Farm Aid: Around the Kitchen Table

Farm Bill’s in the House!

2013-06-18T16:30:00.002-04:00

An update from our partners the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition:

The House of Representatives is poised to take a giant step backwards this week – away from the kind of future we want for our food and farms and toward unlimited subsidies for mega-farms and corporate agri-business and reduced investments in sustainable farming.

With your help last month we made some big progress in getting farm policy back on track in the Senate and now it's time to ensure the House of Representatives does the same. An amendment with common-sense, long-overdue farm subsidy reforms is on the table right now. Rep. Fortenberry's (R-NE) amendment #93 puts a cap on commodity subsidy payments and closes loopholes that allow mega-farms to collect unlimited payments. The House begins its floor vote today, and your representative needs to hear from you!

Calling is easy – just dial the number for your representative* and leave a message like this one below with the person who answers the phone (if your Representative is already an amendment sponsor, make your call a thank you call!):

Hello, my name is ___ and I'm a constituent and a voter (and tell them if you're a farmer!). I would like to leave a message for Representative ___'s agriculture staffer. The message is: I urge the Representative to support Fortenberry's #93 amendment during farm bill floor debate this week. Congress needs to get our farm policy back on track by reforming subsidies and investing in a more sustainable future. Thank you.

Unfortunately, in addition to the Fortenberry amendment, a host of bad amendments also made their way to the floor. We'll keep you posted as we hear more from our partners in D.C. on how to keep the pressure up for a farm bill that truly benefits all.

*To find your representative, click here. Then call (202)225-3121 for the U.S. House switchboard operator.

Senate Passes the Farm Bill

2013-06-13T11:21:00.001-04:00

This Monday, the Senate passed its version of the Farm Bill by a vote of 66-27 (click here to see how your Senators voted). The bottom line of it is a mixed bag. Pressure to pass the bill intensified as key Senators hoped to shift attention to immigration reform, and unfortunately many critical and hugely beneficial programs and amendments were left out.

In fact, over 200 amendments were filed for debate for the Farm Bill—amendments supporting local food and rural development, conservation programs, organic farming, antitrust enforcement, support for public plant breeding, programs for minority farmers and important payout limits to insurance subsidies—but the Senate debated only 15 of them, and adopted just nine.

The good? The bill does manage to make sure that farmers receiving crop insurance are implementing important conservation practices on their farms. It also allows organic farmers to be covered under crop insurance at their retail, not conventional wholesale, prices—a critical reform that farmers have been asking for. It expands support for farmers markets and establishes some (but not enough) support initiatives for beginning farmers, specifically supports outreach to Veteran farmers, and, importantly, calls for an official hearing process to consider changes to the flawed current and proposed dairy programs.

The bad? Many farmers remain concerned that the bill is shifting an admittedly flawed safety net system of direct payments over to something that’s not much better—a corporate-controlled crop insurance payment program that will still fail to serve the great diversity of farmers on the land, without truly addressing the need for farmers to receive fair prices or for our agricultural system to become more resilient in the face of climate change and other volatile factors.

The House is expected to take up debate of the House Agriculture Committee’s draft farm bill the week of June 17. Stay tuned for opportunities to engage and support critical programs!

To keep track of the Farm Bill process, check out the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s nifty graphic outlining what lies ahead of us (click to enlarge).

And if that doesn’t float your boat, take a gander at this helpful, vintage little diddy from Schoolhouse Rock!

Toni’s Farm and Food Roundup

2013-06-06T15:01:00.000-04:00

Climate change is a growing concern on a global scale, and scientists may have found a small way to combat rising temperatures—breeding cows that are free of flatulence (say that three times fast!). Some livestock, including cows, release a tremendous amount of the dangerous methane gas into the atmosphere every year through the (less than glamorous) natural functions of farting and burping. Experts from six different countries came together to find a solution, discovering to no one’s surprise that all animals release this gas. From that finding, the researchers hope that through selective breeding they can breed animals with incessantly lower methane levels.

Connecticut recently became the first state to pass a bill with guidelines requiring labeling of GMO products, but the news comes with a catch. Governor Dannel Malloy will only sign the bill into effect if four other states in the region, including one state that is bordering Connecticut, adopt similar labeling laws. With 20 other states already considering similar legislative moves, including the Northeastern states New York, Vermont and Maine, the clause seems a likely possibility. The four states must have an aggregated population of 20 million people, with the population of New York already exceeding 19 million. Though a GMO labeling law was recently defeated in the state, those behind the bill are determined to put a similar version up for vote soon. Hesitance about the law is two-fold: if Connecticut were the only state to enforce the law it could potentially impact the state’s food economy, and there is fear that agri-business corporations could sue the state.

