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Organization Sign-On Letter<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=l55866bab&et=1107513515447&s=2732&e=001QVW_7nHY9cA7P6s3lvAMehsmqf-XHf8pqD4_WRyPFFsA9MSaFicQ8MKeHwhuCTL0znarFp-33kWZwDRN0qrbJdaCC9dnwI1RSj0iqyh0uftn4sm5MzW8VbveKKJdM6Xu8nmnv4HVoBA2IhDyb810kiowQo1t--WcbglNebJ3IizYAo8oEZiqco5s3T-_rgSQtO8pTDaM2lnRr9PwTYtYwwTcNYtJtOWN> Tell Secretary Vilsack to Regulate Genetically Engineered Crops Please Sign On!<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=l55866bab&et=1107513515447&s=2732&e=001QVW_7nHY9cA7P6s3lvAMehsmqf-XHf8pqD4_WRyPFFsA9MSaFicQ8MKeHwhuCTL0znarFp-33kWZwDRN0qrbJdaCC9dnwI1RSj0iqyh0uftn4sm5MzW8VbveKKJdM6Xu8nmnv4HVoBA2IhDyb810kiowQo1t--WcbglNebJ3IizYAo8oEZiqco5s3T-_rgSQtO8pTDaM2lnRr9PwTYtYwwTcNYtJtOWN> The USDA is poised to issue new GE crop regulations. Congress and the biotech industry are pressuring the USDA to weaken its GE regulations, which would make it even easier for GE crops to be approved. The old regulatory system is out-of-date and fails to protect non-GE farmers, companies, and consumers from contamination and loss. The proposed new regulations could make things even worse. * One proposal would allow companies to make the primary determination whether their GE crops even need to be regulated at all. * Another would essentially legalize contamination of conventional/organic supplies with experimental GE crops grown in field trials. We are urging USDA to instead use its "noxious weed" authority to: * Make biotech companies and growers take steps to prevent GE crops from contaminating their neighbors' crops, * Reign in the epidemic of herbicide-resistant weeds, * Protect the environment and biodiversity, and * Prohibit outdoor planting of especially risky GE crops engineered to produce experimental pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals This is a pivotal moment in our fight for sustainable, organic and non-GE agriculture. The biotech industry has mounted a full-court press on USDA and Congress to gut the current regulatory system. It is crucial that organic and non-GE supporters send a strong message to USDA now, before it is too late. PLEASE SIGN ON TO this letter<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=l55866bab&et=1107513515447&s=2732&e=001QVW_7nHY9cA7P6s3lvAMehsmqf-XHf8pqD4_WRyPFFsA9MSaFicQ8MKeHwhuCTL0znarFp-33kWZwDRN0qrbJdaCC9dnwI1RSj0iqyh0uftn4sm5MzW8VbveKKJdM6Xu8nmnv4HVoBA2IhDyb810kiowQo1t--WcbglNebJ3IizYAo8oEZiqco5s3T-_rgSQtO8pTDaM2lnRr9PwTYtYwwTcNYtJtOWN> (see below) which calls for USDA to implement strong and fair regulations and identifies six main points for strengthening the regulations. Please sign on by 5:00pm Pacific, Wednesday, September 7, 2011 by emailing your Organization Name and main contact person to [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I am sharing info that I received from the National Organic Coalition that came last night. This is for your information to use as you wish, no endorsement is intended by this email from Michigan State University. Vicki Morrone C. S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems Outreach Specialist for Organic Vegetable and Field Crops 303 Natural Resources East Lansing, MI 48824 517-353-3542/517-282-3557 (cell) 517-353-3834 (Fax) www.MichiganOrganic.msu.edu<http://www.michiganorganic.msu.edu/> If you would like to access previous postings to the Mich-Organic listserv you can copy and paste the following URL into your browser address bar http://list.msu.edu/archives/mich-organic.html