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Land Stewardship LIVE-WIRE, March 25, 2004
Hello:
This is the ninth issue of "Land Stewardship LIVE-WIRE," the Land Stewardship Project's e-mail update. We send this out periodically to provide an update on activities and information related to LSP's work. We hope you enjoy this service, and are looking for feedback. Please send your comments to Brian DeVore at bdevore@landstewardshipproject.org. If you prefer not to receive this newsletter, please e-mail lspwbl@landstewardshipproject.org and write, "remove LIVE-WIRE" in the subject line.
IN THIS ISSUE
1) Minn. Legislative Update
2) Can You Hear Me Now?
3) LSP, 3 Other Groups Form Task Force
4) Livestock Can Help Water Quality
5) CSP Draws Record Number of Comments
6) Join a Farm, Get Fresh Vegetables
7) Community Food & Farm Festival May 1-2
8) Call for SE Minn. Steering Committee Candidates
9) Public Seeds-Public Goods
10) Field Day Season is Here
11) Permaculture Design Workshop April, August
12) Art Show April 2-May 8
13) ‘Environmental Threats to Children’ April 2
14) Nestle to Speak April 13
15) Worth Repeating
16) Worth Repeating, Part II
1) MINN. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
The 2004 Minnesota Legislature's onslaught against family farming and rural communities continues. For example, proposed legislation (HF 2658 and SF 2866) that would exempt most factory farms from nuisance lawsuits was passed by committees in both the House and Senate during the past two weeks. These bills could have serious negative implications for our rural communities and the environment. When regulatory officials and the operator of a feedlot refuse to take action to correct a nuisance, the courts are the last option for neighbors who are adversely affected by the operation. Current law already provides generous exemptions to the operators of feedlots against nuisance lawsuits. But these proposed bills exempt factory farms from nuisance suits even in instances of injury or direct threat of injury.
House File 2658 is authored by Rep. Howard Swenson (R-Nicollet) and Rep. Bob Gunther (R-Fairmont). Senate File 2866 is authored by Senator Rod Skoe (DFL-Clearbrook), and co-authored by Senators Jim Vickerman (DFL-Tracy), Dallas Sams (DFL- Staples), Julie Rosen (R-Fairmont)) and David Hann (R-Eden Prairie). Unfortunately, in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Senator Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope) repeatedly cast key votes that kept the bill from being improved through amendments supported by LSP. Ultimately, the committee voted to move the bill to the Senate floor.
Call your Senator now and tell him/her to vote against SF 2866. Then call your Representative and tell him/her to vote against HF 2658. As currently drafted, these bills protect factory farm expansion, while weakening the ability of neighbors, including farmers, to protect their health and the use and enjoyment of their property.
The so-called "alien-ownership" bill (SF 717), which was turned back last session due to overwhelming opposition from Minnesota farmers, has been revived by proponents of corporate agriculture. Current Minnesota law allows immigrants to own farmland and Land Stewardship Project supports that. But this bill would allow holders of "non-immigrant treaty investment visas" to own farms. This bill is about foreign investors, not immigrants. The bill is moving quickly through the Senate. In a well-orchestrated move, Senator Sams rushed the bill through the Judiciary committee the same day he added himself as chief author. Co-authors of SF 717 are Sen. Steve Dille (R-Dassel) and Sen. Betsy Wergin (R- Princeton). The House alien ownership bill is HF 447. The lead author there is Rep. Greg Blaine (R- Little Falls), and the co-authors are Representatives Howard Swenson (R- Nicollet), Dean Simpson (R- New York Mills), and Bud Nornes (R-Fergus Falls). For some good background on this legislation, read the Agri-News editorial, "Deep Six Alien Ownership; move onto better bills" http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/pr/04/itn_040317.htm. Call your lawmakers and deliver a strong message now: Defeat the alien ownership bills, SF 717 and HF 447.
The last issue of the LIVE-WIRE reported on legislative attempts to take away the ability of local governments to control the growth of mega-livestock operations. Because of grassroots pressure from LSP members and others, so far none of these proposals have gotten off the ground. Pressure in the form of telephone calls, e-mails and personal visits needs to continue.
