How to Solve the Big Problems That Small Family Farms Are Facing
For decades, organic farming associations and similar organizations have supported farmers who embrace agroecology and strive to live in harmony with nature, but these efforts are not sufficient to sustain family-scale farms. Financial pressures, including low crop prices, are driving young farmers to leave the profession, while experienced farmers are forced to give up. To find viable solutions, we can draw inspiration from the New Deal policies that supported family farms during the 20th century.
During the Great Depression, when countless family farms were facing bankruptcy, the New Deal’s Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) came to their rescue. The AAA aimed to re-establish farmers’ purchasing power by raising prices for farm products. It reduced oversupply through marketing quotas and agreements, and controlled production to balance supply and demand. These measures successfully increased farm income and prevented costly surpluses.
The AAA’s parity system, which set price supports from 50 to 90 percent of parity, was effective from 1935 to 1974. It ensured that farmers received fair prices for their crops and reduced government costs related to surplus storage. Consequently, new farmers emerged, conservation practices expanded, and overall farm debt declined. The parity program was successful without being a burden on taxpayers.
In the 1960s, policies were implemented to cut farm prices and push farmers out of rural areas. By the mid-’70s, farm prices were below parity, leading to a decrease in the number of family farms. These policies favored the largest agricultural corporations and led to the current system where taxpayers cover the costs of cheap food, effecting a significant wealth transfer from farmers and the public to corporate giants like Walmart and Archer Daniels Midland.
The Green New Deal resolution introduced in 2019 by Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rekindled the possibility of revisiting the parity and supply management system. This resolution seeks to mobilize various forces to combat climate change. While drawing lessons from the old New Deal, it is essential to design a new version that incorporates racial justice and equity to provide a safety net for farms.
To address the climate emergency, we need a coalition of farmers, farmworkers, labor unions, environmentalists, faith communities, youth, and activists. By uniting, stakeholders can transform this crisis into a powerful campaign to save life on our planet.
Family-scale farms are facing severe financial pressures, and direct sales and the organic label alone are not enough to sustain them. Drawing inspiration from the New Deal’s successful parity system, the Green New Deal offers an opportunity to revitalize the approach and adapt it to meet the challenges of the 21st century. By forming a strong, united movement, we can work toward building a racially just, economically empowered, and climate-resilient food system that benefits all.
🔭 This summary was human-edited with AI-assist.
