By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – Midwestern farmers enjoyed bumper crops and high commodity prices in the last few years, but organizers of this year's Farm Aid concert in St. Louis say their advocacy work on behalf of family-run farms remains vital.
Executive Director Carolyn Mugar said people should not think of farmers as needy. She said most of the money Farm Aid raises goes to lobbying efforts and education, especially through the group's website.
"We have over 500 organizations in this country as resources that can help farmers find more innovative ways of farming," Mugar said. "It has technical assistance and marketing help. It has ways for new farmers to try to get on the land."
The concert will be at the Verizon Amphitheater in Maryland Heights October 4. Willie Nelson will perform, as will Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews.
Nelson and several other musicians organized Farm Aid in 1985 amid a major rural debt crisis.