For the name and number of your state senator, call 888-234-1112. For state representative information, call 800-657-3550. For general information on legislative issues affecting family farms, rural communities and the environment, contact Bobby King at 507-523-3366, or Paul Sobocinski at 507-342-2323 (cell: 507-430-1509). More information is also available on our Action Alerts page.
2) CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
In response to the anti-family farm legislation outlined above, on March 15 the Land Stewardship Project partnered with the Minnesota Farmers Union and the Minnesota National Farmers Organization to organize a meeting in Willmar, Minn., on protecting local township government and helping independent livestock producers. More than 200 farmers and local government officials turned out to hear Bill Heffernan, Nancy Barsness, Jim Peters, Doug Peterson, Bob Arndt, Paul Sobocinski and Mark Schultz speak. At the end of the meeting, participants pulled out cell phones and called legislators to tell them about the importance of supporting local government and independent family farmers. Details are available at http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/pr/04/newsr_040316.html or http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/pr/04/itn_040316.html.
3) LSP, 3 OTHER GROUPS FORM TASK FORCE
Four Minnesota farm groups have come together to create the Citizen Task Force on Livestock Farmers and Rural Communities. The four founding farm organizations are the Land Stewardship Project, Minnesota Farmers Union, Minnesota National Farmers Organization and the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota. The task force will study the challenges facing livestock farmers and rural communities and make policy recommendations to state officials and the legislature. For details, including the Task Force’s “Statement of Purpose,” check out http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/pr/04/newsr_040224.html.
4) LIVESTOCK CAN HELP WATER QUALITY
True to its promise, the Citizen Task Force on Livestock Farmers and Rural Communities has started gathering information on what can be done to help Minnesota agriculture and its rural communities. On March 1, members of the Task Force heard a presentation on how a livestock industry based on perennial plant systems such as pasture and alfalfa could have a positive impact on Minnesota’s water quality. “Let’s get out of the mind-set of just what can we do with corn and soybeans,” Steve Morse, Endowed Chair in Agricultural Systems at the University of Minnesota, told the Task Force. Morse is working with “Green Lands, Blue Waters: A Vision and Roadmap for the Next Generation of Agricultural Systems.” More information is available at http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/pr/04/newsr_040305.html.
5) CSP DRAWS RECORD NUMBER OF COMMENTS
Congratulations--you are making your voice heard. The USDA’s proposed rules for the Conservation Security Program (CSP), one of the most innovative conservation programs ever passed by Congress, have drawn a record 10,000 public comments, according to the USDA. “Now that they’ve seen the incredible public support for a fully implemented CSP and opposition to their attempts to hamstring it, the Administration needs to act on these comments by the end of August and issue a final rule that is consistent with the law,” says Dan French, a Minnesota farmer and member of LSP’s Federal Farm Policy Committee. For more, check out http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/pr/04/newsr_040303.htm
6) JOIN A FARM, GET FRESH VEGETABLES
Memberships in Community Supported Agriculture farms for the 2004 growing season are filling up fast. Community Supported Agriculture, also known as CSA, is an arrangement where people buy shares in a farming operation on an annual basis. In return, the farmers provide a weekly supply of fresh, natural produce throughout the growing season (approximately June to October). Shares are often sold out by early spring. For a free LSP guide describing CSA farms that serve the Twin Cities region, log onto http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/pr/04/newsr_040223.html. For a paper copy, call the Land Stewardship Project at 651-653-0618, or stop by our White Bear Lake office at 2200 4th Street (second level). This guide also provides information on joining CSA farms in other parts of the Midwest, as well as across the country.
7) COMMUNITY FOOD & FARM FESTIVAL MAY 1-2
Consumers will have a chance to meet some of the faces behind the food at the 2004 Community Food and Farm Festival, an Annual Event that brings together sustainable, direct marketing producers and consumers in a way that celebrates this connection. This year's Festival will again be held in conjunction with the Living Green Expo on Saturday, May 1, and Sunday, May 2, at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds’ Education Building. For details, go to “Links to Other Food & Farm Resources.”
