1. SENATOR HARKIN TO BECOME AGRICULTURAL CHAIRMAN

With the recent turn of events, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) must be
feeling that the "force is with him." Last week, right on the heels of
introducing his visionary farm conservation legislation, the Conservation
Security Act (CSA) Harkin learned he would soon become the chairman
of the Senate Ag. committee. This sudden turn happened as Senator
James Jeffords (VT) made his startling announcement to leave the
Republican party and become an Independent. With this shift of power,
control of the Senate and all committees turns over to the Democrats.

As a result, in early June, Senator Harkin will become the Senate Ag.
committee chairman. This unexpected news has been applauded by
family farmers, conservationists and consumers who understand
Senator Harkin's concern for rural communities, families and the
environment. While this change will help secure enactment of the
Conservation Security Act, it also makes authentic reform of current
farm policy a real possibility. Throughout this process Rural Updates!
will continue to keep you appraised on efforts to secure food production
that nurtures families, protects our environment and produces safe food
for all consumers. 

2. FARM BUREAU - BIG BUSINESS AS USUAL

In the past, Farm Bureau leadership has been sharply criticized by their
farmer members for using membership money to promote the interests of corporate meat packers over those of farmers. The latest sequel of this on-going saga took place last week in Kentucky. There, Franklin Circuit Judge Roger Crittenden struck down a Kentucky Natural Resources Cabinet rule that forced the state's meat packing companies to share in the liability for water pollution and other environmental degradation caused by contracted livestock producers. As it stands, Kentucky is the only state in the nation that requires this "shared liability" Without this regulation farmers are solely liable even though the livestock is owned by the company. Not surprisingly, the Kentucky Farm Bureau went to court and argued against this regulation - and won. 

For those who have been following how Farm Bureau leaders lobby and argue for Big Pig and Big Chicken - it will come as no surprise to recall that it is the Kentucky Farm Bureau, who is a controlling interest in the Southern Farm Bureau Annuity Insurance Company, which, as of 1998, owned 18,872 shares of meat packing giant Premium Standard Farms. Protecting farmers' rights? Think again.

To learn more about the American Farm Bureau Federation go to http://www.familyfarmer.org/sections/meet.html

3. "ADVENTITIOUS PRESENCE": A TALE OF ADVENTUROUS POLLEN

Corn planting in the U.S. totals about 70 million acres, about 25% of which is genetically modified (GM). All that corn means lots of corn pollen rising on the wind and landing on other corn plants.

Invariably, some of the GM pollen will travel far from its point of origin and pollinate conventional corn. This phenomena, termed "adventitious presence" in a May/June "Farm Journal" article, could spell trouble for producers whose markets (e.g. organic consumers and the European Union) depend on their seed being free of technologically modified genes. Add in the fact that some of the "adventitious" pollen could contain StarLink genes, and the issue could affect any farmer planting corn for human consumption. The "Farm Journal" article suggests a sort of "genetically modified showdown" -- that is, planting Roundup Ready corn and using that herbicide to control "volunteers" that might contain StarLink genes. In Great Britain, however, officials have taken another approach, according to the Associated Press: the government, which has not yet approved the import of any GM corn, has halted GM corn field trials at a site where it was feared that the pollen would contaminate a nearby organic research center.

4. WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE - JOHN HANSEN GUEST EDITORIAL

"The American families who produce our food and fiber are hemorrhaging. The pressure from one sided and unfair farm and trade policies is taking a tragic toll on farm families, farm businesses, rural communities, and the soul of America. Yet, where is the outrage? Where is the public debate over the horrific and massive failure of the 1996 Farm Bill...?"

Read the entire editorial at http://www.familyfarmer.org/sections/outrage.html

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