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THE ORGANIC FARMING RESEARCH FOUNDATION (OFRF)

        Organic Farmer's Action Network  

 

May 22, 2006

________________________________

Your voice is needed.  

Let Congress know research focused on organic production issues is
important to YOU.

 

Ask them to support Rep Holt's amendment to increase the Organic
Transitions program to $5 M in the Agriculture Appropriations bill.

 

 

Dear Vicki Morrone,

 

Its time to take action.    

 

Background:  Congressman Rush Holt of New Jersey is about to offer an
amendment to the Agriculture Appropriations bill that would increase
spending on the Organic Transitions competitive research grant program
from $1.8 million to $5 million. The amendment is cosponsored by Mr.
DeFazio of Oregon, Mr. Kind of Wisconsin, and Mr. Leach of Iowa. 

 

This program funds systems research that helps farmers surmount the
challenges of organic production and marketing.  Field research funded
through this program must be done in an organic agro-ecosystem and is
intended to be practical and applied research.  Increasing funding from
$1.8 to $5 million will be for a competitive grants program called the
"Organic Transitions Program" (from $1.8 million to $5 million).

 

Congress has to make some difficult choices this year as funding is
limited, but we need to let them know that supporting organic farmers is
a priority.  Historically, organic production issues have received a
disproportionately small share of USDA research spending.  It is time to
change that.

 

Timing:  Calls are needed today.   The bill is expected to be voted upon
on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives tomorrow (Tuesday May
23rd).  Your representative needs to hear from you before voting.
Please call today or early tomorrow.

 

What you can do: Call your representative. They need to hear that their
constituents are interested in this issue. 

 

To find out who your representative is, click here
<http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb>  and enter your address.

1.	Call the US Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.   Ask the
operator to connect you to representative's office. The switchboard is
open 24/7. If you get a message machine just give your comments that
way. 

2.	When you get connected, introduce yourself and let them know you
are from their district. Tell them if you are a farmer. 

3.	Explain you are calling in relation to Rep Holt's amendment to
the Agriculture Appropriations bill. (H.R.5384) 

4.	Ask them to support this amendment which would increase spending
for the "Organic Transitions" research grants to $5 million in 2007.
Let them know that reliable information is crucial to farmers' success.


 

Please send an email to [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
letting us know you called.  Simply put "I called" in the subject line
and send.  Or, include a note telling us how the call went!

 

Organic Farmers Action Network (OFAN) 
Brise Tencer

Organic Farming Research Foundation 
P.O. Box 440, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 
831-426-6606, 831-426-6670 fax 
http//www.ofrf.org <http://www.ofrf.org/> 

[log in to unmask]

 

________________________________

 

________________________________

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Vicki Morrone

Organic Vegetable and Crop Outreach Specialist

Michigan State University

C.S. Mott Sustainable Food Systems

303 Natural Resrouces Bldg.

East Lansing, MI 48824

517-353-3542

517-282-3557 (cell)

517-353-3834 (fax)

 


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