In light of the recent GMO frenzy, the popular brand of ice cream Ben & Jerry’s has taken a stand on the issue with a new plan to take all genetically engineered ingredients out of its products by the end of this year. The company is already well on its way, as 80 percent of its ice cream in the US and Canada and 100 percent in Europe is already GMO free. Taking its stance one step further, the announcement on the company’s website explained it hopes all Ben & Jerry’s ingredients are also Fair Trade certified in the same timeframe. By the end of this year, all of its products will carry a label regarding any GMO component. The news comes shortly after Whole Foods announced all of its products containing genetically engineered ingredients will be labeled by 2018.

A sign of the new wave of technology influenced farming, a potato farmer from Tryon, North Carolina is trying to save his farm by Internet crowdsourcing. Crowdsourcing is a popular new fundraising technique that allows people to tell their story and request funding support from the public. David Best, of Best Acre potato farm, chose to use the popular Indiegogo site for his campaign and was quickly able to raise $200,000 to save his farm. Campaigns such as these are popping up around the country, giving new light to a field often thought to be out of the scope of modern technology. Best resorted to crowdsourcing after lenders denied him a loan to plant a crop this year, the first year in his life that the farm could be void of potatoes. To help draw in support, Heather Best, David’s wife, offered secret recipes to anyone that gave a donation of at least $20. Though the outcome is still shaky, the ultimate goal for the Bests is simply to keep the family farm just that.

When people think of agriculture, girl power doesn’t usually come to mind, but the USDA recently reported that female farm operators is a growing trend in US farming. With close to 1 million women operating farms in the country, a figure that doubled from 1982 until 2007, women now represent about 30 percent of total US farmers. Whether it is for health concerns, a love of dirt or dedication to community engagement, female farmers are taking on the practice with a fervent passion. In fact, there are already more women operating small farms in the country than men. Though there have been past movements of female farmers, like there was in the 1960s, some advocates feel the difference is in the respect women now receive from the farming community. To account for this, there has also been a rise in organizations supporting female farmers, like the National Women in Agriculture Association or the Women, Food and Agriculture Network.

Farm Aid Music Monday, Starring the Grateful Dead

2013-06-03T16:12:00.000-04:00

Happy Music Monday, folks! This week, we’re taking you back to Farm Aid 1987 in Lincoln, Nebraska. The ‘87 show featured the likes of Steppenwolf, Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett, John Denver, Lou Reed and Kris Kristofferson, in addition to Farm Aid board artists Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp, all taking the stage to support family farmers!

Also jammin’ in spirit, if not in person, that day was the Grateful Dead, who appeared on the Farm Aid stage via live satellite feed from their show at Madison Square Garden. Check out their performances of Bob Dylan’s "Maggie’s Farm" and "Black Peter" below.

As a little bonus, here's a new video we just posted with three songs from Farm Aid's 1986 concert, where the Dead also appeared via satellite from Buffalo, New York. Watch them perform "The Wheel," "I Need A Miracle" and "Uncle John’s Band."

For more videos of Farm Aid performances, visit our YouTube channel.

The Recent GE Supreme Court Case and Why It Matters

2013-06-03T14:58:00.000-04:00

We'd like to welcome Kristina Hubbard as a guest blogger today. Kristina is the director of advocacy and communications for Organic Seed Alliance, and author of Out of Hand: Farmers Face the Consequences of a Consolidated Seed Industry. We're thankful for your expert analysis, Kiki!

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously sided with Monsanto recently in a case that upheld the company's right to prohibit the replanting of patented seed. The court ruled that the doctrine of "patent exhaustion," which an Indiana farmer argued should apply after the first sale of patented seed, "does not permit a farmer to reproduce patented seeds through planting and harvesting without the patent holder's permission."

It's not surprising the court ruled in Monsanto's favor. Still, the case had merit: Bowman wasn't challenging Monsanto's claims that he knowingly planted seed with its protected genetics. Instead, he challenged the way patent law is currently applied to self-replicating products – a worthy effort, considering the injustices patents on seed have sown across America.

It's relatively well understood that simply using seed with patented genetics – especially widely planted genetically engineered varieties, such as Roundup Ready soybeans – enters the user into a restrictive licensing agreement. Farmers sign these agreements at the time of sale, which includes a prohibition on planting more than one crop. The seed packaging also states that simply opening the bag binds the user to the agreement.

