The Farm Bill is a major piece of federal legislation passed roughly every five years. It shapes:

• nutrition programs (like SNAP)
• crop supports and commodity programs
• conservation and environmental quality
• rural development
• local and regional food systems

While many faith groups have historically focused on hunger and nutrition, the Farm Bill also contains critical environmental provisions, including:

• EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program)
• CSP (Conservation Stewardship Program)
• soil health and water protection measures
• climate resilience and sustainable agriculture investments

These programs directly affect frontline communities, farmers, ranchers, ecosystems, and food-systems. Collectively they have significant impact for our long-term goals on climate and sustainability. When approached more holistically, in relationship to goals on hunger and poverty, they are even more critical in moving us toward a people centered economy. 

By encouraging faith groups and others of moral conscience to take the environmental dimensions of the Farm Bill seriously, UUSJ has helped broaden the moral conversation around the bill — connecting food justice, climate justice, and environmental justice in a more unified, interrelated, framework.

Understandings continue to evolve and respond to current conditions, but we believe we are, and have been, helping expand the collective impact for justice in the Farm Bill.