April 24-May 8, 2007

with US Farmers from the National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC) and Latin American spokespersons from Via Campesina International and/or the Convergence of Peoples Movements of the Americas (COMPA) Organized by Agricultural Missions, Inc. (AMI)

Woe to those who join house to house, who add field to field, until there is no more room, and you are made to dwell alone in the midst of the land  Isaiah 5: 8

Agricultural Missions, Inc. (AMI), together with denominational, ecumenical, grassroots agrarian and NGO allies is planning a Farm Bill & Food Sovereignty Tour 2007 for the purpose of educating and mobilizing communities of faith and the general public to support democratic perspectives on important aspects of the 2007 Farm Bill.  The tour is scheduled to take place roughly from April 24 through May 8, 2007, and will potentially include cities and towns in Kentucky, Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio and possibly Pennsylvania. During the tour, we will meet with members of church congregations , ecumenical bodies, farmers and rural cooperatives, community organizations, universities, public officials and media representatives. Representatives from the National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC), and Latin American spokespersons from Via Campesina or the Convergence of Peoples Movements in the Americas (COMPA) will be accompanied by AMI staff, and team up with local U.S. based spokespersons to present and discuss the issues connected to the 2007 Farm Bill and the scope and impact of that important legislation on areas as varied as food stamps and WIC, agribusiness corporate concentration, commodity subsidies, factory farms, export commodity dumping, and discrimination at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).  Tour leaders will lead speaker's panels aimed at inspiring and facilitating peoples involvement in legislative debates surrounding the 2007 Farm Bill.

We need you, people of faith communities and social justice organizations, to consider inviting the tour to your church, community space, or educational institution.  A rough itinerary would be as follows:

April 24- April 30:  Possible events in Kentucky, southern Indiana, Missouri and (possibly) Iowa. May 1st:  Tour converges with May Day rally in  Louisville, KY May 2-8:  Possible events in Indiana, Ohio, & Pennsylvania  (Note:  The itinerary will take its final form based on invitations from community and faith groups.)

The 2007 Farm Bill is a juggernaut that has led to massive rural displacement around the world, including within the US. and has driven policy making in economics, trade, the environment and concerning forced migration and immigrant rights.  We need for people of good will to be informed of these connections and to weigh in on this important legislation. To inquire about hosting an event, volunteering to help organize one or to hear about upcoming events in a town hall or church near you, please contact:  Stephen Bartlett (502) 894 9308, email:  sbartlett[at]ag-missions[dot]org or Fritz Gutwein of PC(USA) Hunger Program: fgutwein[at]ctr[dot]pcusap[dot]org  (502) 569-5711 Thus far the tour is being sponsored by:  Agricultural Missions, Inc (AMI), the Presbyterian Church USA Hunger Program, Church World Service and Oxfam America.