New Bill Would Offer Support for Farm Transitions
It’s time farmers had autonomy in their small businesses—at least some agriculture committee members think so! A new bill would help factory farmers transition their operations. Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC), joined by Rep. James McGovern (D-MA), just introduced the Industrial Agriculture Conversion Act (IACA) in the House, and Sen. Cory Booker is introducing it in the Senate. Federal support for farm conversions to climate-smart practices is long overdue.
What is the IACA?
If passed, the IACA would create a federal grant program through the United States Department of Agriculture. The program would provide funding for farmers who wish to transition from industrial animal agriculture to alternative farming practices, including specialty-crop production.
The IACA would also help protect farmers against retaliation from the big corporations that control their contracts. Many of the farmers Transfarmation™ works with have spoken about fear of retaliation as a significant barrier, including Craig Watts, a North Carolina farmer who blew the whistle on the chicken industry. Watts spoke in support of the IACA:
Currently, it is nearly impossible for farmers to leave the industrialized model, but the Industrial Agriculture Conversion Act is a solution America’s farmers deserve. We need to start supporting systems we believe in. We need federal policy to help farmers to get out of these exploitative contracts. We need better choices for our food system.
Who is involved?
Representatives Adams and McGovern and Senator Booker are all agriculture committee members. Their choice to introduce the IACA in both the House and the Senate shows a hunger in Washington for solutions that will help farmers access new market opportunities and create rural jobs. Representative Adams explained:
Farmers want to produce food in ways that are good for people and the planet, but aren’t always empowered to do so in a consolidated food system like ours. I’m thrilled to introduce the Industrial Agriculture Conversion Act, which unlocks climate-forward conservation dollars to assist producers who want to transition out of the factory farm model.
Rep. Adams and Sen. Booker have advocated true climate-smart solutions for some time. In February, they and Representative McGovern penned a letter to the secretary of agriculture denouncing eligibility for conservation funding for anaerobic digesters at factory farms to generate biogas. The letter states:
[Practices] which prop up infrastructure currently utilized by industrial animal agriculture systems have a myriad of local environmental harms that disproportionately impact low-income communities and people of color.
Their diligent work in support of small farms and true environmental solutions is well documented, and we are thrilled that they are leading the charge on this important bill.
The ASPCA also supports the IACA, along with over 300 businesses, farmers, and other nonprofits, such as the Center for Biological Diversity, Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment, and Operation Spring Plant. This support further indicates how important this bill would be for the future of our food system.
Transfarmation is passionate about helping farmers escape the exploitative factory-farming industry. We are honored to provide resources and support to any farmer interested in transitioning to plant-focused operations.
Take Action
Do your part to support farmers! Ask your members of Congress to co-sponsor the IACA.