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1. Action Alert: Improve Farm and Ranch Protection Program
2. Ag Pollution Scientists Face Harassment
3. Iowa Senators Reaffirm Packer Ban Commitment
4. Head Of Tyson Calls For Repeal Of Country of Origin Labeling

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1. ACTION ALERT: HELP IMPROVE THE FARM AND RANCH LANDS PROTECTION PROGRAM

The US Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) has issued the proposed rule for the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (formerly called the Farmland Protection Program). The new rule lays out the mechanisms for state agencies and private non-profit organizations to access $100 million per year in federal matching funds. This program has been successful in the past protecting land from development, securing clean water, open space and protecting wetlands and wildlife. However, the proposed rule is weak in a very important area. It does not require a conservation plan to guide and ensure conservation improvements on the land protected.

Comments are urgently needed to ensure this important element is in the new rules. Please take a moment and make this important suggestion to the NRCS. Read the proposed rule.

Comments can be submitted via the Internet to denise.coleman@usda.gov, Attention: FRPP Comments.

The "Des Moines Register" reports this week that "University and government scientists studying health threats associated with agricultural pollution say they are harassed by factory farmers and trade groups and silenced by superiors afraid to offend the powerful industry." One scientist interviewed claimed to have received death threats after issuing a warning about manure pollution in a stream.

Others reported that the USDA prevented them from publishing their research or speaking to the public about studies linking factory farms to potential public health issues, like antibiotic-resistant bacteria or outbreaks of Pfisteria. In its defense, the USDA claims that the incidents occurred because the research in question or the presentation venue did not fit "the mission" of the research unit to which the scientists belonged. However, many can't help but look to the cozy relationship between the USDA and industry groups like the National Pork Producers Council, which has offices in the same building as one researcher's Agricultural Extension Research lab. According to the "Register, "The Agricultural Research Service takes in money from farm groups and other private sources equal to about 9 percent of its $1 billion annual budget." Read the full article.

3. IOWA SENATORS REAFFIRM PACKER BAN COMMITMENT

In a December 4 press release, the Campaign for Family Farms reports that over 50 independent livestock producers met this week with Iowa Senator Charles Grassley and an aid to Senator Harkin and called on them to pass a ban on packer ownership of livestock in 2003. Senator Grassley told CFF members that he "absolutely" planned to introduce a bill or amendment to establish a national ban on packers owning livestock. 

"Senators Grassley and Harkin know that banning packer ownership is in the best interest of independent livestock producers. We're very glad they will be leading the charge again in 2003," stated livestock producer Kurt Kelsey, an Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement member and spokesperson for CFF. CFF members also met with representatives from the American Meat Institute, which opposes the ban. In farm bill deliberations earlier this year, the Senate had passed a packer ownership ban sponsored by Grassley and Johnson (SD); the measure was removed in the conference committee. For more information, contact info@morural.org.

4. HEAD OF TYSON CALLS FOR REPEAL OF COUNTRY-OF-ORIGIN LABELING

Country-of-origin labeling, like the packer ownership ban, was a farm bill measure supported by family farmers and opposed by multi-national agribusiness; unlike the packer ban, it survived through to enactment of the farm bill. Now the measure, which begins as a voluntary measure, and becomes mandatory on October 1, 2004, may face renewed attack. John Tyson, chairman of Tyson Corporation, this week called on the next Congress to repeal mandatory country-of-origin labeling. 

Calling the measure a trade barrier, Tyson stated, "We should not, in my opinion, throw up our own trade barriers to foreign agricultural goods. In this category, I have to say that the country-of-origin labeling mandate in this year's farm bill truly puzzles me." Tyson is the largest meat producer in the United States. Read more.