Agricultural Reclamation Act
The Agricultural Reclamation Act strives to establish a future for food and agriculture in Oregon that is based on family-scale farms and ranches, food security, rural economic viability and cultural connectivity. With a strong and united voice of family farmers, ranchers, rural and urban residents, we can take our shared agricultural vision and translate it into decisive action. Sign on to show your support and endorse the ARA>>
The Act of Reclaiming Agriculture
The Agricultural Reclamation Act has been a two year process of talking to the farmers and ranchers of Oregon, bringing communities together, and encouraging democratic participation.
By traveling around the State to hear directly from producers and rural residents, Friends of Family Farmers has been able to develop this document, which can serve as a roadmap for future food and agricultural policy that is based on family-scale farms and ranches, food security, rural economic viability and cultural connectivity.
Our combined strength, represented through this document, will put family farms and ranches first, while ensuring that public officials hear and understand the needs of farmers who are practicing a type of agriculture that respects the land, sustains rural communities and contributes to the state’s economy.
Download the document pdf here, or read the ARA online>>
Sign on to show your support and endorse the ARA>>
Watch the videos>>
The Fall Tour ‘09
In the Fall of 2009 and Winter of 2010, Friends of Family Farmers traveled across Oregon to host a series of community meetings that would determine some of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing family-scale agriculture in Oregon. Over the past months, hundreds of family farmers and ranchers have participated in identifying the many common issues and obstacles that make it difficult to raise and produce food.
Additionally, community representatives were elected to attend the first Farmer and Rancher Delegation for the drafting of the Agricultural Reclamation Act. Rural communities were also provided with Tools and Techniques for Effective Organizing so that farmers, ranchers, and their neighbors can develop solution-oriented approaches to local challenges.
Along the way, we wrote about the experience and shared our tales from the the road.
The Farmer and Rancher Delegation
On February 28th, 2010, we hosted our first Farmer and Rancher Delegation in Corvallis, where a cross-section of family farmers and ranchers came together to establish a statewide platform for food and agriculture.
Through this process, a draft of the Agricultural Reclamation Act, based on the data collected from the community meetings, was discussed, vetted, and ratified.
This document, beginning with the preamble, outlines seven major issues that are facing socially responsible family farmers and ranchers in Oregon. It also puts forth three action items that could be taken to begin to address these issues and ensure agricultural viability and vitality in our state.
Watch the videos on the process of the Agricultural Reclamation Act and sign on to endorse the document>>
Communities Visited
The Rogue Valley, Pendleton, Enterprise, Ontario, Lakeview, John Day, Redmond, Tangent, The Gorge, Cannon Beach, McMinnville, Canby, Portland, Eugene, Roseburg, Coos Bay, and Klamath Falls
Tools and Techniques for Effective Organizing
As part of this project, we have put together a toolkit to help communities through the process of organizing food projects and making change in their localities. You can download a copy of this great resource here>>>
For more information, or to get involved, email megan@friendsoffamilyfarmers.org or call 503.622.0161.
