Farm Aid 2000 Looks To Candidates, Voters For Change In Rural America

Farm Aid
Monday, 18 September 2000

Farm Aid Founders Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, All-Star Lineup Sound the Drumbeat of the Countryside At 15th Anniversary Benefit

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. -- American family farmers know what it's going to take to solve the current crisis in rural America, and they say it's time for candidates and voters to listen up.

At Farm Aid 2000 Presented by Best Buy, which took place today in Prince William County, Va., family farmers from across the country were joined and supported by founders Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp and more than 20 artists. They called on presidential candidates, congressional representatives and voters across America to help end the disastrous farm policies that have caused the lowest commodity prices in 30 years, forcing thousands of farm families from their homes and land.

Presidential candidates were invited by Willie Nelson to participate in a special family farm forum. Ralph Nader, and Pat Buchanan, along with a representative from the Gore campaign attended the event. The candidates, along with several congressional representatives, heard proposed solutions to the government-imposed disaster that has allowed factories to replace families in America's food production system.

Topping the list of policy concerns was the farmer-renamed "Freedom to Fail" bill, which was passed against the wishes of farmers in 1996 . It has promoted the chronic overproduction of grain, livestock and dairy products, forcing family farmers to sell their products for much less than it costs to produce them. The average farmer earns only $7,000 annually from on-farm income, and among all the livelihoods in the country, family farmers are facing the greatest decline.

Farm Aid President Willie Nelson, reflecting on the woes that farmers have suffered over the past 15 years, said Farm Aid 2000 must represent a turning point in American farm policy in order to ensure that families continue to grow our food.

"Ever since the first time we got together back in 1985, we've been telling elected officials that we've got to pass policies that favor families over corporations," said Nelson. "The time has come for the country to stand up for the farmers who grow our food. With prices as low as they've ever been, we all need to show these candidates that the farm vote extends beyond the farm belt."

Nelson, Mellencamp and Young were joined at the all-day musical benefit and political gathering by Barenaked Ladies, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Alan Jackson, Travis Tritt, Sawyer Brown, Arlo Guthrie, North Mississippi Allstars, Jimmy Sturr, Shannon Curfman, Pat Green, Badi Assad Menagerie, Cowboy's Nightmare, Trent Summar and the Row Mob, Chris DiCroce and Dennis Alley. Tipper Gore, wife of Vice President Al Gore, also was scheduled to appear and accompany Nelson on stage during his performance.

Along with the powerful forum conducted by family farmers from across the United States, Farm Aid hosted its second annual summit on genetic engineering in agriculture. Rhonda Perry, a Missouri hog farmer, said that GMOs represent yet another area where corporate control threatens the family farm system of agriculture.

"Corporations make what they call 'progress,' and family farmers get hammered," said Rhonda Perry, Missouri hog farmer. "But we're saying 'enough is enough.' We're stopping factory farmers and taking back our future with real solutions that will work for family farmers, consumers and taxpayers."

Farm Aid Executive Director Carolyn Mugar says Nelson, Mellencamp and Young, as well as all of the farm families who have benefited from their help over the years, hope that there will be no need for Farm Aid 15 years from now.

"The next time we get together for an anniversary, I hope it's a celebration of the successful efforts farm families have made to take back our food system," says Mugar. "Until then, we will continue to stand by them and help forge those changes."

Farm Aid 2000 Presented by Best Buy was telecast for the third consecutive year by CMT: Country Music Television as a live eight-hour special Sunday, Sept. 17, from 2 p.m.-10 p.m. EDT. The show also was aired that day on CMT Canada and web cast by RollingStone.com. In addition, live updates were broadcast on FarmAid.com.

Those who wish to help America's family farmers can call 1-800-FARM AID to make a donation.

Farm Aid was founded in 1985 by Nelson, Mellencamp and Young to raise public awareness about the plight of the American family farmer and to provide assistance to those families whose livelihoods depend on agriculture. In the past 15 years, Farm Aid has granted over $15 million to more than 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