Illinois farmers are in Washington, D.C., advocating for a new farm bill
The previous farm bill, which governs a huge range of food and land programs, was extended but expires this fall.
Illinois farmers and advocates are at the nation’s Capitol this week to pressure Congress on a new federal farm bill. The previous farm bill, which governs a huge range of food and land programs, was extended but expires this fall. The group from Illinois is pushing for the next bill to address climate change and racial injustice.
Natasha Nichols, founder of the We Sow We Grow Project, recently spoke with WBEZ’s Melba Lara about the bill.
Tell us about We Sow We Grow.
“The We Sow We Grow Project was born out of a desire to connect the community to their food because so often those of us who live in large cities don’t really understand how food gets directly to our tables. We just assume that we go to the grocery store and we have it.”
How is the work that’s governed by the farm bill present in cities like Chicago, along with downstate communities?
“Whether people know it or not, we have a very robust urban ag space within any of the 77 neighborhoods that are around the city of Chicago. You can find community gardens, urban farms or other spaces that will teach you how the food that you eat gets to you.”
You’re advocating this week for something called the Justice for Black Farmers Act. What would that legislation do?
“The Justice for Black Farmers Act recognizes the history of discrimination within the USDA against Black farmers and ranchers, and it really seeks to correct and prevent further discrimination in the federal agriculture system. This bill would bring critical reforms to the USDA. It would enact policies to protect against land loss and then it would also reinvest in existing and aspiring Black farmers. So essentially just giving equity for every single farmer despite their racial background.”
Black farmers have been fighting for more justice for years. Do you have hope that this Congress will actually be able to do something?
“We always have hope. We’ll never, ever let go of that hope. We’re also hoping that our elected officials will understand that it is just an inherent right for the people who are producing the food and making sure that the food gets to the consumers will do right by every grower out there.”
Let’s pivot to climate change. It’s certainly a big threat that’s facing farmers. How are you trying to ensure that the next farm bill helps the food sector stay resilient?
We are also pushing for the Agriculture Resilience Act, and that would help farmers to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. It’ll strengthen every farm, whether we’re urban or rural, with research, conservation and energy investments. Essentially, we just want to be really, really good stewards over the land that we’ve been entrusted with. And we want to make sure that we’re leaving the land better than we found it for the future growers of the world.”
What are you going to tell legislators who sit on the agriculture committees when you meet with them?
“We just want to make sure that we have all of the tools and the support that we need in order to continue growing great food. We are pretty lucky in Illinois to have folks who support the farm bill already. They just need to put faces to the people who support them and are asking for their support.”
Lauren Frost is WBEZ’s afternoon news producer. Follow her @frostlaur.
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Illinois farmers are in Washington, D.C., advocating for a new farm bill
The previous farm bill, which governs a huge range of food and land programs, was extended but expires this fall.
Illinois farmers and advocates are at the nation’s Capitol this week to pressure Congress on a new federal farm bill. The previous farm bill, which governs a huge range of food and land programs, was extended but expires this fall. The group from Illinois is pushing for the next bill to address climate change and racial injustice.
Natasha Nichols, founder of the We Sow We Grow Project, recently spoke with WBEZ’s Melba Lara about the bill.
Tell us about We Sow We Grow.
“The We Sow We Grow Project was born out of a desire to connect the community to their food because so often those of us who live in large cities don’t really understand how food gets directly to our tables. We just assume that we go to the grocery store and we have it.”
How is the work that’s governed by the farm bill present in cities like Chicago, along with downstate communities?
“Whether people know it or not, we have a very robust urban ag space within any of the 77 neighborhoods that are around the city of Chicago. You can find community gardens, urban farms or other spaces that will teach you how the food that you eat gets to you.”
You’re advocating this week for something called the Justice for Black Farmers Act. What would that legislation do?
“The Justice for Black Farmers Act recognizes the history of discrimination within the USDA against Black farmers and ranchers, and it really seeks to correct and prevent further discrimination in the federal agriculture system. This bill would bring critical reforms to the USDA. It would enact policies to protect against land loss and then it would also reinvest in existing and aspiring Black farmers. So essentially just giving equity for every single farmer despite their racial background.”
Black farmers have been fighting for more justice for years. Do you have hope that this Congress will actually be able to do something?
“We always have hope. We’ll never, ever let go of that hope. We’re also hoping that our elected officials will understand that it is just an inherent right for the people who are producing the food and making sure that the food gets to the consumers will do right by every grower out there.”
Let’s pivot to climate change. It’s certainly a big threat that’s facing farmers. How are you trying to ensure that the next farm bill helps the food sector stay resilient?
We are also pushing for the Agriculture Resilience Act, and that would help farmers to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. It’ll strengthen every farm, whether we’re urban or rural, with research, conservation and energy investments. Essentially, we just want to be really, really good stewards over the land that we’ve been entrusted with. And we want to make sure that we’re leaving the land better than we found it for the future growers of the world.”
What are you going to tell legislators who sit on the agriculture committees when you meet with them?
“We just want to make sure that we have all of the tools and the support that we need in order to continue growing great food. We are pretty lucky in Illinois to have folks who support the farm bill already. They just need to put faces to the people who support them and are asking for their support.”
Lauren Frost is WBEZ’s afternoon news producer. Follow her @frostlaur.