Tell our senators: Support amendments that help small farms and protect our health!
Here is an action alert passed on to us from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, the Washington Sustainable Food and Farming Network, and Rural Advancement Foundation International. Take action!
The meat industry has worked tirelessly to drive independent producers out of business. Agribusiness giants like Monsanto want to overstep judicial processes and plant genetically engineered crops even if a court has ruled that the crops were approved illegally.
And guess what? Some members of the Senate are on their side.
The Senate’s bill to fund government programs through the rest of 2013 (known as a Continuing Resolution) includes two provisions that support large meat industries and biotech giants, while disregarding the needs of family farmers, independent growers, and sustainable agriculture.
Luckily, we can do something to stop this.
Senator Jon Tester of Montana plans to introduce two amendments today – one for each of the awful provisions – that removes them from the Continuing Resolution.
Our Senators needs to hear from you (and your friends and colleagues!) ASAP, that they must vote for both Tester amendments in the Continuing Resolution, and put the livelihoods of independent producers and the health of our communities first – NOT the profits of large corporations.
Will you make a call or send a message?
Young Farmers’ Coalition has set up a way to send an email to voice your concern. If you would like to do that click here
If you would rather call, here are the numbers you need:
Senator Patty Murray: 1-202-224-2621 (Her agriculture aide is Adam Goodwin: Adam_Goodwin@murray.senate.gov)
Senator Maria Cantwell: 1-202-224-3441 (Her agriculture aide is Paul Wolfe: paul_wolfe@cantwell.senate.gov)
The message is simple:
Please vote for two amendments to the Continuing Resolution introduced by Senator Jon Tester of Montana that protect family farmers from abuses by the meat industry and support review of biotechnology products. These two amendments will stand up for family farmers, ensure that independent producers have a fair chance in the livestock market, and ensure that courts can review biotechnology products.
If you want to add to your message:
Please fix the Substitute Continuing Resolution for FY 2013 and make sure that Organic/Sustainable Farmers have programs to keep farming, including:
National Organic Certification Cost Share program
Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI)
Organic Data Initiative
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program
Value-Added Producer Grant Program
Farmers Market Promotion Program
Outreach & Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers & Ranchers
Conservation Reserve – Transition Incentive Program
Thanks for all you do!