TL/DR –
The number of farmers in the U.S. is decreasing, particularly in Georgia which lost 3,175 farmers between 2017 and 2022, largely due to extreme weather and financial hardship. The Department of Agriculture is attempting to address this issue through funding for local farmers and the promotion of the American Rescue Plan. However, the Farm Bill, which supports many “climate-smart” agricultural initiatives, is currently under threat due to disagreements in Congress over funding allocations.
U.S. Farming Population Declining due to Harsh Conditions
The U.S. farming population is reducing due to adverse weather conditions and financial challenges. From 2017 to 2022, Georgia alone lost over 3,000 farmers, the majority of whom were small-scale farmers managing under 50 acres, according to the 2022 Agriculture Department Census.
Urgent mitigation strategies were discussed in Columbus by Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and Georgia Rep. Sanford D. Bishop at an Investing in America roundtable. They highlighted the progress of the American Rescue Plan and announced funding for local farmers. Current challenges of the Farm Bill were also discussed.
The Farm Bill, renewed every five years, was extended from 2023 to 2024 due to disagreements on funding allocation. Vilsack and Bishop are hopeful that climate guardrails will remain and that funding will be disbursed to protect all farmers. The latest draft will be presented by Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), and reviewed by the Committee next week.
The current proposal suggests a 10-20% subsidy for major crops to help combat inflation. However, critics argue that such subsidies would only aid larger producers. “Inflation affects all farmers,” said Scott Faber, Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs at the Environmental Working Group. “This proposal will overwhelmingly benefit the largest white producers of those three crops.”
Climate Change Threatens Georgia Farming
Despite its greenery, Georgia is the fourth-most vulnerable state to drought, according to a report by the Climate Vulnerability Tool. Many Southwest communities, including Muscogee County, are in the 90th percentile for vulnerability. Also, the annual loss of farmland from climate change in Georgia ranks among the top 50%.
The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act allocated $20 billion to USDA conservation programs to support “climate-smart” and local farming. The USDA announced $3.1 billion funding for climate-smart farming, including $892.6 million for 28 projects in Georgia.
Climate-Smart Practices Under Threat
However, the success of climate-smart practices and conservation resources may be threatened by the latest proposed farm bill. If the bill passes, it goes to the Senate, where Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow has a proposal that will protect climate guardrails and Inflation Reduction Act funding. Bishop, a committee member, urges voters to express their views to their representatives.
Vilsack and Bishop also visited Turn Around Columbus‘s victory garden, a thriving urban farm, where they announced a $145,000 USDA grant made possible by the American Rescue Plan.
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