Senate Farm Bill Draft Announced - Take Action!

[Cynthia]

Senate Farm Bill Draft Announced - Take Action
Updated 10/24/2007: The Senate Agriculture Committee released its draft of the Farm Bill on Tuesday, October 23rd.

 Unfortunately, this Farm Bill draft includes billions of dollars of subsidies to corporate agribusiness, while leaving family farmers struggling. Let the Senate Ag Committee know you support reform that reduces trade-distorting subsidies that put family farmers out of business.

 In addition, this draft of the Farm Bill includes mandatory implementation of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), which would require that all farmers, even those who own just one cow or chicken, must tag their animal with an electronic tracking device and register that animal with a national animal tracking system. This expensive procedure will put many small family farms out of business.

 With the Agriculture Committee set to vote this week, and the full Senate vote as early as the week of October 29th, NOW is the time to act.

 Please contact your Senators members on the Senate Ag Committee to cut corporate subsidies, remove NAIS and support increases in funding for Farm Bill for conservation, organic agriculture, healthy food and beginning farmer programs.

Sign and send the message here.
It will be sent directly to your Senator.
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=12307


"NAIS" A Serious Threat to All Farmers, Ranchers, Livestock & Pet Owners
http://itchmoforums.com/law-and-politics-about-pets/nais-a-serious-threat-to-all-farmers-ranchers-livestock-pet-owners-t1078.0.html;msg14087#msg14087

[menace]

The Senate Agriculture Committee, under pressure to make changes in decades-old subsidy programs, voted yesterday to offer farmers an alternative safety net that lawmakers said will provide better protection against falling incomes and will save as much as $4 billion over the next five years.

Farmers who choose the plan would get a government payment on a portion of their acreage if average crop revenues in their state fall below a historic norm because of low prices or bad weather. But to get the coverage, farmers would have to forgo several supports that have been pillars of farm programs for years.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/25/AR2007102502245.html