SEEDS OF CHANGE: HELP FARMERS END HUNGER

Congress is now working on the 2007 Farm Bill, which includes funding for farm programs and the Food Stamp Program. Passing a new Farm Bill provides an important opportunity to reshape farm policies to help small and medium size family farms survive and revitalize rural towns and villages. Farm programs are supposed to protect U.S. farmers against low prices, but, most of the farm support payments now go to the largest farms and cover just five crops (corn, wheat, cotton, soybeans, rice). Of the 37,000 farms in New York State, only 9,000 receive any assistance. Please pray for all farmers who struggle to keep their farms producing food for our tables. Our Peace and Justice Committee is joining the U.S. Catholic Bishops in advocacy to reform farm support programs and the Food Stamp program in the 2007 Farm Bill. Please take a moment to refer to the letter which our committee sent to Congressmen Hinchey and Arcuri. We have posted it on our parish website as a sample. Feel free to use that letter or compose your own message for your particular Congressman.