FARM BILL ACTION
BEGINS!
Urgent: Organic Research and the Conservation Security
Program Need Support Today.
The House Agriculture Committee has officially
begun to draft the new Farm Bill. Last Thursday, House
Agriculture Committee Chair Colin Peterson (D-MN) released
his initial proposals for parts of the 2007 Farm Bill.
On Tuesday, May 22, the Subcommittee on Conservation,
Credit, Energy and Research will do their “mark-up”
(which means amending and voting) on Peterson’s
proposals. Your Representative, Jerry Moran is on this
Subcommittee and today is a crucial time for him to
hear from you on two particular issues:
1. Organic Research
and Extension Funding. Peterson’s initial
proposal for research does not increase funding for
the Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI).
We are urging an increase in authorized funding from
$5 million/year to $25 million/year. Renewal and increased
funding for the OREI needs support, and it is vital
that Subcommittee members hear from their organic farming
constituents today.
2. Conservation
Security Program. Peterson is proposing to de-authorize
new enrollment for the Conservation Security Program
(CSP) until 2012. In effect, this would kill the CSP
for the life of the Farm Bill. CSP supports high-level
conservation practices, including organic systems, but
will be crippled if it is not authorized for full funding.
Please call your
representative's office today to let him or her
know your views on these issues! If you can’t
make a call, a faxed letter is also very effective.
An email is less effective but still worthwhile.
When you contact your Representative,
direct all your communication to the Legislative Aide
for agriculture, tell him or her that you are a constituent,
and include your full address and phone number in any
written communication.
Sample Phone Message
Hi, my name is ______________, and I am a constituent
of Representative Moran. I am calling to urge him to
advocate for two important things in this week’s
Subcommittee votes on the 2007 Farm Bill:
- In the Research Title mark-up, support authorized
funding of at least $25 millio a year for the Organic
Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative.
- In the Conservation Title mark-up, support an amendment
to add $3 billion over 5 years to the Conservation
Security Program.
Sample Letter
Dear [Legislative Aide],
I am writing to urge Representative Moran's
support for organic agriculture in this week’s
Subcommittee mark-up of the Conservation and Research
Titles of the 2007 Farm Bill.
In the Research Title, I strongly urge
support for re-authorizing the Organic Agriculture Research
and Extension Initiative (OREI). The OREI is the only
program dedicated to the specific scientific and outreach
needs of organic agriculture, and the 2007 Farm Bill
should provide authorized funding of $25 million a year
for this program. This would be a reasonable down-payment
towards the goal of fair-share funding for organic agricultural
research, education, and economics.
In the Conservation Title, I urge support
for an amendment to add $3 billion over 5 years to the
Conservation Security Program (CSP). The CSP is an innovative
program that provides assistance to farmers whose conservation
systems protect the environment and natural resources.
Organic farms provide these benefits and should be supported
by this program. The 2007 Farm Bill should provide adequate
funding to enable new enrollment for all qualified farms
and ranches.
Please communicate these concerns to Representative
Moran, and urge him to be an advocate for organics and
the environment in the 2007 Farm Bill.
Sincerely,
<<Your Name and Address>>
Background:
Conservation Title
House Agriculture Chairman Colin Peterson recently released
his initial proposals for parts of the 2007 Farm Bill.
In his proposal for the Conservation Title, no new enrollments
for the Conservation Security Program (CSP) are authorized
until 2012. The CSP provides financial and technical
assistance to farmers who have conservation systems
that protect the environment and natural resources.
A fully-funded CSP would encourage and reward organic
farmers for the environmental services they provide.
Chairman Peterson is instead proposing a shift of CSP
funding to EQIP, a more narrow environmental program
that also provides subsidies to factory farms.
Research Title
Chairman Peterson's initial proposal does not increase
funding for the Organic Research and Extension Initiative.
In the past, organic farming research and extension
has been funded at very low levels, especially when
compared to the consumer demand for organic products.
We believe a fair share of America’s agricultural
research resources should be invested in organic farming.
A minimum of $25 million a year in authorized funding
for the OREI program is a good step in that direction.
Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), who also chairs the
Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture,
is recommending this level of authorization to Chairman
Peterson.
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