FARM ACTION FOCUS: FARM ACTION’S VISION FOR THE NEW YEAR AND BEYOND

Our objectives for the 2023 Farm Bill include changing how we talk about agriculture while calling for Food, Not Feed, to shift government farm programs to support regenerative agriculture and raising food to feed our neighbors. Looking ahead to the 2028 Farm Bill, we’ll focus on policies that support transformational and structural food and farm system change. These policies level the playing field for local and regional markets and independent producers so they have fair access to market opportunities. Meanwhile, we’ll continue holding the Biden Administration’s feet to the fire on anti-monopoly reform to ensure the agencies follow through on Biden’s executive order to revive antitrust enforcement and promote competition throughout the economy.

This year’s farm bill is a critical step on our path to fundamentally change our food system to work for our farmers, consumers, and food system workers — but there are many steps that follow, and we’ve got a long fight ahead of us. With the help of supporters like you, we’re confident we can transform our food system to ensure it is fair, competitive, and accessible for all. Read more in our “News to Chew on” blog.

FARM ACTION APPLAUDS FTC’S PROPOSED RULE TO BAN ANTICOMPETITIVE NONCOMPETE AGREEMENTS

“Noncompete clauses are essentially traps that enable corporations to hold workers hostage and entrench their monopsony power,” said Farm Action’s Joseph Van Wye. “Denied the freedom to seek other employment, workers are more vulnerable to the whims of their employers, subjecting them to low wages and unsafe working conditions. Today, FTC has made a bold stance of support for America’s workers — one we have sought for a long time.”

Stay tuned to learn how to get involved in the public comment period on the proposed rule.

UPCOMING EVENT: FOOD NOT FEED SUMMIT
February 7-8 | Washington, D.C. and online

JOIN FARM ACTION’S LOCAL LEADERS PROGRAM

As a Local Leader, you’ll enjoy special email updates with exclusive engagement opportunities, as well as bi-monthly calls where you can talk to high-profile guests and connect with other leaders across the country. Join us for the first meeting of 2023 on Tuesday, January 17th at 6:00 p.m. EST, where we’ll be joined by DeShawn Blanding from the House Agriculture Committee.

FARM ACTION MOVEMENT NEWS

Mexico’s ban on GMO corn could be… opportunistic for farmers?

Joe Maxwell says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is closing off a “premium market” for U.S. corn producers amidst the trade dispute with Mexico over genetically modified corn. He adds that non-GM seed is available to producers and could lead to premiums of $0.50-$1.00 more per bushel.

Luke Goldstein, The American ProspectJohn Deere says farmers can fix their own tractors—sometimes
Willie Cade, a Farm Action Local Leader and right to repair advocate, says the details of John Deere’s agreement with the Farm Bureau “shows the company’s cards and makes us wary of the agreement…it seems targeted at taking the wind out of our sails.”

Mónica Cordero, Investigate Midwest

Farmers endured a rough year, but fertilizer companies cashed in

Consolidated fertilizer corporations are raking in massive profits off the backs of struggling farmers. "They make excuses for price gouging…the truth is that they’re exhibiting monopolistic practices within the marketplace,” said Joe Maxwell.

Allison Kite, Missouri Independent

Bipartisan group of lawmakers push to restrict foreign ownership of Missouri farmland

Foreign corporate ownership drives up land prices and blocks new farmers from accessing land. Joe Maxwell tells the Missouri Independent that foreign corporations are focused on a "long-term investment…and that artificially elevates that land value.”

BIG AG MYTHBUSTERS: IS INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE REALLY CLIMATE-SMART AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND?

We urgently need to hold agrifood corporations responsible for the damage they’ve caused, which includes the exploitative way they do business with farmers and the way they pollute low-income communities and communities of color only to offset the damage for a profit.Check out our Mythbuster blog to arm yourself with the facts and help us push back against the corporate-created myth that industrial agriculture is environmentally sound.

WHAT’S THE TALK?

Politico reports that the USDA will continue contracting with JBS, a meatpacker tied to a bribery case. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said barring JBS from government contracts could hurt taxpayers because there is so little competition in the industry.

Advocates are hesitant to praise the Right to Repair deal between the Farm Bureau and John Deere given the manufacturers’ inconsistent history with past repair commitments. "Like Charlie Brown, farmers have lined up for the kick too many times to let Lucy pull the ball away again,"says PIRG’s statement on the issue.

Timothy Wise of IATP writes that the study claiming to show the catastrophic impacts of Mexico’s genetically-modified corn ban on U.S. farmers and Mexico’s food security “greatly overstates the impacts of the ban" and “was actually commissioned by CropLife, the biotech trade association."

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