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Date: Thu, 07 Apr 2011 09:20:19 -0700
From: "The Cornucopia Institute" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: ACTION ALERT: 4 Days Left to Stop the Corporate Takeover of Organics
Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]>

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=20

Stop the Corporate Takeover of Organics

Send Your Comments to the National Organic Standards Board

-	Comments Due April 10! =E2=80=93

Follow Us on Twitter - http://twitter.com/Cornucopia_Inst
Find Us on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/Cornucopia.Institute

http://www.cornucopia.org/2011/04/stop-the-corporate-takeover-of-organics/
The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), which advises the Secretary of=
 Agriculture on organic policy and rulemaking, is considering several chang=
es to the USDA=E2=80=99s organic standards that would water down organics, =
catering to corporate interests.=20

We cannot allow corporate-backed members of the NOSB to chip away at the in=
tegrity of the label.  The following proposals are highly objectionable.  P=
lease comment on them through www.regulations.gov (complete instructions be=
low).


Synthetic Additives

The proposal would allow any synthetic additive that qualifies as a =E2=80=
=9Cnutrient=E2=80=9D to be added freely to organics, even those that have n=
ever been tested for safety by the FDA.  Currently, organic law requires al=
l synthetic additives, including nutrients, to be individually petitioned, =
carefully reviewed and approved by the USDA before they can be added to org=
anics.=20=20

Message to the NOSB:  Reject the Handling Committee=E2=80=99s proposal rega=
rding nutrient additives.  Nutrient additives must be individually petition=
ed, reviewed and approved as safe and appropriate for organics before they =
can be used, as the law currently requires.=20=20

Already, some companies are illegally adding a synthetic form of DHA omega-=
3 (from algae) and ARA omega-6 (from soil fungus) oils to organic food, inc=
luding organic infant formula.  These additives have been linked to serious=
 gastrointestinal reactions in some babies and toddlers.

More information:  An action alert (http://www.cornucopia.org/2011/03/keep-=
questionable-synthetic-additives-out-of-organics/) on this topic was sent o=
ut in late March.  If you already sent in your comments=E2=80=94Thank You! =
 If you haven=E2=80=99t already commented, please do so today.=20=20


Space for Chickens

Factory farms, with as many as 100,000 birds in a building, that do not hav=
e legally mandated access to the outdoors, would be shut down if new strict=
 rules are put into place.=20=20

The good news is that the NOSB Livestock Committee proposal would outlaw th=
e tiny enclosed porches that industrial-scale producers had been illegally =
calling "the outdoors."=20

But our struggle for meaningful animal welfare standards is not over!  The =
committee caved once again to industry pressure=E2=80=94proposing outdoor s=
pace requiring just 2 ft.=C2=B2 per layer and 1 ft.=C2=B2 per broiler! In t=
he European Union, organic standards require at least 43 ft.=C2=B2 per bird=
 outdoors and the US leading organic brand, Organic Valley, affords their b=
irds 5 ft.=C2=B2 outdoors.=20=20

2ft.=C2=B2 and 1 ft.=C2=B2 is simply not enough for birds to have meaningfu=
l outdoor space where they can exhibit their natural behaviors (like runnin=
g around and "foraging").=20=20

Furthermore, the proposal would grant 1.2 ft.=C2=B2 indoors for laying hens=
 and 1.0 ft.=C2=B2 for meat birds, which is no better than the current indu=
stry standard for factory farms, and certainly inadequate for organics.  Ma=
ny legitimate organic farmers currently provide 1.5 ft.=C2=B2 of indoor spa=
ce for their laying hens.

Message to the NOSB:  Please resist pressure by the industrial-scale produc=
ers to reduce the outdoor space requirements for chickens any further.  Whe=
n I buy organic eggs and chicken, I expect that the birds were raised with =
ample access to real outdoor runs=E2=80=945 ft.=C2=B2 should be the bare mi=
nimum!

More information:  Watch the video (http://www.cornucopia.org/2010/10/video=
-scrambled-eggs/) and read Cornucopia=E2=80=99s report, "Scrambled Eggs". (=
http://www.cornucopia.org/2010/09/organic-egg-report-and-scorecard/)  A com=
plete action alert (http://www.cornucopia.org/actionalerts/Action%20Alert%2=
0Five%20Days%20Left%20for%20Family%20Egg%20Farmers%204.7.11.pdf) on the NOS=
B=E2=80=99s proposal for organic poultry is also available.


