Preserving Family Farms
Summary: The Maryland Chapter is working to preserve Family Farms and stopping the expansion of Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) throughout the state of Maryland.
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 produce, but dairy and meats as well from our
family farmers. 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. Most have not.
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, but 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.
Tackle the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill has grown into a colossal pork project that is support large ag 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
CBF's State of Chesapeake Agriculture, 2005
For More Information, please contact:
Sam White, Ag Issues Chair
Cedar Rock Farm
14611 Mile Lane, NW
Mount Savage, MD 21545
Email
301-264-4162
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