8) CALL FOR SE MINN. STEERING COMMITTEE CANDIDATES
The Land Stewardship Project’s southeast Minnesota office is seeking candidates to run for its 2004-2006 Steering Committee. LSP is seeking candidates who have demonstrated dedication to the work and mission of LSP, are committed to voicing the issues of LSP members, and have a vision for furthering the work of LSP in the future. To place your name on the ballot, or to simply find out more information, please contact the LSP office in Lewiston at 507-523-3366. Applications are due by April 20.
9) PUBLIC SEEDS-PUBLIC GOODS
“Public Seeds—Public Goods” is a special Land Stewardship Project report that describes the critical role public plant breeding plays in American agriculture and how this resource is threatened by privatization. For information on obtaining the report, go to http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/pr/04/newsr_040228.html. On a related topic, the Union of Concerned Scientists has released a study showing that U.S. crops are “pervasively contaminated” with DNA from genetically modified versions of those crops. “Gone to Seed: Transgenic Contaminants in the Traditional Seed Supply” is available at http://www.ucsusa.org.
10) FIELD DAY SEASON IS HERE
The Land Stewardship Project’s Farm Beginnings™ program has scheduled an exciting series of field days from now until the end of July. Some of these field days are open to the general public. Such events can be a great opportunity to get a firsthand look at how farmers are implementing some of the most innovative production techniques out there. For more information on the Farm Beginnings™
field days, contact LSP’s southeast Minnesota office at 507-523-3366 or stettler@landstewardshipproject.org. For information on public field days being held in western Minnesota, contact our Montevideo office at 320-269-2105 or amyb@landstewardshipproject.org. Field day listings
are also available on LSP’s online calendar, or in our Web site’s Press Releases section.
11) PERMACULTURE DESIGN WORKSHOP APRIL, AUGUST
A series of workshops on permaculture design in the Upper Midwest this spring and summer. The dates are April 23-25 and Aug. 6-8. For more information or to register, call Paula Westmoreland at 612-870-3467, or e-mail permanentagriculture@hotmail.com.
12) ART SHOW APRIL 2-MAY 8
Painting, drawing, sculpture, pottery, printmaking and photography will come together in a show depicting Minnesota’s family farms and rural life. The exhibition, “Family Farms and Rural Communities: A Tribune,” will open April 2 and run through May 8. It is being held at the Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts, 666 East River Road, Fridley, Minn. For more information, call 763-574-1850 or log onto http://www.banfill-locke.org.
13) ‘ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS TO CHILDREN’ APRIL 2
“Environmental Threats to Children’s Health: Legal and Policy Challenges” is a special conference being held at the University of Minnesota’s Minneapolis campus on April 2. One of the speakers will be Vincent Garry, who has done extensive research on genetic damage from exposure to pesticides, herbicides, and fumigants in agricultural and forestry workers. Garry was featured in the July/August 1998 issue of the Land Stewardship Letter. More information on the conference is available at http://www.jointdegree.umn.edu/conferences/envhealth.php, or by calling 612-625-0055.
14) NESTLE TO SPEAK APRIL 13
Author and food policy expert Marion Nestle will be speaking at the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul Campus on April 13 at noon. Dana Jackson reviewed Nestle’s book, “Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health” in the December 2003 issue of the Land Stewardship Letter. For more information on Nestle’s lecture, call 612-625-0055, or e-mail schaf060@umn.edu.
15) WORTH REPEATING
“There’s nothing inevitable about this system.”
--Bill Heffernan, rural sociologist, speaking about current trends in agriculture
http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/opinions/04/opin_040317.html
16) WORTH REPEATING, PART II
“And once you have successful farmers raising both livestock and crops on the land, all the economic activity that comes with such a diverse system of production will follow.”—LSP’s George Boody, writing in the commentary, “Let’s Put More Livestock on More Farms” http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/lftl/04/ll_040323.htm
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