On August 30, NSAC and 43 other other organizations in the Campaign for a Renewed Rural Development sent a letter to Capitol Hill regarding the importance to rural America of renewing the Farm Bill this year.

In the letter, the 44 organizations urged the House of Representatives to bring the Farm Bill to a vote in early September because a simple extension of the 2008 bill would end mandatory funding for rural development, renewable energy and beginning farmer and rancher programs.

The letter also encouraged the Senate and House Agriculture Committee leadership to boost rural development farm bill spending beyond the levels in the current versions of the bill.  The letter also urges the inclusion of key rural development policy changes, including pending provisions for improved program evaluation, streamlined application processes, and local and regional food system emphases.

Check out an earlier post to learn about the harmful implications of a Farm Bill extension.