This year, Congress will pass a new farm bill, the most important legislation affecting not only farming but also food, land-use and energy policies in the U.S. It creates the rules for all aspects of our food and farm system, addressing such critical issues as agricultural production, food and nutrition assistance programs, rural development, renewable energy and conservation. The outcomes of this $90 billion bill are particularly important to Washington state, where 34,000 farms contribute to a $6.4 billion agriculture industry.

Unfortunately, previous farm bills have instituted policies that produce an abundance of cheap food to serve the interests of large-scale industrial agriculture, and in doing so have sacrificed the health of the people, economy and environment. The loss of farmers and land, the proliferation of hunger and health problems, and the deterioration of rural economies and communities have been the results of this poor legislation.

For example, a large portion of the farm bill funding is used to subsidize just a handful of crops, supporting the overproduction of corn, soybeans and wheat. Although it may seem that this policy would benefit Eastern Washington, famous for wheat and grains, in reality most of the funding helps the largest farms obtain the best land and forces small-scale family farmers out of business.

Furthermore, wheat accounts for only 7 percent of the state’s agricultural output, so Washington would be better served by farming policies that promoted specialty crops. The state is one of the leading producers of apples, cherries, pears, raspberries, potatoes and asparagus, but the specialty crop market is becoming increasingly threatened by foreign imports. Washington needs the 2007 Farm Bill to protect the economic welfare of our farmers and to support the production of diverse, ecologically sound agriculture.

Not only do current policies harm our state’s family farmers, the corrupt subsidy program and other titles written into the farm bill explain why unhealthy foods like candy and soft drinks (both derived from corn) are so inexpensive in comparison to fresh fruits and vegetables. Indeed, it is often less expensive to buy a large soda than it is to buy a fresh apple, and since consumers are apt to buy as much food for their money as possible, it is no wonder that obesity and other diet-related problems have become epidemic.

Children suffer most severely from the consequences of this system; school cafeterias are dumping grounds for the subsidized crops and commodities, which is why they predominately feature foods high in fat and low in nutrients.

Perhaps this also explains why fast food restaurants, and not farmers’ markets, line the streets of downtown Spokane. A farm bill with balanced, fair policies would make fresh, local fruits and vegetables more affordable and accessible for consumers, and could fund WSU Extension’s Food Sense, the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, and farm-to-school programs, all of which provide important nutrition education and fresh produce to schools and low-income people in our community.

The farm bill also significantly affects the environment. In the past, farm bills have favored policies that encourage maximized production, relying on chemicals that deplete the quality of the soil, water and air. Permitting more land to be developed, few if any of the bill’s provisions have been devoted to supporting sustainable agriculture and land conservation efforts.

Washington, however, is a leader in the movement toward sustainability (WSU recently introduced the nation’s first academic concentration in organic agriculture), and the new bill could fund research and implementation of environmentally friendly food systems both locally and globally.

The devastating policies of previous farm bills are clearly not inevitable, and this year presents an opportunity for a positive new direction. Congress is slated to discuss the bill this month, so now is the time for us to contact our legislators and tell them that we want this farm bill to lay the foundation for a new system of agriculture and a new way of thinking about food.

This new bill should include policies that are equitable for farmers, are not at odds with public health concerns and promote environmental stewardship. Our community stands to benefit tremendously from this new legislation, so we must join forces with organizations around the country that are demanding that Congress write a farm bill that promises a diverse, abundant food supply, healthy land and thriving agricultural economies that will benefit us now and well into the future.