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CONFIDENTIAL

Advocating for a More Humane Food System: Farmers & the 2023 Farm Bill

September 2023

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Who We Are

September 2023

Senior Manager,

Farm Animal Welfare & Environmental Policy �(Farm Team)

Adam Mason

(he/him)

Content Director,

Farm Animal Welfare

Suzanne McMillan

(she/her)

Director of Farm Animal Welfare Policy �(Farm Team)

Kara Shannon (she/her)

Director,

Farm Animal Legislation�(Government Relations)

Lauren Tavar (she/her)

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September 2023

Farming and Policy 101: How Does Policy Impact Farmers’ Day to Day?

Farm Bill Overview

How to Get Engaged and Tell Your Story

Taking Action in the 2023 Farm Bill

Q&A

Agenda

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Farming and Policy 101

Congress and even state capitols can feel particularly far from everyday life on the farm, but both influence what farmers grow/raise, how products are processed, transported, marketed, and sold, how commodities are traded, and the final price farmers receive for their products. Subsidies determine which products receive government support, in the form of direct payments or insurance, which in turn directs the market. Currently a handful of commodity crops (corn, soybeans, etc.) receive the majority of subsidies, providing a cheap source of feed that disproportionately benefits industrial agriculture. Conservation Programs determine which farming practices are incentivized and in turn steer agriculture toward particular systems. Chronically underfunded, these programs – like the EQIP Program - have historically overlooked small and mid-sized farmers and funneled more funding to industrial producers. Labeling and Advertising regulations determine what you can- and can't- say on products packaging and in advertising. Unfortunately, current regulations are incredibly loose, allowing industrial operations to use labels like "humanely raised" and "natural" on their products, disadvantaging truly higher-welfare producers in the marketplace.

September 2023

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Farming and Policy 101 Con't

Congress and even state capitols can feel particularly far from everyday life on the farm, but both influence what farmers grow/raise, how products are processed, transported, marketed, and sold, how commodities are traded, and the final price farmers receive for their products. Emergency Assistance Programs determine which producers/products receive payments after loss due to weather or other disasters, and determine what actions producers need to have taken to receive assistance. Currently, industrial operations can be reimbursed for animal losses even when they do nothing to prepare for or respond to disasters, further disadvantaging producers who take precautions to protect their animals. Labor laws have a huge influence on who works on farms and the protections and rights those workers have. Current federal law exempts agricultural workers from many protections and benefits, allowing industrial operations to further cut costs. Environmental regulations covering things like pesticide use and water quality have a huge impact on the types of farms that are able to succeed. Industrial agriculture has been largely exempted from many environmental regulations, allowing those systems to scale to unsustainable levels.

September 2023

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Farming and Policy 101 Con't

For good measure, all of these laws/regulations also impact farming: Contract Tax Property Zoning Import and export Immigration Antitrust Food safety Slaughter and processing Animal transport Animal health Procurement Nutrition Renewable energy

September 2023

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The Farm Bill

June 2023

What is the “Farm Bill”?

A federal spending bill that must be renewed every five years

Why do we have the Farm Bill?

Originated during the 1930's as part of the "New Deal"

What is in the Farm Bill?

XII Titles: covering commodities, nutrition, conservation, credit, and more!
~$700 Billion in spending

What does the Farm Bill do?

Gives us the chance to improve farm animal welfare and transition to a more humane food system!

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How the Farm Bill Gets Passed

September 30th deadline for 2023 Farm Bill Congress must pass a new Farm Bill by the 30th, or pass an extension, giving them more time to draft a final bill First draft expected in late October or early November If Congress want to pass a bill before 2024, there will be a lot of work to do in a very short period of time, so getting ahead of that frenzy with our advocacy is key!

September 2023

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ASPCA 2023 Farm Bill Priorities

Increase corporate accountability & address food system consolidation
End government investment in factory farming
Invest in farmers building a more humane system
Ensure strong government oversight of industrial animal agriculture

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September 2023

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Positive Change in the Farm Bill

Marker Bills to Build a More Humane Food System�

EQIP Improvement Act
Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act
Industrial Agriculture Accountability Act
Farm System Reform Act

September 2023

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Stopping the EATS Act

Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act

Sen. Marshall (KS) and Rep. Hinson (IA)
Aims to strip state and local governments of their ability to make agricultural policies within their own borders
Over 1,000 state and local laws would be stripped from the books if the EATS Act is passed

This includes state animal protection laws, as well as consumer, food safety, worker safety, and environmental laws

September 2023

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How to Get Engaged and Tell Your Story

... On Social Media & in the News

Social Networks are a great way to educate and engage your network. Like & Share today!

Post videos on your social media page
Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly twitter) for shareable images, links, and action alerts.

Write a Letter-To-The-Editor – one of the best way to get more info out there is still through traditional media (and we can share it online too!)

Keep it around 200 words – less is more;
Share a bit about why this matters to you – share your expertise!
Connect to a recent story if possible;
Urge others to get engaged too!

September 2023

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How to Get Engaged and Tell Your Story

...With Lawmakers – over email or in person

The most effective - and important – way you can share your thoughts on the Farm Bill is directly with your elected officials!

It can be as easy as sending an email, making a phone call, or even setting up a meeting with a staffer in your congressperson's office.

Keep It Simple:

Share your story – you are an expert in your own experience!
You don't have to be a policy wonk!
Take resources you can leave behind (but not too many)
Ask for follow up – they will get back to you.

September 2023

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How to Get Engaged and Tell Your Story

...With USDA & in your home state

Outside of the Farm Bill, there are lots of ways to weigh in on policies that impact you and other farmers.

The USDA, EPA and other agencies are often engaged in rulemaking and take comments:

USDA Organic Standards Rulemaking
FSIS Labeling Guidelines
Packers and Stockyards Rulemaking

State Legislatures have lots of power to support more pasture-based support and other humane farming practices! Have you considered hosting a farm tour?

September 2023

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Submit an LTE

Use your voice and submit an LTE to your local paper explaining how the Farm Bill should help build a more humane and sustainable food system, not further entrench harmful industrial agriculture. Congressional offices monitor papers in their home districts, so LTEs are a great opportunity to get their attention!

Post a Video to #DefeatEATS

Speak out about the dangerous EATS Act and encourage your followers to urge Congress to reject EATS in the Farm Bill. Whip out that phone and record a 15-30 second video to post on social media using #defeatEATS

Email Congress About the Farm Bill

Use the brief form in the ASPCA advocacy alerts to send a pre-drafted emails to your members of Congress, urging them to include measures that support more humane farming systems and oppose the dangerous EATS Act in the 2023 Farm Bill.

�Three Ways You Can Take Action on the Farm Bill

September 2023

Visit the advocacy alert at aspca.org/farmbill

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Q&A

September 2023

Thank you! You can reach us at farmanimalwelfare@aspca.org!