Forbidden fruits (and vegetables)

Why the USDA wants to stop local food

Posted by Kurt Michael Friese (Guest Contributor) at 11:12 AM on 03 Mar 2008

Read more about: food | agriculture | politics | Big Ag | local food

This is one of those "in case you missed it" kind of posts. In yesterday's New York Times, Minnesota farmer Jack Hedin wrote an op-ed that shows very clearly how the federal deck is stacked against small, sustainable, local farms and in favor of Earl Butz's "get-big-or-get-out" mentality.

The commodity farm program effectively forbids farmers who usually grow corn or the other four federally subsidized commodity crops (soybeans, rice, wheat and cotton) from trying fruit and vegetables. Because my watermelons and tomatoes had been planted on "corn base" acres, the Farm Service said, my landlords were out of compliance with the commodity program.

I never ceased to be amazed at the all-encompassing power of the Golden Rule (The One Who Has the Gold Makes the Rules).

It is pretty impressive to think that these little farmers, scattered about the nation on their 10-, 50-, and 100-acre plots are so viscerally feared by agribusiness conglomerates and the politicians in their pockets.

What are they afraid of? That someone might produce something Good, Clean and Fair? If their way is so right, so effective, so much better for the health and well being of the nation, then why should they be concerned about a bunch of wacko foodies who think that GMOs and chemicals are not food?

Why? Because the locavores are right and Big Ag knows it. And the only way they can compete is to prevent competition.

For story: Forbidden fruits (and vegetables)
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Fix the Farm Bill

If this really grinds your crackers, then check out this campaign to contact members of Congress to address the issues with commodity farmland in the Farm Bill:

http://crunchychicken.blogspot.com/2008/03/fix-farm-bill. ...

by crunchychicken at 1:57 PM on 03 Mar 2008

Its easy when you keep it simple

I've contacted Reps Tim Walz and Colin Peterson and Sen Amy Klobuchar, all members of Minnesota's delegation who sit on their respective Agriculture committees. (Peterson chairs the House Ag Committee). I've asked them two questions. Do you believe Jack Hedin has a legitimate complaint? What are you going to do about it?
Earlier today I happened to receive an announcement for Rep. Peterson's Home Grown Economy Conference to be held at UM Crookston on March 30-31. It ended with the the following quote from him:

"In my role as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, I've emphasized the importance of the growing markets for organic, locally grown and sustainable agriculture as exciting new opportunities in agriculture," Peterson said. "I'm pleased that the House version of the Farm Bill includes the establishment of a new subcommittee to focus on organic food production and Farm Bill programs to help organic and local producers. "

That's a nice paragraph. Lovely sentiments. I asked for some legislative action to implement them.

Its easy enough to contact any legislator, ask them to read this Op-Ed, let you know whether they agree with it and tell you what they are going to do about it.

by BullishOnRhubarb at 2:46 PM on 03 Mar 2008

superb writing

excellent writing by Mr. Hedin. Really articulates the problem and points out some parts of the farm bill I was unaware of.

by mdwalsh at 7:00 PM on 03 Mar 2008

Thanks "Bullish..."

Always a positive thing contacting your rep, making sure they know your feelings, and happy to see Rep. Peterson have such positive things to say about small farms, local ag and sustainability.

But establishment of a subcommittee, I can firmly say as a businessman of many years, accomplishes exactly squat.

Easy it is indeed to talk to them. Much harder to get an effective response. Kinda like the weather: everybody talks about it, but nobody actually DOES anything about it.

Peace, kmf ___________________________________________________________________ A meal is a terrible thing to waste

by Kurt Michael Friese at 9:41 PM on 03 Mar 2008
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