ACTION ALERT:
Tell the MN Legislature to Fully Fund Organic, Sustainable Ag at U of M

5/1/07
The Land Stewardship Project has been working to ensure that the Legislature creates an ongoing organics program at the University and expands funding for alternative livestock research and outreach at the University’s Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA). The Senate proposes funding of $850,000 a year for organics. The House proposes $500,000 a year.  Both bodies propose $150,000 for MISA’s alternative livestock work.

A conference committee of five Senators and five Representatives has been appointed to reconcile the differences in the bills, including our provisions, and is expected to finish their work by the end of the week. LSP has submitted a letter to all the conferees signed by farm groups, chefs, natural food co-ops, farmer co-ops, food retailers and others to provide conferees information on why this initiative is so important. The letter is below. Read it for more details.

Take Action! 
Members of the conference committee need to hear from you. Call or e-mail them today.   

Here is the message: “I am contacting you to urge you to support funding of $850,000 to create an ongoing organic agriculture program at the University of Minnesota and $150,000 to support increased funding for alternative livestock work at the University’s Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture. The Senate proposes funding this work at that level. This public investment is badly needed to support one of the fastest growing segments of agriculture. This type of agriculture is bringing young farmers back to the land and providing existing farmers with new opportunities.  In addition, this farming benefits the environment while meeting the growing consumer demand for local, sustainably-raised and organic foods.” 

If you farm, be sure and tell legislators that you farm and why this is important to you.

Contact these four members of the Higher Ed Conference Committee first:
1.  Sen. Sandy Pappas, Senate Chair, 651-296-1802, e-mail address at: http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/members/member_emailform.php?mem_id=1046&ls=85 2.  Rep. Tom Rukavina, House Chair, 651-296-0170, rep.tom.rukavina@house.mn
3.  Sen. Ron Latz, 651-297-8065, sen.ron.latz@senate.mn
4.  Rep. Kathy Brynaert, 651-296-3248, rep.kathy.brynaert@house.mn

If you have more time, contact the rest of the members:
Sen. Claire Robbling, 651-296-4123, sen.claire.robling@senate.mn
Sen. Geoff Michelle, 651-296-6238, sen.geoff.michel@senate.mn
Sen. Kathy Sheran, 651-296-6153, sen.kathy.sheran@senate.mn.  Sen. Sheran carried the bill for funding MISA’s livestock work and worked to make sure that and the organic program were included in the Senate bill. She should be thanked for that when contacted.
Rep. Andy Welti, 651-296-4378, rep.andy.welti@house.mn
Rep. Joe Atkins, 651-296-4192, rep.joe.atkins@house.mn
Rep. Carol McFarlane, 651-296-5363, rep.carol.mcfarlane@house.mn
Rep. David Bly (non-voting member), 651-296-7065, rep.david.bly@house.mn.  Rep. David Bly carried the bill for funding MISA’s livestock work and worked to make sure that and the organic program were included in the House bill.  He should be thanked for that when contacted.

More information
For more information, contact LSP organizers Bobby King at 507-450-7258 or Paul Sobocinski at 507-430-1509.

Below is a letter that was presented to the conference committee by LSP’s Paul Sobocinski and LSP member Carmen Fernholz when they testified Monday:

TO:
Sen. Sandy Pappas, Chair, Senate Higher Ed Finance Committee

Rep. Tom Rukavina, Chair, House Higher Ed Finance Committee

RE:  Organic agriculture program and sustainable livestock research and outreach at the University of Minnesota.

c.c. Members of the Higher Ed Conference Committee: Sen. Sheran, Sen. Robling, Sen. Michel, Sen. Latz, Rep. Welti, Rep. Brynaert, Rep. McFarlane, Rep. Atkins, Rep. Bly

                                                                                                            April 25, 2007

Dear Sen. Pappas and Rep. Rukavina:

We urge you to support funding of $1 million per year for creating an ongoing organic program at the University of Minnesota and for the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA) to promote alternative livestock production.  This funding level is part of the Senate proposal.  (The House proposal funds the organic program at $500,000 per year and MISA’s alternative livestock work at $150,000.)

