An Open Letter To Congressional Delegation And The U.S. Secretary Of Agriculture
Stories
LECTIONARY TALES FOR THE PULPIT
Series III, Cycle A
Dear Sirs:
American farmers take their vocations seriously. Not only does farming provide honorable work in a setting conducive to creating a high quality of life - particularly for raising a family - but the farmer's work raises food for a hungry world, and increasingly farm products are also being used as renewable fuel and other innovative non--food products. All of these contribute to both the nation's standard of living and its sustainability.
As believers in the one true God, we also take seriously the requirements listed in Micah 6:8. To farmers, a fair return on their invested labor and resources is all that's expected. The United States government has failed to "do justice" to the American farmer in this respect. Disasters of many kinds - in addition to low prices and poor farm policy - have only exacerbated this problem. Our rural people and communities are suffering greatly from the long-- and short--term effects of these problems and they need relief now!
Gentlemen, we appeal to you to take action immediately and declare an agricultural emergency in order to set in motion that which will help begin the rebuilding of our nation's rural and small--town economic and community base, a base that is essential to our country's (and for that matter, the world's) stability and sustain--ability in the present and in the future.
Respectfully signed,
A farm family
American farmers take their vocations seriously. Not only does farming provide honorable work in a setting conducive to creating a high quality of life - particularly for raising a family - but the farmer's work raises food for a hungry world, and increasingly farm products are also being used as renewable fuel and other innovative non--food products. All of these contribute to both the nation's standard of living and its sustainability.
As believers in the one true God, we also take seriously the requirements listed in Micah 6:8. To farmers, a fair return on their invested labor and resources is all that's expected. The United States government has failed to "do justice" to the American farmer in this respect. Disasters of many kinds - in addition to low prices and poor farm policy - have only exacerbated this problem. Our rural people and communities are suffering greatly from the long-- and short--term effects of these problems and they need relief now!
Gentlemen, we appeal to you to take action immediately and declare an agricultural emergency in order to set in motion that which will help begin the rebuilding of our nation's rural and small--town economic and community base, a base that is essential to our country's (and for that matter, the world's) stability and sustain--ability in the present and in the future.
Respectfully signed,
A farm family
