Michigan Asparagus’ Post

Our nation’s food security and farming heritage are at a critical crossroads. Farmers across America, including our neighbors in Michigan, are facing unsustainable labor costs due to federal government wage policies. This policy threatens not only the livelihoods of growers but also the affordability and safety of the fruits and vegetables we rely on every day. We’ve launched a petition to President-Elect Trump, urging immediate action to: 1️⃣Adjust the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) to ensure fair, sustainable wages. 2️⃣Safeguard America’s food supply by keeping locally grown fruits and vegetables on U.S. soil. 3️⃣Strengthen domestic food security by supporting family farms. 4️⃣Modernize the H-2A guestworker program to reflect today’s agricultural realities. 👉 Sign the petition now and share to spread the word: https://lnkd.in/eFQ5VrAg #ProtectOurProduce #SupportFarmers #FoodSecurity #HealthyChoices #LocalProduce

Simple question for the government. Does it matter if the UK produces food? They probably will answer that they will support farming and food production. Go on then, Defra and Treasury ministers, tell us how your policies reduce the risks to UK farming businesses, and increase the productivity of food production businesses .

Campaigning to save UK family farms 🚜 🐑🐖🐔🥔🥕 Whilst in @housesofparliament yesterday I caught up with our local MP for Daventry @stuart.andrew.mp to talk about the disastrous policies set out by the Labour government in the recent budget announcements. The bigger picture here is that UK food security is at risk, and farmers are no longer able to ride the storm that the current government has created. Farming is a high-risk business There are many factors that we cannot control when trying to produce high quality, safe, food. We no longer have subsidies to support the cost of food production. And individual businesses are unable to invest in the future, make a viable income or afford to pay themselves due to increased input costs. There is a huge mental health crisis within the industry too. A lot of worry, anxiety and uncertainty. Farmers feel betrayed. The inheritance tax changes is like the straw that has broken the camel's back, the nail in the coffin. If the new policies are not overturned, then the British Countryside will look very different, with land being sold off for development; probably sold to the mega rich who are the very people who the government are trying to deter. A one size fits all approach is not the answer Stuart's advice is to lobby Labour MP's hard to ensure they are aware of the impact these policies have on food production, on family farms, our livelihood. . . . #foodsecurity #foodandfarming #savefamilyfarms #inheritancetax #buybritish #backbritishfarming #stuartandrew #millyfyfe #whatmillydoesbest #farmingcampaigner #thebudget #farmers #ukagriculture #farmersmarch #NoFarmersNoFood 👗@palavafolk

👨🌾 The EU must uphold its commitments and ban the purchasing of products below production costs, which was a critical demand during this year’s farmer protests. Farmers cannot be expected to sell their goods below what it costs to produce them – it jeopardizes both their livelihoods and the sustainability of the sector. In 2022, the average family farm income in the EU was only around 64% of the average wage. This disparity makes it even more critical that fair pricing practices are enforced. Farmers deserve to be paid fairly for their hard work and contribution to our food supply. It’s time for the EU to act and ensure that farmers are protected from unfair trading practices. #SupportFarmers #FairPricing #SustainableFoodSystem #EUFarmers #UTPs Francesca Monteverdi Jonathan Matthysen

Pork producers across the country are continuing a holiday tradition—supporting families in food deserts by providing essential protein to those in need. Meanwhile, Congress’ inaction on Prop. 12 and the Farm Bill places a heavy burden on farmers. Without a Farm Bill, many pork producers face the risk of shutting down or making drastic cuts, jeopardizing their ability to sustain operations and support their communities. Congress must act on Prop. 12 to ensure producers can continue feeding and fueling local communities. Read more from Illinois pork producer Phil Borgic: https://lnkd.in/gnRJYnpR.

With the Tory and Lib Dem manifestos now out, all eyes are on Labour. On food and farming there’s at least some encouragement to be found: - Alignment on the need to provide farmers in transition with more support (circa £1billion) - Universal backing for further support through public procurement, planning, land (and sea) use frameworks, trade standards, research and seasonal labour. Admittedly, the measures and levels do vary..! But, how much will the next government pursue truly systemic change..?  The Lib Dem's manifesto lacks for a horticulture strategy to produce more of the healthy food we need in the UK, but it's good to see their commitment to a joined-up approach to food and farming under a National Food Strategy. Not a new idea, but so important these issues are tackled coherently. It's also heartening to see the call for ‘Fairness’. This is something we hear so clearly from citizens right across the country in #TheFoodConversation. #TheFoodConversation is surfacing UK citizens' call for a coherent set of concrete policies to tackle our unfair food system by addressing unhealthy diets, revitalising our rural economies and protecting the nature that underpins our health and the resilience of our food security. 👇 https://lnkd.in/efTe8qP6 The voice of business leaders is increasingly joining citizens and farmers in this call: as per the recent 'Hope Farm Statement' https://lnkd.in/eJzA2hQM I wonder - how far will Labour go in addressing these demands..?

Today's Footprint article considers the challenge Labour now faces in delivering a trio of major new policy frameworks with implications for food and farming – a national food strategy, a land use framework and a farming roadmap – having alienated a large cohort of farmers and food businesses through its budget measures. "When your programme for government is rooted in a ‘plan for change’, as is the case with Starmer’s Labour, you need key stakeholders on your side in order to deliver it. At the very least you need them not to be intractably opposed to your policy platform or, worse still, hell bent on sabotaging it." Is the situation recoverable for the government? Possibly. "But repairing relationships with farmers and food businesses, whilst putting the UK on a path to food security and nature recovery, will require the kind of political fleet of foot that Labour has thus far shown no convincing sign it possesses." https://lnkd.in/e7TqJKCN

FAMILY FARMS TAX: Farmers in Berkshire readying for today's day of action Action in England, Scotland, Wales w/Farmers To Action Our food security at risk: rethink needed Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs With Our Farmers #together #farmers #farmersprotest

Outrageous!! Australia’s 85,000 producers to pay biosecurity levy of unknown amount. Another way to send farmers out of business and increase food prices. It's not just the levy but costs of compliance. Another tax to burden producers with, while the government sends a billion dollars to Ukraine! “The Coalition, Greens and independents have already shown their support for farmers, voting against the levy in the lower house. We call on them to continue to back Aussie farmers and do the same in the Senate,” Mr Jochinke said. “We support efforts to strengthen and better fund Australia’s biosecurity system, but this tax is not the way. “The NFF has long-called for the risk creators who bring the pests and diseases to our shores to contribute more to our system, rather than punishing farmers who are left to deal with incursions at great cost to their farm businesses. “This call has been backed by review after review and it’s time the Government looked seriously at getting this right, not just for food and fibre production, but for all Australians. “Today agriculture stands united to urge the Senate to #ScraptheTax and #KeepFarmersFarming.” I wrote an article Food plandemic and this is just another layer of control and destruction 👇 https://lnkd.in/gSWHeBMw To see more of my posts, join my network and click the 🔔 on my profile. 🧡 Email list sign up to stay in touch and read my in depth articles 👉 https://lnkd.in/gDMu9iEn Source https://lnkd.in/gVyqxhef https://lnkd.in/gzJ4VsCK

How about an exemption of paying the H-2A AEWR for those H-2A employers who employ H-2A workers in States where the State minimum wage is double that of the Federal minimum wage. In California the State minimum wage is $16 an hour and the Federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. The State minimum wage then becomes the AEWR by default. The AEWR ( H-2A minimum wage) for California is now $19.75 an hour-the highest in the nation.