5/18/05

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TAKE ACTION: COMMENT ON EQIP PRIORITIES 

NRCS is currently accepting comments on the national priorities of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).  Currently, the program has four national priorities: 1) reducing water pollution by nutrients, sediment, pesticides and salinity; 2) reducing air pollution in the form of nitrogen oxides, particulates, organic compounds and other pollutants; 3) reducing soil erosion, and 4) protecting habitat for at-risk wildlife.  NRCS needs your input to ensure that the program will benefit wildlife, reward sustainable producers, and avoid becoming a subsidy for confined animal feeding operations.  Please tell NRCS that they should retain wildlife as a national priority and expand this priority to include: protection of and improvement of habitat for native pollinators; non-lethal management practices that reduce conflicts between wildlife and crop or livestock production; and linking water conservation practices to improving stream flows and retaining more water for wildlife.  Please also tell NRCS to give more priority to sustainable managed grazing and pasture-based livestock and poultry systems, and for farmers and ranchers making the transition to organic production.  Instructions for commenting are available at: www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/eqipfednotice32305.pdf    

MAY THE FARM BE WITH YOU 

Just in time for the release of the latest Star Wars movie, Free Range Studios has put out a clever little internet-based animation worth checking out.  The piece, called "Store Wars," features a smorgasbord of visual puns about vegetables – all sliced and seasoned with a timely message.  Store Wars is about the "Organic Rebellion" - a time in the not-so-distant future when food production has been taken over by the dark force – an empire of pesticide and pollution.  Advised by Olie One Canolie, Cuke Skywalker (a cucumber) goes to save Princess Lettuce and runs up against his father - Darth Tatur (a potato).  Store Wars, sprinkled with scenes from past Star War flicks; including the famous bar scene with fantastical characters – which here becomes, of course, the "Salad Bar."  Unlike Star Wars though, with Store Wars, in the end, it's up to us, the consumer, to struggle with the dark side every time we go to the store.  Will we support the Organic Rebellion?  Or will we go to the dark side?  Check it out at: www.storewars.org/flash/index.html 

CONSERVATION PROGRAMS HIT BY BUDGET CUTS 

Congress last week "moved a step closer to reopening the 2002 farm bill" by approving a budget resolution calling for a $35- billion reduction in mandatory government spending and $70 billion in tax cuts over the period of 2006 to 2010.  The resolution requires an overall reduction in agriculture spending by $173 million in fiscal year 2006 and total $3 billion over the next five years.  It will be up to the agriculture committees in the House and Senate to decide what programs the cuts will come from.  Agriculture Committee Chairman Saxby Chambliss says the committee will "reduce spending equitably among the commodity support, conservation and nutrition programs." Meanwhile, the House Agriculture Appropriations subcommittee on Monday recommended a bill that would cut conservation funding by $60 million from the 05 levels, and shortchange these programs to the tune of $389 million below the levels promised in the farm bill -- and also reinstates a cap on funding for the Conservation Security Program.  The worst-hit program in the Agriculture Appropriations bill is the Wetlands Reserve Program, which is slashed by 56%.  This cut is particularly ironic considering that the President on Earth Day gave a speech praising the role of the Farm Bill programs in enhancing wetlands. You can ask your Senators to support full funding of conservation programs by calling the congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121. http://deltafarmpress.com/news/050508-budget-cuts/index.html  

WILL FEDS REPEAT ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER IN CALIFORNIA? 

According to the Associated Press, in California's Central Valley a federal plan to drain mineral-laden irrigation water from farms includes a proposal similar to one that caused an environmental disaster more than two decades ago, leading to bird deformities and deaths health.  The fact that the government is considering the same possibility has conservationist in the area very concerned.  "It's insanity! We tried that before and it was a disaster," said Lloyd Carter – an area local conservationist.  In the massive Central Valley Irrigation District, mineral laden soils release high quantities of toxic minerals into water standing in the fields. When left to evaporate – the water kills migratory birds passing through in California's central valley fly-way.  Due to toxic levels federal officials there who are under court order to find a way to dispose of the tainted water.  Forming new evaporation ponds is one of several options outlined in a draft environmental impact report to be released this month by the Bureau of Reclamation.   According to Joe Skorupa, a federal employee who researched toxic effects on birds for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in California between 1986 and 2003 said, "There's always a better alternative than evaporation ponds.  It's a matter of having the imagination and taking the time." www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/11674184.htm

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 to ensure abundant family farms, healthy critters, clean water and a wild Earth.  

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Scotty Johnson and Aimee Delach
National Rural Community Outreach Campaign
sjohnson@defenders.org