The Farm Bill is a monumental legislative package that sets food, nutrition, and agricultural policy for the nation. It must be reauthorized every five years, and this year, it is up for renewal. When Congress returns from recess next month, debate on the Farm Bill will begin in earnest to determine funding levels, policies, and eligibility rules for the nation’s most effective antipoverty tool, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Nutrition programs, including SNAP, account for more than 70 percent of the Farm Bill’s total funding. The Farm Bill reauthorization will also consider a variety of loan and training programs that support small food producers and farmers from underrepresented communities.

CLASP has released a powerful new video that connects these two critically important—and related--priorities: food assistance and financial support for small-scale farms. The video weaves together the stories* of Langston, a third-generation farmer eager to sell his products at scale at grocery chains, and Shyla, a college student from India who relies on SNAP for help in buying groceries. Their stories illustrate why we should all care about the Farm Bill: to ensure SNAP and nutrition programs as well as programs to support local farmers are fully funded.

*Characters are representative and not real people.

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