Farm Aid Grants $611,000 To Keep America Growing

Farm Aid
Tuesday, 23 November 1999

Concert in U.S. Capital Yields Funds for National, State and Local Family Farm and Rural Assistance Programs

CAMBRIDGE, Ma. -- In the face of increasing threats to rural America from weather disasters, factory farms and bad farm policy, Farm Aid today reaffirmed its support of the family farm system of agriculture by awarding $611,000 in grants to family farm groups across the United States. Today's grants bring Farm Aid's grant total this year to $718,000.

The funds, which were distributed to 57 family farm organizations in 32 states, will be used for national, state and local programs that help farm families recover from disasters and financial hardships, fight factory farms, and expand market opportunities. Much of the money raised by Farm Aid this year was the result of the annual fundraising concert and farmers meeting Sept. 12 at the Nissan Pavilion near Washington, D.C.

"The harder it gets for family farmers to make a living, the harder we will fight to keep them on their land," said Farm Aid President Willie Nelson. "When we came to Washington this year, we told our leaders that we can't afford to let factories grow our food. Family farmers produce the best food, and farm policy needs to change so we can be sure our family farmers will survive."

Farm Aid's 1999 grants will be used to fund a variety of programs across the country, including emergency grants to farmers hit by low prices and weather-related disasters, legal and financial counseling to help farmers avoid foreclosure, coordinated outreach and education about factory farm production, and development of new markets for family farm produced livestock and crops.

Farm Aid also reactivated its Family Farm Disaster Fund in 1999 to support drought and flood relief in the mid-Atlantic States and in North Carolina. Today's grants include a $35,000 grant to Church World Services for ongoing drought relief in the mid-Atlantic states.

"Supporting innovative local programs is essential to the survival of rural America and family farms. There is no question that family farmers are bombarded daily with weather-related, corporate and government threats to their livelihoods," said Carolyn Mugar, Farm Aid executive director. "We're working side by side with family farmers to combat these threats and to help them provide fresh, safe food for our tables."

Mugar urged Americans to help family farmers by calling 1-800-FARM AID. To learn more about Farm Aid, visit www.farmaid.org.

Farm Aid was founded in 1985 by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young to raise public awareness about the plight of the American family farmer and to provide assistance to those families whose livelihood depends on agriculture. In the past 15 years, Farm Aid has granted more than $15 million to over 100 farm organizations, churches and service agencies in 44 states.

For more information, or to contact Farm Aid, see their website at: www.farmaid.org