Level the Playing Field for Family Farms

Posted on August 1, 2021 by Taylor in Farming Resources, Policy, Politics // 0 Comments

Level the Playing Field for Family Farms

Guest Post by Levi Teitel – Rural Communications Coordinator with Project Michigan

When most new farmers decide to start farming, the most common barriers you tend to hear revolve around things like technical knowledge, capital investment, and finding land. But you don’t often hear about how federal policy can impact beginning farmers’ barrier to entry. Even though agriculture depends on having solid laws on the books to thrive, for too long our elected officials have neglected providing the resources family farmers––not corporate mega-farms––need to do their jobs. This has resulted in decades in underinvestment, particularly in rural communities, which has then further cemented inequality and corporate power in this country.

Giving corporations hand-outs at the state and federal level has concentrated their power and political influence to an unacceptable degree. It has extracted wealth and resources, driven small businesses and family farmers out of business, and exploited vulnerable workers. And most heavily impacted have been the Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Asian residents of rural communities who have been shut out of the process, including in agriculture, through systemic racism and discrimination.

The ability to have a secure livelihood without insurmountable risk and barriers to entry is so important to continue attracting new farmers. That’s why the reforms listed in the 2021 Rural Policy Action Report would be beneficial to preserving young and diverse talent in agriculture while making sure they can thrive economically. That includes:

Increasing 10-fold the budget of programs that support local food systems and setting aside funds for priority communities. Programs like the Local Agriculture Marketing Program, small scale meat processing grants and community food system projects require sufficient investment. No longer should there be competitive grants processes that put smaller organizations at a greater disadvantage––new players must enter the field.
Strengthening the rural credit system and family farms. The Farm Credit System should put greater emphasis on grants and loans to support rural small business, mid-tier food system businesses and young, beginning or historically underserved farmers and ranchers. Additionally, Congress should pass the “Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act” to reform commodity checkoff programs and de-fund corporate agribusiness lobbying groups that oppose policies which harm rural communities, independent farmers, ranchers, and working people.
Ensuring that communities of color are directly involved in all parts of government decisions and implementations, especially in regards to agriculture policy, infrastructure projects, and agency rulemaking. One framework that needs attention is the “Justice for Black Farmers Act” which would establish a federal land grant program for a new generation of Black farmers to succeed after years of historic discrimination from the USDA, while also expanding access to credit. Moreover, tribal governments deserve equality and fairness when it comes to federal programs, including in economic development, food systems, and infrastructure.
Acknowledging the dignity of migrant workers. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act as well as the “Fairness For Farmworker’s Act” create basic labor condition requirements and protections for wages and other rights, as well as changing the temporary agricultural worker program to provide a pathway to citizenship.

For each of these reforms, there is an opportunity to address widening disparities in agriculture, nutrition, and our economic well-being while benefiting family farms. Thriving rural communities will ensure that farming remains prosperous across the country and beginning agriculturalists will be better off because of that. It’s time for rural communities to have the resources they need instead of allowing corporations to eliminate opportunity and extract wealth from them.

If we can level the playing field for family farms at the national level, we can allow local communities to grow and new farmers to feel secure enough to start farming. Policymakers must acknowledge this and take action to help correct these historic and current wrongdoings.