Indoor and Outdoor Space for Growing Pigs

The Livestock Committee=E2=80=99s proposed space requirements for growing p=
igs are so small, even standards set by the National Pork Board=E2=80=94whi=
ch is controlled by industrial hog producers=E2=80=94are more generous!  Th=
e proposed space requirements would make it impossible for growing pigs to =
turn around in their bedded indoor space, with even less space outdoors.

Message to NOSB:  The proposed space requirements for growing pigs are woef=
ully inadequate.  If organic standards are going to be the gold standard in=
 terms of animal welfare, growing pigs should be granted more space than wh=
at is currently proposed.

More information:  A complete action alert (http://www.cornucopia.org/actio=
nalerts/HogsActionAlert.pdf) for organic hogs is available.=20


Indoor Space for Dairy Cows

The opposite is true for dairy cows.  The latest proposal for indoor space =
requirements is so overly generous that it could essentially put thousands =
of family-scale dairy producers out of the organic business.=20=20

Many small-scale organic dairy farmers use stalls in their barns to positio=
n the cows and direct their manure away from their bedding.  The proposed s=
pace requirements would have cows lying in their own excrement.  Most famil=
y farm producers would have to build new barns to meet these space requirem=
ents=E2=80=94a capital investment that many could not afford, forcing them =
out of the organic business.=20

Message to NOSB:  A previous recommendation, which had been accepted by the=
 full NOSB, already requires stall barns to provide one full, traditional s=
tall per animal.  Therefore, indoor space requirements for dairy producers =
with stall barns are unnecessary.=20=20=20

More information:  A complete action alert (http://www.cornucopia.org/actio=
nalerts/HogsActionAlert.pdf) for organic dairy cows is available.



Take Action

Please submit your comment (http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=3D=
AMS-NOP-11-0014-0001) electronically before the April 10 deadline.=20=20

We strongly recommend submitting two separate comments=E2=80=94one for nutr=
ient additives and one for animal welfare.  Also remember that a message in=
 your own words carries more weight than cutting and pasting the sample let=
ter, so please personalize your message, at least at the beginning and end =
if possible!=20=20

And your message doesn't need to be long to be effective.

Tell your family and friends to submit their comments as well!

To speak in person at the NOSB meeting (important if you can make it):=20
In addition to sending their written comments, organic farmers and consumer=
s living in the Seattle area, or willing to travel, are encouraged to also =
sign up for a five-minute speaking slot at the meeting at the end of April.=
  Individuals can find more information about the meeting, and can pre-regi=
ster for a slot by April 10, 2011, by visiting http://www.ams.usda.gov/nosb=
seattleslots or by calling (202) 720-3252.

Please email [log in to unmask] or call 715-514-2627 if you are plann=
ing on attending the Seattle meeting.=20


Sample Letter for Consumers

Unregulated Synthetics/Animal Welfare

Dear Members of the National Organic Standards Board,=20

Thank you for your efforts in setting animal welfare standards for organica=
lly raised farm animals.  I appreciate the clarification that organic layin=
g hens and meat birds be required to have outdoor access beyond a tiny, lif=
eless enclosed porch.

However, I have some concerns about the proposed stocking rate chart.=20

For chickens, the current proposal does not grant enough space.  Please req=
uire more outdoor space for chickens, since birds cannot run around freely =
in outdoor runs if they only have 1 ft.=C2=B2 or 2 ft.=C2=B2  Many producer=
s already grant much more outdoor space, and 5 ft.=C2=B2 should be the bare=
 minimum in the organic standards.

Please resist pressure by the industrial-scale producers to reduce the outd=
oor space requirements for chickens any further.  When I buy organic eggs a=
nd chicken, I expect that the birds were raised with ample access to real o=
utdoor runs.  And indoors, birds should have at least 1.5 ft.=C2=B2 of spac=
e (1.2 ft.=C2=B2, the agribusiness standard for uncaged birds, is inadequat=
e).

For growing pigs, the proposed stocking rate would not allow pigs to even t=
urn around inside, and they would not all fit in their outdoor space.  The =
space requirements for growing pigs must be increased.

For dairy cows, the proposed indoor space requirements would make it imposs=
ible for thousands of family-scale organic dairy producers to comply.  Sinc=
e a previous recommendation already requires one traditional stall per anim=
al, indoor space requirements for dairy producers with stall barns are unne=
cessary.

Furthermore, I strongly object to the inclusion of any synthetic nutrient i=
ngredient in organic food without the careful review by the NOSB, which is =
legally mandated.

