Encourage Growth & Prosperity of Local Organic Farmers

Organic produce is still more expensive in Brazil, but the Fome Zero Program is actively encouraging more farmers to grow organic to help offset the higher prices.

Here is a story which talks about the findings of US farmer trends in the 2007 agricultural census:
http://www.hereandnow.org/stand-alone-player/?fileUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bu.edu%2Fwbur%2Fstorage%2F2009%2F04%2Fhereandnow_0422_2.mp3&fileTitle=Farming

In this story, they mention the growth of small farms and the decline of the middle-sized farms. One farmer from Vermont talks about how Vermont's farm-friendly tactics help farmers. He mentioned a tax exemption on farm buildings and right-to-farm laws.
Here is an article about right-to-farm laws:
http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/pdf/myth_buster_2.pdf

Here's another website that lists several bills about organic farming and supporting NC farmers:
They encourage people to write their constituents about the Farmland Preservation Trust Fund (HB 618 & 684): "North Carolina leads the nation in loss of farmland. This fund would provide four million dollars to support programs that protect family farms and preserve our natural resources before its too late and grow sustainable farming. Now is a critical time to support funding for farmland preservation projects that will help develop sustainable and profitable farms, support farm families now and for future generations, and grow rural economies..."
The details of HB 684 are listed on this website:
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H684v2.pdf

If this bill passes, it may be easier to get more local organic farmers in our area.
I don't understand legislative issues, but it looks like HB 618 has already passed, which approves $4 million for easements to preserve NC's farmland:
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2009/Bills/House/PDF/H618v1.pdf

Here's a site that gives you an overview of NC's farmers, their produce info and their issues:
http://www.carolinafarmstewards.org/

CFSA (Carolina Farm Stewards Association) has just hired Diana Vossbrinck as the Regional Coordinator for the Upstate of SC and the Western Piedmont of NC. Through their regional staff, they plan on leveraging CFSA’s resources and experience to "organize the public support for local, fair and organic food that is growing all over the Carolinas into a powerful movement for far-reaching policy and market changes." (from CFSA email)
Diane's email address is: diana@carolinafarmstewards.org.

Ideass of how we can get involved:
--work with CFSA to figure out a way to give incentives to Hispanics to lease nearby tracts of farmland so they can become organic farmers for their own community
--Work with CFSA and other organizations to get the banks to give special farm credits for small farmers to help them get started.
--Work with CFSA and other organiztions to give incentives to owners of big tracts of farmland to lease out parts of it to small organic farmers
--access a list of uncertified organic farmers to find possible vendors to sell their produce in imipoverished areas
--Come up with incentives to help farmers preserve their farms (bills in NC House right now address this very issue)