The Federation of Southern Cooperatives
Land Assistance Fund
Farm Bill 2023: Federation Priorities
For 56 years, the Federation has worked to improve stability for Black Farmers, landowners, cooperatives and rural communities all over the South. The U.S. farm bill is up for renewal this year. It's a sweeping piece of legislation comprising 12 titles that contain provisions for food stamps, disaster aid, and agricultural subsidies. Lawmakers have until September 30th to complete the legislation, but the Senate Agriculture Committee requires Farm priorities to be submitted by March 31st for consideration in the earliest draft of the Farm Bill.
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March 17, 2023
The Senate Agriculture Committee is inching closer to drafting a new farm bill, and many of the committee’s members are working to include their priorities in the upcoming legislation. Among that group is Georgia Democrat Raphael Warnock, who joins Agri-Pulse Newsmakers to discuss what he wants to see from the next farm bill as well as offer his thoughts on USDA’s implementation of disadvantaged producer relief.
Then, Dãnia Davy with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives and USDA Equity Commission co-chair Dewayne Goldmon join a panel discussion on where things stand on efforts to address long standing issues facing minority farmers and what the federal government can do to address them.
The Federation's Advocacy Institute helps Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives to advocate for policies and programs that fit their unique needs. Thereby strengthening the impact of our advocacy work which is crafted by listening to our membership of Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives' personal experiences.
The Federation's Advocacy Institute recruits members who want to improve their Advocacy skills.
Member advocates receive training in:
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developing an advocacy agenda
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grassroots organizing
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building rapport with elected officials
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storytelling for an advocacy audience
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how to participate in visits to educate legislators
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how to testify in front of the membership of an elected body.
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The cost of any travel for training or advocacy events will be covered, and member advocates will receive a stipend for their participation.
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Seventy members will be able to participate this year.
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Enrollment is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/ Land Assistance Fund and The Institute for Economic and Racial Equity at Brandeis University announced a partnership (January 2022). Our organizations will communicate with Black farmers and their descendants across the nation to better understand the impact of the Black farmer lawsuits, Pigford v. Glickman and In re Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation. This project will be the first nationwide effort to understand these historic cases' impact on farmers and their families.
We are investigating the experiences of Pigford claimants during and after the case with an eye toward policy and narrative today. Multiple legislative attempts have been made to foster equity in agriculture, including the Justice for Black Farmers Act and Section 1005 of the American Rescue Plan – Emergency Debt Relief for Farmers and Ranchers of Color. This research focused on the experiences and voices of Black farmers will lend clarity and urgency to the problems these policies are meant to address. Beyond agricultural policy, our teams believe that the Pigford cases offer insight into policies around cash transfers and reparations and how harmful narratives affect marginalized communities
PIGFORD RESEARCH PROJECT