Championing Frontier Communities: NCFC’s Vision for a Transformative Farm Bill
Remote communities have a lot to gain, or lose, from a new Farm Bill. At the National Center for Frontier Communities (NCFC), we see first hand the benefits of Farm Bill programs and their power to spur community development in the smallest and most remote communities across the nation. This August, our CEO Ben Rasmussen represented our mission at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) summer meeting in St. Paul, Minnesota, reinforcing our commitment to shaping a Farm Bill that truly serves the unique needs of frontier communities.
What is the Farm Bill?
The Farm Bill is a comprehensive piece of U.S. legislation, renewed roughly every five years, that shapes national food and agriculture policy. It provides funding for agricultural programs, nutrition assistance, conservation efforts, and rural development. Rural development initiatives in the Farm Bill include infrastructure projects, broadband expansion, water systems, and support for rural businesses. By offering financial resources and policy support, it has the potential to strengthen rural economies, enhance food security, and promote the ongoing development of more regional food systems, which can greatly benefit frontier communities.
This legislative behemoth directs over a trillion dollars in spending and does more to shape the state of our food system and rural development than any other piece of legislation; it’s a blueprint for the future of rural America. For frontier communities, its impact reverberates through every aspect of life, from the economic vitality of local farms to the nutritional well-being of families.
Consider these critical points:
1. Agricultural Resilience: The 2018 Farm Bill authorized nearly $867 billion over ten years, with a significant portion supporting the 2.1 million farms across the nation. While there are ongoing concerns with commodity subsidies and consolidation in the agricultural sector, a portion of these funds support grant programs such as the Local Food and Farmers Market Promotion grants, Specialty Crop Block grants, Community Food Projects and more. In frontier areas, where diversification is challenging, this support allows for dedicated resources to develop local food systems.
2. Nutritional Security: With rural food insecurity rates at 14% compared to 10% in urban areas, nutrition assistance programs—accounting for 76% of Farm Bill funding—are crucial for frontier families. At NCFC, we’re pushing for innovative approaches to bridge this gap, recognizing that food security in remote areas requires unique solutions.
3. Digital Connectivity: The $1.15 billion allocated for rural broadband in the 2018 bill was a start, but with 19 million rural Americans still lacking high-speed internet, we’re advocating for a quantum leap in connectivity funding. In the digital age, broadband isn’t a luxury—it’s essential infrastructure for education, healthcare, and economic growth.
4. Environmental Stewardship: The $60 billion dedicated to conservation programs over ten years is crucial, but frontier communities need tailored approaches. We support innovative programs that recognize the unique environmental challenges and opportunities in remote areas, from sustainable rangeland management to innovative water conservation techniques.
5. Next Generation of Farmers: Support for beginning and minority farmers is critical in frontier areas where demographic shifts threaten agricultural continuity. We’re pushing for expanded mentorship programs and accessible financing options to ensure the legacy of frontier farming endures.
6. Local Food Systems: The Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP), with its $50 million annual funding, has shown promise. However, we envision a more robust framework that addresses the unique logistical challenges of food distribution in frontier areas. Our Frontier Food Hub model serves as a blueprint for how local food systems can thrive even in the most isolated communities.
As we look towards the next Farm Bill, NCFC is not just participating in the conversation—we’re leading it. Our work has educated dozens of congressional offices on the potential impact of farm bill programs in remote communities. Through our food systems programs, NCFC is demonstrating how thoughtful, targeted interventions can catalyze systemic change in frontier America.
The challenges facing our most remote communities are complex, but they’re not insurmountable. We are committed to crafting solutions that are as nuanced and resilient as the frontier.