Mr. Bowman thought that by purchasing soybean seed from a grain elevator he had found a legal way to plant seed from subsequent generations. He assumed the seed contained patented genetics but argued that the patent exhaustion doctrine allowed him to plant them anyway. The court said he was wrong. The Federal Circuit court ruled, and the Supreme Court agreed, that Mr. Bowman must pay Monsanto more than $80,000.

Needless to say, Mr. Bowman is not alone in his desire to use seed from subsequent generations. More than 150 farmers have been targets of patent infringement lawsuits filed by Monsanto. And legislative initiatives at the federal level also highlight the demand. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, of Ohio, introduced legislation in 2004 and again this year to establish a registration and fee system that would allow farmers to legally save patented seed. "Companies deserve a fair return, not an exorbitant return," Kaptur has said.

She's right. Should developers of new seed varieties earn returns on their research and development investments? Yes, absolutely. But patents on self-replicating seed – and any living organism, for that matter – are unethical and dangerous.

The law needs to change. In the meantime, there is an important role for the judicial system to play in teasing out the injustices of the current patent system. Indeed, the outcome of this Supreme Court case that challenges patents on human genes will be telling.

Whether the recent ruling leaves a door open to further challenge how patents are applied to seed remains to be seen. Justice Elena Kagan's comments suggest it does:

"Our holding today is limited – addressing the situation before us, rather than every one involving a self-replicating product," she wrote. "We recognize that such inventions are becoming ever more prevalent, complex and diverse."

Mr. Bowman's case reflected that complexity. He was not only trying to save money, he was challenging a relatively new paradigm in agriculture. It is only since another Supreme Court decision in 2001 that patent law – that is, the U.S. Patent Act governing utility patents, or "patents for inventions" – has applied to living organisms.

Think about it. In less than fifteen years, many commodity crop farmers went from saving and replanting a portion of their harvest to largely buying new seed each year. This has increased farmers' dependence on a highly consolidated and narrowly focused seed industry. The transition has also eroded farmers' self-sufficiency and financial security. And the trend is spreading across the globe.

Congress long opposed the inclusion of plants under the Patent Act. A 1966 congressional committee report states that while its members "acknowledge the valuable contribution of plant and seed breeders, it does not consider the patent system the proper vehicle for the protection of such subject matter."

Soon after, Congress passed the Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA). The law, passed in 1970, represented a compromise between their hesitance to patent seed and mounting pressure to provide seed developers stronger intellectual property protections. Before the 2001 ruling, seed developers largely relied on protections afforded through "Certificates of Protection" under the PVPA, providing seed developers exclusive marketing rights of their new varieties for 20 years (like a patent). But the law includes two critical exemptions: farmers can save seed and breeders can use protected varieties to innovate, including the development of new varieties. The Patent Act provides no such exemptions, with devastating consequences.

Owners of utility patents enjoy far-reaching control over access and use of their protected products. A single patent, for example, can cover a plant, tissue cultures, seed, future generations, crosses with other varieties, and the methods used to produce it. Such broad claims are not possible under the PVPA. And, even more troubling, these broad patents cover traits that can also exist in nature, such as "heat tolerant broccoli" and "pleasant taste" in melons.

Patents have grave impacts on innovation, despite Monsanto's assertion to the contrary. Public researchers note the constraints of patents and the restrictive licensing agreements tied to them. These onerous agreements dictate what kind of research on patented seed can be conducted and published. The result is that patents effectively remove valuable seed varieties from the pool breeders rely on for improving our food crops.

That's why it was disconcerting to read the court's belief that if it didn't protect how patents on seed are applied, the result would be "less incentive for innovation than Congress wanted" under the Patent Act. But it's clear that the oligopolies fostered by patent law have hindered innovation and competition in the marketplace.

The profits earned from the exclusive ownership and licensing of patented seed products – bolstered by the right to restrict research and seed saving – has led to numerous buyouts. The Independent Professional Seed Association estimates the U.S. has lost at least 200 independent seed companies in the last 15 years. The seed industry is now one of the most concentrated in agriculture, where two chemical firms command more than 60 percent of the retail markets for both corn and soybeans. This level of concentration has left farmers with fewer choices and paying higher prices, and less control over what they plant.

The growing evidence that patents on seed are detrimental to the public good should raise eyebrows at the U.S. Department of Justice. And at the agency's first of five public hearings "to explore competition issues" affecting agriculture, held in Ankeny, Iowa, it appeared that it had. Assistant attorney general for the DOJ's Antitrust Division, Christine Varney, highlighted the problem of patents in her opening remarks: "Patents have in the past been used to maintain or extend monopolies, and that's illegal, and you can be sure, Secretary, that we are going to be looking very closely at any attempt to maintain or extend a monopoly through an abuse of patent laws."

