Fwd: ACTION ALERT: Tell Congress Local Farms Need COVID-19 Relief!

[Hoai-An Truong]

Hi folks!

This will only take 2 minutes to do - and could have a big impact!

CAFF (which is a fantastic organization btw!) and other organizations support local farmers and also help them to convert to regenerative agriculture which can help actually REMOVE carbon from the atmosphere. Farms that convert to regenerative agriculture (also known as carbon farming) are a key part of our climate response. But first they have to survive! This bill will also help BIPOC farmers survive as well.

Take a couple of minutes to make a quick call. It's fine to leave a message. It can make a difference! Please share this message. Thank you!

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: CAFF: Community Alliance with Family Farmers <con...@caff.org>
Date: Fri, Sep 4, 2020 at 9:35 AM
Subject: ACTION ALERT: Tell Congress Local Farms Need COVID-19 Relief!

Policymakers in D.C. need to hear from you TODAY! Urge them to make sure our small, family farmers don't get left behind again.

ACTION ALERT! Tell Congress: Local Farms Need COVID-19 Relief The majority of farmers selling local foods have suffered severe market disruptions due to COVID-19, yet the USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) has left them out. Now we have a chance to fix this dire situation!  U.S. Representative Alma Adams introduced the Local and Regional Farmer and Market Support Act (HR 8096) in the House of Representatives. The bill is a comprehensive and equitable approach to help small and mid-scale farms, farmers markets, and local food businesses cope with the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Local and Regional Farmer & Market Support Act would: Create a COVID-19 relief payment program for farmers who sell in local and regional markets, based on their lost revenue. Ensure Black, Indigenous, & people of color (BIPOC) producers and low-income communities of color receive equitable access to COVID-19 relief programs. Provide emergency response grants for farmers markets and local food enterprises to implement public health protections and COVID-19-friendly marketing practices. Invest in the restoration and enhancement of local and value-added agriculture markets. Time is running out to get this proposal included in the COVID-19 stimulus package being negotiated in Congress right now. Your voice can make a critical difference and help keep local farms in business. IT ONLY TAKES TWO MINUTES! Use the link below to find your Rep's contact info. Simply click on the "Representatives" tab and enter your address or zip code. Lastly, keep in mind: if you get an answering machine, leave a message. It will make a difference!   Here is a script you may use (adapt as you like): “Hello, my name is _________ and I am a constituent and a voter (tell them if you’re a farmer!). I’m calling to urge you to support small and mid-scale local farms in the next COVID-19 relief package. Three out of four small farms are losing significant income because restaurant, farmers market, and agritourism sales have shrunk due to the pandemic. Many local farms in our community will be out of business by the end of the year if they don’t get targeted relief in the next COVID-19 stimulus bill. Current USDA programs pay local farmers just pennies per pound on the crops they produce, which doesn’t come close to the losses local farms are suffering. The Local and Regional Farms and Markets Support Act has been introduced in the House of Representatives as House Bill 8096. Please sign on to this bill as a co-sponsor so our local farms can receive the support that meets their needs in the next COVID-19 stimulus bill. Thank you for your time."   FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE'S PHONE NUMBER HERE

Sent via ActionNetwork.org.