Living Food: Time for a Change
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle, Washington
May 21, 2007

A committee in the U.S. House of Representatives this week is beginning to reshape farm conservation programs, a key to improving the country's environmental health. But Congress will have a hard time financing changes if it ducks the kinds of fundamental farm policy changes supported by Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Wash.

In a refreshing example of much-needed suburban interest in farm policy, the Eastside Republican has joined with a dairy-farm state Democrat, Wisconsin's Ron Kind, and others in both parties to propose the Food & Agriculture Risk Management for the 21st Century Act. Besides better conservation, the FARM 21 proposal hits key themes that must emerge in a new farm bill: better support for domestic and international anti-hunger programs, more encouragement for organics, encouragement of farmers markets and new emphasis on fruit and vegetable growers.

The bill's big difference is its plan to transition from welfarelike subsidies for the biggest farmers to a system of individual risk-management accounts that protect farmers when prices drop. The plan would encourage savings while ending the protectionist practices that hold back farmers in Africa and other parts of the Third World.

Reichert realizes his district is attuned to the environment, food, health and trade. Preservation of agriculture is a national concern, and a local one where some of King County's remaining farms have held their ground.

It is just that type of political dynamic that makes it possible to hope for a farm bill that benefits the whole country, not a few wealthy growers and agribusinesses. Other bill sponsors include Reps. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., and environmental, humanitarian, food and fiscal-conservative groups. The FARM 21 concepts are a good start toward sustainable farming, food and trade.