Farm Aid adds its voice to food and farm policy

Farm Aid is the longest-running benefit concert series in America, and it’s also involved in food and farm policy. 

According to Hannah Tremblay, Policy and Advocacy Manager, Farm Aid supports the Fair Credit for Farmers Act. She’s sent an email blast to all those who attended past Farm Aid concerts, which began in 1985.

Farm Aids policy involvement dates back almost as long; Wille Nelson, the iconic singer, and songwriter in 1986, managed to gather nearly all food and farm organizations in Texas, resulting in the United Farmer and Rancher Congress (UFRC),

According to Farm Aid, “The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is supposed to be where farmers turn to when other lenders deny them loans and is the only option for many family farmers who can’t access credit through commercial banks. “But without basic farmer borrower protections, farmers can face predatory practices, discrimination, and extractive relationships with lenders.

“Luckily, there’s a solution to some of these issues — the Fair Credit for Farmers Act. This act is based on the belief that all farmers deserve fair treatment from FSA, which has not always been the case. The Fair Credit for Farmers Act makes important reforms to FSA, protecting farmers and making them equal partners in the lending process and, ultimately, their farm business’ success.”

Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp organized the first Farm Aid concert in 1985 to raise awareness about the loss of family farms and funds to keep farm families on the land. 

Dave Matthews joined the Farm Aid Board of Directors in 2001, and Margo Price joined in 2021. 

Farm Aid has raised over $78 million to promote a strong and resilient family farm agriculture system in America. Farm Aid is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered agriculture system in America.

Farm Aid’s most recent Noble, IN, concert was again sold out.

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