SAMPLE LETTER -- click here: We Must Tell Congress to also Protect High Quality Organic and Local Food Supporting Viable Federal Oversight over Corporate Agribusiness Local/Organic Farming: Part of the Solution, Not Part of the Problem! 1. HR 875: The Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 2. HR 759: The Food and Drug Administration Globalization Act of 2009 3. HR 1332: Safe FEAST Act of 2009 The blogosphere has sounded the alarm warning that Congress and agribusiness and biotechnology lobbyists are conspiring to pass legislation that will force organic and local farms, and even home gardeners, out of business. What are the threats and opportunities, and how should we gear up to communicate with our congressional representatives?

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Action Alert Message to Obama: Please Fix the USDA's Organic Mess Overhaul of Management and Culture Needed Please urge President Obama and new USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to take immediate action to repair the USDA's increasingly dysfunctional National Organic Program (NOP). Suspect imports of grains, nuts, and vegetables from China and other countries, questionable organic milk, beef, and eggs from giant factory farms, and the erosion of opportunity for family farmers are plaguing the organic sector. Make your voice heard by

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We need change at the USDA, or the "People's Department," as President Lincoln so aptly called this agency. We need new management to create a culture supporting the thousands of ethical organic family farmers, and their consumer allies, who have built the vibrant organic agricultural and foodmarket. The timing is exquisite for the new Obama administration and the USDA to hear the serious concerns of the organic community.

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Center for Rural Affairs President-elect Barack Obama launched his campaign in Iowa with a promise to create genuine opportunity for rural people and family farmers. Obama proposed changing the failed rural policy of Washington by capping payments to megafarms and enforcing rules against unfair practices by meat packers to strengthen family farms. To revitalize rural communities, he proposed investing in small business development and value added agriculture.

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Consumers and Farmers Join Together to Rein in Factory Farms and Protect the Livelihoods of Ethical Farm Families Since the organic community first appealed to the USDA for better clarification and enforcement of regulations requiring organic dairy producers to graze their cattle, nearly 9 years ago, the number of giant industrial dairy operations, with as many as 10,000 cows, has grown from two to approximately 15. After years of delay, the USDA has finally responded with a new proposed rule that they said would crack down on abuses. The new USDA rule proposal and its analysis total 26 pages, as published in the Federal Register. The draft rule complies with organic community requests to close specific loopholes being exploited by factory farms confining their cattle. But it also represents the broadest rewrite of federal organic regulations in the $20 billion industry's relatively short history. But, the new rules, if enacted, would put out of business the majority of organic livestock farmers - including hundreds who are operating ethically.

Posted in Completed Action Alerts