October 16, 2006

Ms. Gina Acosta,
Letters Editor
The Washington Post
1150 15th St., NW
Washington, DC 20071-0002

Dear Ms. Acosta:

The Washington Post’s continuing series “Harvesting Cash” has brought a new level of transparency to the public about the flaws plaguing U.S. farm programs.

But it is time for the public and the agriculture sector to focus on solutions to improve the current programs and transform U.S. farm policy. At our website, www.farmland.org, American Farmland Trust (AFT) offers such recommendations in our report, Agenda 2007: A New Framework and Direction for U.S. Farm Policy. AFT is not alone in presenting ideas. The National Corn Growers Association, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, fruit and vegetable growers, the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and others all have put forward policy options.

It is clear there is growing public discontent with the inequitable distribution of current farm support, and pressure for change is coming from many domestic and global forces. For the first time in
70 years we have an opportunity to create a farm bill to improve the safety net programs, expand conservation, increase access to healthier diets, to place a greater emphasis on entrepreneurship, new markets and renewable fuels; and to keep our farmers competitive in a global economy. 

I hope that the The Washington Post will continue to write pieces that will encourage public discourse and civic involvement in what will be one of the most important pieces of legislation next year, the 2007 Farm Bill. I remain confident that agriculture policy can change in the 2007 Farm Bill—and increase the public benefits, stewardship and the public support of an industry vital to our nation.

Sincerely,
Ralph Grossi
President
American Farmland Trust
1200 18th St., NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036

cc: Dan Morgan, The Washington Post