A Simple Way to Support Farmers' Markets

- Elizabeth Krautscheid

It's time for Congress to reauthorize the Farm Bill. If you've heard of the Farm Bill, you probably know it as the law that subsidizes large Midwestern corn and soybean farms. What you might not realize is that it is also the vehicle for policies relating to nutrition, farmers' markets, and rural development.

The Farm Bill is a federal law that is authorized for 5 years at a time, and it's time for the 2007-2012 authorization. Historically, the Farm Bill has mostly assisted industrial-scale farming, but the current version has several provisions that will benefit the kinds of small farms we have in Massachusetts. The Farm Bill contains funding for the promotion of farmers' markets (much-needed money for a market like ours!), the preservation of agricultural land, and for nutrition education in schools.

What can you do? Please write to Senator Kennedy and/or Senator Kerry and ask them to support the handful of initiatives in the Farm Bill that will benefit New England agriculture and farmers' markets.

Senator Ted Kennedy
317 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
P- 202-224-4543
senator@kennedy.senate.gov

Senator John Kerry
304 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
P- 202-224-8525
john_kerry@kerry.senate.gov