Agricultural Policy

Today, we are in a worldwide struggle for control of our food and water. Find out how what you can do to help protect food and farms in our Fair Farm campaign.

In a country where the average food product travels 1,500 to 2,500 miles before reaching our dinner tables, it is easy to lose touch with the origins of our food. Fortunately, people everywhere are embracing the local food movement. When you buy local, you gain access to healthful, tasty foods, prevent environmental degradation, and help your community prosper.

Get the Facts

• When the cost of farm goods increases, these costs are totally and immediately passed onto consumers through higher food prices, but when the farm prices fall back down, grocery store prices do not always drop as quickly or completely.
• In 2009, nearly all of soybeans and four-fifths of corn cultivated in the United States were grown from seeds containing genetically engineered traits covered by Monsanto patents.
• Since farmers receive less for each animal they sell, many have tried to recoup their earnings by selling more animals. According to USDA, the number of farms containing more than 5,000 hogs tripled between 1992 and 2007.
• Taxpayers paid $179 million between 2003 and 2007 to cover manure management costs just for industrial dairies and hog operations (not counting chickens or cattle).
• Low income consumers buy less healthy food, in part because of lack of access to supermarkets.

Take Action

• Challenge the corporate control of our food system!
• Use our consumer tools to make the best decisions when it comes to your food.
• Support small farmers and local economies. Find farms, farmers’ markets, and responsible restaurants near you: check out the Eat Well Guide.

Learn More

• Find out how the Farm Bill, up for reauthorization in 2012, can help solve our food system crisis.
• Discover more about where your food comes from when you shop at the average grocery store with our tool: Global Grocer.
• See our comments on competition in agriculture markets to Attorney General Holder and Secretary Vilsack.