But hope that meaningful action would follow was short-lived. Neither the DOJ, nor its investigative partner, USDA, have provided a meaningful response to the 18,000 public comments they received.

The agencies' inaction, combined with the court ruling, creates a situation in which our government protects corporate control over seed.

Make no mistake: While the DOJ may have focused its investigation on the GMO marketplace, patent and competition concerns in seed are much broader. Conventional (non-GMO) varieties of seed are also increasingly being patented. And with Monsanto's 2005 acquisition of the largest vegetable seed company, Seminis, the same contract that Mr. Bowman violated now appears on seed packets of vegetable varieties that are popular among backyard gardeners and farmers alike, including ‘Big Beef' tomato, a variety that, as far as we know, doesn't contain patented genetics.

And so we're left with another important question: If our regulatory agencies are unwilling to confront the misuse of patent law in the context of seed, then what recourse do we, the people, have to ensure access to, and innovation in, seed?

For starters, despite a lack of acknowledgement in the Supreme Court ruling, there are appropriate intellectual property protections already available, including the PVPA. Congress could amend the PVPA to clarify its purpose to provide an exclusive means of intellectual property protection for self-replicating plant varieties.

I work for Organic Seed Alliance. We and our partners are also exploring contracts that adhere to principles of an "open-source" seed model. We believe it is possible to receive fair returns on investments while fostering new research that addresses our most pressing agricultural needs. We also believe farmers have the right to save seed from their harvest.

The seed patent issue is not just about GMOs or Monsanto. It is a seed issue that impacts us all, regardless of our decisions on the farm or in the grocery store. Seed is as fundamental to life as the food and fiber it produces. By way of order, then, seed is more fundamental. And it belongs in the hands of the people, not the patent holder.

Toni’s Farm and Food Roundup

2013-05-31T13:25:00.001-04:00

While no genetically engineered (GE) wheat is currently approved in any country, GE wheat was found growing in a field in Oregon this week. Monsanto produced the wheat so it would be resistant to its own Roundup herbicide but abandoned the project in 2005 before the wheat was commercially approved due to lack of interest in the market for GE wheat. Authorities are still unsure if the wheat made it to the food supply, but the lapse could impact grain exports. In 2012, US production made up over half of the global wheat supply, and 90 percent of the wheat grown in Oregon is exported. Countries such as Japan and Mexico that import large amounts of US wheat, were notified of the situation. The wheat was tested after the farmer attempted to kill the plants with Roundup, but a small portion of the crop did not die. The farmer brought samples of the plants to be tested through Oregon State University, which discovered the Roundup-resistant gene.

The Non-GMO Project is teaming up with US Department of Agriculture in an effort to determine the scope of the contamination through a “surveillance testing strategy,” as well as why it occurred. Wheat products retailed nationally will be tested, in addition to Oregon plant samples. With over 60 countries now mandating GMO labeling, testing has already begun with hopes of swiftly grasping the extent of the situation before sales, both domestic and foreign, are too gravely impacted.

In 2003, Monsanto commercially launched a new genetically engineered corn, Bt corn, which was resistant to rootworm. The Bt corn was marketed as allowing farmers to decrease pesticide use. A mere ten years later, American cornfields are filled with the GE corn and, now, increasing amounts of pesticides as rootworms quickly developed resistance to Bt corn. Aware of rootworms increasing resistance to the strain of corn, Monsanto announced the company plans to phase out Bt corn to manufacture seeds with a different type of rootworm resistance. Officials from the Environmental Protection Agency say that the rootworm will continue to adjust and, in turn, gain immunity once more. Many corporations, such as American Vanguard, have jumped at the opportunity to invest in insecticide companies over the past decade in anticipation of increased immunity to GE crops by pests such as rootworm.

These discoveries come just days after hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in 436 cities in 52 different countries in what became known as the March Against Monsanto on May 25. The event began when Tami Canal created a Facebook page in February declaring the need for a rally against the company’s methods, though she had no idea the event would reach such a great magnitude. Considering the event a success, those involved plan to continue efforts against GMO products until Monsanto concedes to demand and changes its current practices. The rally came amidst a Senate vote that opted overwhelmingly against mandatory GMO-labeling. The grocery chain Whole Foods recently found a 15 to 30 percent sharp increase in sales of products with a non-GMO verified label, representing the public desire to know.

