Sure to be an issue in next year's political campaign, the 2012 Farm Bill, to be debated in Congress, has historic implications.
Our nation's agricultural policy is heavily influenced by lobbyists from large corporations. Already, they have influenced the House of Representatives, which voted to nullify the Fair Farm Rules. The Senate is the next stage, and Minnesota has Sen. Amy Klobuchar on the Agriculture Committee. With many others, I hope we get legislation supporting small farmers who, in my opinion, produce healthier food than larger, corporate factories that sometimes fail inspections.
I urge the News Tribune to be attentive to this issue and to write about it ("Whole Foods meeting focuses on Farm Bill," Sept. 21).
Jeff Monaghan
Esko
