working together for a just food and farm policy

Latest Issues & Actions

This section focuses on the issues and actions we are now covering.  We continue to follow numerous issues including full settlement of all discrimination lawsuits against USDA and the full implementation of the 2012 Farm Bill.  Please sign up for our action alert lists to get the latest news.

Just Released:

An Equity Letter from the Rural Coalition and Their Members, Partners, and Allies was delivered to the Congressional Agricultural Leadership Committee on February 14, 2012 as they prepare for the 2012 Farm Bill negotiations.  This letter was the result of the "Getting Our Act Together (GOAT) on the Farm Bill Workshop" where the Rural Coalition, in collaboration with numerous community-based organizations, met on February 1-2, 2012 in Washington, DC.  During the GOAT workshop, discussions included areas for collaboration and synergy around policy proposals that encourage equity and access, sustainable agriculture, and community-based food systems.  Click here to download a PDF version of the result of our work from the GOAT Farm Bill Workshop. 

A Statement from the National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association and Rural Coalition/Coalición Rural on USDA's Updated and Improved Process to Resolve Discrimination Claims of Hispanic and Women Farmers was released on January 25, 2012.  This report was released by the National Latino Farmers and Ranchers Trade Association and the Rural Coalition regarding the USDA's process to resolve discrimination claims of Hispanic and Women Farmers.  Click here to download a PDF version of this document. 

A Letter from the Rural Coalition and Their Members, Partners, and Allies to the Court About Numerous Issues Regarding the Coordination and Implementation of the Pigford II Claims Process by Class Counsel was sent on January 19, 2012.  This letter was written to support all of those who have been discriminated against by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).  Click Here to download a PDF version of this letter.

Recent Actions:

“A Time to Change: Report of The Assessment Conversations Team” (The ACT Report) was released on September 22, 2010.  This 156 page report by the Rural Coalition and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives compiles finding by the hundreds of participants in the 5 year USDA-Community Based Organization Partners process, and reviews the status of implementation of the 2008 Farm Bill by USDA through January 2009.  Over 200 recommendations on actions to improve equity in agriculture are included.  Click here to download a PDF version of this document.

USDA and Shirley Sherrod – In July 2010, USDA Georgia State Rural Development Director Shirley Sherrod was forced to resign from USDA based on a video of her remarks taken out of context.  Rural Coalition and its members and allies strongly supported her reinstatement. View our two statements by clicking on the links below:

The Rural Coalition/Coalición Rural is an alliance of farmers, farmworkers, indigenous, migrant and working people from the United States,
Mexico, Canada and beyond working together toward a new society that values unity, hope, people and the land.