JOIN TODAY
You are needed in the cause to support water for farms in the West.
What’s the secret to our success?
Grassroots members like you!
Join our membership of agricultural producers, agribusiness, water purveyors, supporting industries, local governments, and community members.
Your membership will strengthen our advocacy and connect you to cutting-edge research, analysis, and insight on the policies impacting agricultural water.
Select your membership level:
Supporter $250
PARTNER $500
DEFENDER $1,000
ADVOCATE $5,000
CHAMPION $10,000
IRRIGATION DISTRICT
Membership levels are based entirely on how much you are able to support Family Farm Alliance. We accept all contributions to pursue our mission to bring water to Western Agriculture.
The Family Farm Alliance is a 501(c)6 tax exempt organization. 84.18 % of your contribution is tax-deductible. All of your support goes towards making a difference, so every penny counts.
HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Learn more about the membership benefits Family Farm Alliance provides by industry and group.
Agricultural Producers
One individual producer doesn’t have enough time to solve the problem of water availability during drought or amidst burdensome regulations. Family Farm Alliance brings the power of grassroots to Washington, DC to solve these problems that continue to plague farmers and ranchers in the West.
Your membership will allow us to:
- Have a strong presence in DC so federal officials stay informed and in tune with the on-the-ground realities of farming.
- Provide farm and field tours for government officials.
- Continue our effective lobbying and advocacy work.
- Do the regulatory analysis and research that makes Family Farm Alliance an authority on Western irrigated agricultural issues.
- Develop and implement strategies to overcome the water problems faced across the West.
- Act as a watchdog overseeing the impacts of federal regulations on behalf of Western agriculture.
Water Purveyors
Water purveyors, like irrigation districts or water companies, are most impacted by litigation and regulation. By joining Family Farm Alliance, you can work towards solving the problems connected to water availability.
Your membership will allow us to:
- Have a strong presence in DC so federal officials stay informed and in tune with the on-the-ground realities of farming.
- Provide farm and field tours for government officials.
- Continue our effective lobbying and advocacy work.
- Do the regulatory analysis and research that makes Family Farm Alliance an authority on Western irrigated agricultural issues.
- Develop and implement strategies to overcome the water problems faced across the West.
- Act as a watchdog overseeing the impacts of federal regulations on behalf of Western agriculture.
- Finding ways to tailor conservation programs for your districts and your end-users.
- Facilitate low-head hydropower generation.
- Support litigation efforts such as signing on to amicus briefs.
Agribusiness
Successful agribusinesses fundamentally rely on farmers and ranchers to operate. Where many associations are highly specialized to individual industries, Family Farm Alliance brings together all sectors affected by the supply of agricultural water.
Your membership will allow us to:
- Have a strong presence in DC so federal officials stay informed and in tune with the on-the-ground realities of farming.
- Provide farm and field tours for government officials.
- Continue our effective lobbying and advocacy work.
- Do the regulatory analysis and research that makes Family Farm Alliance an authority on Western irrigated agricultural issues.
- Develop and implement strategies to overcome the water problems faced across the West.
- Act as a watchdog overseeing the impacts of federal regulations on behalf of Western agriculture.
Non-governmental Organizations
We collaborate with diverse organizations to draw attention to the multi-use aspects of Western water use. Supporting the Family Farm Alliance through membership or conference sponsorship opportunities provides excellent opportunities to network with like-minded individuals, businesses, and organizations throughout the nation.
Our work with fellow nonprofit NGOs includes:
- Creating and joining coalitions who come together in common purpose as a powerful and effective means of accomplishing key regulatory and legislative victories in DC.
- Producing educational resources such as research and on-the-ground information.
- Strategy development and implementation on policy reform.
- Participation in conferences like our Annual Meeting to gather for cutting-edge insights with senior federal officials.
- Meeting in Washington, DC, on farm tours, or in district meetings with Members of Congress and agency heads.
- Providing technical help and assistance.
- Developing letters targeted to federal officials.
- And much more!
Professionals (attorneys, CPAs, etc.)
Farmers and ranchers need professional support services in order to run their operations. Family Farm Alliance recognizes the importance of your unique role in making farm and ranch operations successful.
