The Food & Farm Bill is the primary piece of legislation that determines our nation’s food and agriculture policies. It has reaches into every aspect of our food system, from production to distribution. Since we all need food to survive, no one is immune to the force behind these policies.

About every five years, the Farm Bill (as it’s more commonly known) comes up for renewal. It dictates funding for government programs such as:

• Nutrition (ex. food stamps)
• Crop Insurance & Disaster Assistance
• Farm Credit (ex. loan programs)
• Agricultural Research
• Energy Programs (ex. biofuels)
• Trade & Tax Provisions
• Livestock Management
• Agricultural Trade & International Food Aid
• Commodities (ex. feed grains, sugar, cotton)
• Conservation & Environmental Stewardship
• Rural Development
• USDA Forest Service Programs
• Horticulture & Organic Agriculture
• Commodity Futures
  and much more.

The 2008 Farm Bill provided much needed funding for necessary safety net programs, like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program), and that funding is threatened to be cut when the bill is renewed in 2012. Did you know? More than three-quarters of the Farm Bill is designated for nutrition assistance programs.

Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes aims to provide information on the 2008 Farm Bill, as well as updates on the legislative process behind the 2012/2013 renewal, and what those policies could mean for you and your family. Keep an eye out for us at various food advocacy events around town and stay tuned to this webpage for the latest information.

Click HERE to read Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes’ stance on the Farm Bill.

Navigate the links below for more information on the Food & Farm Bill and what it entails:

• Food Research and Action Center
• Food Bank Council of Michigan
• Community Food Security Coalition
• The Cornucopia Institute
• Farm Policy
• Food & Water Watch
• Ag Observatory
• Community Alliance for Global Justice

Get Involved:

Contact your Senator
Contact your Representative

Questions? Call Kimberly at 488-2617 ext. 218 or email at advocacy@kzoolf.org.