Sanders on the Farm Bill?

[Recursion]

Hey all,

I'm an O'Malley supporter but just trying to collect info on all the candidates. Has Sanders talked about where he stands on the Farm Bill?

Thanks!

[think]

1. He is out standing in his field :) But seriously here's some info

Bernie Sanders on Agriculture

Bernie Sanders recognizes the need for sustainable agriculture and access to healthy food and education for working families. By supporting legislation that invests in family farms, affordable nutrition, and protecting consumers and immigrant workers, Bernie has made positive changes to one of our country’s most vital industries.


Family Farming: Bernie helped pass legislation that helped prevent the closure of family-owned farms, including The Agricultural Act of 2014 (the “Farm Bill”).

Affordable Nutrition: Bernie has supported Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and a diverse array of other nutrition-impacting pieces of legislation.

Immigration Reform: Most farm workers are immigrants. Bernie supports immigration reform to ensure people who work and contribute to our economy don’t have to live in the shadows.

GMOs: Bernie supports allowing states to require labels on foods containing “genetically modified organisms” (GMOs) based on the consumer’s right-to-know, but does not believe that GMOs are necessarily bad.

Family Farming

Bernie has a long track record of supporting family farms and bolstering U.S. agriculture.

How big is family farming in the United States?

According to the USDA, 97 percent of U.S. farms are family owned & operated and accounted for 87 percent of the value of crop production.

How does family farming differ from other farming?

Most farming doesn’t benefit greatly from economies of scale, and local knowledge gleaned by these farmers over generations of farming practice help them produce safe and affordable food for millions of Americans.

Are small family farms better for the economy?

Family farming has a major impact on local economies, especially in rural areas. Farmers tend to buy feed and fuel from local sources, use community banks, and sell to local markets. The United Nations recognizes the importance of family farms and declared 2014 the National Year of Farming, crediting small farms with the ability to contribute to food security and reduce poverty.

What about the environment?

Family farms are more resilient to climate change due to their greater genetic diversity, local knowledge, and likelihood of using livestock and crop breeds suited to the local environment. Their success is directly related to safe, sustainable practices and preserving land and water resources. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, for these farms “land, water, biodiversity, and soils are not only means of production, but a long-term investment that needs to be nurtured.” Moreover, family-farming practices are more efficient and adaptable to climate change.

OK, so what should I know? Is there a problem?

Many family farms are struggling economically and are being forced to close. For example, the demand for low in-store prices that don’t cover production costs have forced about 50 percent of Vermont’s dairy farms to close in only ten years. Additional threats include the criminalization of seed sharing as a result of free trade agreements, limited access to viable land, impacts of climate change, and reduction of government support that often aims to assimilate small farms into bigger organizations.

How has Bernie helped farmers?

As a senator, Bernie has been active in keeping family farms in business, fighting for fair prices for goods and encouraging access to healthy, local food. He has fought particularly hard for Vermont’s dairy farms, supporting numerous bills for their aid including the Farm Bill of 2014 — an effort to stabilize these farms by helping them manage risk and produce more efficiently. He has encouraged schools to use local products in meal programs and advocated for farmers markets. Bernie also supports the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act of 2011, a bill that would expand and improve opportunities for beginning farmers and ranchers as well as institute several responsible environmental provisions

http://feelthebern.org/bernie-sanders-on-agriculture/

Sen. Sanders believes that small, family farms are fundamentally important for Vermont and America as a whole. In his years representing the Green Mountain State, Sen. Sanders has worked to promote Vermont’s dairy industry, sustainable and organic farming, and good nutrition for every American.

On February 7, 2014 the Farm Bill was signed into law, which set the nation’s agricultural policy for the next five years. This law brings greater stability to Vermont dairy farmers by helping them to manage risks and produce products more efficiently.

The bill encourages increased access to healthy, local foods and will build on a growing movement in Vermont which has created agriculture jobs and provided local food for Vermonters. The bill also includes a provision to help low-income seniors shop at farmers’ markets and roadside stands that are popular across Vermont. While Sen. Sanders was very disappointed that this bill made $8.6 billion in cuts over the next decade to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, he was very pleased that Governor Shumlin and the Vermont State Legislature worked to prevent cuts in food stamps for Vermont families and seniors receiving home heating assistance.

Dairy

Sen. Sanders strongly believes that the dairy industry is a vital part of the fabric of Vermont’s communities and a central part of the state’s rural economy. He is committed to ensuring that dairy farmers receive a fair price for the milk they produce. As part of the implementation of the 2014 Farm Bill, USDA is in the process of developing the Margin Protection Program, and producers can begin to sign up for the program beginning September 2, 2014. For more information on the program, the USDA’s Farm Service Agency has set up a Margin Protection Program page, which can be accessed here.

Local Food

Sen. Sanders is proud of Vermont farmers’ pioneering work in the local and sustainable food movement. He has successfully advocated making local food part of school lunches and nutrition assistance programs. Sen. Sanders strongly supports farmers’ markets, value added agriculture, and agri-tourism.

Genetically Modified Food

Sen. Sanders supports the rights of consumers to know what is in their food. In 2013, Sen. Sanders introduced an amendment to the Farm Bill affirming states’ rights to require labeling of genetically engineered ingredients. During the debate, he noted that “All over this country, people are becoming more conscious about the foods they are eating and the foods they are serving to their kids, and this is certainly true for genetically engineered foods…I believe that when a mother goes to the store and purchases food for her child, she has the right to know what she is feeding her child”

Nutrition

Sen. Sanders strongly supports access to good nutrition for every American. With unemployment, under-employment, and low wages plaguing the middle class, many working families rely on nutrition assistance to make ends meet. Sen. Sanders believes that “it is unconscionable that the federal government would cut back on food and nutrition assistance to states as our nation struggles to recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression.”

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/legislation/issue/dairy-and-agriculture

[Recursion]

2. Thanks! (nt)

[Recursion]

3. BTW great joke

I love that.

[think]

4. Thank you. I hope the information is helpful.

[Recursion]

5. Definitely. Thanks! (nt)

[swilton]

6. Anecdotally

I heard him discuss places where he could see budget cuts. Of course he mentioned the DoD and MIC. He also said as an aside that he thought that there could be more cuts to USDA and investments in small family farms.