USDA Advisory Committee Appointed
When USDA announced that it was withdrawing its plans for the National Animal Identification system (NAIS), Secretary Vilsack also stated his intention to establish an Advisory Committee on Animal Health to provide input on animal ID and other topics. A coalition of organizations nominated eight individuals to the Committee, and three of our nominees have been selected to serve on the Committee:
- Judith McGeary, Executive Director of the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance and a diversified livestock producer from Texas
- Sandra Genell Pridgen, a 7th generation family farmer and diversified livestock producer from North Carolina
- Gilles Stockton, a range cattle and sheep rancher from Montana, and an expert in rural economic development
The appointment of these three nominees to the new Advisory Committee provides an important voice for family-scale producers! The full list of Committee members is available at:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2010/12/secadvcomahvs.shtml
Food Safety Bill Future Unclear
The food safety bill appears unlikely to pass this session, but nothing is certain until Congress adjourns.
Amidst Agribusiness' attempts to strip the Tester-Hagan amendment out of the food safety bill, the House had attached the food safety bill (with Tester-Hagan) to an omnibus appropriations bill -- a bill that would fund all of the government functions for the rest of the fiscal year, through September 30, 2011. Last night, due to Republican opposition, Senator Reid withdrew the Senate's version of the omnibus appropriations bill and is now working on a much more limited continuing resolution that would fund the government for only 2 months. The food safety bill might be attached to the continuing resolution, but it does not appear likely.
Stay tuned for whatever comes next! The FDA has already announced its intention to proceed with standards for growing and harvesting crops whether the food safety bill passes or not. And there will undoubtedly be legislators pushing for a new food safety bill next year if this one fails.
Support Our Work
We are committed to protecting independent agriculture from unnecessary and burdensome regulations, and we need your help. During his season of giving, please support FARFA and donate now! Your donation will support FARFA's work throughout the coming year.
For five years, FARFA has been the leading organization fighting the National Animal Identification System. In the last year, we have emerged as one of the leading organizations protecting produce farmers and food producers from the imposition of unnecessary and destructive “one-size-fits-all” food safety regulation. In addition to leading these ongoing fights, FARFA is expanding its work on other important issues for independent agriculture:
- Participating in coalition efforts to increase competition and reduce corporate control of livestock markets;
- Improving access to raw milk and developing a network of raw milk producers in Texas;
- Researching the impacts of GMOs and beginning an education campaign on the dangers GMOs pose to the environment, animal health, and human health.
Your financial support is vital to our work! This is a critical time for us to engage legislators and regulators to make sure that the voice of independent agriculture is heard loud and clear. FARFA has a proven track record of conveying clear and effective messages, bringing together groups from across the entire political spectrum to form a unified voice, and responsibly using funds consistent with our mission statement. Your donation, whether it's $10, $50, $100, or $5,000, will help us maintain our ability to protect livestock producers, family-scale farmers, homesteaders, and consumers.
We ask that you help FARFA continue to carry out this important work by making a donation today. We are very grateful for all that you do, and a donation of any amount will indeed make a difference.
Please visit our website to donate today! You can donate online or download our membership form to mail and order some DVDs or T-shirts at the same time.