National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) releases new platform for Farm Bill reform

Urgent need for new Farm and Food policies

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) has released its comprehensive 2012 Farm Bill policy platform, Farming for the Future: A Sustainable Agriculture Agenda for the 2012 Food and Farm Bill.

The detailed platform can be accessed here.

National Catholic Rural Life Conference is a participating member of the Coalition and played a role in developing this farm policy platform.

Along with sustainable agriculture partner groups, we strongly believe that Congress should not delay the adoption of a new farm and food bill.  The current farm bill will expire by October 1 of this year and should not be extended as is.

With a round of Senate Agriculture Committee hearings already complete and House Agriculture Committee field hearings underway, Congress appears to be on its way to writing a new farm bill. The challenge is to authorize a new bill that is comprehensive and forward-looking during a presidential election year. Congress should not take shortcuts on crucial farm and food issues in the name of expediency, nor get stalled in political bickering or gamesmanship.

NCRLC sees a troubling convergence of economic, environmental, and health crises currently gripping our nation. Decisive reforms in farm policy are needed to create a sustainable future for American agriculture and the nation’s food system.

NCRLC believes the Coalition’s 2012 Farm Bill platform will expand opportunities for family farmers to produce good food, sustain the environment, and contribute to vibrant communities.

Farming for the Future spans nearly every title in the farm bill and reflects a comprehensive approach to policy reform that will:
• Make healthy food widely available today and for generations to come.
• Create jobs and spur economic growth through food and farms.
• Enhance natural resources and improve agricultural productivity.
• Drive innovation for tomorrow’s farmers and food entrepreneurs.

This 100-page detailed platform is the culmination of two years of policy work with a diverse coalition of more than 90 grassroots organizations from across the country.

Visit our Agriculture and Food web section to learn more about policies and programs that NCRLC will strongly advocate throughout the Farm Bill debate.

The NSAC platform can be accessed at their publications webpage.