Why small farmers can't fix our hunger problem | Cassandra Loftlin

US Farmers' Financial Burden: The Hidden Reason Behind America's Food Insecurity Crisis

The US government's latest decision to temporarily suspend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits has left millions of Americans struggling to access basic necessities, including food. The unexpected move led to widespread panic and a scramble for local farmers, who were expected to provide assistance in the form of free produce and other essential items.

Small-scale farmers, however, are not equipped to bear the weight of this crisis. According to recent data, between half to 79% of small family farms are at risk of financial collapse due to inadequate support from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The system puts small farmers at a disadvantage, as subsidies and relief programs designed for large-scale operations with higher gross cash farm income (GCFI) benefits. The majority of these subsidies are tied to the production of major commodity crops like corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and rice, which primarily benefit industrial farming operations.

Frederick Griffin of Ebony Tree Farms in Georgia notes that small farms feel the shock of a crisis just as quickly as households do but struggle to cope due to the loss of sales channels and increased costs. Giving food away without a structured system is not only unsustainable but also jeopardizes the farm's survival.

The USDA has earmarked an average of $40 billion in direct payments and emergency subsidies for large-scale industrial farms, which starkly contrasts with the limited support provided to small farmers through competitive grants averaging around $33.5 million.

Oriana J Bolden of Sierra Saffron Herb & Herb Co in California emphasizes that recent changes have worsened the resource gap and increased small farmers' precarity due to cuts in government programs like Local Food for Schools (LFS) and Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA).

The loss of these programs has resulted in a significant portion of income loss for small farmers, making it even more challenging for them to survive in an industry already plagued by challenges. Bolden warns that the end of DEI programs aimed at supporting women, BIPOC, queer, and young farmers does not level the playing field but mainly benefits massive commercial operations.

The irony lies in the fact that SNAP benefits are seen as a handout when in reality, they come with a personal financial risk for small-scale farmers. The most vulnerable consumers and growers are precisely those who need assistance the most.

I think it's crazy that us taxpayers are subsidizing big industrial farms while small family farms are struggling to stay afloat! It just doesn't seem fair. I mean, I get that some subsidies have to go somewhere, but $40 billion for big operations and only $33.5 million for small ones? That's like throwing them a life ring in a stormy sea . And it's not like they're expecting any handouts; they're just trying to make ends meet! What's the point of having a "food insecurity crisis" if we're just going to abandon those who need help the most? It's time for some serious policy changes, imo!

I just dont get why the US government is doing this to their own people . It seems like they're making it super hard for small farms to survive, and then they expect them to give away free food to everyone else? That doesn't sound very sustainable to me . I mean, these farmers are already struggling just to make ends meet, and now the government is taking away programs that help them out . It's like they're putting all the blame on the small farms while big operations get the bigger subsidies . I think it's time for the US government to step up and support its farmers instead of leaving them high and dry .

I'm like so frustrated about this , you know? US farmers are literally the backbone of the country, but their financial struggles are getting worse by the day. It's not fair that they're expected to provide free produce to people in need without any proper support or resources . The fact that big industrial farms get way more subsidies than small-scale operations is just ridiculous . And don't even get me started on how these programs affect women and BIPOC farmers, who are already struggling to make ends meet . We need some real change here, like a more balanced system that supports all types of farmers, not just the big guys .

I'm totally bummed about this, fam ! It's like, I get why the government wants to help people access food, but come on, they're just making it harder for these small-scale farmers to make ends meet . I mean, think about it - the USDA is giving huge sums of cash to industrial farms that are basically producing commodity crops just for the big corporations . Meanwhile, these tiny farm owners who are trying to support their communities and grow fresh food are stuck with like, peanuts compared to that .

It's all so messed up! And to make matters worse, they're cutting programs that actually help small farmers, like Local Food for Schools and LFPA . I mean, what's the point of even calling it a support system if you're not going to follow through? It's like they just want to benefit the big guys and forget about everyone else . We need to do something about this ASAP - these farmers are the real MVPs !

I'm seriously worried about our food system rn . I mean, we're already struggling to feed ourselves, and now it seems like the people who grow our food can't even afford to keep their farms afloat? It's like, what's the point of SNAP if it's just gonna leave farmers with nothing to sell? And don't even get me started on how unfair it is that large-scale industrial farms are getting way more support than small fams. I mean, it's not like they're the ones who need the help most . We should be supporting our local farmers and making sure they can keep producing food for us, not just dumping a bunch of money on big corporations. This is a huge crisis, and we need to do something about it ASAP

I'm so worried about these US farmers! They're already struggling to make ends meet and now they have to give away food without any system in place? It's not fair to expect them to just provide for everyone, especially when they can barely survive themselves. The USDA needs to step up their game and support small-scale farms with more than just a few million bucks. $40 billion for big industrial farms is crazy! What about the little guys who are trying to make it work? We need to think about the people who are really counting on these farmers for food security, not just the system that's failing them.

I'm genuinely worried about the state of small farms in the US. It's just not fair that they're expected to provide food and other essentials to people in need, without any real support from the government . The system is rigged against them, with subsidies going mainly to industrial operations instead of smaller farmers like the ones I know who are struggling to stay afloat .

The fact that SNAP benefits can be seen as a handout when it's actually putting small farms at risk is just crazy . These farmers are already dealing with so many challenges, from market fluctuations to weather issues. The last thing they need is to have their financial stability jeopardized by the government .

I don't get why the USDA can spare $40 billion for big industrial farms but not even a fraction of that for small farmers . It's like they're not even trying to level the playing field. And the cuts in programs like Local Food for Schools and LFPA? That's just devastating for these communities .

We need to do better than this . We need to support our small farmers, so they can keep providing food and other essentials to those who need them most .

I think it's messed up how the US government is pitting its small farmers against each other by making them compete for limited subsidies Meanwhile, the big industrial farms are getting a huge bailout A $40 billion handout vs a measly $33 million for small farmers? It's like they're playing a cruel game of economic chess. Small farmers aren't just struggling to make ends meet; they're literally on the verge of financial collapse And when we talk about SNAP benefits, it's not like they're getting "handouts" – they're actually the ones who are shouldering the risk when these programs expire The fact that big farms can just absorb a $40 billion blow while small farmers are left to fend for themselves is just not fair

I'm literally SHOOK by this news! It's like, super unfair that big farms get all the help while tiny ones barely survive . I mean, imagine being a farmer trying to make ends meet, only to have your livelihood threatened by some government decision . And what really gets me is how they're framing SNAP benefits as "handouts" when it's actually small farmers who are shouldering the risk . It's like, we need more support for our little fams, not less . Can't believe the USDA is basically giving all that cash to big industrial farms while tiny ones struggle to stay afloat . This is just so not right!