A new study published in Neurology found that exposure to pesticides or commercial weed killers increases a person’s risk of Parkinson’s disease by 33 to 80 percent. The study directly linked the length of time a person was exposed to the chemicals to the probability that person would develop the disease. The research behind the study compiled information on a global scale from 104 different studies investigating individual risk compared to exposure to various chemicals used in agriculture. Surprisingly, results yielded no link between DDT, a dangerous pesticide already banned in the US, and Parkinson’s disease. Rather, those exposed to the weed killer paraquat or the fungicides maneb or mancozeb were twice as likely to contract the disease. Though the study showed no differentiation between direct contact versus inhalation of the chemicals, results showed workers in agriculture were 33 percent more likely to develop Parkinson’s when compared to non-agricultural workers.

Just as we tip into the summer months typically embellished by burgers and barbeques, beef prices are on the rise as a result of the 2012 drought. The drought that plagued the Midwest has left the US cattle herd the smallest it’s been in about 60 years, falling to less than 90 million head. Prices for commercially sold beef already hit an all-time high last week and that expected to continue to increase. Prices of choice-grade beef, the most commonly purchased type, reached a retail price of $2.1137 per pound on May 24, surpassing the record-high price that was set in 2003 during an outbreak of mad-cow disease in Canada. Though sales of US beef climbed by nearly 5 percent in 2012, overall production declined. Some beef retailers are concerned consumers will switch to different types of meat, while others are hopeful demand will remain constant through the summer months.

By the end of last year, the United States imported 4.1 billion pounds of food products from China, according to the Agriculture Department. And it seems China plans to expand its reach into the food system, with the announced purchase of Smithfield Foods, one of the biggest and oldest pork producers in the United States, by one of China’s largest meat processors. What will it mean for the U.S.? Here's what the National Farmers Union has to say to answer that question: “Consolidation in agricultural markets makes it easier for interests in other countries to control large portions of our food supply. Further study and understanding of concentration of markets is needed, along with enhanced enforcement of anti-trust laws. Independent family farmers and ranchers cannot succeed in the absence of protection from unfair, anti-competitive business practices by those who control the marketplace.”

Saying goodbye to Jame Boastick

2013-05-30T12:54:00.000-04:00

Jame Boastick passed away on Tuesday, May 28, 2013, in Urbana, Illinois, surrounded by his family.

In 1985, Jame attended the inaugural Farm Aid concert in Champaign, IL, his hometown. Farm Aid captured Jame's imagination, and in the next 28 years he missed only one concert event. Jame loved Willie Nelson and the music of Farm Aid and faithfully made the trip each year.

Jame became Farm Aid's most faithful donor. He regularly called the office, sent newspaper clippings and a steady stream of donations. For a time he even worked an extra job so that he could increase his donations.

One day in the early 1990s, Jame walked into the Farm Aid office in Cambridge, MA, along with his mother Marilyn Boastick, and announced, "Hi, I'm Jame Boastick!," much to our delight. No one had ever met Jame, although staff members had talked with him on the phone many times.

Jame's passion for Farm Aid and for family farms inspired the entire Farm Aid family. All of us at Farm Aid admired his unwavering enthusiasm and constant support. We will miss Jame, and we send our sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Rest in peace, one-of-a-kind, Jame Boastick.

Glenda and the Farm Aid staff

Confessions of a Former Farmer

2013-05-29T14:05:00.002-04:00

I didn’t come up with the title myself; partly because I am never really convinced that I won’t go back to farming one day. A more truthful title may be, “Confessions of a Farmer Working in an Office”. Not quite as catchy, though.

I have stepped out of the field and into a classroom, office, or lab at least a few times since I first started farming. It always surprises me when I am putting together my resume and it looks as if I had the whole thing worked out. That I was on some natural trajectory from farm internship to graduate school to Extension research to starting and managing a family farm is far from the truth. It may not have been the direct route to Farm Aid, but it feels like the perfect fit.

I started at Farm Aid this past April—a month that I usually associated with spending more time outside than inside. After weeks of seeding 1000s of flats of scallions, broccoli, spinach, beets, and more in the greenhouse, the focus would move outside and the endless hours of field prep would start. Spring was always a time of energy and optimism. And, although I am now inside, I am invigorated by my work as the new Farmer Resource Specialist. Instead of growing fruits and veggies, I am cultivating new ideas, projects, and relationships with the goal for expanding the impacts and reach of the Farmer Resource Network. Sustainability and viability are still at the heart of my work.

