Farm Action’s petition to support protesting farmers across the European Union and create a fairer system for American producers has surpassed 10,000 signatures.
Tens of thousands of farmers across the EU continue fighting against governments that have supported policies that benefit the largest corporations while farmers are deprived of the opportunity to prosper in a fair market.
Farm Action’s petition includes a list of demands to level the playing field for American producers. With the U.S. farm bill still looming, there is time for Congress and the White House to answer this call.
“Farm Action is proud to stand with EU farmers protesting government policies that prop up the largest agrochemical and food industry corporations while farmers are hung out to dry. America’s farmers and ranchers know this struggle all too well,” said farmer and Farm Action President Angela Huffman. “It’s time to join the movement and demand that our government allows farmers the opportunity to prosper with a level playing field instead of picking winners and losers in the marketplace. With more than 10,000 supporters echoing this call, it’s time for policymakers to stand with farmers and not global giants.”
Farm Action’s petition included a list of demands that would level the playing field for America’s farmers and ranchers:
- Fair Markets: There must be a fair, competitive, and open marketplace to buy seed, fertilizer, and other inputs, and to sell produce, livestock, and other goods. It has become nearly impossible for independent farmers, processors, seed suppliers, mechanics, and other rural businesses to compete with multinational monopolies. Farmers need strong antitrust safeguards.
- Food Security: Stop foreign, corporate, and billionaire investors from buying up farmland, driving up land prices to levels at which farmers cannot compete, and ultimately giving corporations and foreign entities unprecedented amounts of control over the U.S. food supply.
- Fair Treatment: All farmers need to have fair access to the taxpayer-subsidized risk management tools, credit, and land. Cut the tentacles of corporate power from government programs and spending, and put America’s independent farmers first.
- Transparent Labeling: Farmers should be able to label their food accurately and transparently — including strong country of origin labeling standards. Government must stop fraudulent labeling practices by large corporations that mislead consumers and steal market opportunities from farmers.
- Checkoff Program Reform: Farmers should no longer be forced to pay one billion dollars annually into a government program, only to see that money funneled to lobbying organizations representing the world’s largest meatpackers and grain traders.
- Buy Local, Not Global: The U.S. government is a major purchaser of food. It must change its procurement policies to prioritize local and regional producers instead of the world’s largest food corporations.
- Right to Repair: Huge corporations and their Wall Street backers have gone so far as to prevent local businesses and farmers from fixing their own tractors and equipment, forcing them to pay corporate technicians to make all repairs. A farmer should have the right to fix their own equipment as they see fit.
Media Contact: Jessica Cusworth, jcusworth@farmaction.us, 202-450-0887
