There is exciting news about the recently announced Farm Bill frameworks- funding to support CAFO transitions to more humane and climate-friendly animal rearing systems as well as crop production was included in the Senate’s framework! The specific language can be found on page 20 of the Senate framework:
Sec. 2701. Regional Conservation Partnership Program—Establishment and Purposes
· References two additional region-specific conservation programs—the Water Bank Program and the Agricultural Management Assistance Program—that may be considered under the purposes of the program.
· Expands the purposes of the program to include(1) encouraging the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the adaptation to and mitigation of climate change; (2) engaging producers and eligible partners in innovative methods of conservation delivery or leveraging of the Federal investment; (3) establishing or implementing the soil health plan or program of a State or Tribal government; and (4)facilitating the conversion from concentrated animal feeding operations to climate-friendly agricultural production systems (including regenerative grazing, agroforestry, organic, and diversified crop and livestock production systems).
The inclusion of this type of provision was a direct outcome of all the narrative work surrounding the Farm System Reform Act and its push to fund CAFO transitions and is an absolutely enormous moment in our shared movement to end factory farming. Having CAFO transitions listed among the Senate Farm Bill priorities is a huge win! We want to thank all the leaders and activists who played a role in this victory!
The ASPCA put out a statement and blog detailing the provisions in both the House and Senate frameworks and will be prioritizing maintaining CAFO transition language in the final Farm Bill text moving forward. We share this with our SSCAN community and ask you to advocate for this transition language with your members of Congress (and particularly Democratic Ag Committee staff!).