Please do not water down the working definition of organic agriculture and =
food production!=20

The Cornucopia Institute is a 501(c)(3) public charity.  You can financiall=
y support our work by visiting our website (www.cornucopia.org) or by maili=
ng a check to:

The Cornucopia Institute
PO Box 126
Cornucopia, WI 54827
www.cornucopia.org
608-625-2042
[log in to unmask]


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ogo2.jpg" width=3D"150" height=3D"129" /> </p>
<a href=3D"http://app.streamsend.com/private/9pOA/b/sKmAQtQ/p/=
Gfbbmgd/shares/new">Share on Facebook</a>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center; font=
-size: x-large;"><b>Stop the Corporate Takeover of Organics</b></p>
<p style=3D"text-align: center; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><sp=
an style=3D"font-size: large;"><b>Send Your Comments to the National Organi=
c Standards Board</b></span></p>
<p style=3D"text-align: center; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><sp=
an style=3D"color: #ff0000;"><span style=3D"font-size: large;"><b>-- Commen=
ts Due April 10! --</b></span></span></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-size: x-small;"><i><=
a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://app.streamsend.com/c/13712691/2600/=
Gfbbmgd/9pOA?redirect_to=3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FCornucopia_Inst"=
>Follow Us on Twitter</a></i></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; font-size: x-small;"><i><=
a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://app.streamsend.com/c/13712691/2602/=
Gfbbmgd/9pOA?redirect_to=3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FCornucopia.=
Institute">Find Us on Facebook</a></i></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-size: x-small;"><a t=
arget=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://app.streamsend.com/c/13712691/2604/=
Gfbbmgd/9pOA?redirect_to=3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.cornucopia.org%2F2011%2F04%2F=
stop-the-corporate-takeover-of-organics%2F">http://www.cornucopia.org/2011/=
04/stop-the-corporate-takeover-of-organics/</a></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px;">The National Organic Sta=
ndards Board (NOSB), which advises the Secretary of Agriculture on organic =
policy and rulemaking, is considering several changes to the USDA=E2=80=99s=
 organic standards that would <b>water down organics, catering to corporate=
 interests</b>.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">We cannot allow corpora=
te-backed members of the NOSB to chip away at the integrity of the label.  =
The following proposals are highly objectionable.  Please comment on them t=
hrough <a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://app.streamsend.com/c/13712691/26=
06/Gfbbmgd/9pOA?redirect_to=3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.regulations.gov%2F=
%23%21home">www.regulations.gov</a> (complete instructions below).</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align: center; font=
-size: large;"><b>Synthetic Additives</b></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">The proposal would allo=
w any synthetic additive that qualifies as a =E2=80=9Cnutrient=E2=80=9D to =
be added freely to organics, even those that have never been tested for saf=
ety by the FDA.  Currently, organic law requires all synthetic additives, i=
ncluding nutrients, to be individually petitioned, carefully reviewed and a=
pproved by the USDA before they can be added to organics.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;"><i><b>Message to the NO=
SB</b></i>:  Reject the Handling Committee=E2=80=99s proposal regarding nut=
rient additives.  Nutrient additives must be individually petitioned, revie=
wed and approved as safe and appropriate for organics before they can be us=
ed, as the law currently requires.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">Already, some companies=
 are illegally adding a synthetic form of DHA omega-3 (from algae) and ARA =
omega-6 (from soil fungus) oils to organic food, including organic infant f=
ormula.  These additives have been linked to serious gastrointestinal react=
ions in some babies and toddlers.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;"><i><b>More information<=
/b></i>:  An <a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://app.streamsend.com/c/13712=
691/2608/Gfbbmgd/9pOA?redirect_to=3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.cornucopia.o=
rg%2F2011%2F03%2Fkeep-questionable-synthetic-additives-out-of-organics%2F">=
action alert</a> on this topic was sent out in late March.  If you already =
sent in your comments -- Thank You!  If you haven=E2=80=99t already comment=
ed, please do so today.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align: center; font=
-size: large;"><b>Space for Chickens</b></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">Factory farms, with as =
many as 100,000 birds in a building, that do not have <span style=3D"text-d=
ecoration: underline;">legally mandated</span> access to the outdoors, woul=
d be shut down if new strict rules are put into place.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">The good news is that t=
he NOSB Livestock Committee proposal would outlaw the tiny enclosed porches=
 that industrial-scale producers had been illegally calling "the outdoors."=
 </p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">But our struggle for me=
aningful animal welfare standards is not over!  <span style=3D"text-decorat=
ion: underline;">The committee caved once again to industry pressure</span>=