I still check the weather every day. When it rains, I can’t help but think about the top corner of the main field that would flood. When it’s the first warm, sunny spring day, I remember how my arms would feel after what would have been a long day of hula hoeing an acre of brassicas and lettuces. It may have been a faster job with the tractor, but not nearly as enjoyable as the camaraderie of kicking out that first big weeding job together with the new field crew.

I know that my work at Farm Aid will allow me to help other farmers achieve their goals. I will be able to impact the farming communities that I have learned from, shared ideas with, celebrated success, and shook off defeat. I will join new farming networks as well as the resource organizations that are here to help. Spring is still energizing and full of optimism!

I will always identify myself as a farmer. But, come August when the temperature hits 95 and the humidity’s holding steady at 75% and tomato harvest is peaking, you won’t hear me complaining about working in the air-conditioned office. But I will be thinking of all my fellow farmers out there and doing the best I can to help you succeed and thrive.

Feel free to contact me if you have ideas. Or just need to commiserate about squash bugs and powdery mildew.

Happy Spring!
Jessie

You can reach Jessie at jessie@farmaid.org and learn more about the Farmer Resource Network at www.farmaid.org/ideas.

Toni’s Farm and Food Roundup

2013-05-24T13:58:00.001-04:00

The fight for GMO labeling revved up this week, as the Connecticut state Senate and Vermont House of Representatives both recently voted in favor of bills mandating the labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods.

On May 9, the Vermont House voted 107-37 in favor of the bill, which does not include any food from animal products. Though the bill will now move onto the Senate, it will not be reviewed until sometime in 2014, as the state’s legislative session as ended for 2013. Opponents of the bill argue that GMO producers could sue the state if the federal government determines there is no substantial difference between conventional and genetically engineered foods.

In Connecticut, the Senate voted 35-1 in favor of the bill on May 21. Because of the economic implications of such a law, the bill requires at least three other states in the region to pass similar bills by July 2015 before the law can take effect. With about 12 other states in the country reviewing proposed GE labeling laws, Connecticut is not alone in its initiative, though no states have passed a comparable measure yet.

It seems opponents to the bill might have good standing, since on May 23 the U.S. Senate voted 71-27 against an amendment to the farm bill that would allow states to decide whether genetically modified products must carry a label. The initiative would not have determined whether GMO products be labeled, but rather leave the ruling to states on an individual basis. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) sponsored the bill, which he called a “fairly commonsense and non-radical” idea. Sanders proposed a similar measure in 2012 that was also voted down. Internationally, 64 countries require food containing genetically modified organisms to be labeled.

At an Organic Trade Association meeting in Washington D.C., Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack vowed to shake up the future of organics with policy changes. Vilsack assured organics will receive more coverage through the federal crop insurance program, and as of next year the organic surcharge for crop insurance will drop by 5 percent. Vilsack also said he would provide USDA agencies with new instructions regarding the requirements for organic certification. Organic prices are under consideration for 2014, as only corn, soybeans, cotton, processing tomatoes, avocados and some stone fruit crops currently have a price separate from that of conventional. The USDA Risk Management Agency already determined there will be an organic price for oats and mint, with apricots, apples, blueberries and millet to be determined.

Pink is the new green, at least for vertical farmers. Urban vertical farming is booming across the globe, with Sweden even gearing up to build a 177-foot skyscraper to grow vegetables on each floor. Horticulturists found, however, that the most practical and economically efficient way to farm vertically is in empty warehouses on the outskirts of cities, due to the lower cost of electricity. What’s more, plants only need certain types of light to grow. Rather than using fluorescent lamps to light the many layers of a vertical farm, using just the red and blue lights have the same effect but use significantly less energy. The result is a vertical farm ablaze with pink light. LED lights differ from conventional fluorescent lamps used in greenhouses because, in addition to being more energy efficient, LED lights can be set to a specific wavelength. The low temperature of LED lights also allows farmers to maximize energy use by placing the lights closer to the plants than a typical greenhouse light. Using a system of stacking the LED lights, one vertical farm in Texas, Caliber Biotherapeutics, is experimenting with the idea of growing plants entirely indoors using the artificial light—void of cumbersome variables like weather and pests. The practice is far from affordable for the average farmer, but could be a viable way to control such aspects of farming for finicky specialty crops.

And, finally, we couldn't end the week without an update about the Senate's debate on the Farm Bill, which has ended for now, but may start up again when they return to session on June 4th. As always, we'll keep you posted as to what you can do as the Senate continues to debate, and the House takes up the debate on the Farm Bill.

Farm Bill ALERT: Tell Senators to Put Family Farmers First and Kick Corporate Power to the Curb!

