Opinion: We need a Farm Bill that prioritizes small family farms and animal welfare

Leah Smith, owner of Nodding Thistle Farms in Michigan, explains how passing the US House version of the Farm Bill would be undemocratic and harm Michigan farmers and rural communities.

Since 1984, we at Nodding Thistle—a 72-acre family farm in Nashville, Michigan—have dedicated ourselves to sustainable farming. We focus on organically grown vegetables, small berries, fruit trees, and humanely raised dairy and beef cattle, and egg-laying chickens. 

We are committed to nutritious and flavorful food supported by soil maintenance, diverse crop selection, and minimal irrigation. Our philosophy centers on working with nature, rather than against it, to achieve the most sustainable outcomes.

The proposed House Farm Bill, as approved by the United States House Agriculture Committee in May, poses a significant threat to small family farms, like ours, that prioritize providing for our community through sustainable practices. This proposed Farm Bill package, which was influenced by a small group of lobbyists from one segment of the pork industry, includes provisions that could invalidate crucial state animal welfare and agriculture laws. 

These provisions have the potential to override hundreds of state regulations, including a state’s ability to regulate the sale of goods within its borders. This harmful language is ill-advised and will have broad and sweeping implications, essentially subverting  the autonomy of state and local governments to set agriculture policy. By eliminating state and local legislative powers to promulgate agricultural standards, this legislation jeopardizes the safety and well-being of our citizens and undermines Michigan’s ability to protect the interests of our state’s farmers.

Moreover, this version of the Farm Bill would erode existing animal welfare regulations at the state level with respect to which many farmers have already made substantial compliance-related investments. The nullification of these state laws would not only disrupt the hard-won advancements in animal welfare they represent, but would also severely hurt rural economies and farmers who have made financial commitments to align their operations with higher standards.

The House version of the Farm Bill further seeks to overturn the will of voters, including those who have approved ballot initiatives aimed at ending the intensive confinement of farm animals. Such profoundly undemocratic actions contradict the growing consumer demand for food produced with high animal welfare standards.

At Nodding Thistle, we value the increasing consumer preference for food raised with strong animal welfare practices. The House Farm Bill’s approach conflicts with this trend toward responsibly sourced products. 

In contrast, a version of the Senate Farm Bill under the leadership of Senator Debbie Stabenow, presents a vision of responsible agriculture, reflecting her understanding that animal welfare is essential to the future of American farming. We commend her for consistently advocating for Michigan farmers. 

We sincerely hope Senator Stabenow remains steadfast in opposing language that would undermine state and local agricultural standards and overturn the will of voters.  We all—farmers, ranchers and consumers—deserve much better.