|
|
|
|
|
|
| Wednesday, June 13, 2007 |
|
Social Justice
By St Mary Administrator @ 8:52 AM :: 206 Views ::  :: Human Concerns
|
 |
food stamp and nutrition programs and income/price support for commodity crops, and includes components such as foreign food aid, animal health and the environment. It also determines what crops the government will support with subsidies (such as corn or soybeans) which in turn determines what kind of foods will be plentiful and inexpensive. However, three out of every five farmers do not receive any subsidy payments at all, while large agribusinesses become wealthy on their subsidies, providing no incentive to keep our smaller family farms intact. Small farmers typically achieve 4-5 times greater output per acre in part because they work their land more intensively and use often more sustainable production systems.
As good stewards, we need to inform ourselves on this issue and then let our voices be heard so that a just bill will be passed. We can also choose to spend our food dollars on locally grown foods where possible, and ask that good nutritious food choices be included in our school lunch programs. For more information, contact the Midwest Sustainable Agriculture Working Group. www.msawg.org.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|