With support from National Farmers Union and Farm Aid, 275 family farmers from around the U.S. are making the trip to Washington D.C. this week to ask for emergency assistance and increased funding to offset historically low prices coupled with a sharp increase in production costs. Their requests include an increase in funding for USDA farm loan programs. The requ
ests come in part due to a bleak 2016 agriculture outlook, which is forecasting net farm income for 2016 to be 42 percent lower than it was in 2013, while production costs were reported to be 4 percent higher.
"Farmers certainly need emergency assistance, but we need to move beyond that to a more permanent, sustainable solution," said Carolyn Mugar, Farm Aid's Executive Director.
Part of that solution is providing farmers and ranchers with a convenient and affordable way to grow their business in a sustainable manner that eliminates the need for costly imputs, while working with nature to produce fresh, local, healthy food. It's important for consumers to be aware that buying food at a big box store pays a farmer or rancher on average 17.4¢ per dollar; while buying directly from a farmer or rancher pays on the average 92¢ per dollar, helping local farms, ranches and communities thrive.
HMI offers a variety of placed-based classes that are designed to help farmers and ranchers apply Holistic Management principles and practices in their farm or ranch business. Holistic Management is taught in a variety of ways, with hands-on, interactive programs available that allow farmers and ranchers to learn by doing, while also connecting with other farmers and ranchers. Online and individualized distance learning courses are also available, so farmers and ranchers can learn anytime, anywhere, at their convenience.
Healthy land. Healthy food. Healthy lives. All three are needed in order to be successful and sustainable. If you value the availability of fresh, nutrient-dense, local food in your community, visit our website to see how you can help family farmers and ranchers succeed.
is no ordinary conference! HMI invites you to beautiful Paicines Ranch in Paicines, California for our 2016 Gathering. Let’s grow together through a field day at the innovative ranch, fine dining, farm-fresh local foods and sessions on numerous health, food and sustainable topics that matter to
making this an event you won’t forget.
Connect with innovative, solution-oriented and passionate farmers, ranchers, conservationists, authors, natural food/health professionals and our own Holistic Management community. Our special keynote speaker, “America’s Most Famous Farmer” himself, Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms, will be sure to inspire us all.