1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

The Farm Bill shapes what America grows, who can afford food, which farmers can stay in business, and what kind of food system we build for the future. Yet decades of federal farm policy have helped build a hyper-consolidated, industrial food system controlled by only a handful of corporations where independent family farmers get squeezed, local food systems struggle to compete, and federal support remains heavily concentrated around a relatively small number of commodity crops and large operations. As Congress debates the next Farm Bill, we have an opportunity to build something better. We shouldn’t have to choose between food that is affordable and food that is nutritious and produced in a way that supports our communities. Federal farm policy should help us grow more of the foods we actually want people to eat, make those foods more accessible, and give independent farmers a fair chance to stay in business. I demand federal farm policy that: • Stops disproportionately rewarding the biggest agricultural operations: Close loopholes and strengthen payment limits so federal farm dollars do not continue flowing disproportionately to the largest operations while small and mid-sized independent farmers struggle to compete. • Invests in Local and Regional Food Systems:It is beyond time to decentralize our food supply to build resilient, community-based networks that connect consumers directly with independent producers. • Makes nutritious food more affordable and accessible: Use federal food and farm policy to increase the availability and affordability of fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods Americans are encouraged to eat. • Builds stronger, more resilient farms:Conservation programs should meaningfully help farmers improve soil health, protect water, prepare for droughts and floods, diversify production, and adopt practices that strengthen their farms for the long term. • Champion Regenerative Agriculture: For years our policy put farmers in the never ending trap of industrialization. It now must provide real, structural support and investment for independent farmers and ranchers who want to transition to truly regenerative practices that heals the soil, protects our water, respects animals and sustains communities for future generations