After mulling over a farm bill for years, the U.S. House and Senate have both approved the measure, which has been sent to the president for his signature.
Although there were cuts to the food stamp program, there were some definite gains in this compromise bill ”“ hopefully a sign that legislators are getting to work on making the difficult decisions needed to get laws passed.
The Farm Bill includes $100 million to help people who receive SNAP benefits ”“ the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps ”“ buy local foods by providing EBT terminals at every farmers market, making Community Supported Agriculture eligible for SNAP, and funding a new program that will provide 2-for-1 credits at farmers markets for the purchase of fresh fruit and vegetables, according to Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, D-Maine.
Pingree said in a statement last week that although she did not vote for the final Farm Bill when it passed the House because of cuts to the SNAP program, it does include improvements. Another issue the representative had with the bill is that it “allows payments to flow to wealthy farmers who are already making close to $1 million a year, and a crop insurance program that subsidizes farms even when they are making large profits,” she said.
The five-year plan also provides $150 million in funding ”“ a 300 percent increase, Pingree pointed out ”“ in the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program. In addition to helping promote farmers markets, for the first time, this program will help local producers by supporting projects like community kitchen facilities, where food can be processed, stored and transported, according to Pingree. This gives local producers access to more markets and can make the food they raise more valuable.
Pingree said it will support proposals like one in Topsham, where an organization called Maine Harvest plans to turn the former Navy Commissary into a food hub where local farmers and producers could process, store and sell food.
Another boost for Maine and New England in particular is $100 million grant program included in the Farm Bill to help states promote local maple syrup sales. Maine was third in maple syrup production in 2013 ”“ behind only Vermont and New York, respectively, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Maine produced 450,000 gallons of syrup. It’s a major business in this state, but it’s also a grueling one with a very short season, typically making it just one of many ventures for Maine farmers.
Another important component of the bill is $100 million in funding for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, which will encourage young farmers and military veterans to start a career in agriculture. Funding is included to provide financing, and increase outreach and education opportunities for farmers who are just starting out, Pingree said.
This is an important factor in helping fledgling farmers and farms get off the ground. While people often complain about farm subsidies, they are key to keeping locally grown food on store shelves and Americans dinner tables. Importing all of our food from other countries is not the answer and does not support American workers and businesses. Many businesses benefit from “subsidies,” but they come in the form of tax credits and write-offs, and are not as highly publicized as farm subsides.
The Farm Bill may not be perfect, but it’s encouraging to see the support for farmers and the buy local effort continuing into the future, as well as Congress making an effort to compromise on major issues.
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Today’s editorial was written by City Editor Robyn Burnham Rousseau on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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