2013-05-21T17:56:00.001-04:00

Well fair readers, we told you we’d alert you when a good opportunity to engage in the 2013 Farm Bill arrives. Farm Aid fans and family farmer supporters: your time has come!

The Farm Bill is a big deal: it has the power to level the playing field for family farmers, deliver good food to eaters, support healthy local food systems, protect the environment, and much more. But in order to accomplish those things, Congress needs to make a lot of fixes.

It’s time to tell your Senators to fix the Farm Bill.

This week, the entire Senate is voting on key amendments to the Farm Bill. We checked in with our partners in Washington D.C., and we're excited to see some critical amendments proposed by Senators that will make farm policy work better for family farmer agriculture and all of us eaters.

But we need YOU to raise your voices in support of these amendments. We need a Farm Bill that supports family farmers and a fair food system. One that kicks corporate giants to the curb. One that delivers good food and safeguards the public from wasteful spending and short-sighted policies.

Call your Senators NOW and tell them to support a fixed Farm Bill:

You can find the contact information for your Senators here or call the U.S. Senate switchboard (202) 224-3121 to be connected to your Senators’ offices.
Ask for the staffer that works on agriculture issues.
Tell them to vote for the following amendments that support family farmers and a fair food system. Below, we’ve outlined a suggested message for when you call your Senators:

Dear Senator _____:

As you work on the Farm Bill, I urge you to take critical steps to ensure that our farm policy works for family farmers, consumers and the environment.

Specifically, I urge you to support these amendments that protect family farmers from corporate abuses by the largest meatpackers, poultry companies and other agribusinesses:

-- Support Senator Rockefeller's (D-WV) amendment to prohibit companies from retaliating against farmers that speak out about unfair treatment;

-- Support Senator Grassley's (R-IA) amendment (#969) to create a USDA special counsel to monitor consolidation and strengthen antitrust enforcement in the farm and food sector;

-- Support Senator Tester's (D-MT) amendment requiring the USDA to issue annual reports on concentration in the food and agribusiness industries.

In addition, I urge you to support the following amendments to ensure safe food and proper regulation of genetically engineered food products.

-- Support Senator Begich's (D-AK) amendment (#934) to ban the sale of genetically engineered salmon. The Food and Drug Administration is considering approving this controversial, untested product without labeling.

-- Support Senator Merkeley's (D-OR) amendment (#978) to repeal the so-called "Monsanto Protection Act," a provision in the 2013 continuing resolution that removed judicial oversight of genetically engineered crops

-- Support Senators Gillibrand (D-NY) and Feinstein’s (D-CA) amendment to support research on the use of antibiotics for livestock animals.

-- Support Senator Tester’s (D-MT) amendment (#972) to support public classical plant breeding so farmers have access to the seeds and breeds they need to be successful.

I urge you to support the following amendments to ensure fairness, diversity, opportunity and transparency in farm policy:

-- Support Senators Casey (D-PA), Harkin (D-IA) and Johanns' (R-NE) amendment, which creates microloans for beginning farmers and ranchers and military veteran farmers and ranchers.

-- Support the Brown-Gillibrand-Cowan-Heinrich-Reed-Schatz amendment (#1088) to support several programs that will develop a more resilient food system, including the Value Added Producer Grants, Business & Industry Loans, Senior Farmers Markets Nutrition Program, Community Food Projects, Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program.

-- Support Senator Udall’s (D-NM) amendment to increase funding for the 2501 program that supports socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

-- Support Senators Shaheen (D-NH) and Toomey’s (R-PA) amendment (#926) to limit crop insurance payments to $50,000 annually to those who are actively engaged in farming.

-- Support Senators Begich (D-AK) and Flake’s (D-AZ) amendment (#936) to ensure data transparency in crop insurance payments.

-- Support Senators Leahy (D-VT), Cowan (D-MA) and Collins' (R-ME) amendment to remove the unfair EQIP payment limit on organic farmers.

-- Support Wyden-McConnell-Merkley-Paul amendment # 952 to legalize hemp production in the United States.

Finally, I urge you to oppose the following amendment which restricts consumer choice:

-- Oppose Senator Johanns's (R-NE) amendment to repeal country-of-origin labeling for meat and poultry products, which the public overwhelmingly supports.

Thanks for making the call to fix the Farm Bill, folks!

We’ll keep you posted on additional opportunities to engage. It’s a fast-moving, quickly changing landscape in Washington D.C. right now. We expect that the House of Representatives will take up the Farm Bill in late June, so there will be more important opportunities in the coming weeks.

