This hilarious video does a great job of laying out the basics. Big corporations and special interests have been co-opting the Farm Bill for decades. The result? Subsidies only go to 25% of all farmers, in fact 75% of all crop subsidy payouts go just 10% of American farmers. Subsidies are provided for only five crops leading to overproduction and cheap uber-refined sweeteners and fatty oils like hydrogenated corn-syrup and refined soy-bean oil. Worst of all, the dumping of all the excess crop in other countries destroys the market for native farmers. The current Farm Bill helps Big Corporate Ag like ConAgra and Monsanto do what they love to do: make sure the rich get richer and poor get poorer.

A fair Farm Bill would close loopholes so the legal system could enforce subsidy limits, spreading the subsidy money more fairly among farmers. It would subsidize crops in a way that encourages the production of healthy organic foods instead of unhealthy diabetes and cancer causing substances. A fair Farm Bill would ensure that farmers in Africa, South America and Asia do not suffer when the price of their corn or rice plummets because of subsidized American overproduction. A fair Farm Bill would be fairer and healthier for everyone in the world.

The Farm Bill is only re-written every 5 years. So take action now! Sign OxFam America’s and HealthyFarmBill.org’s open letters to Congress and spread the word far and wide!