Small Farms Are Taking A Beating: The Farm Bill's Dirty Little Secret
03/31/25 • 27 min
The Farm Bill is often presented as a lifeline for American agriculture, but is it actually working for small farmers? In this episode of Just Say Hay: The Podcast, we uncover the hidden reality behind this massive piece of legislation—how it overwhelmingly benefits corporate agribusiness while small farms struggle to survive.
We take a deep dive into the history of the Farm Bill, from its origins in the Dust Bowl era to its modern-day consequences. While subsidies, crop insurance, and conservation programs are meant to stabilize agriculture, they often shut out small and mid-sized farmers. Meanwhile, corporate consolidation is skyrocketing, and access to markets remains a major hurdle for independent producers.
But it’s not all doom and gloom—there’s a way forward. What if grocery stores were incentivized to source locally? Could tax breaks for purchasing from small farms within a 100-mile radius help shift the balance, strengthen local food systems, and improve food quality?
If you care about the future of small farms, food security, and agricultural policy, this episode is a must-listen.
👉 Follow & Subscribe to Just Say Hay:The Podcast on your favorite podcast app or YouTube to stay informed on the challenges and solutions shaping small farming today.
#FarmBill #SmallFarms #AgriculturePolicy #FoodSecurity #JustSayHay #FarmSubsidies
The Farm Bill is often presented as a lifeline for American agriculture, but is it actually working for small farmers? In this episode of Just Say Hay: The Podcast, we uncover the hidden reality behind this massive piece of legislation—how it overwhelmingly benefits corporate agribusiness while small farms struggle to survive.
We take a deep dive into the history of the Farm Bill, from its origins in the Dust Bowl era to its modern-day consequences. While subsidies, crop insurance, and conservation programs are meant to stabilize agriculture, they often shut out small and mid-sized farmers. Meanwhile, corporate consolidation is skyrocketing, and access to markets remains a major hurdle for independent producers.
But it’s not all doom and gloom—there’s a way forward. What if grocery stores were incentivized to source locally? Could tax breaks for purchasing from small farms within a 100-mile radius help shift the balance, strengthen local food systems, and improve food quality?
If you care about the future of small farms, food security, and agricultural policy, this episode is a must-listen.
👉 Follow & Subscribe to Just Say Hay:The Podcast on your favorite podcast app or YouTube to stay informed on the challenges and solutions shaping small farming today.
#FarmBill #SmallFarms #AgriculturePolicy #FoodSecurity #JustSayHay #FarmSubsidies
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