This is a time-sensitive request. Advocacy is important now more than ever. Through the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), I’ve been tracking federal policy action impacting agriculture within the fast-moving federal stimulus legislation.
This is an especially difficult time for farmers and ranchers engaged in direct sales through farmers markets, schools and restaurants. A new study estimates that local and regional food systems could lose up to $1.3 billion between just March and May of this year.
Please take a minute to support NSAC’s work at the federal level to make sure support for direct-market farmers and communities is included in the big COVID-19 stimulus bill which Congress is working on as we speak.
Reach out to your Members of Congress right NOW to ask for these things in the stimulus package:
Aid for vulnerable farmers: Provide direct payments to farmers who have lost revenue from local and regional markets due to the crisis.
Resources to connect local farmers to families in need: Invest in community-based emergency efforts to buy food from farmers and get it to those who need it most.
Credit to keep farmers in business: Expand farmers’ access to credit and offer debt flexibility to ensure they can plant, grow, and harvest the food we need this year.
Visit the NSAC take-action page to learn more or simply send a quick email now! Their system is powered by EasyAction so only requires a moment of your time.
Thanks for taking action. We are grateful during these trying times that we can count you as part of our community.
Jim Hafner
Executive Director
