Preserving Family Farms

In order for the destruction of family farms to cease and desist in the United States, we must follow these guidelines:

Create a demand for locally grown produce. Family Farms will need to operate some form of direct-marketing if they are to survive the next decade or so. We need to purchase not just fruits and vegetables, but dairy and meats as well, from our family farmers. Local conventional farm products (raised with chemicals) are more sustainable than organic farm products grown 2500 miles or more away from your area. This is due to the amount of fuel used to transport these items. Do not be afraid to ask your farmer neighbor to look into direct marketing.

Educate farmers on benefits of organic operations. Once your local farmer is direct-marketing their conventional products, the "innovation wheel" will begin to turn and they will see the economic viability in niche products. They may make the transition to organic growing, but we need to help them. Many websites are available with information geared to the traditional farmer transitioning to organics.

Then buy organic. Yes, we need to buy organic products now, and we must support our local farmer. Show them the products you buy at the local organic store. They may not have thought of growing that item. Some organic food stores already stock produce from local farms: make buying those products a priority.

Tackle the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill has grown into a colossal pork project that is supporting large agricultural operations that squeeze out the local family farmer. We need Congress to rewrite this bill, so that it A) fully funds agriculture conservation programs and B) limits subsidies to $250,000 per operation and closes the loophole that allows one operation to receive many payments for the same program. Family Farms can not survive without subsidies, so we need to keep the Farm Bill to keep them going.

A non-operating Family Farm is a subdivision waiting to happen.

Resources:
Sierra Club's Agriculture Committee Site

Sierra Club's CAFO/Clean Water Campaign Site

Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

GRACE Factory Farm Project

Future Harvest CASA

Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture

True Cost of Food

CBF's State of Chesapeake Agriculture, 2005

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