Two Chances to Bone Up on The 2023 Farm Bill
Your advocacy is needed to ensure that local food interests get lawmakers' support
Gosh, What a Sky
I am sure I’ve taken hundreds of “God sky” photos since we moved into this high-rise perch in 2011, but I don’t recall anything quite like this. The clouds parted briefly Monday afternoon and a giant single wide sunbeam emerged, illuminating some place a couple of miles west in nature’s own spotlight.
Learn What Local Food Needs in the Farm Bill
Every five years, Congress debates and updates the Farm Bill, which establishes policy for all federal farm, food and food assistance programs for the next five-year period.
The Good Food community has made incremental but significant gains in boosting federal engagement on organic and regenerative farming, programs to provide support to young and beginning farmers and ranchers, activities to correct the historic underrepresentation of BIPOC and other demographic groups, and more.
But we need to all be advocates of going farther faster if we hope to accelerate the expansion of a food system that is better for people, better for the planet, better for animals, and fairer to small farmers and farmworkers.
There are two learning opportunities coming right up that will help inform you about the issues that are most important to our community.
The first is a virtual panel that will take place tomorrow (Thursday) at 10 a.m. central during the 18th Annual Food Justice Summit. The panel is titled “Taking Back the Farm Bill: How to advocate for a just and climate-friendly food system,” and is described by the organizers as follows:
Right now, Congress is writing a new farm bill. How does the biggest piece of federal agriculture policy impact you? How can you be part of working for climate-friendly, socially-just farm policy? This interactive workshop will explore the history of the farm bill, how it was shaped by and continues to uphold structural racism, what to expect this year, and how to get involved in making change. You will leave with tangible next steps for using your power to take action.
The discussion will be led by Lindsay Farrell, Grassroots Coordinator at National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, the leading federal policy advocate for the Good Food community in Washington, D.C.
To attend, you must first register for free for the Food Justice Summit (click below).
Then, on Thursday, February 16 at 6 p.m. central, join Illinois Stewardship Alliance (our community’s leading state policy advocate) for “Virtual Dishing on the Farm Bill.” Here’s the message from the Alliance.
Dishing on the Farm Bill is your opportunity to learn about the 2023 federal Farm Bill — a major food and agriculture package that comes around in Congress every five years.
Why “Dish” on the Farm Bill with us?
Congress will need to re-authorize the Farm Bill this year.
The Farm Bill impacts every bite of food we eat (and so much more!).
It includes everything from nutrition programs like SNAP to crop insurance and sets policies that determine who, what, where, and how our food, fiber, and fuel is produced.
Illinois could have an outsized impact on the farm bill -- five members of Congress from our state who serve on Agriculture Committees will draft the 2023 Farm Bill.
You have a unique opportunity to shape the future of food and farming.
Now’s the time to learn how your voice can make a difference and stir up change.
Click below to register for free.