,
— Rashad, Gabriel, Dani, Matt, Natasha, Kim, Aimée and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team July 9th, 2012
Help support our work. ColorOfChange.org is powered by YOU—your energy and dollars. We take no money from lobbyists or large corporations that don’t share our values, and our tiny staff ensures your contributions go a long way. You can contribute here:
http://www.colorofchange.org/donate
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Register for the Webinar Today! UCS
Join Our Webinar to Learn about the Farm Bill
What does the Farm Bill have to do with you? The answer to that question is simple: a lot. The Union of Concerned Scientists is hosting a webinar to help you learn why, with the inside scoop from our experts.
Toward Healthy Food and Farms: How Science-Based Policies in the 2012 Farm Bill Can Transform Agriculture
Date: Thursday, June 14
Time: 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST (11:00 a.m.-noon PST)
Register for the Webinar Today!
When you’re grocery shopping, do you ever wonder why corn chips and sugary drinks cost less than carrots and squash? In large part, it’s because government policies make the wrong foods cheaper and more abundant. UCS analysis shows that practical changes to agricultural policies can shift priorities to provide greater support to healthier food and farms instead of subsidizing unhealthy, processed foods.
Congress is currently working to finalize the Farm Bill, and while we’ve seen some good changes, they’re not enough. And the chance to change these policies comes just once every five years!
The webinar will cover the latest Farm Bill news from Capitol Hill, followed by an overview of UCS analysis showing that support for local food can benefit the economy and our health. Finally, we’ll share how you can take effective action now to urge Congress to support healthy and sustainable food production in the 2012 Farm Bill.
Time is ticking down for us to encourage a healthy and sustainable food system, so register for the webinar today!
Sincerely,
Jenn Yates
National Field Organizer
UCS Food & Environment Program
Be a Seed for Change 
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