Farm Aid Board Talks Bailout

On the heels of the Farm Aid's successful 23rd annual concert last weekend, the board members of the organization, Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews, wrote an open letter to Congress this week urging them to consider redirecting funds to working families.The board believes that the bailout is asking taxpayers to pay for something without showing them any benefits for their contribution. "On the other hand, a $1 billion investment in family farm agriculture would enrich all of us, because we are all shareholders of the family farm," they wrote. "The return on investment in the family farm includes thriving local economies, nutritious food for better health, a safer and more secure food supply, a cleaner environment and more renewable energy."The board's letter is not far off from the inundation of phone calls to Washington urging leaders to chuck the bailout and e-mail circulations suggesting the $700 billion be handed out to Americans like this year's stimulus checks.To read the entire Farm Aid letter, click here. Farm Aid has raised more than $30 million to support programs to benefit farmers and to promote the Good Food Movement and food from family farms. For more information, visit www.farmaid.org.