1.  GROUPS SEND FARM BILL MESSAGE TO GOVERNORS

A letter signed by nearly 60 major farm, conservation, environmental, church and consumer groups calling for a greener, family farm bill was delivered to a meeting of the nation's governors last Friday in Washington, DC. The letter told a group of governors meeting on resource conservation there is a broad alliance that "believes that the 2002 Farm Bill represents an important opportunity to improve the economy and environment of rural America." The letter signed by major environmental and farm groups, including the National Family Farm Coalition and the National Farmers Union, stressed additional budget funding for responsible resource stewardship incentives and efforts to restore competition and create new markets. The sign-on letter is still open for sign on by additional groups and can be viewed at http://www.familyfarmer.org/alerts/letter.html

2. FARMERS DEMANDING THE PRESIDENT UPHOLD PORK REFERENDUM

As reported in past editions, American family farmers voted to end a mandatory promotional "pork" checkoff program last year. In a referendum spearheaded by the Campaign for Family Farms and other groups, over 15,000 farmers voted to eliminated a program they felt was corrupt and advancing the interests of corporate factory farming.

However, the Bush Administration's new Ag Secretary, [[Ann]] Veneman nullified this vote last week in what farmers are calling a "backroom" deal. Now family farmers are furious. They are inviting diverse groups to sign a letter to President Bush demanding that he "...uphold the rights of citizens of this country." In a powerful letter that should gain the president's attention they say, "Our most basic inalienable right, the right of democracy, has been violated by your administration."

If your group would like to sign on to this letter, or if you would like a copy of the letter sent for your review, send an email to bryceoates@hotmail.com

3. CAMPAIGN TO LABEL GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOOD

In a society that requires all food ingredients be identified on the label, including breakdowns by protein, carbohydrate and fat content, why isn't it mandatory that genetically engineered food be labeled? It may surprise some to know that a reasonable answer to this question has yet to ensue from the pertinent US regulatory agencies. While this lack of consistency in government regulations might bother some, it has sprouted a great new grass roots campaign; the campaign to label genetically engineered food. The Campaign is advancing the radical proposition that consumers should actually know if the food they are eating has been genetically engineered. If you would like to check out this campaign, visit their website at: http://www.thecampaign.org

4. FARM BUREAU CHIEF CONCERNED ABOUT ENVIRONMENTALISTS

Lisa Shumard reported in the March 16 Illinois AgriNews that Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman is "concerned that environmentalists and others could sway some members of Congress to institute regulations that overly burden individuals and business in agriculture." Shumard, reporting on Stallman's remarks at the Indiana Farm Bureau gathering, said Stallman believes, "The next farm bill will have policies on biotechnology, energy, research, trade, the environment and food safety." "Yes, we are in a war," Shumard quoted Stallman as saying. Portraying Stallman as a uniting force, Shumard said Stallman believes that "Regardless of the size of their operation, all farmers must band together to keep agriculture alive."

Editors Note: Critics have long argued that Farm Bureau leaders can not justly serve their non-profit farmer members and their vast "for profit" insurance and agribusiness interests. These businesses profit from selling to, and buying from farmers. Critics maintain this is an inherent conflict of interest. Further, charges are increasingly surfacing that the powerful Farm Bureau advances farm policy which favors corporate interests and undermines small and environmentally conscious family farmers. To learn more about these allegations, go to http://www.familyfarmer.org/sections/meet.html