Family farm aid, fair markets and rural opportunity
Farm policy explained with a progressive perspective: family farm aid, fair markets, rural services and opportunity. We show what supporters argue and what critics say.
Pueblo, COindependent policy commentary site with a progressive perspective79 articles
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The Farm and Family Relief Act: Inside the Democrats’ $30 Billion Aid Proposal
What the Farm and Family Relief Act would do, why supporters back it, what critics question, and how to check the bill…
Antitrust and Fair MarketsWhy Democrats Call the Farm Crisis a “Five-Alarm Fire”
Why Democrats describe the farm economy as a five-alarm fire, what evidence supporters cite, what critics dispute, and…
Farm Aid and ReliefThe Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act: Breaking Up Big Meatpacking
A plain look at the Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act and the meatpacking debate: what supporters want, what…
Rural Health, Childcare and BroadbandHouse Democrats’ New Report: A Blueprint for Rural Communities
What a House Democrats' rural blueprint report typically covers, how to read policy reports critically, and what it…
Climate, Conservation and EnergyWhy 45 Democrats Are Pushing Back on the USDA’s REAP Rule
Why a group of Democrats is pushing back on a USDA REAP rule, what the Rural Energy for America Program does, and how…
Farm Aid and Relief
The Farm and Family Relief Act: Inside the Democrats’ $30 Billion Aid Proposal
What the Farm and Family Relief Act would do, why supporters back it, what critics question, and how to check the bill…
Farm Aid and ReliefThe Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act: Breaking Up Big Meatpacking
A plain look at the Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act and the meatpacking debate: what supporters want, what…
Farm Aid and ReliefThe Democratic Vision for a Bipartisan Farm Bill
What Democrats say a bipartisan farm bill should include, why farm bills have usually needed both parties, and how to…
Farm Aid and ReliefWhy Democrats Say the Republican Farm Bill “Fails to Meet the Moment”
Why Democrats say the Republican farm bill falls short, how Republicans respond, and a checklist for reading any farm…
Antitrust and Fair Markets
Why Democrats Call the Farm Crisis a “Five-Alarm Fire”
Why Democrats describe the farm economy as a five-alarm fire, what evidence supporters cite, what critics dispute, and…
Antitrust and Fair MarketsThe “Blue Wave” and the Future of Agriculture Policy
What a Blue Wave could mean for agriculture policy depends on committees, coalitions and the farm bill. A…
Antitrust and Fair MarketsThe Democratic Approach to Antitrust Enforcement in Agriculture
How Democrats say antitrust enforcement should work in agriculture, from meatpacking to seed, what critics argue and…
Antitrust and Fair MarketsHow Democrats Are Addressing the Consolidation of the Meatpacking Industry
Why Democrats focus on meatpacker concentration, what remedies they discuss, what critics argue, and where Colorado…
Rural Health, Childcare and Broadband
House Democrats’ New Report: A Blueprint for Rural Communities
What a House Democrats' rural blueprint report typically covers, how to read policy reports critically, and what it…
Rural Health, Childcare and BroadbandWhy Democrats Are Pushing for Year-Round E15
Why some Democrats back year-round E15 ethanol sales, what supporters and critics say about corn demand, fuel prices…
Rural Health, Childcare and BroadbandThe Democratic Plan to Address the Rural Healthcare Crisis
What Democrats propose for rural health care, from hospitals to telehealth, what critics argue, and practical steps…
Rural Health, Childcare and BroadbandHow Democrats Are Working to Expand Rural Broadband
How Democrats say they would expand rural broadband, what supporters and critics argue, and what a Colorado farm can…
Climate, Conservation and Energy
Why 45 Democrats Are Pushing Back on the USDA’s REAP Rule
Why a group of Democrats is pushing back on a USDA REAP rule, what the Rural Energy for America Program does, and how…
Climate, Conservation and EnergyThe Democratic Case for Increased Agricultural Research Funding
Why Democrats argue for more agricultural research funding, what supporters and skeptics say about returns, and how…
Climate, Conservation and EnergyWhy Democrats Are Pushing for Streamlined Biotech Regulations
Why some Democrats want streamlined biotech regulation in agriculture, what supporters and critics say about speed and…
Climate, Conservation and EnergyThe Democratic Approach to Climate-Smart Agriculture
How Democrats approach climate-smart agriculture, from voluntary incentives to conservation, what critics argue, and…
Labor and Immigration
How Democrats Plan to Lower Input Costs for Family Farms
How Democrats say they would cut farm input costs, from fertilizer to repair rights, what critics dispute, and what…
Labor and ImmigrationHow Democrats Are Courting the Next Generation of Farmers
How Democrats say they would support young and beginning farmers, what critics argue, and practical first steps for…
Labor and ImmigrationThe Democratic Stance on H-2A Labor and Immigration Reform
What Democrats propose on H-2A agricultural labor and immigration reform, what critics argue, and what farm employers…
Labor and ImmigrationThe Democratic Case for a More Progressive Tax Code for Farmers
What a more progressive tax code could mean for farmers according to Democrats, the arguments critics make, and how to…
Trade and Credit
The Democratic Case for Expanding Credit Access for Farmers
Why Democrats argue for wider credit access for farmers, what supporters and critics say, and how to compare lenders…
Trade and CreditThe Democratic Plan to Stabilize Trade Relationships for Farmers
How Democrats say they would steady farm trade relationships, what exporters and critics argue, and where to find…
Trade and CreditHow Democrats Are Working to Reduce Barriers to Land Ownership
How Democrats say they would help new and underserved farmers buy land, what critics argue, and practical steps for…
Trade and CreditThe Democratic Stance on Agricultural Trade with China
What Democrats say about selling U.S. farm products to China, the arguments on tariffs and diversification, and how to…
Trusted official resources
- USDA: U.S. Department of Agriculture
- USDA Economic Research Service: farm economy data and analysis
- USDA NASS: agricultural statistics and surveys
- Farmers.gov: USDA one-stop site for producers
- Colorado Department of Agriculture: state agriculture agency
- CSU Extension: Colorado State extension
- Colorado Farm Bureau: state farm organization
From farm.FM
When the numbers get heavy, Our sister site farm.FM has the lighter side: farm satire, country music and more farm economics stories.