The Family Farm and the G D

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/11/22-1 [indicates that family farms, not the war effort, are what lifted us from the Great Depression.]

Farming Reformation

European Union looks to cut farming subsidies
The EU is to announce plans to reform its hugely expensive rural payments system, the Common Agricultural Policy.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/2/hi/europe/7409739.stm

Urgent--Call or Write

ACTION ALERT-Call or write your congressional representative
requesting removal of recently added Sec. 123 in the 2007 Farm Bill draft that
would prevent states and counties from determining whether genetically
modified crops can be grown.

The biotech industry and agribusiness have been pushing similar state
bills, but now they are trying to hide it in the very lengthy Farm Bill.
Please write to the Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture,
Collin C. Peterson, MN and other members of that committee. You can view
the list of committee members at:
http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/members.html

Many house members prefer that you contact them via their web site.

Sample letter to members of the House Committee on Agriculture

(You can cut and paste this letter or modify as you choose)

Subject: No preemptive language in the Farm Bill to override local
democratically-passed laws that protect citizens from risky foods

Dear (name of representative);

I write to strongly oppose the pre-emptive language of Section 123
"Effect of USDA Inspection and Determination of Non-Regulated Status," in
the House Farm Bill inserted by the subcommittee on Livestock, Diary and
Poultry on May 24.

This language in the Farm Bill would preempt the rights of states and
localities to pass regulations regarding food or agricultural products
or methods that the USDA has granted "non-regulated status."

"SEC 123. EFFECT OF USDA INSPECTION AND DETERMINATION OF NON-REGULATED
STATUS. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no State or
locality shall make any law prohibiting the use in commerce of an article that
the Secretary of Agriculture has:

(1.) inspected and passed; or

(2.) determined to be of non-regulated status."

If included in the Farm Bill, this would negate all current state and
local safety laws, including laws on genetically engineered crops and
organisms. Hiding this provision in the Farm Bill without full public
debate would negate the will of voters who have decided that precautions
should be taken until genetically engineered agricultural products can
be proven safe.

I urge you to oppose any language in the Farm Bill that would preempt
state and local rights to make democratic decisions to protect their own
health, food safety, and agricultural production.

Sincerely,

(Your name)

Protect ATTRA!

Tell Congress to Restore Funds to Important Sustainable Agriculture Program--ATTRA National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture, Feb 20, 2007
PLEASE CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES' AND SENATORS' OFFICES IMMEDIATELY!!

Last week, the Senate passed the "Continuing Resolution," which makes permanent funding decisions for the fiscal year already underway (Fiscal Year 2007), which wasn't completed before the last Congress ended.

This resolution would IMMEDIATELY eliminate funding for a program crucial to sustainable agriculture! The Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA) program is a highly rated national information service that answers practical questions from farmers and others across the US who call its 1-800 telephone number, print publications from its website, or attend its workshops.

Congressman Boozman (R-AR) is circulating a sign-on letter to USDA to fund ATTRA's modest $2.5 million. It's crucial that you call, today if possible, and ask your House member to sign onto that letter. NOW is the time to ask them to sign on, as Congressman Boozman will take this message to USDA early the week of February 26. Senators are also sending individual letters to USDA with the same message.

It's easy to call (and your call has a big impact). Please call the congressional switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to the office of your representative and your two senators (this means 3 very quick calls). Ask to speak to the staffer handling appropriations. If he or she is unavailable, leave a message with your name, phone number and the quick message below.

The message is simple. For your representative: Please ask Congressman/woman _________ to sign onto Congressman Boozman's letter asking USDA to restore full 2007 funding to the ATTRA sustainable agriculture information service. (Tell the staffer for your Representative that they can contact Maggie Lemmerman at 202-225-4301 in Mr. Boozman's office to sign onto the letter.) ATTRA is a national valuable source of information to farmers across the US about how to farm using sustainable practices, and it shouldn't be cut.

For your senators: Please ask Senator ___________ to send a letter asking USDA to restore full funding to the ATTRA sustainable agriculture information service. (Tell the staffer for your Senator that John Lewis in Senator Baucus' office (202) 224-2651 can provide information on the wording of the letter that Senator Baucus sent if that's helpful.) ATTRA is a national valuable source of information to farmers across the US about how to farm using sustainable practices, and it shouldn't be cut.

Background: - For twenty years, ATTRA has been one of the most reliable sources of information for farmers and others who want fact-based information on a wide variety of agronomic, livestock, marketing, and entrepreneurial questions with reliable information, evaluated and summarized from its extensive database. - ATTRA is an extraordinarily efficient program. Though its funding has remained far too small, at $2.5 million since FY02, it accomplishes great work for farmers and consumers around the nation! ATTRA's services are in great demand, exceeding 37,000 technical requests last year and drawing over 2.6 million unique visitors to its website, from which there were over 673,000 publication downloads. It is phone calls like yours that have protected ATTRA and other sustainable agriculture funding in the past.

THANK YOU again for contacting your House representative and senators immediately to keep ATTRA's 2007 funding from being cut! For more about the ATTRA information service, click here "http://www.attra.org"> www.attra.org

Sheilah Davidson Administrative Director National Campaign For Sustainable Agriculture
P.O. Box 396 Pine Bush, New York 12566
Phone: 845-361-5201 Fax: 845-361-5204
e-mail: sheilah@sustainableagriculture.net