National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition releases 2012 farm bill platform

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition has released its comprehensive 2012 farm bill policy platform, Farming for the Future: A Sustainable Agriculture Agenda for the 2012 Food & Farm Bill.

With a round of Senate Agriculture Committee hearings complete and House Agriculture Committee field hearings underway, Congress is hard at work writing a new farm bill. Meanwhile, the perfect storm of economic, environmental, and health crises currently gripping our nation demands decisive farm policy reform that will ensure a sustainable future for American agriculture. Adoption of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s 2012 farm bill platform will expand opportunities for family farmers to produce good food, sustain the environment, and contribute to vibrant communities.

“Congress should not delay the adoption of a new farm and food bill.  It needs to do its job, this year, on time,” according to Susan Prolman, NSAC Executive Director. “The new bill, though, should be comprehensive and forward-looking, not a rush job that ignores the big issues in favor of short-term expediency.”

Farming for the Future spans nearly every title in the farm bill and reflects a comprehensive approach to farm policy reform that will:

• Create jobs and spur economic growth through food and farms.
• Invest in the future of American agriculture.
• Enhance our natural resources and improve agricultural productivity.
• Drive innovation for tomorrow’s farmers and food entrepreneurs.
• Make healthy food widely available today and for generations to come.  

This platform is the culmination of two years of policy work with a broad, diverse coalition of over 90 grassroots organizations from across the country. It reflects the real, urgent needs of farmers, ranchers, and food entrepreneurs across the country.

“Slow job recovery, a rapidly aging farm population, accelerating erosion and nutrient pollution, and atrophied regional food infrastructure can be viewed as a crisis or an opportunity,” said Prolman. “Done right, a new farm bill can be part of the solution, putting in place building blocks for a more sustainable future of thriving farms, healthy food, and strong communities.”  

The platform can be viewed online here.  

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.