1. ACTION ALERT! PREVENT FACTORY FARM GIVEAWAY

Send NRCS your comments on the EQIP rule! On February 10, 2003, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) issued its proposed rule for implementation of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The 2002 Farm Bill gave a huge boost to funding for EQIP, but opened the door for huge sums of money to go to the largest animal feeding operations to construct waste facilities that could actually degrade, rather than improve, environmental quality. It is very important, therefore, that the Rule, which describes how the NRCS plans to implement the program, contain strong language that prevents EQIP from becoming a giveaway to the largest and most damaging operations. Please visit www.familyfarmer.org for more information and a sample letter you can send to the NRCS.

2. SEND IT TO THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE NOT THE WHITE HOUSE

Last Friday Congress finally passed the Fiscal Year 2003 appropriations package. The 40 pound omnibus bill contained so much pork one commentator said it should head for the slaughter house not the White house. Even the chair of the House appropriations committee admitted on the floor he did not know everything that was in the bill. This legislative monstrosity attacked the Conservation Security Program and other farm bill conservation programs. Stay tuned to Rural UPdates!, which will provide information on a supplemental appropriations bill as news develops.

3. STEALTH RIDERS FIND WINGS

Certain members of Congress notoriously pass legislation via a mechanism known as the "rider." The rider is usually a pet project that can't pass on its own merits so legislators attach them to other bills, such as the Omnibus spending bill that just passed Congress last Friday. This bill was a hay day for many of the anti-conservation legislators whose campaigns are well funded by the timber and other extractive industries. One rider is very disturbing; it allows federal agencies to let private logging companies take over management of parcels of federal forest land and pays them with trees. Another rider undercuts environmental review for the renewal of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System in direct defiance of the National Environmental Policy Act - a cornerstone of environmental law. The bill also reduced funding for the six-year dedicated Conservation Trust Fund to more than $300M below the dedicated FY03 level and the State Wildlife Grants Program was reduced by $20 million from last year's amount. When it comes to the legacy of conservation during this administration, it will clearly be "Death by De-funding."

4. TEXAS LEGISLATOR INTRODUCES "ECOLOGICAL TERRORISM" BILL

Last week in the Texas Legislature, House member Ray Allen (R-Grand Prairie) introduced H.B. 433, which would designate as "animal rights or ecological terrorists" any "two or more persons organized for the purpose of supporting any politically motivated activity intended to obstruct or deter any person from participating in an activity involving animals or an activity involving natural resources." In addition to activities that are already unlawful, like vandalism, this bill would brand as "ecological terrorism" the photographing or videotaping of operations "with intent to defame," as well as peaceful protests or boycotts that could be construed as "obstructing the use of an animal or a natural resource owned by the individual." If passed, the bill would criminalize all such activities conducted with respect to hunting, trapping, agriculture, research, as well as logging, mining and other forms of resource extraction.

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