1. Will the farm bill be renewed as part of deficit reduction? How could we do it in two months!? Who invited health groups to the discussion? This going to be harder than we thought… WHAT’S THE FARM BILL CONVERSATION IN WASHINGTON?

2. Congressional AGRICULTURE COMMITTEES Congressional AGRICULTURE COMMITTEES SUPER COMMITTTEE Select Committee on Deficit Reduction SUPER COMMITTTEE Select Committee on Deficit Reduction HOUSE AND SENATE VOTE: Yes or No (no amendments permitted) HOUSE AND SENATE VOTE: Yes or No (no amendments permitted) YES Cuts begin in 2013 YES Cuts begin in 2013 NO* Automatic Cuts 2013 NO* Automatic Cuts 2013 * “Sequestration” ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS

3. But what about the Farm Bill? THE POLICY WORK CONTINUES The Select Committee may not agree on a plan. Congress may not approve the plan. Deadlines could get pushed back. The Farm Bill could be considered in 2012 as scheduled. Annual budget and appropriations votes create policy. Designing better farm and food policy will be an ongoing process.

4. CRISIS CAN CREATE OPPORTUNITY

5. GROUNDWORK HAD BEEN LAID COLLABORATION IS YIELDING RESULTS Connecting USDA nutrition programs with local agriculture for better health Farm to School provision in Child Nutrition Reauthorization Increasing understanding and trust among communities: health sustainable agriculture environmental anti-hunger rural and urban GROUPS NEED MORE CAPACITY TO CRAFT NEW POLICY

6. CAPTURE MOMENTUM NOW FOR SUCCESS Public attention and support for better food policy. Political recognition that policy must change. Successes even with tremendous amount of lobbying money spent by agribusiness: 2011 agribusiness spent $14 million in first six months Excellent local and regional organizations.

7. FOOD POLICY COUNCILS Local and Regional FOOD POLICY COUNCILS Local and Regional http://www.foodsecurity.org/FPC/

8. http://www.cdc.gov/CommunitiesPuttingPreventiontoWork/http://www.cdc.gov / Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Communities Putting Prevention to Work Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Communities Putting Prevention to Work

9. Representing http:// sustainableagriculture.net /

10. KATE FITZGERALD kathleenfitzgerald08@gmail.com 202-629-3580