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The Farm Bill ignores ‘desperate cries’ for equitable land access and better climate programming

Summary

The National Young Farmers Coalition’s Michelle Hughes discusses the shortcomings of the 2024 Farm Bill in a conversation with Ray Levy Uyeda. Despite some minor wins, such as preapproval for farm loans and a new relending cooperative agreement for heirs' property, the bill lacks substantial investment in equitable land access and climate programming. Hughes emphasizes the need for initiatives like the Increasing Land Access, Security, and Opportunities Act (LASO), which are not included in the current draft. The conversation highlights the critical role of young and BIPOC farmers in adopting regenerative practices and stresses the importance of federal support for land access to foster sustainable farming and climate resilience.

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