(Warwick, R.I.) Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) traveled to the Urban Edge Farm in Cranston on Monday, July 16, to discuss the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act, better known as the Farm Bill, and how it affects Rhode Island. The House of Representatives will debate and vote on the Farm Bill later this month.

"I am looking forward to visiting the Urban Edge Farm to learn about their work and to hear how critical the Farm Bill is to their operations,” said Langevin, a member of the Northeast Agriculture Caucus.
 
The parts of the Farm Bill of particular interest to Rhode Island focus on conservation and nutrition, including food stamps and subsidized school lunch programs.  Rhode Island also benefits from the work of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), which works with farmers to implement environmentally-friendly farming practices, assists businesses in cleaning up rivers on their land, and works to replenish marine life. 

The Urban Edge Farm is managed by the Southside Community Land Trust (SCLT). Joining Langevin at the Urban Edge will be SCLT Director Katherine Brown as well as representatives from the NRCS and the Feinstein Hunger Program at the University of Rhode Island.