When agricultural production and the businesses related to farming were the primary drivers of rural economies, the needs of rural communities and agricultural industry overlapped. Today, as the number of U.S. farms decrease and the need for economic diversity increases, rural America is suffering. To combat this decline, the Farm Bill includes programs aimed at supporting rural communities including housing, health care and communication.
In recent years, many of these programs have not recieved full funding. Fully 90% of the new money promised for rural development in the 2002 Farm Bill has been cut while unlimited commodity payments for the nation's largest farms have been maintained.
Five years later the situation in rural communities is bleaker, as farm consolidation has caused people to migrate from rural to urban areas in search of opportunity and small businesses supporting those communities are closed. The Center for Rural Affairs in Lyons, Nebraska observed that 70% of the jobs created in rural areas have been in businesses with only one to five employees – not in the large commercial farms supported by commodity payments. Support for rural micro-enterprise is particularly needed.
The Episcopal Church has recognized the importance of rural development initiatives for many years – most recently at the 2000 General Convention:
Resolved, That the 73rd General Convention of the Episcopal Church call upon the members of this Church to become more aware of the social and economic problems facing farming and rural communities in these United States; and be it further …
Resolved, That members of this church pray for and support those who farm the land and their families, and find ways to provide better pastoral and neighborly care to farm families facing dislocation and to communities in decline; and be it further
Resolved, That the Washington office be instructed to advocate for public policies that…
Support healthcare access, education, jobs, housing, and other services in rural communities. (General Convention Resolution 2000-C034)
Rural development encompasses a whole host of programs that benefit not just farmers, but the communities that support them.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
