The Marion Institute’s Southcoast Food Policy Council (SFPC) needs your voice. We are calling on Massachusetts residents to contact their State Representatives today. We must move H.4854, An Act fostering agricultural resilience in Massachusetts, out of the House Ways and Means Committee and onto the House floor for a vote before the session ends.

With the Senate already passing a similar bill (S.3040), we are at a finish line—but we need one final push to ensure this comprehensive farm bill becomes law. The House version does not include making the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) and Farm to School grant permanent, but we might ask for amendments or ask the Senate to make amendments during the creation of the final version of the bill from both chambers.  

Why H.4854 Matters for Our Community

Our 2021 Southeastern Massachusetts Food System Assessment highlighted several vulnerabilities in our local food chain. This bill provides the direct solutions we need:

·  Growing the Next Generation: Establishes a $3 million Next Generation Farmers Fund. With the average age of farmers at 59.8 years, we must provide equitable pathways for BIPOC and women farmers to enter the workforce.

·  Disaster Preparedness: Mandates that MEMA (MA Emergency Management Agency) include food production in disaster planning. We’ve seen how supply chain disruptions and panic-buying cripple our local food pantries; this ensures our food system is ready for the next crisis.

·  Protecting Farmland: Empowers the state to protect whole farms through the APR program. We’ve already lost 8.1% of our regional farms; we cannot afford more fragmentation and development of fertile land.

·  Urban Agriculture: Authorizes the conversion of vacant lots in Environmental Justice communities into urban farms. This is a direct strike against food deserts, where low income and lack of transportation prevent families from accessing fresh food.

Take Action: A 1-Minute Email Can Make a Difference.

Your state representative needs to hear that their constituents across Southeastern Massachusetts prioritize a resilient food system. Join the Marion Institute's Southcoast Food Policy Council in urging your state Representative to support H.4854 The (State) Farm Bill.

Take Action Now by completing the form at the right.