=E2=80=94proposing outdoor space requiring just 2 ft.=C2=B2 per layer and 1=
 ft.=C2=B2 per broiler! In the European Union, organic standards require at=
 least 43 ft.=C2=B2 per bird outdoors and the US leading organic brand, Org=
anic Valley, affords their birds 5 ft.=C2=B2 outdoors.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">2ft.=C2=B2 and 1 ft.=C2=
=B2 is simply not enough for birds to have meaningful outdoor space where t=
hey can exhibit their natural behaviors (like running around and "foraging"=
).</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">Furthermore, the propos=
al would grant 1.2 ft.=C2=B2 indoors for laying hens and 1.0 ft.=C2=B2 for =
meat birds, which is no better than the current industry standard for facto=
ry farms, and certainly inadequate for organics.  Many legitimate organic f=
armers currently provide 1.5 ft.=C2=B2 of indoor space for their laying hen=
s.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;"><i><b>Message to the NO=
SB</b></i>:  Please resist pressure by the industrial-scale producers to re=
duce the outdoor space requirements for chickens any further.  When I buy o=
rganic eggs and chicken, I expect that the birds were raised with ample acc=
ess to real outdoor runs=E2=80=945 ft.=C2=B2 should be the bare minimum!</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;"><b><i>More information<=
/i></b>:  Watch the <a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://app.streamsend.com/=
c/13712691/2610/Gfbbmgd/9pOA?redirect_to=3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.cornu=
copia.org%2F2010%2F10%2Fvideo-scrambled-eggs%2F">video</a> and read Cornuco=
pia=E2=80=99s report, <a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://app.streamsend.co=
m/c/13712691/2612/Gfbbmgd/9pOA?redirect_to=3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.cor=
nucopia.org%2F2010%2F09%2Forganic-egg-report-and-scorecard%2F"><i>Scrambled=
 Eggs</i></a>.  A complete <a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://app.streamse=
nd.com/c/13712691/2614/Gfbbmgd/9pOA?redirect_to=3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fww=
w.cornucopia.org%2Factionalerts%2FAction%2520Alert%2520Five%2520Days%2520Le=
ft%2520for%2520Family%2520Egg%2520Farmers%25204.7.11.pdf">action alert</a> =
on the NOSB=E2=80=99s proposal for organic poultry is also available.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align: center; font=
-size: large;"><b>Indoor and Outdoor Space for Growing Pigs</b></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">The Livestock Committee=
=E2=80=99s proposed space requirements for growing pigs are so small, even =
standards set by the National Pork Board=E2=80=94which is controlled by ind=
ustrial hog producers=E2=80=94are more generous!  The proposed space requir=
ements would make it impossible for growing pigs to turn around in their be=
dded indoor space, with even less space outdoors.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;"><i><b>Message to NOSB</=
b></i>:  The proposed space requirements for growing pigs are woefully inad=
equate.  If organic standards are going to be the gold standard in terms of=
 animal welfare, growing pigs should be granted more space than what is cur=
rently proposed.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;"><i><b>More information<=
/b></i>:  A complete <a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://app.streamsend.com=
/c/13712691/2616/Gfbbmgd/9pOA?redirect_to=3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.corn=
ucopia.org%2Factionalerts%2FHogsActionAlert.pdf">action alert</a> for organ=
ic hogs is available. </p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align: center; font=
-size: large;"><b>Indoor Space for Dairy Cows</b></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">The opposite is true fo=
r dairy cows.  The latest proposal for indoor space requirements is so over=
ly generous that it could essentially put thousands of family-scale dairy p=
roducers out of the organic business.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">Many small-scale organi=
c dairy farmers use stalls in their barns to position the cows and direct t=
heir manure away from their bedding.  The proposed space requirements would=
 have cows lying in their own excrement.  Most family farm producers would =
have to build new barns to meet these space requirements=E2=80=94a capital =
investment that many could not afford, forcing them out of the organic busi=
ness. </p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;"><i><b>Message to NOSB</=
b></i>:  A previous recommendation, which had been accepted by the full NOS=
B, already requires stall barns to provide one full, traditional stall per =
animal.  Therefore, indoor space requirements for dairy producers with stal=
l barns are unnecessary. </p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;"><i><b>More information<=
/b></i>:  A complete <a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://app.streamsend.com=
/c/13712691/2618/Gfbbmgd/9pOA?redirect_to=3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.corn=
ucopia.org%2Factionalerts%2FNOSB_DairyActionAlertApril2011.pdf">action aler=
t</a> for organic dairy cows is available.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align: center; font=
-size: large;"><b>Take Action</b></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;"><b>Please <a target=3D"=
_blank" href=3D"http://app.streamsend.com/c/13712691/2620/Gfbbmgd=
/9pOA?redirect_to=3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.regulations.gov%2F%23%21submitComment%=