You can join other professionals who enjoy the benefits of our organization. Your membership will allow us to:
- Have a strong presence in DC so federal officials stay informed and in tune with the on-the-ground realities of farming.
- Provide farm and field tours for government officials.
- Continue our effective lobbying and advocacy work.
- Do the regulatory analysis and research that makes Family Farm Alliance an authority on Western irrigated agricultural issues.
- Develop and implement strategies to overcome the water problems faced across the West.
- Act as a watchdog overseeing the impacts of federal regulations on behalf of Western agriculture.
Community Leaders
One of our missions is to help educate the general public on the importance of a strong, stable, and reliable water system in the West. This ensures that agriculture can endure both as a livelihood for farmers while producing the abundant food and fiber supply upon which we depend.
By joining in Family Farm Alliance, your membership will allow us to:
- Educate the general public and Western communities of the critical need for agricultural water.
- Have a strong presence in DC so federal officials stay informed and in tune with the on-the-ground realities of farming.
- Provide farm and field tours for government officials.
- Continue our effective lobbying and advocacy work.
- Do the regulatory analysis and research that makes Family Farm Alliance an authority on Western irrigated agricultural issues.
- Develop and implement strategies to overcome the water problems faced across the West.
- Act as a watchdog overseeing the impacts of federal regulations on behalf of Western agriculture.
Other Membership Payment Methods
EMAIL credit card payments at the button below.
or
MAIL checks to:
For questions about membership or invoice, please contact:
Jane Townsend at (916) 206-7186 or click the “Questions” button.
Family Farm Alliance President Pat O’Toole
The Alliance was founded in the early 1990’s with one overriding ethic: Agriculture doesn’t need another association, but it does need an effective, low cost grass roots group that can get the job done. That belief was our foundation and it still drives every decision we make. All staff work is done under contract so we maintain flexibility and very low overhead. And we have a proven track record of success that includes 80 invitations to appear before Congress since 2005.
Few agricultural membership organizations have that level of direct influence in Washington.
Farmers and ranchers and the businesses they rely upon face enough challenges, let alone worrying about whether water supplies will be available to support their operations. On the other hand, there are countless environmental activist groups – many with budgets in the tens of millions of dollars- who are doing everything in their power to influence courts, media and politicians in order to reallocate water supplies away from agriculture.
Your membership matters. Whether you support the Alliance’s advocacy, outreach or education efforts, you can rest assured that your investment will promote the protection of Western irrigated agriculture and the strong rural communities that it supports. I encourage you to make your contribution to the Alliance today.
Family Farm Alliance Executive Director Dan Keppen
Our Top Priorities
A reliable water supply depends in part on the natural environment and, in the West, even more on the policy decisions reflected in laws, rulemaking, and court decisions. Learn more below about our top priorities that impact water policy for agriculture.
Farming
Agriculture doesn’t need another association, but it does need an effective, low cost grass roots group that can get the job done. That belief was our foundation and it still drives every decision we make.
Water Rights
The Alliance in 2015 released its final water rights paper, intended to demonstrate the importance of the existing system, show that it actually works, and try to rebut growing arguments by some of our critics that the system should be scrapped and replaced with something like the “Australia model”, which has been a failure.
Regulations
At the top of the list of the challenges confronting Western family farmers and ranchers is the daunting number of federal regulatory policy initiatives they face. These types of federal water resource policies and regulatory practices could potentially undermine the economic foundations of rural communities in the arid West by making farming and ranching increasingly more difficult.
clean water act
Today, more than a third of the 3.6 million stream miles in this country are designated as “impaired” under the federal CWA. Under the ESA, 28 types of salmon have been listed and none have recovered. Though listing of waters as impaired and species as endangered might be perceived by some as victories, they have by and large not translated to real improvements to the species on the ground.
Endangered species act
The very significant federal presence in the West presents unique challenges that producers may not face in other parts of the United States, particularly with respect to the reach of the ESA. In the West, once certain water supplies – one of the few certainties in Western irrigated agriculture – have now been added to the long list of existing “uncertainties.”
DONATE
Are you committed to protecting and preserving Western irrigated agriculture?
For as low as $5, your kind donation supports domestic food production by family farmers and ranchers, and the resulting important benefits to economic, sociological, environmental, and national security matters.
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