Food Fight: The Citizen's Guide to The Next Food and Farm Bill, Revised and Updated Edition

by Daniel Imhoff, Fred Kirschenmann (Introduction), Daniel Imhoff

Every five years, the U.S. Congress passes a little understood piece of legislation called the Farm Bill. Primarily accountable for setting the budgets and work plans for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Farm Bill is anything but bureaucratic trivia. It is an essential economic and policy engine that drives the food and farming system and provides nutritional assistance to tens of millions of Americans--many of them children. In recent years, more and more citizens are realizing just how much is at stake in this political chess game.

Originally published in 2007, Food Fight was Daniel Imhoff's highly acclaimed primer on the 2008 Farm Bill. Now in a newly updated and expanded edition, packed with helpful charts and illustrations, Imhoff looks ahead at this important issue, as the debate for 2012 is already underway. With the legislation due to be reauthorized in late 2012, Food Fight offers a critical resource that can help all who live in the U.S. to deconstruct this challenging bill, organize in their communities to gain a seat at the bargaining table, and ultimately vote with their forks.

Includes a foreword by Michael Pollan and introduction by Fred Kirschenmann.

Genres: Food, Nonfiction, Politics, Health

212 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2007

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this one wasn't it either. I am continuing my quest for a good discussion of the interaction of U.S. food policy and third world poverty. This one hinted at it but was mostly about how the farm bill has evolved from one that was intended to help family farms to one that squeezes out smaller farms in favor of granting hugh subsidies to giant conglomerates. It was interesting and was well presented with lots of color graphics. I am glad I read it because it gives me a background for my study of third world hunger.

[Joy Weese Moll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Food Fight by Daniel Imhoff is about what we colloquially call the Farm Bill with a special emphasis on being a guide to the 2012 version. In order to do that, though, a lot of background and history is required to understand how we got to the complicated and confusing state of affairs.

More here: Book Review: Food Fight by Daniel Imhoff

[Ellee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Farm Bill is a much ignored policy document that has it's tenticles in every aspect of our lives. This book reads more like a really long brochure, with lots of useful information. As always, I wish policy books went further when advocating for change...but, the last chapter has some great suggestions, and lots of contacts.

[Asta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw Dan Imhoff speak last night with Dan Barber. It was great but there was a feeling of impending doom because the Farm Bill was voted on that night in the House. This morning, we woke to find that Speaker Polosi sold us short in a number of areas. I still want to read this book though!

[Mary Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read with plenty of colorful graphs, cheerful Venn Diagrams, and snappy flow charts with Famer and Cow-shaped symbols to help you understand how the "Farm Bill" should be called the "Food Bill." It determines what sort of food we eat and as a result, the health of our nation.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has a lot of good info on the farm bill--especially in terms of a comprehensive history. It's written kind of like an annoying reading you would be assigned in high school, though. Not my favorite, but full of things everyone should know more about.

[One Lit Chick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have liked this more if it wasn't so textbooky. Important information, and while brief, I kinda just wanted a checklist or summary.

[meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quasi coffee table format and cumbersome graphics take away from an otherwise interesting and informative book.

[Stepho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please read this book. Soon. It is an incredible education on what our farm bill is, and the pervasive impact it has on nearly everything we do.

[Nicole McCann · Rating 5 out of 5]

extremely relevant. the next farm bill is 2012. time to get to work!

[Sarah]

Saw him speak at CFSC 2011.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most reasonably comprehensive plain-language primer on food and farm policy out there. Not unbiased.. but also not unfair.

[Toph White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book that gives you the breakdown of our food system and legislation.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The farm bill is totally screwy. But there are some good parts to it. I learned a lot. You would too.

[Deborah Drucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indispensable guide to the history and politics of the Farm Bill.