Just Say No to Factory Farms

Just Say No to Factory Farms

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Small farmers across the country are struggling to make ends meet, yet the USDA is helping new factory farms come on line by encouraging banks to give them guaranteed loans.&nbsp; Family farm groups from across the country are calling on the USDA to stop backing new factory farms.&nbsp; <a href="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&amp;c=YllR6rzl9XAAFOFQtuj6gn3ulspqyfaY">Can you take action to stop new factory farms?</a></p>
<p><br /> <br /> Factory farms have already forced out many small producers by lowering the price that farmers are paid for chickens and pigs.&nbsp; The tough economic times are hitting everyone hard and many farmers are losing their contracts.&nbsp; The USDA has bought up surplus pork, chicken and eggs for nutrition and school lunch programs to absorb some of the over-supply, but still, the agency continues to back loans for new factory farms. <br /><br /> <br /> To make matters worse, taxpayers pay for this bad policy twice - when the government buys up surplus production and again when low prices drive producers out of business and USDA pays for the defaulted loans. <br /><br /> <br /> <a href="http:// http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/t/5915/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=2050"><b>Tell Secretary Vilsack it's time to cut off the factory farm industry.&nbsp; Sign a petition calling for USDA to impose a moratorium on guaranteed loans to build new factory farms.<br /><br /></b></a> <br />Thank you!<br /><br /><br /> <b>Source:</b> Food &amp; Water Watch</p>
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