Tilth Producers applauds first district Congresswoman and House Agriculture Committee member Suzan DelBene for standing up for local and organic farms as well as beginning farmers by signing on to three(!) recent “Dear Colleague” letters to fellow Representatives on those issues.
Since joining the House Agriculture Committee this year, Congresswoman DelBene has taken many opportunities to support sustainable farming, including joining the House Organic Caucus, co-sponsoring the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act and Beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act, and even braving the elements to tour Local Roots Farm with us in April.
If you don’t live in the first district, urge your Representative to support beginning farmer programs in the Farm Bill with a quick phone call:
1. Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121
2. Ask the operator for your Representative’s office (not sure who represents you? find out online)
3. Ask to speak with the agriculture aide for your Representative. Tell them,
“Hi, my name is _____ and I am a constituent of Representative ____. I’m calling to urge my Representative to sign onto the Dear Colleague letter being circulated in the House in support of critical beginning farmer Farm Bill programs. [Explain why this issue matters to you.] To sign on, contact Alan Feyerherm in the office of Rep. Jeff Fortenberry. Will the Representative be signing on to this letter? Thank you!”
4. Tell us how it went – email [email protected] with any feedback.
Looking for another way to plug into Farm Bill issues? Check out the USDA’s new #MyFarmBill campaign.