The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities in the US food system. The extreme consolidation of the livestock industry resulted in a supply chain crisis during much of 2020. Shelves in grocery stores were left bare, and over 259 meat processing workers lost their lives due to unsafe working conditions imposed by employers. Producers found themselves without a market for the livestock they raised and millions of animals were gassed or shot. This crisis was not a mere coincidence of market forces, but a direct consequence of the power multinational meatpackers hold over federal farm policy. 

The Farmland for Farmers Act of 2023 (S. 2583) was introduced to the Senate Agricultural Committee in July of 2023 to address root causes plaguing the US agricultural sector. 

Between 2009 and 2022 institution-owned farm properties tripled. This trend allowed large corporations to benefit substantially from farmland while placing the burden on small farmers and the communities they serve. Institutionally owned farm properties often prioritize quick profit over long-term sustainability and the welfare of our environment and communities. This harms conservation efforts, undermines the livelihoods of American farmers, and fails to serve the needs of local communities. 

By supporting the Farmland for Farmers Act of 2023 Presbyterians are advocating for family farmers, protecting US farmland, and prioritizing our communities’ wellbeing along with conservation initiatives. This proactive stance not only strengthens the resilience of our nation’s food systems, but works to eradicate systemic poverty, dismantle racism, and advance climate justice. This aligns with the Matthew 25 Movement of the Presbyterian Mission Agency and the PCUSA’s broader efforts to combat climate change, protect both people and the planet, and uplift vulnerable communities.  

By engaging this legislation and urging Congress to embrace these priorities, we, as people of faith, respond faithfully to Christ’s call.  “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” (Matthew 25:35-26) It is this divine calling, coupled with humanity’s earliest mandate to “till the land and care for it,” that compels us to advocate for US farmland, its workers, and the food systems that nourishes our tables, both domestically and globally (Gen. 2:15). Here you can learn more about PCUSA social witness policy on Ecology and  Environmental Concerns. 

Join us today in urging Congress to prioritize people and the planet over profit  and vote "yes" to the Farmland for Farmers Act of 2023.