Organic and sustainable agriculture are among the fastest growing segments of agriculture and Minnesota is a national leader in this growth.  USDA Economic Research Service data shows that in 2005, Minnesota was fourth in the nation in organic cropland and fifth in the number of organic farms.  Between 1997 and 2003, certified organic acreage in Minnesota was up 95% to 124,000 acres.  

This growth in organics is resulting in new farmers on the land, more young people deciding to study agriculture, and new opportunities for small and medium farmers to remain profitable. In addition, healthy food is being produced in ways that enhance the environment. This movement, which has been farmer and consumer driven, is in need of ongoing research and outreach from our land grant university to realize its potential and maintain its growth. 

With the Senate funding level it would be possible to create a comprehensive statewide “Organic Research and Education Initiative” that would establish the University of Minnesota as a national and world leader in organic food systems.  This work would be spread across the University of Minnesota Research and Outreach Centers, St. Paul Campus, and UMore Park. These facilities are strategically positioned to represent Minnesota’s major agroecoregions. Each site provides an existing infrastructure and unique soil type and climate in which to conduct organic research, education and outreach programs. This initiative would contribute to the University’s ability to obtain its “top three” status as a public research institution and greatly enhance Minnesota’s advantage in competition for national funding for organic research.

The work of MISA in conducting research into alternative livestock production that is sustainable such as grass-based systems and deep-bedded straw systems has been critical in developing new opportunities for Minnesota’s livestock farmers.  For example, MISA has been a leader in research into raising hogs without antibiotics and in a natural environment, such as deep-bedded straw systems. This is the type of pork that is sold at Chipotle Mexican Grill, which buys much of its pork from Minnesota producers but is unable to buy all of its pork in Minnesota because of lack of supply. The work of MISA can help farmers meet this demand while increasing their profit and enhancing the environment.

With this investment, Minnesota can become a national and world leader in promoting sustainable and organic agriculture. This investment will help create more opportunities for family farmers, help attract more young people to study agriculture and enter farming, and create more economic opportunities for rural Minnesota. We hope you will support this strategic investment.

Sincerely,

Carmen Fernholz, State Secretary
Minnesota National Farmers Organization

Paul Sobocinski, Policy Organizer
Land Stewardship Project

Jeff Anderson, Senior Produce Buyer
Lunds Food Holdings Inc.

Jean Andreasen, General Manager
PastureLand Co-op

Lindy Bannister, General Manager
Wedge Natural Foods Co-op

Atina and Martin Diffley,
Gardens of Eagan Organic Farm

Beth Waterhouse, Interim Executive Director
Minnesota Project   

Rick Christianson, Senior Produce Buyer
Co-op Partners Warehouse 

Charli Mills, Marketing Manager
Valley Natural Foods Co-op

Travis Lusk, Produce Manager
Seward Co-op Grocery and Deli

Chris and Kim Blanchard
Rock Spring Organic Farm.

Brenda Langton, chef and owner
Café Brenda and Spoonriver

Melody Meyer, Marketing
Albert's Source Organic

Doug Peterson, President
Minnesota Farmers Union

Ronnie Cummins, National Director
Organic Consumers Association

Paula Maccabee, Public Interest Advocate
Just Change Consulting

A.J. Hodges, President
Renaissance Fertilizers, Inc.

Phil Guida, General Manager
Just Food Co-op  

Pete Gengler, President
Sno Pac Foods

Scott Schaeppi, Vice President
H. Brooks and Company Produce Distribution

Jim Hannigan, President
J&J Distributing

Faye Jones
Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Services (MOSES)

Tom Bilek, President
Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA), Minnesota #1

Tom Bilek, Chairman
Buckwheat Growers Association of Minnesota

Jim Falk
Falk’s Seed Farm

Carol Banks, Publisher
Edible Twin Cities