CO-SPONSORS STILL NEEDED FOR FARM BILL LEGISLATION

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) urges proponents of sustainable agriculture to ask your congressional representatives to co-sponsor two pieces of legislation that can help set the tone for the 2012 Farm Bill debate.  Congress is expected to pick up their work on a new Farm Bill soon with Senate hearings to start in February.  We now have a prime opportunity to amplify our voices and push for legislation that includes some of sustainable agriculture’s conservation, local food, beginning farmer, and organic priorities.

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act

Ask your two Senators and Representative Co-sponsor the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act (BFROA) of 2011.  According to NSAC, BFROA would

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Congressional Recess = Opportunity to Meet with Your Representatives in D.C.

Here’s one very effective way to have a grassroots impact on federal policy:  hold meetings with key decision-makers right in your state (Senate) and congressional district (House).  It makes sense.  You don't have to fly constituents out to Washington, D.C.; they're nearby. The winter recess is coming up - January and February offer many opportunities to schedule a meeting (See the schedule below).

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Action Still Needed on Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act

Good news!  The Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act, introduced on Nov. 1 by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME-1), now has 53 House and 6 Senate co-sponsors.  More co-sponsors are still needed to make a greater impact.  

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) is asking citizens to urge their Senators and Representatives to sign onto this bill.  The more support that grows for this bill’s provisions, the greater likelihood that important pieces of this legislation will be put into the next Farm Bill. 

This bill is for all Americans, rural and urban.  It maintains funding for programs with proven track records in the next farm bill cycle.  Most importantly, it boosts farm income and creates jobs.

To take action, here is what you can do:

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Organizational Support Needed for Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) is collecting names of organizations that support the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act.  Sponsored by Representative Chellie Pingree and Senator Sherrod Brown, this legislation will improve federal farm bill programs that support local and regional farm and food systems.  It will help farmers and ranchers engaged in local and regional agriculture by addressing production, aggregation, processing, marketing, and distribution needs and will also assist consumers by improving access to healthy food and direct and retail markets.  And of utmost importance, this legislation will provide more secure funding for critically important programs that support family farms, expand new farming opportunities, and invest in the local agriculture economy.

NSAC and other supporters will be talking to federal legislators about the bill over the next few weeks and lobbying for their support.  It is useful for them to have a list of organizational supporters during this process.  If your organization would like to be listed, go to the link below:

Click on this link and fill out the required information correctly to have your organization listed

The original deadline for listing organizations was November 2 at 4 pm EDT, but do not hesitate to add your organization after the deadline - it will still be extremely useful.

To see an earlier action alert with further details about the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act, please visit this link.

Sign Up for NSAC Action Alerts

As Congressional action that will shape federal support for sustainable food and farm policies heats up, you can have action alerts from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition sent to you as they are released.