The Farm Bill has significant consequences for farmers, God's creation, consumers and people living in poverty and suffering from hunger both in the United States and around the world. 

However, the bill that was written by the Senate Agriculture Committee maintains the current system of farm supports, which rewards large commodity farmers, ignores the needs of smaller, struggling farmers, and harms subsistence farmers in developing countries. It also fails to provide sufficient funds for programs that help to feed hungry people both in the United States and around the world, sustain our nation's struggling rural communities and protect God's creation.

The Senate will consider amendments on Tuesday, November 6th, and Wednesday, November 7th, that would make real reforms to critical farm programs. Please call your Senators today and urge them to support the FRESH amendment and the Dorgan-Grassley payment limits amendment!

[Further background]

Policy Base
"We commit ourselves as a church and urge members to...pray for and support those who farm the land..." Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All (1999)
[more]

For more information on the Farm Bill, visit the Farm Bill FAQ.

Call now!

Dial 1-888-784-0527 to reach the Capitol switchboard and ask the operator to connect you to your senators' offices, or call your senators directly:

Senator Bob Casey
(202) 224-6324

Senator Arlen Specter
(202) 224-4254

Sample call script:

"My name is ___________and I am calling from Enola, Pennsylvania. I would like to urge Senator _______ to support reform in this year's Farm Bill by voting "yes" on the Lugar-Lautenberg FRESH Amendment and the Dorgan-Grassley payment limits amendment. 

"As a constituent and a person of faith, I support a just Farm Bill. I urge you to support much-needed reforms to the current commodity system, which primarily supports the largest and wealthiest farmers, and provides little help to the farmers who need it most. The FRESH Amendment would give U.S. farmers real support in tough years without distorting commodity prices and supply in ways that make it harder for farmers in poor countries to feed their families. And the FRESH Amendment would increase funding for priority programs in the Farm Bill that feed hungry people, protect God's creation, and help rural communities.

"The Dorgan-Grassley amendment would ensure that commodity supports go to the farmers who most need them, rather than to the largest and wealthiest farms, by putting in place real limits on the amount of payments any farmer can receive each year."