Family Farm Action (FFA) is a left-progressive nonprofit organization that advocates for policy that restricts the ability for large corporations to operate in the food and agriculture sectors. It also advocates for identity politics-based policy for public funding to pay for ethnic minorities’ business expenses that would allow them to gain market share in the sector. ¹

FFA argues that large corporations have monopolized the food and agriculture sectors and has perpetuated systemic racism as a consequence. For that reason, FFA advocates for government sanctions on large corporations within the food and agriculture sections and government funding that supports small farms. ²

Background

Family Farm Action is a lobbying organization that was founded in 2017 to advocate for policy that restricts the ability for large businesses to operate in the food and agriculture sectors, providing advantages to small farms. ³ FFA also advocates for environmentalist policy and identity politics-based policy pertaining to race issues. ⁴

In 2019, Family Farm Action Alliance was formed as a 501(c)(3) affiliate of FFA. Family Farm Action Alliance performs research to support FFA’s advocacy and legislation development. ⁵ FFA also campaigns for Democratic and progressive-left candidates, using Family Farm Action Alliance’s research as a foundation for its campaigns. ⁶

In 2021, the FFA supported the Emergency Relief for Farmers of Color Act. The Act would have provided $4 billion in debt relief to “socially disadvantageous farmers.” ^{7 8} A federal judge in Wisconsin temporarily halted the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) from making debt relief payments based on race after 12 white farmers initiated a lawsuit claiming that the program was discriminatory and racist. ⁹

Advocacy

Family Farm Action argues that large corporations act as a monopoly in agriculture and advocates for anti-trust legislation that it argues would prevent large corporations from creating a monopoly. Additionally, FFA argues that large corporations unethically gain power in the food and agriculture sectors, furthering racial disparities in farm ownership and discriminating against various groups. ¹⁰

Family Farm Action endorses the Justice for Black Farmers Act, a bill that sets racial equity standards for farm ownership by Black Americans. Family Farm Action advocates for the bill as a means of reparations for alleged ongoing systemic racism. ¹¹ The Justice for Black Farmers Act has been described by proponents as discriminatory in favor of Black Americans and against other races to make up for discrimination against Black people. ¹²

Family Farm Action endorses the Climate Stewardship Act which invests public funding towards environmentalist projects. ¹³ The bill was introduced by Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a co-sponsor of the Green New Deal, as a method of using environmentalist policy to address racial issues. ¹⁴

FFA openly opposed the Growing Climate Solutions Act because it says its carbon credits will hurt small businesses, stating larger corporations will manipulate the provisions of the bill to offset the tax while smaller farms will be unable to do so. It states this will give an advantage to big corporations to gain power and market share in the food and agriculture sectors. Also, it claims that farms of all size will be able to follow the provisions of the bill but continue to pollute. ¹⁵

People

Joe Maxwell is the president and CEO of Family Farm Action and co-authored six policy briefs with FFA, arguing large corporations act as monopolies in the food and agriculture sectors. ¹⁶ Maxwell served as Lt. Governor of Missouri from 2000 to 2005 as a member of the Democratic Party. He also is a co-founder and co-owner of Hagan and Maxwell, a law firm specializing in litigation and business law since 1991. ¹⁷

1. “Farmers Bill of Rights: Family Farm Action.” Family Farm Action Alliance, December 30, 2020. https://farmaction.us/farmers-bill-of-rights/.
2. “Farmers Bill of Rights: Family Farm Action.” Family Farm Action Alliance, December 30, 2020. https://farmaction.us/farmers-bill-of-rights/.
3. “About Us: Family Farm Action.” Family Farm Action Alliance, August 31, 2021. https://farmaction.us/about-us/.
4. “The Food System: Concentration and Its Impacts.” Family Farm Action Alliance, May 12, 2021. https://farmactionalliance.org/concentrationreport/.
5. “2020: How We Fought for Justice in Our Food System.” Family Farm Action Alliance, December 20, 2020. https://farmaction.us/2020/12/20/2020-how-we-fought-for-justice-in-our-food-system/.
6. “About Us.” Family Farm Action Alliance, August 31, 2021. https://farmactionalliance.org/about-us/.
7. “Endorsements: Family Farm Action.” Family Farm Action Alliance, June 17, 2021. https://farmaction.us/endorsements/.
8. Warnock, Raphael G. “Text – S.278 – 117th Congress (2021-2022): Emergency Relief for Farmers of Color Act of 2021.” Congress.gov, February 8, 2021. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/278/text.
9. Wiley, Kenny. “USDA, Prairie View A&M Leaders Discuss Debt Relief Plan for Farmers of Color.” The Eagle, June 19, 2021. https://theeagle.com/news/local/usda-prairie-view-a-m-leaders-discuss-debt-relief-plan-for-farmers-of-color/article_c8082a60-d082-11eb-980c-1b41163aceb2.html.
10. “The Food System: Concentration and Its Impacts.” Family Farm Action Alliance, May 12, 2021. https://farmactionalliance.org/concentrationreport/.
11. Family Farm Action, and Family Farm Action Alliance. “Fact Sheet Justice for Black Farmers Act S. 300/H.R. 1393.” Family Farm Action, February 2021. https://farmaction.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Justice-for-Black-Farmers-Fact-Sheet.pdf
12. Liss, Emily. “Policy Update: Justice for Black Farmers Act Seeks to Provide Opportunity and Remedy Injustice.” American Farmland Trust, May 8, 2021. https://farmland.org/policy-update-sens-booker-warren-and-gillibrand-release-justice-for-black-farmers-act/.
13. Family Farm Action, and Family Farm Action Alliance. “Fact Sheet Climate Stewardship Act S. 1072/H.R. 2534.” Family Farm Action, 2021. https://farmaction.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Climate-Stewardship-Act-Fact-Sheet.pdf
14. Adragna, Anthony. “Booker Floats ‘Nature-Based’ Climate Strategy.” Politico PRO, August 8, 2019. https://www.politico.com/states/new-jersey/story/2019/08/08/booker-floats-nature-based-climate-strategy-1134531.
15. Dumas, Carol Ryan. “Farm Group Sounds Alarm on Carbon Credit Bill.” Capital Press, April 24, 2021. https://www.capitalpress.com/climate_changed/farm-group-sounds-alarm-on-carbon-credit-bill/article_3f6f556e-a45b-11eb-bf06-3783923f63ed.html.
16. “Our Team: Family Farm Action.” Family Farm Action Alliance, June 1, 2021. https://farmaction.us/our-team/.
17. Maxwell, Joe. “Joe Maxwell.” LinkedIn. Accessed September 7, 2021. https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-maxwell-93714a23/.