As the Fast Track and Free Trade debates heat up in Washington, D.C. the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is putting their formidable lobbying force behind a two fold trade agenda; support of a new round of World Trade Organization (WTO) discussions and an expedited passage of Fast Track legislation. (Now dubiously termed the Trade Promotion Authority.) In a Farm Bureau news release (June 21) AFBF president Bob Stallman says he is encouraged that WTO negotiations are underway, noting that "nothing is more important to agricultural trade than to launch a new trade round this year." The new WTO round Stallman describes is to be held in remote Qatar a country famous for its intolerance of public protest. The WTO process has been highly criticized for its lack of transparency and favoritism to elite transnational corporations. Though grassroots farmers across America are opposing Fast Track as "unconstitutional" and too "restrictive of debate" the Farm Bureau president states, "We need Trade Promotion Authority to give our negotiators (In Qatar this November) credibility at the bargaining table and to make progress in the WTO negotiations." See the press release at: http://www.fb.org/news/nr/nr2001/nr0621a.html

2. FARM BILL UPDATE: AG APPROPRIATIONS DEBATED IN HOUSE

The House of Representatives debated the $74.2 billion Agriculture Appropriations Bill on the House Floor on June 28. Major issues and amendments raised included the $150 million emergency provision for apple growers, food safety and inspection provisions, biofuels, and a program to provide global food aid for children. No one raised an amendment to stop the Zero Funding and allow the Wetlands Reserve Program, Farmland Protection Program and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program to meet farmer demand. (see our Action Alert).

However, Rep. Kind (D-3rd/WI) decried the current inequities in farm assistance and stated, "It is my hope that future agriculture policy provides for clean and safe drinking water, along with improved soil and air quality." Rep. Johnson (R-6th/CT) expressed support for Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) funds, "We are not a part of the country that benefits much from the farm bill through its crop assistance and other programs, but so some of its conservation dollars, and these EQIP dollars, are extremely important to us." The agriculture appropriations bill will most likely be voted on the week of July 9. Read House Floor Session Transcripts

North Carolina was once a home to one of the most diverse fish populations in America, especially along the rambling Nuese River near New Berne. Not any more. These days highly concentrated factory style hog farms line the river producing massive amounts of manure that is fatal to river fish and river life. Recently this unfitting combination of fish and pig waste proved deadly to nearly 150,000 fish "along a three- to four-mile stretch of the Neuse River" according to The News and Observer. 

The article stated that "The dead fish included menhaden, flounder, spot, croaker pinfish and crabs. They were found in shallow areas of the river between Flanner's Beach and Slocum Creek." Manure runoff causes the death of fish and other aquatic life through a process of "nutrification" whereby dissolved oxygen in the water is reduced to unacceptable levels.

4. CONSUMER SUPPORT SHOWS INTENSE SUPPORT FOR BIOTECH LABELING

Respondents to an ABCNews.com telephone poll responded overwhelmingly a whopping 93% in favor of federally mandated labeling of genetically modified foods. The poll results indicated that it is "rare" for such "near-unanimity in public opinion" to be expressed for any issue. A majority (57%) of respondents, moreover, said they would be less likely to purchase products labeled as genetically modified and only 5% would be more likely to buy them By contrast, 52% said they would be more likely to purchase foods labeled as organic. 

While the Food and Drug Administration and American Medical Association both maintain that labeling isn't necessary, over half of those polled and 62% of women, who do the bulk of grocery shopping in most families question the safety of such foods. In Europe, where the public has been much more vocal about their opposition to genetically engineered food, at least one company, Nestle, has committed to providing "GE-Free" baby formula and other products, but they have thus far resisted doing so in the U.S. You can let Nestle know that the American public has the right to choose what their food is made of by taking action at http://www.ecopledge.com/companyNES.htm

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