3BD%3DAMS-NOP-11-0014-0001">submit your comment</a> electronically before t=
he April 10 deadline</b>.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">We strongly recommend s=
ubmitting two separate comments=E2=80=94one for nutrient additives and one =
for animal welfare.  Also remember that a message in your own words carries=
 more weight than cutting and pasting the sample letter, so please personal=
ize your message, at least at the beginning and end if possible!</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">And your message doesn'=
t need to be long to be effective.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;"><b>Tell your family and=
 friends to submit their comments as well!</b></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><b>To speak in person at=
 the NOSB meeting (important if you can make it):</b></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px;">In addition to sending t=
heir written comments, organic farmers and consumers living in the Seattle =
area, or willing to travel, are encouraged to also sign up for a five-minut=
e speaking slot at the meeting at the end of April.  Individuals can find m=
ore information about the meeting, and can pre-register for a slot by April=
 10, 2011, by visiting <a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://app.streamsend.c=
om/c/13712691/2622/Gfbbmgd/9pOA?redirect_to=3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fevent=
s.r20.constantcontact.com%2Fregister%2FeventReg%3Foeidk%3Da07e355gdd3e0f787=
33%26amp%3Boseq%3D">http://www.ams.usda.gov/nosbseattleslots</a> or by call=
ing (202) 720-3252.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">Please email <a target=
=3D"_blank" href=3D"mailto:[log in to unmask]">cultivate@cornucopia=
.org</a> or call 715-514-2627 if you are planning on attending the Seattle =
meeting.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align: center; font=
-size: large;"><b>Sample Letter for Consumers</b></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align: center; font=
-size: large;">Unregulated Synthetics/Animal Welfare</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">Dear Members of the Nat=
ional Organic Standards Board, </p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">Thank you for your effo=
rts in setting animal welfare standards for organically raised farm animals=
.  I appreciate the clarification that organic laying hens and meat birds b=
e required to have outdoor access beyond a tiny, lifeless enclosed porch.</=
p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">However, I have some co=
ncerns about the proposed stocking rate chart. </p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">For chickens, the curre=
nt proposal does not grant enough space.  Please require more outdoor space=
 for chickens, since birds cannot run around freely in outdoor runs if they=
 only have 1 ft.=C2=B2 or 2 ft.=C2=B2  Many producers already grant much mo=
re outdoor space, and 5 ft.=C2=B2 should be the bare minimum in the organic=
 standards.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">Please resist pressure =
by the industrial-scale producers to reduce the outdoor space requirements =
for chickens any further.  When I buy organic eggs and chicken, I expect th=
at the birds were raised with ample access to real outdoor runs.  And indoo=
rs, birds should have at least 1.5 ft.=C2=B2 of space (1.2 ft.=C2=B2, the a=
gribusiness standard for uncaged birds, is inadequate).</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">For growing pigs, the p=
roposed stocking rate would not allow pigs to even turn around inside, and =
they would not all fit in their outdoor space.  The space requirements for =
growing pigs must be increased.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">For dairy cows, the pro=
posed indoor space requirements would make it impossible for thousands of f=
amily-scale organic dairy producers to comply.  Since a previous recommenda=
tion already requires one traditional stall per animal, indoor space requir=
ements for dairy producers with stall barns are unnecessary.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">Furthermore, I strongly=
 object to the inclusion of any synthetic nutrient ingredient in organic fo=
od without the careful review by the NOSB, which is legally mandated.</p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px;">Please do not water dow=
n the working definition of organic agriculture and food production! </p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 30px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-size: x-small;"><sp=
an style=3D"color: #993366;"><i><b>The Cornucopia Institute is a 501(c)(3) =
public charity.  You can financially support our work by visiting our websi=
te (<a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://app.streamsend.com/c/13712691/2624/=
Gfbbmgd/9pOA?redirect_to=3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fapp.etapestry.com%2Fhost=
ed%2FTheCornucopiaInstitute%2FOnlineGiving.html">www.cornucopia.org</a>) or=
 by mailing a check to:<br /></b><i></i></i></span></p>
<p style=3D"margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center"><i><=
i><i><i><i>The Cornucopia Institute P.O. Box 126 Cornucopia, WI 54827 <a ta=
rget=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://app.streamsend.com/c/13712691/2626/=
Gfbbmgd/9pOA?redirect_to=3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.cornucopia.org">www.cornucopia=
.org</a></i></i></i></i></i></p>
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