Campaign for Economic Justice recent activities

Campaign for Economic Justice recent activities

In recent months, the Campaign for Economic Justice has:

Worked successfully with the Campaign for Family Farms to urge Hoosier hog farmers to vote "No" on a measure that would have continued the mandatory pork checkoff tax, which funds the National Pork Producers Council to the tune of $1 million per week.

Although most hog farmers in Indiana and across the country voted against the tax, the USDA, under the leadership of President Bush's appointee, Secretary of Agriculture Ann Venemen, cut a deal in court with the NPPC to keep it in place. The Campaign for Family Farms is suing the USDA to force them to honor the vote.

Helped organize efforts to form a Small/Family Farm Commission as a subset of the Indiana Commission on Agriculture and Rural Development that will address the unique problems faced by Indiana's small- to medium-sized family farms. The Commission is working to have a report out by the end of this year.

Held meetings with farmers around Indiana to organize, educate and empower farm families to take a stand and challenge the corporate takeover of agriculture that is currently taking place. This is an ongoing effort of the Campaign.

Developed state legislation called the Omnibus Farm Reform Act with extensive farmer input. If enacted, this legislation would help stop vertical integration of livestock markets; curb the rapid consolidation of corporate agribusiness; provide property tax abatement to family farms; slow the spread of large confined feeding operations; increase the number of marketing outlets for family farmer produced products; and provide a "safety net" for Hoosier family farms in the form of a credit assistance program that helps farmers meet their debt service requirements. CAC will work during the next legislative session to pass portions of the Omnibus Farm Reform Act.

Worked with the National Family Farm Coalition, the National Farm Action Campaign and other organizations across the country to oppose Bush nominee Thomas Dorr for undersecretary of agriculture for rural development. Dorr is a large farm owner from Iowa who has stated that his vision of agriculture is a 225,000 acre farming operation divided into three pods, each with its own manager. This would reduce the number of farms in Indiana to one per county.

Advocated continuation of the State Treasurer's Ag Loan Program that makes operating capital available to farmers at decreased interest rates, and for continued funding for the state's farm counseling project.