Last September, when Farm Aid brought our annual festival to Raleigh, North Carolina, we had the privilege of announcing Farmers for Climate Action: A Rally for Resilience on behalf of our longtime partners, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. The rally will be a major mobilization of farmers, farm workers and farmer allies in Washington, DC. Scheduled for March 6, 7, and 8, we will converge on the nation’s capital to urge Congress to make climate change policy a priority in the 2023 Farm Bill. The three-day event will include an opening ceremony, grazing demonstrations, a march and rally, press events, and a lobby day on Capitol Hill.
More information is coming soon – on ways to participate and register – but please consider joining us in Washington for this historic mobilization the week of March 6 as we put these three core demands before elected officials:
Farmer-Led Climate Solutions
The farm bill must support farmers in building systems that are resilient to climate change impacts, improve and sustain farmers’ economic bottom line, and support biodiversity. This includes incorporating greenhouse gas emissions reductions and carbon sequestration into all the landscapes of U.S. agriculture. It is time to address corporate consolidation and concentration and protect the livelihoods of small to mid-scale farmers.
Racial Justice in the Farm Bill
The farm bill must value and support the expertise and engagement of indigenous and traditional communities. The policies and programs developed must prioritize their needs, maintaining and restoring or improving access to land, and offer technical assistance and funding to support the holistic approaches that, as a co-benefit to broader ecological benefits, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and build and maintain carbon sequestration.
Communities, not Corporations
The farm bill must identify solutions that support effective rural and urban development and livelihood. This includes a focus on food justice in urban centers, and food sovereignty for rural and urban communities of all income levels and ethnicities. The farm bill should support key areas of research and technical assistance, including those through which collaborations with holders of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) can flourish in building climate solutions. Addressing corporate consolidation in the sector will help farmers make a fair livelihood, maintain financial autonomy, and access land to implement climate-friendly practices.
Learn more about the Rally for Resilience and sign up for updates here.
Watch the announcement of the rally at Farm Aid 2022:
