For Immediate Release
Contact Laura Zaks
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)
lzaks@sustainableagriculture.net
Release: Farmer Letter in Support of Agriculture Resilience Act Delivered to Bill Sponsor Representative Pingree
Washington, DC, April 21, 2023 – Yesterday, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) delivered to Representative Pingree (D-ME) a letter in support of the Agriculture Resilience Act. Signed by over 1,000 farmers from 48 states and Puerto Rico, the letter outlines the fundamental threat that climate change presents to agriculture. However, it also points to the ways in which agriculture offers solutions to climate change.
“Through its support for agriculture research, conservation, pasture-based livestock, farmland preservation and viability, on-farm renewable energy, and managing food loss and waste, the Agriculture Resilience Act invests in reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions,” said Cathy Day, Climate Policy Coordinator. “The investments provide farmer-led and incentive-based assistance for farmers to adopt the most well-researched farm climate solutions.“
You can watch the video of a mother-daughter team of climate activist farmers from Broadfork Farm as they tell Representative Pingree their reasons for supporting the Agriculture Resilience Act.
Sylvie Aardema-Gagnon (15 years old) and her mother, Janet Aardema discussed some of the reasons that they support the ARA:
“I care not only about agriculture because I personally grew up on a farm,” said Sylvie Aardema-Gagnon, “but also because I know that humans need food to survive, and so we need policies and government to help and support farmers to do that.“
Janet Aardema added, “As farmers we know that our job is to constantly adapt, and we know that very few variables on our farm are actually in our control. But climate change has pushed this demand on farmers too far to navigate alone. . .. So, this [support for farmers], in combination with bold policy shifts to curb all emissions, depends on the inclusion of the Agriculture Resilience Act in the 2023 Farm Bill. I am honored to represent these 1,192 farmers and ranchers in delivering the NSAC Farmer Climate Letter.“
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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