Letter to the Editor
Writing a letter is the simplest way to quickly respond to any kind of coverage in the newspaper—you can write a letter referencing an article, an editorial piece or an op-ed. Letters to the editor are generally shorter than op-eds and make one quick point.
Sample Letter to the Editor
It's difficult to create a template letter to the editor that will work in all situations—successful letters must be responsive to a specific piece published in the newspaper. It is useful to look at sample letters, though, to get ideas about style, length and format.
Here's something to work with:
Agriculture has the potential to lift many out of poverty, grow economies and build a more prosperous world. It feeds and clothes us all. But the system is broken. Effective farm program payment limitations, like those proposed in the President's budget and discussed in DATE and ARTICLE, will distribute scarce federal dollars in a more equitable way, keep more farmers on the land, improve farm income and help retain budget support for other important food and agricultural programs.
Payment limits will be a step towards compliance with World Trade Organization obligations by reducing overproduction and surplus dumping on developing country markets at prices well below production costs, which currently threaten the livelihood of millions of poor farmers abroad.
Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Byron Dorgan (D-ND) recently introduced the Rural America Preservation Act, which would lower the payment caps on agricultural subsidies to $250,000 for individual recipients and close loopholes allowing multiple payments. I would like to encourage my elected representatives to support the Rural America Preservation Act to help the neediest farmers here and abroad.