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The farm bill affects American farmers, connoisseurs, international farmers, and millions of the world’s poorest people around the world. So, how is it that legislators have failed to come up with a farm bill that truly addresses the needs of all these people? Some farm bill history More recent farm bills heavily favor a few of the wealthiest farms. Two-thirds of the money goes to the richest 10 percent of farmers. Farmers who need the most help get the least. This is why millions of American farmers are still struggling to stay in business. The bill costs taxpayers billions of dollars, subsidizes the least healthy food, and drives millions of the world’s poorest people into extreme poverty. What is the farm bill? It was believed that the 2008 Farm Bill, formally known as the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, marked a historic moment in American agricultural policy. It shifted the political landscape and laid the groundwork for continued reform. However, while the 2008 Farm Bill sounded like a big advancement, the future’s best interest suggests that great change, rather than small adjustments, must take place. Unsurprisingly, Congress is showing little concern for most farmers or consumers. They are the ones that are affected the most, and yet Congress always manages to overlook them. Overview
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by Jen Picariello, Hearts & Minds volunteer |
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