Garden State has much at stake in Farm Bill debate

RELEASE: Aug. 17, 2007 – Volume XXXVII, No. 33

Once every five years, Americans have the chance to reform the nation’s agricultural policies and help the environment by rewriting the federal Farm Bill. This is one of those years, and the time has never been better to replace our outdated system with more equitable policies.

The Farm Bill impacts everyone, because the cost of the food is affected by subsidies, nutrition programs and food stamps. No matter where you live or what you do for a living, the Farm Bill will have an impact!

The nation’s traditional commodity subsidies – for wheat, cotton, soy, rice and corn – mostly go from the Farm Bill to large agri-businesses in the Midwest. New Jersey farms tend to be smaller and more focused on a variety of crops and products… we’re the “Garden State,” after all, not the “Corn State.” New Jersey farmers draw more benefit from the other portions of the Farm Bill, including resource conservation and land preservation programs, organic farming and research, and money for fruit and vegetable farmers.

Recognizing this, New Jersey Congressmen Holt, Garrett, Andrews, Saxton, Frelinghuysen, LoBiondo, Pallone, Pascrell, Payne, Ferguson and Smith all recently voted in favor of reforming the farm bill by supporting the “Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment.” In particular, Holt and Garrett spoke eloquently on the House floor in favor of reform.

The Fairness Amendment would have expanded grassland, wildlife, and forest conservation efforts, and provided millions to support organic crop research, farmers markets, and helping more farmers convert to organic methods. It would have helped low-income seniors shop at farmers markets, provided free fruits and vegetables to schoolchildren, and supported projects that help low-income neighborhoods get access to fresh foods.

The net gain for the state would have been almost $127.9 million, benefiting farmers in every Congressional District in New Jersey.

Unfortunately, the Fairness Amendment failed, and the House version of the Farm Bill passed on July 27 included only modest increases for conservation, farmers markets, nutrition and health. On the plus side, specialty crop growers received $1.6 billion, representing first-time funding, and nutrition programs got a funding boost.

Real reform, however, was defeated. As usual, the bumper crop of funding in the House bill – more than $30 billion! – will again subsidize large commercial farms, primarily in the home districts of the members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees.

"The Farm Bill is long overdue for real reform,” said Congressman Jim Saxton (R-3rd District). “Congress needs to invest in land and wildlife conservation programs, local farmers markets and the growing trend of organic farming. We also need to bring homegrown produce into our schools. We have mostly small farmers in the Garden State, but small farmers need to be supported, not just large-scale corporate farms. Congress must continue to hammer out better farm legislation. I hope the Senate acts soon so we can get something signed into law."

As the Farm Bill moves into the Senate, even the modest gains of the House bill are in danger of being stripped. But New Jersey Senators Lautenberg and Menendez are still pushing hard for a final Farm Bill that is more equitable for New Jersey and more conservation-friendly.

There are many issues tied up in the Farm Bill – environmental, international development, social justice and more. Should we continue the current system of outdated subsidies of the biggest farmers in a few congressional districts, at the expense of consumers at all levels, small farmers around the country, and people in developing nations around the world?

It’s time the Farm Bill was more than a tab the rest of us are required to pay on behalf of a few. For more information on the Farm Bill, visit www.environmentaldefense.org. And I hope you’ll contact me at info@njconservation.org, or visit NJCF’s website at www.njconservation.org, for more information about conserving New Jersey’s precious land and natural resources.

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