Dear John,

With Farm Aid’s 40th anniversary coming up in September, we're thinking back to some of the significant historical events in the family farm movement. Last week was the 30th anniversary of the first major protest against factory farms, which happened in Lincoln Township, Missouri. This protest was organized by our partner, the Missouri Rural Crisis Center. The rally also brought Farm Aid president Willie Nelson to a remote crossroads in the northern part of the state, the national media followed and a movement for family farms and the environment was born.

“Farm Aid will continue to stand with farmers and rural residents whenever their future is threatened.”
— Willie Nelson

Jumping to the present-day, farmers and advocates are still speaking out. On a recent Sunday, in front of town hall in Hadley, MA, supporters rallied to call attention to how the administration's decisions are harming small and medium-sized farms.

This farmer rally featured farmers, like Ryan Voiland of Red Fire Farm in Granby, MA, sharing stories of how they and their businesses are being affected by changes in Washington. He explained how natural disasters are making it harder for farmers to survive. “Massachusetts lost 4,000 acres of farmland last year,” he said, explaining that farmers operate on “razor thin margins.” He said the administration's funding cuts will only make it harder for farmers to survive.

Elected officials also showed up to support farmers. Representatives from Senator Ed Markey’s office demanded that the administration “Release all the USDA funding without further delay and honor contracts with our farmers, or we’ll see them in court.”

The USDA is still withholding many payments owed under signed, lawful contracts, causing turmoil across our food system. As farmer Brian Geier explains, rural communities and farm economies are hurting.

Here's a way you can help the tens of thousands of farmers and farmer-serving organizations who have been thrown into limbo. Contact Congress and tell them to support the Honor Farmer Contracts Act of 2025. They need to hear directly from you today!