STATEMENT ON FARM BILL

DECEMBER 11, 2018 – WASHINGTON

The Farm to Fork Initiative brings together advocates who share an interest in a better food system. Today, Eric Kessler of Arabella Advisors, speaking on behalf of the Initiative, released the following statement on the 2018 Farm Bill:

“The Farm to Fork Initiative welcomes the bipartisan Farm Bill which preserves overall funding for conservation programs and funding, benefits, and eligibility for anti-hunger programs. We also appreciate that Congressional leaders are providing permanent funding for healthy food incentives and local, organic, and beginning farmer programs for the first time. And we are grateful for the final bill’s rejection of anti-environmental riders and harmful barriers to anti-hunger programs. However, no farm bill is perfect. Far more funding is needed to reward good stewardship on working lands and to provide a strong safety net for families struggling against hunger. Expanding subsidy loopholes will further tilt the playing field against the family farmers that our farm safety net should serve.”

The Farm to Fork Initiative has been working in support of the following organizations throughout the 2018 Farm Bill process. Below are their statements on the 2018 Farm Bill. 

Environmental Working Group
EWG Applauds Farm Bill Drinking Water Reforms.

Food Research and Action Center 
Farm Bill Agreement Rejects Array of Harmful SNAP Provisions and Keeps Food on the Table for Millions of People Struggling Against Hunger.

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
Farm Bill Delivers Victories for Beginning Farmers, Organic/Local Food:
Concerns remain over long-term loss in conservation funding, failure to close farm safety net loopholes.

Food Policy Action
Food Policy Action is Satisfied with Final Bill Out of Conference Committee.

Natural Resources Defense Council
Farm Bill Negotiators Ditch Environmental Rollbacks.

Center for Science in the Public Interest
Bipartisan Farm Bill Protects SNAP, but Falls Short on Nutrition.

Union of Concerned Scientists
Farm Bill Conference Report Heeds Evidence on SNAP and Invests in Local Food Economies, But Slashes Key Conservation Program.