MO Family Farmers: Inflation Act Funds Not for Factory Farms | AG
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Advocates for Missouri’s small family farms have addressed lawmakers about the next Farm Bill, focusing on better protection for food resources and family farmers. Nearly 200 groups have written to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to reconsider conservation practices that favor factory farms and contribute to local pollution. Tim Gibbons, communications director for the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, argues against the inclusion of mega-farms in “climate smart” conservation payments and asserts that the Inflation Reduction Act should have specific protections for small farmers.
Missouri Family Farms Advocate for Fairer Policies at U.S. Capitol
Missouri’s small family farms are voicing their concerns at the U.S. Capitol, informing lawmakers about how the next Farm Bill can offer better protection for the nation’s food resources and family farmers. Around 200 organizations have penned a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, urging for reconsideration of conservation practices favoring factory farms, known contributors to local pollution.
Tim Gibbons, Communications Director for the Missouri Rural Crisis Center, has criticized the USDA for allowing mega-farms to qualify for “climate smart” conservation payments. He argues that these large corporate farms have taken over the livestock industry using taxpayer funds, to the detriment of farmers, consumers, the environment, and the economy.
According to Gibbons, it’s vital that taxpayer money is directed towards supporting family farmers and ensuring locally grown and harvested farm products, such as meat, are available to consumers. Despite the expiration of the Farm Bill in September, a new one is yet to be passed by Congress.
Gibbons opines that the Inflation Reduction Act should have safeguards in place to protect small farmers and prevent factory farms from exploiting tax breaks. He maintains that factory farm corporations, which contribute significantly to environmental damage and climate change, should not be financially assisted in rectifying their pollution problems.
The letter addressed to Secretary Vilsack asserts that industrial farming practices intensify climate change, misuse taxpayer funds, and adversely affect Indigenous and underserved communities. These practices contradict the objectives of the Inflation Reduction Act.
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