The Farm Bill - The Time to Act is NOW
Take 10 minutes to click and call; fight hunger at home & abroad

When a bill that could help both small farmers in the U.S. and people in poor countries trying to grow food and feed their people instead is poised to continue to hurt them, it's up to us to say, "NO MORE!" ... and that's what we're asking you to do -- with one, loud voice.

The Farm Bill is the focus of the Episcopal Church's advocacy efforts this year because it sets U.S. government agriculture and food policy for the next five years. It's in desparate need of reform -- and so far our cries have not been heard. Here's the situation:

As it's structured now, the Farm Bill continues an unjust and immoral status quo. It provides commodity subsidies -- U.S. government payments that guarantee a base price for a crop -- to a small number of primarily large-scale farms while the majority of farm families and rural communities are left behind.

This benefit -- 75 percent of which goes to the top 10 percent of producers -- has a ripple effect that goes far beyond the small farmer being cut out of the loop. Here's what happens.

1) Because the government is paying the big producers per acre to produce a crop (let's say, cotton), they produce more than they should.

2) Now you have too much cotton -- more than Americans want to buy -- so the big U.S. producers "dump" it on the world market.

3) Because the world market is supply-and-demand, an oversupply means the price of cotton goes way down globally.

4) The poor farmer in Mali, who is depending on getting a decent price for his cotton just to break even, gets undercut and either can't sell his product or even if he can sell it, still sinks deeper into poverty.

All year, a remarkable alliance of faith groups and anti-poverty advocates that includes Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, Protestants, Evangelicals, Bread for the World, Oxfam, and the ONE Campaign has been working hard to reform this bill in committee -- that effort failed. The bill left committee and is now going in front of the full House -- where it is absolutely critical changes are made lest we face five more years of agricultural policy that makes the poor poorer in the U.S. and around the world.

There is hope -- the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment is being offered in the house (read about it here). We must do all we can to make sure this amendment passes.

What Can One Person Do?

CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE RIGHT NOW! We need every member of the House to be flooded with calls from people saying this unjust and immoral status quo cannot stand and to support the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment. It's easy:

1. Click here to find out who your representative is.
2, Call the Capitol switchboard (1. 800. 826. 3288) and ask to be connected to your representative's office.
3. Tell him/her the House Agriculture Committee's version of the farm bill does little to change the inequities of farm payments and it must be amended and that you want them to support the Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment.
You can find additional information and talking points from EPPN and Bread for the World.

You must call by NOON on THURSDAY to guarantee your voice is heard on time. So call NOW.
Also...
EMAIL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE RIGHT NOW! Click here to send an email urging Farm Bill reform through the Episcopal Public Policy Network.
Because so many people are on vacation, each call and email is critical. It only takes 10 minutes now and help poor farmers at home and abroad.