Sustaining Rural & Farm Communities
Sustainable family farms and rural communities should be promoted.
State and federal public policies should promote family-based agriculture, which provides a solid foundation for stable rural communities, a safe domestic food supply and promotes responsible land stewardship. Current agricultural programs undermine family farming by providing massive federal subsidies to industrial agri-businesses and absentee owners. Federal farm subsidies should be targeted to family farmers. More loan opportunities and small business assistance should be made available to support family farming and small rural businesses.
Public policy should support initiatives that develop local food systems.
Locally grown and marketed food minimizes energy consumption in terms of transportation and storage. State and federal agricultural policy should stimulate development of local agricultural markets. Economic incentives should be provided to farmers who produce healthy foods for local markets.
Agricultural policy should protect the environment and promote good land stewardship.
Public policy and funding should promote soil and water conservation by farmers and other landowners. The University of Missouri should provide technical assistance through extension agencies and other programs to assist landowners in developing effective conservation practices.
Industrialized agriculture is not traditional family farming and should be adequately regulated to protect rural communities and the local environment.
Large industrial agri-businesses consume a disproportionate share of government resources. The human rights of migrant farm workers should be protected; farm animals should be treated humanely; and environmental protections should be enforced.
The preservation of prime farmland should be a public policy priority.
Urban sprawl is encroaching upon more areas of prime farmland. Public policy should strike a balance between respect for private property rights and responsible land use planning that will preserve farmland for future generations. |
