For Immediate Release
Contact: Laura Zaks
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net
Release: Groups Share Bipartisan Principles for 2023 Farm Bill
Letter Calls on Members of Congress to Promote Farmer and Taxpayer-friendly Reforms
Washington, DC, November 29, 2022 – Today, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), R Street Institute, Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS), and U.S. PIRG released a joint set of farm bill reform principles in preparation for the 2023 Farm Bill reauthorization.
“NSAC is grateful for our partners who recognize that this is a pivotal moment to support farmers, especially beginning, diverse, and socially disadvantaged farmers most frequently left out of farm programs.” said Billy Hackett, Policy Specialist. “We must also steward a more responsible and responsive use of public dollars which creates returns on consumer investment, including production of more nutrient-dense foods.”
This joint letter represents an emerging consensus that the next farm bill must promote on-farm resilience through the adoption of proven conservation and soil health practices, rather than continue to fuel dependence on federal farm subsidies. This shared goal can be reached with the adoption of reforms which are: cost-effective, transparent, sensible, responsive, fair, and simplified.
“US food and agriculture policies are in need of reform,” NSAC and partners wrote in their letter to Members of Congress. “Some of the country’s largest agricultural operations receive unlimited subsidies while beginning farmers struggle to afford land. Crop prices recently rose to record highs, but challenging input costs – for everything from fuel to fertilizer – are eating away at profits. Food supply and inflation challenges continue to make headlines. Meanwhile, children go to bed hungry while one-third of food is wasted.”
“These principles will be a north star as we advance needed structural reforms in a divided Congress,” said Hackett. “NSAC is proud to continue our long tradition of working with Republicans, Democrats, and all members of Congress who share the goal of advancing the sustainability of agriculture, food systems, natural resources, and rural communities.”
View the full set of “Principles for Common Sense Reform” for the 2023 farm bill here.
###
About the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is a grassroots alliance that advocates for federal policy reform supporting the long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability of agriculture, natural resources, and rural communities. Learn more and get involved at: https://sustainableagriculture.net