News

Forums focus on Farm Bill '07

By Renae Bauer
Communications Department

Three forums explaining the connection between the 2007 Farm Bill and issues such as agricultural commodities, rural development, hunger, and legislative advocacy are planned this month.

Each "Healthy Food, Farms, and Families" event will include prayer, a background video on the bill, segments on agricultural commodities, rural development, domestic nutrition, ideas for political advocacy, and questions and answers.

"Healthy Food, Farms, and Families" is produced by Bread for the World, the Social Concerns and Rural Life Ministry of the Green Bay Diocese and staff educators from the University of Wisconsin Extension.

The forums will be:

• Thursday, July 12 - 7:30-9 p.m. at Prince of Peace Parish (Pine Grove Site), 4767 Stagecoach Road, Denmark;
  
  
• Thursday, July 19 - 7:30-9 p.m. at First English Lutheran Church, North Site (corner of Ballard Road and Broadway Drive), Appleton;
  
  
• Monday, July 23 - 7:30-9 p.m. at All Saints Church, 125 St. Claude St., Denmark.

"The forums will help all socially committed Christians understand that the Farm Bill is about more than agricultural price supports," said Br. Steve Herro, O.Praem., diocesan director of Social Concerns. "The bill's connection to domestic hunger, world trade of farm products, conservation, and bio-energy affects all of us. The Catholic Church is happy to collaborate with Bread for the World and the University of Wisconsin Extension in order to help all realize that the Farm Bill is a true justice issue."

The forums are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Br. Herro at (920)272-8299 or 1-877-500-3580, ext. 8299, or sherro@gbdioc.org; or Beth Lepinski, Wisconsin coordinator of Bread for the World, (920)205-1817 or breadwi-forum@yahoo.com.