Session 3: Farm Policies Should Not Show Favoritism

Session 3: Farm Policies Should Not Show Favoritism photo by Elizabeth Whelan

Read James 2:1-7 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

The biblical vision of community and nation lifts up the voices of those who are vulnerable and marginalized. Even within big systems and structures, those who are marginalized need to have a voice.

Using the metaphor of the body, the Corinthians passage says that all parts have a unique purpose and that each part should be honored. In fact, greater honor should go to those parts that lack it. The James passage warns against giving special treatment based on wealth and appearance. Those who are poor and marginalized should be honored and respected because God has chosen them to be “rich in faith and heirs to the kingdom which God has promised to those who love him.”

These admonitions are directed to the Christian community, but their truth also applies to the broader relationships of communities and nations. God calls us to raise up the voices of those who are marginalized and vulnerable and to lift up the plight of those who do not have powerful lobbyists and financial resources on their side.

Reflection Questions

1. How do we honor the voices of vulnerable and marginalized people in our communities?

2. In a society where money and powerful interests play such influential roles, how can we work to ensure that the voices of marginalized people are included in institutional decision-making processes?

Hunger Report Theme Summary

The Hunger Report shows that U.S. farm policy, with its system of commodity payments, favors large-scale farms over smaller farms. While all farmers need some protections from the risks associated with farming, the current system undermines farmers in the developing world and does not adequately support smaller farms in the United States.

Policy reform could include 1) helping farmers transition from traditional commodity crops, 2) offering better support to fruit and vegetable farmers, and 3) assisting small scale farmers in developing countries to be more productive. This means not undercutting small scale farmers in other countries by keeping traditional commodity prices artificially low or by monetizing food aid. On the positive side, it means targeting poverty-focused development assistance to better address farmers’ needs through a new program called Feed the Future. For terms that are unfamiliar, please see the Glossary on pages 144-147.

Discussion Questions

1. How does government’s disproportionate support for commodity crops impact what we eat and the nutritional composition of our food system? [Leader: Help the group think back to issues raised by the Hunger Report Theme Summary in Session 1 on page 122.]

2. Recent budget debates have included calls for dramatic cuts to foreign aid, including food aid and development aid. A troubling underlying tension in these debates is the question of whether U.S. taxpayers should continue to provide assistance overseas and at what levels. How can we move beyond an “us” versus “them” mentality and focus the conversation on how we can all benefit?

Activities

1. Read pages 33-34, beginning with the paragraph on Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs). Examine Figure 1.8. Imagine that you work for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Divide group members into the following roles: 1) liaisons to program crop farmers, 2) nutritionists or those working to improve diets, 3) liaisons to fruit, vegetable, and organic producers, 4) liaisons to farmers in conservation programs, 5) liaisons to ethanol producers, and 6) those working with nutrition programs, such as SNAP, WIC, and school lunches. Depending on the size of the group, make sure that roles 1 and 6 get greater representation.

Within each role, take a moment to identify the interests you want to protect and write them on newsprint. Note why those interests are important. Retain your small group roles as you rejoin the full group. What joint recommendations can you propose to Congress that advance the interests of the people you serve, but also improve the food system? The goal is nutritious food, grown in sustainable ways, adequate livelihoods for the producers, and adequate access to nutrition, especially for low-income families.

Debrief: How difficult is it to bring so many different interests to the table? What are the implications of supporting the production of more nutritious food? What does this mean for policies, for farmers hoping to transition, for public health? Who are the perceived losers in the process? Are there ways to help everyone feel like a winner?

2. Read “Phasing out Monetization” (pages 105-106). Map out the relationships between U.S. farmers, the U.S. government, development organizations, and smallholder farmers in developing countries. Trace the movement of money and crops. Add dollar signs for the movement of money and corn ears for the movement of agricultural products. Notice what happens to the U.S. crops. Notice what happens to the small farmers’ crops in Africa. Who benefits and how?

3. As you conclude, pray for efforts to transform our nation’s food and farm system, and consider if there is something God might be calling you to do as a result of this conversation.