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It's time for a change in U.S. agriculture. I am writing to ask you to authorize strong federal programs supporting new agricultural priorities as you craft the next farm bill. We need to reward creative, sustainable farmers for their efforts as responsible stewards of the land and encourage them to move in new directions.

In previous farm bills, Congress has poured billions of dollars into programs that favored large-scale industrialized agriculture and encouraged the overproduction of commodity crops. I encourage you to shift our priorities by funding programs that encourage innovation, ensure healthy food, protect our environment, and revitalize rural economies.

Please reward a more sensible and sustainable future for agriculture by:

* Renewing and shoring up the Conservation Security Program (CSP).

* Protecting Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) dollars from diversion to industrial agriculture projects that can harm the environment and public health.

* Supporting producers of grass-fed and grass-finished animal products through research programs, value added programs, and extension and outreach programs.

* Providing assistance to meat producers who employ a more responsible approach to antibiotic use in animal agriculture and to producers seeking to transition toward more sustainable use.

* Supporting reasonable payment limitations in the farm bill's commodity title, such as a cap of no more than $250,000 per year.

* Ensuring fair competition and fair business practices within the agricultural sector by renewing congressional support for country-of-origin-labeling, prohibiting packer-owned livestock, and passing other pro-competition measures.

Through these and other measures, Congress can support a forward-looking, economically robust farm bill that will protect the livelihoods of America's innovative small to mid-size farmers, along with our health and the environment."