Help Reform U.S. Farm Policy and Help Small Farmers Worldwide
Every five years, the United States Congress examines and makes major modifications to the nation’s farm policy. This is the time when congress modifies subsidies, loan policies, and the like. 2007 is one of those years.
Most of us have heard of the subsidies, and have been taught that they help farmers, and control prices. What we never hear on the telly is that most farmers don’t receive subsidies. They actually help impoverish small farmers.
From Kenneth Galloway, of ONE.org:
The Farm Bill has been around for decades, and there is a widely held misconception that it is beneficial to farmers like myself. The truth is that the top 8% of big business farms receive over half of the subsidies, and more than half of all farmers receive nothing. As a result, small farmers aren’t able to compete. If we can change this, millions of small farmers around the world can have an opportunity to work their way out of extreme poverty.
But to overcome an entrenched law like this, we are going to need to spread awareness, pressure the media to pay attention to it, and let our elected leaders know that we want it to change.
The best way to do all of these is by writing a letter to the editor.
You can help by writing to your local newspapers. Please visit ONE.org, and use their guide to writing a letter to the editor.
Visit ONE.org for more information.
Tags: small+farmer farm+bill farm+subsidies poverty
