2007 Farm and Food Policy Platform of the California Coalition on Food and Farming
In 2007, Congress will renew the Farm Bill. Unfortunately for California, we have never received our fair share of Farm Bill benefits. Historically, Farm Bill subsidies have flowed disproportionately to very large farms growing a handful of commodity crops in a few regions of the country. Much less support has gone to diversified farming regions like California that grow fruit and vegetable crops. Far too little funding has gone to support sustainable farming practices that deliver maximum environmental benefits and healthy food.
Agriculture is among our most important economic sectors. In 2005, our farmers and ranchers produced nearly $31 billion worth of goods, roughly 50% of the US fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts and more than half of all organic produce sold in the US. Yet California farmers, especially small and mid sized growers, are facing increasing pressures including high operating costs, serious environmental challenges, growing development and regulatory pressures, and stiff competition from developing countries. And despite the enormous wealth of many Californians, poverty, hunger and poor nutrition in rural and urban areas remains rampant. Although we produce 350 commodities in California, many inner city areas have no retail grocery outlets available for residents, let alone farmers’ markets.
More than $300 billion in taxpayer dollars is at stake over the next five years. The California Coalition for Food and Farming’s alliance of more than 45 environmental, agriculture, nutrition organizations is gearing up for a state wide campaign to ensure that this Farm Bill:
* Provides farmers the support they need to protect our water, air, wildlife habitat, and farmland by increasing funding and improving the effectiveness of conservation and technical assistance programs.
* Helps California maintains a vibrant and competitive agriculture sector by providing greater support for fruit and vegetable production (especially for small and mid sized producers), organic and sustainable agriculture, local and regional market development and new and minority farmers.
* Increases access to healthy, nutritious food supply by increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables in schools, expanding farmers markets, and increasing the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables to food stamp recipients, the elderly and inner city areas.
* Increases research and extension programs in areas such as sustainable and organic agriculture, public plant and animal breeding, renewable energy and conservation, minority and beginning farmer outreach, agricultural and rural entrepreneurship and public health.
* Increases support for renewable energy and environmentally sound biofuel development.
* Assures equity and fairness by implementing meaningful payment limitation reform and requiring stronger conservation compliance requirements for commodity and crop insurance programs.
In the coming year, we invite California farmers, NGOs, businesses, academics, students, state and city agencies, food policy councils, industry associations, and others who share our goals to join our efforts to get California’s Congressional delegation to sponsor Farm Bill legislation that supports our vision for a more sustainable agriculture and food system. Our summary proposals are included below.
We invite you review the full draft and sign onto this platform at www.calfoodandfarming.org. if you would like to get involved in our campaign, contact Kari Hamerschlag at kariham [at]earthlink.net or 510-295-4781
SUMMARY OF CALIFORNIA COALITION ON FOOD AND FARMING PROPOSALS
CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
* Double the funding of Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) to $ 2 billion year and establish EQIP cost share payments for organic farming
* Fully fund the Conservation Security Program (CSP) at 3.77 billion and recognize sustainable and organic farming approaches that produce comprehensive conservation and environmental benefits.
* Establish an “Integrated Pest Management Initiative” in regions with significant pesticide threats and where producers need help to comply with state regulations
* Increase technical assistance funding and access for specialty crop and transitional/organic producers
* Establish a national organic conversion and stewardship incentive program funded at $50 million anually.
* Expand existing funding of Farm and Ranch Land Protection from $100 to 300 million per year
* Increase Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program to $500 million per year
OPPORTUNITIES FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND NEW MARKETS
* Increase funding for the Value-Added Producer Grant Program adding a new grant component to support the development of value chains with social, environmental, fair labor and/or fair trade standards.
* Authorize $45 million in annual mandatory funding for regional planning and technical assistance pilot projects targeting transportation and processing infrastructure to serve local and regional markets.
* Expand Organic Certification Cost Share and Organic Transition support.
* Increase funding for the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) to $5 million.
* Increase funding and enhance impact of Rural Business Enterprise and Opportunity Grants.
* Establish a new Competition Title that helps restore fairness and efficiency to market forces.
* Reduce Regulatory Barriers for Local Meat Processing.
SUPPORT FOR BEGINNING AND MINORITY FARMERS
* Reauthorize the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, providing $15 million in mandatory funding.
* Establish Individual Homestead Accounts, especially for new Beginning Farmers and Ranchers.
* Implement an Affordable Farming Program by applying the principles of the Community Reinvestment Act to the Farm Credit System, to provide grants and interest rate subsidies for farming activities to small and minority farmers
* Increase Funding for the Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) Program to at least $3.0 million.
* Reauthorize the Outreach and Assistance to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Program at $25 million.
FOOD SECURITY, NUTRITION AND HEALTH
* Increase food stamp benefit allotments to provide increased potential to purchase healthy foods by Food Stamp Program recipients and improve outreach and efficiency in Food Stamp delivery.
* Redefine the mission and scope of Food Stamp Nutrition Education to better assist food stamp recipients and eligible populations eat a more healthful diet rich in a variety of USDA recommended fruit and vegetables.
* Expand the scope and size of the USDA Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program (CFPGP) to $60.5 million annual mandatory spending and establish programs that supply healthy local foods to underserved markets.
* Expand Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program to all 50 states and assist eligible trade organizations to promote increased consumption of fruits and vegetables.
* Restore 2002 authorization level of $25 million for Farmers Market Nutrition Programs which provide opportunities for seniors, nutritionally at-risk women and children (WIC FMNP) to buy fresh produce at Farmers markets.
RESEARCH AND EXTENSION
* Establish mandatory funding for the Integrated Organic Program (IOP) at least $15 million/year.
* Establishing a “Fair Share” framework at Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to ensure that funding of organic agriculture research moves towards the organic share of US retail food sales. (3% at end of 2006).
* Ensure current authorization for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program at $40 million.
* Revise the focus of the National Research Initiative (NRI) to ensure that at least 33%, or a minimum of $20 million/year is allocated to outcome oriented research to improve environmentally sound food production, family farm and ranch profitability, and non-farm micro enterprise and other rural economic development strategies.
ALTERNATIVE AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
* Significantly increase funding and support for research, development, and technical support for farm-based renewable energy systems – from biofuels to wind power-focusing greatest attention on the most environmentally beneficial biomass feedstocks, such as native perennial grasses.
* Promote local use of specialty crop biomass waste for energy production and encourage farmer ownership and control of sustainable biomasss processing facilities through credit, incentives and $25 million grant program.