Farm Aid Grants Over Half A Million Dollars To Family Farmers Across America

Farm Aid
Wednesday, 20 December 2000

15th Anniversary Concert Yields Funds for National, State and Local Family Farm Groups and Rural Assistance Programs

SOMERVILLE, Mass. - On the heels of a successful 15th anniversary concert, Farm Aid today granted family farm groups $523,000 to combat the lowest crop prices in decades, factory farms and bad farm policy. Today's grants bring Farm Aid's grant total this year to $560,500.

The funds, many of which were raised at the concert on Sept. 17 at the Nissan Pavilion near Washington, DC, were distributed to 53 family farm organizations in 35 states, and will be used for national, state and local programs that help farm families recover from disasters and financial hardships, organize to fight factory farms and corporate control of agriculture, and expand market opportunities.

"Family farmers told our political leaders at Farm Aid this year that farm policy needs to change or else our family farmers will not survive," said Farm Aid President Willie Nelson. "The family farm groups we work with and support are determined to carry that message forward to win a new farm bill. Farm Aid stands with them in their call for positive change to keep family farmers on the land."

Farm Aid's 2000 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 and corporate control of agricultural production, and development of new markets for family farm produced livestock and crops.

"Supporting a creative mix of innovative programs is essential to the survival of rural America and family farms. Family farmers are bombarded daily with weather-related, corporate and government threats to their livelihoods," said Carolyn Mugar, Farm Aid executive director. "Farm Aid joins with family farmers to combat these threats and to help them provide fresh, safe food for the public, and a future for rural America."

Mugar urged Americans to help family farmers by calling 1-800-FARM AID.

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 nearly $16 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