A Time of Crisis is a Time to Speak Up

A Time of Crisis is a Time to Speak Up

We at Roots of Change are focused on this dramatic moment in our food system. It is time to make our voices heard. The headlines are full of disturbing news. Cyclospora in industrially-bagged lettuce has sickened over 10,000 people. Cuts to SNAP are increasing nutrition insecurity. The fewest number of cattle in the nation since the early 1950s has kept beef prices at record highs. The recent decision on beef imports will harm American ranchers while aiding middle men and the imports are unlikely to lower consumer prices. At the same time drought, extreme heat, wind, rains, and wildfires are negatively impacting crops and livestock. Diesel and fertilizer prices and interest rates are all extremely high eroding agricultural profits. Farm debt has reached an historic high of $460 billion and the number of farm bankruptcies are skyrocketing. Farm and ranch land are being lost to AI’s datacenter demands and declining water supplies. High prices, low profits, disasters, and bankruptcy are the signs of a seriously distressed system.

Despite this real farm crisis, Congress cannot enact legislation to bring relief because there is no longer consensus on how our food policy should work, who should benefit. Should it be the largest 10% of farms or the mid and small scale? Should we ensure people can afford to eat or allow the wealthiest among us to pay less tax? Should oligopolies be allowed to keep farm prices low and consumer prices high? Should we provide incentives to increase ecological health and resilience on our working lands or subsidize flawed crop insurance and harmful ethanol production? Conflict over these and more questions has logjammed Congress.

This indicates we may be entering a time when fundamental change is possible. I hope so. But I feel a change will require the loud voices of the American people to lead our policy makers to a better approach.

Congress needs to know we want a fairer distribution of public funds. Today the largest 12% of farms currently receive 80% of public support. This is unfair. The 88% of mid and small-scale farms should receive that 80% of public funds. We want local food systems to increase supply chain resilience and economic activity in rural communities. We want robust food as medicine programs to prevent disease, not just treat it, and a strong food safety program that prevents large outbreaks of food borne illness. We want our kids to eat organic, local fresh food, and to receive nutrition education that helps them develop a diversified pallet, and healthy eating habits. We want federal and state programs that provide farmers and ranchers with fulsome support for adopting the most science-backed, ecologically smart production practices, and insurance subsidies that are highest for the most responsible producers and lowest for those refusing to evolve. Those are the goals of a sound food policy, not the corporate welfare for ultra-processed food manufactures that exists now.

Write your Congressmembers and Senators and tell them what you want. In this election season they might actually listen.

Image: Rally in front of the state capitol in Sacramento.