Thursday, August 02, 2012

The Worst Farm Bill in History


Organic Consumers
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Last week, the House Agriculture Committee rolled out its version of the Farm Bill (H.R.6083). We told you about Monsanto's latest line of attack on the few laws that actually protect "a farmer's choice to grow non-genetically engineered crops, or a consumer's choice to eat non-genetically engineered food."

If you haven't already taken action to stop Monsanto's sneak attack, both in the House Farm Bill and the Monsanto Rider in the 2013 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, click here.

Monsanto's attacks on the law's ability to protect farmers and consumers from unwanted, dangerous GMO contamination may be the boldest example of its power over Congress. But there's a lot more in the House Farm Bill that benefits biotechnology and Big Ag at the expense of family farmers and organic and sustainable food and agriculture. The House Farm Bill includes:

$16.1 billion in cuts to food assistance
Eliminates the Organic Certification Cost Share Program
Tens of billions in corporate welfare for the largest commodity crop growers, insurance companies, and agribusinesses
$6 billion in cuts to programs to protect natural resources, invest in beginning and disadvantaged farmers, revitalize local food economies, and promote health and food security
Unlimited subsidies to mega-farms that continue to drive small family farmers out of business
Incentives for growers to drop conservation practices, plow up marginal areas and intensify fencerow-to-fencerow cultivation of environmentally sensitive land
Nearly eight times more support for corn, soy, cotton, rice and wheat than for healthy fruits, nuts and vegetables
Guts the common-sense rules that protect water quality and wildlife from agricultural pesticides
Undermines progress made at the state level for animal rights
Ends fair competition and contract protections for livestock producers
Tell Congress to fix this horrible Farm Bill!

Related Articles:


Monsanto: Above the Law? Video-Report
Farm Bill HR6083

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