Farmers & Ranchers for a Green New Deal
Farmers & Ranchers for a Green New Deal is a bipartisan national coalition of rural and urban farmers and ranchers, and organizations that represent farmers and ranchers. Coalition members share a commitment and work together to advance food and agriculture policies that support organic, regenerative, agroecological and biodynamic food production and land-management practices.
The Farmers & Ranchers for a Green New Deal coalition was formed for the purpose of ensuring that farmers and ranchers—not just corporate agribusiness lobbyists—have a voice in future agriculture-related policy reforms. The timing of the coalition’s formation coincided with the February 7, 2019, introduction of the Green New Deal Resolution which calls for a 10-year national mobilization to enact massive policy reforms to address, among other issues, global warming, income inequality, corporate monopolies and the lack of access to clean air, water and healthy food for millions of Americans.
Regeneration International (RI) was tapped by the Sunrise Movement to anchor the Farmers & Ranchers for a Green New Deal coalition. RI is also working with organizations like Family Farm Action, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, American Sustainable Business Coalition, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and others to build and support the coalition. The coalition also benefits from input provided by a dedicated Congressional Advisory Committee comprised of members of Congress who support the coalition’s goals and have agreed to assist in reviewing proposed legislation, organizing Congressional hearings and briefings and building support for key pieces of legislation.[1]
Leadership
Farmers & Ranchers for a Green New Deal co-chairs are:
- Will Harris, White Oak Pastures, Bluffton, Ga.
- Sherri Dugger, Dugger Family Farm, Morristown, Ind.; Socially Responsible Agriculture Project; and Indiana Farmers Union
- Ben Dobson, Stone House Farm, Hudson Valley, N.Y.
- Elizabeth Kaiser, Singing Frogs Farm, Sebastopol, Calif.
- Francis Thicke, Radiance Dairy, Fairfield, Iowa[2]
Congressional Advisory Committee
Farmers & Ranchers for a Green New Deal Congressional Advisory Committee: Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), , Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.)[3]