WASHINGTON (August 25, 2009)—The Hand that Feeds U.S. has added a new section to its website where it will post letters to the editor that have been submitted to newspapers critical of farm policy, but not published.
Responses from the farming community to such attacks are rarely printed, and the letters section will provide a platform for the farming community to take on the publications that continue to undermine the 125,000 men and women who produce 75% of the nation's food and clothing.
The section was derived after a growing number of publications printed negative stories about the agriculture industry and farm policy, then subsequently chose to disregard the response from supporters of the farming community.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) caused quite a stir in rural America when it released its farm subsidy database in 2004.
For a country that is a leading exponent of agricultural trade liberalisation, Brazil certainly believes in protecting its farmers. What is remarkable is not only the scale of agricultural support but also that it mostly slips under the radar as Brazil, employing its self-designation as a developing country, can use the developing country exceptions built into the WTO to shield its agricultural support.
