The Work of the Rural Coalition

The Rural Coalition is committed to the "support of small farmers, farm workers, and rural communities and [to] build a just and sustainable food system," per their web page. Their Farm and Food Policy Diversity Initiative Policy Team has worked what looks like long hours in developing a response to the 2007 Farm Bill. I would encourage you to go to their web page, read the seres of documents, reflect upon the content of their materials, and then to sign on to have your voice heard in these important matters.

Specifically, the Rural Coalition has documents that summarize the complicated farm bill. The Farm and Food Policy Diversity Initiative's Farm Bill Progress Report and Recommendations for Conference lays out in a clear way each issue/program, the House Bill's version, the Senate Bill's version, and the Diversity Initiative's recommendation. There are several: foreclosure moratorium, resolution of civil rights claims, 2501 outreach program for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, improved program delivery on Indian reservations, inclusion of farmworkers, and many, many others.

Of particular interest is the resolution of civil rights claims relative to the determination of merits of the Pigford Consent Decree, the House's version provides a maximum of $100 million in mandatory funding while the Senate's version provides for the same amount but authorizes additional funds to be appropriated as needed to settle claims. Rural Coalition's Diversity Initiative's recommendation is to "maintain the provision and accept the stronger language and additional appropriation in the Senate version."

In a future post, I'll lay out some numbers that will show the inadequacy of the House version in terms of settling with Black farmers who've experienced discrimination.

I'm personally grateful that Lorette Picciano, Executive Director of Rural Coalition/Coalicion Rural, participated in the 10th Annual Black Land Loss Summit and spoke to these important matters.

Check out their retail website as well.