Budget Season & Farm Bill

Update on the 2024 (we think!) Farm Bill?

The passage of the Farm Bill has been delayed, but major portions of the?both the House and Senate proposals have already been drafted and?negotiations continue so our Congressional representatives need to hear from you now. Our Executive Director, Leah Eden, recently spent the day on Capitol Hill alongside 100+ National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition?partners from across the country. We shared stories and educated policymakers on the importance of supporting regional food systems, protecting conservation funding and centering racial justice in the upcoming Farm Bill.?? We urged Congress to pass a 2024 Farm Bill that:

?? invests in urban, regional supply chain and food infrastructure?? ?? brings justice for BlPOC farmers ?? nourishes people by expanding access to SNAP ?? invests in urban agriculture and land access?

Thanks to our campaign partners Black Farmers United NYS and Food For The Spirit as well as the 300+ New York farmers, producers, gardeners and eaters who shared with us their collective vision for how the 2024 Farm Bill should support them.

Join us for the Food Business Policy + The Farm Bill Skillshare on Friday, February 23, from 5 pm to 6:30 pm EST. This interactive session, hosted in collaboration with Farm School NYC, aims to demystify food policies and the Farm Bill for BIPOC identifying?NYC/NYS farmers and producers. We're excited to delve into crucial topics such as food waste, local food advocacy, the impact of current bills, and how the Farm Bill addresses the needs of minority farmers for equitable access to resources.Speakers Keith Carr (City Harvest) and Iyeshima Harris-Ouedraogo (Equity Advocaters) will cover everything from essential food policies to actionable community steps towards change, focusing on BIPOC farmers' significant impact. Don't miss out on this opportunity to engage, learn, and contribute to shaping a fair food system. Register here.

Take Action Today For a New York State Budget that Invests in Food Security

Last week on Valentine's Day, Equity Advocates gathered with anti-hunger advocates from across the state in Albany for an Anti-Hunger Advocacy Day. Together we connected with more than 100 lawmakers, elevating the urgent need for state investments to alleviate food insecurity. 1 in 10 New Yorkers, including nearly 1 in 6 children, struggle with hunger. The state budget is a critical opportunity to address a growing hunger crisis and invest in programs and policies that support food security.

We called on Governor Hochul and the Legislature to increase the SNAP minimum benefit to $100 per month, restore full funding for SNAP outreach and application assistance through the Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP), increase funding for Nourish New York and the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP), and fully fund Healthy School Meals for All New York kids. Show your love for your fellow New Yorker by taking action today. Send a letter?to Governor Hochul?and your representatives to send a clear message—New York needs to?fully fund anti-hunger programs in the upcoming state budget.

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