To get a sense of how things will roll out for the 2013 Farm Bill, check out this nifty graphic from our partner, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.

Farm Aid Music Monday, Starring Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, and Friends

2013-05-20T16:06:00.002-04:00

Earlier this month, Willie Nelson, alongside Annie Lennox and Carole King, was presented with an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music! Longtime friend, fellow member of The Highwaymen, and Rhodes scholar himself, Kris Kristofferson, joined Willie, and sons Micah and Lukas, onstage at the Commencement Concert to perform Hank Williams’ “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” and donned a cap and gown to present Willie his degree at the ceremony. Congratulations, Willie!

For today's Music Monday, we dug out some clips of Kris and Willie (and friends) performing at Farm Aid from our archives. Enjoy!

Check out our YouTube channel for more Farm Aid videos.

Toni’s Farm and Food Roundup

2013-05-17T14:15:00.001-04:00

The USDA recently announced $19.5 million in grants towards research on the impact of climate change on dairy and beef cattle. Researchers from universities across the nation are set to work together through a Coordinated Agricultural Project award in order to determine what cattle farmers need both short and long term. The project is designed to strengthen rural communities through knowledge on how to prepare and sustainably face climate change as a cattle producer. The information gained through the research will be used to educate cattle farmers and ranchers in the future.

The Supreme Court unanimously sided with corporate giant Monsanto in a case that is sure to shake both agriculture and biotechnology industries. The case involved an Indiana soybean farmer, Vernon Hugh Bowman, who took Monsanto’s patented Roundup Ready soybeans from a local grain elevator. The soybeans are resistant to the Roundup pesticide also produced by Monsanto. Bowman proceeded to plant his own seeds in future years, which had the same Roundup resistant characteristic. Though Bowman argued that the seeds were “self-replicating,” the court ruled that it was Bowman’s own actions that led to the eight generations of seed copying. The decision will be beneficial to innovative industries, which patent inventions that could be duplicated; however, with companies like Monsanto dominating much of the food industry, prices could continue to rise for consumers.

In other Monsanto news, a report was recently released by Food and Water Watch detailing international lobbying for biotech products, which is funded, in part, by US tax dollars. In crafting the report, cables from 2005 to 2009 that were released on Wikileaks in 2010 from 926 diplomatic agencies in over 100 countries were studied, resulting in the finding that officials in US State Departments lobby for specific biotech companies, such as Monsanto. In 2009, a cable from an embassy in Spain requests for US government intervention to battle Monsanto opposition. The intervention came four years after Monsanto was fined $1.5 million for bribing an official in Indonesia, directly breaking the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Community food activists argue that these acts are harmful to local food systems and regional governments working against GMO crops. Monsanto and US officials both contend that these products are necessary to increase global food production. The report further explained that the US State Department promoted GMO products through pamphlets sent to Slovenia as well as DVDs sent to high schools in Hong Kong.

U.C. Berkeley police arrested four people on Monday for trespassing and interfering with police forces. These criminals were not up to what you might think, however; they were arrested for the act of gardening. Resilient farmers and activists are keeping the Occupy the Farm movement alive in California, as angry occupiers took over a 12-acre University of California space to replace the abandoned weeds with veggies and flowers. Though police broke up the protest and plowed over the seedlings, occupiers expressed plans to return to the site this weekend. The plot was originally donated to the school in the 1920s and dedicated to organic growing and research. Since then the land goes mostly unused with plans to convert the space into housing, a grocery store and a parking lot. The movement began on Earth Day 2012 when activists executed similar planting, which was followed up by ten forums on the importance of the space in the past year. Though University of California administration was invited, no one attended any of the discussions.

The Senate Agricultural Committee approved the Agricultural Reform Food and Jobs Act, more commonly deemed the 2013 Farm Bill, in a 15-5 decision this week that will move onto Congress next. Though the bill is long overdue since the extension of the 2012 farm bill, many food and farm activists are angered over the contents of this $100 billion law. The problem, in part, sprouts from the excessive lobbying of corporate giants that fail to represent smaller entities like family farms and organics. The power of agribusiness was exemplified when Vice President Joe Biden made an agreement on New Year’s Eve with Senator Mitch McConnell that resulted in the loss of programs including some that would support beginning and minority farmers, healthier diets, organics and renewable energy.

It’s Back. The Farm Bill train is moving with Farm Aid Partners on its tail!

2013-05-14T14:34:00.000-04:00

Get ready folks! The Farm Bill train is moving.

After a painful trip with myriad stalls and derailments last year, we’re relieved to see that the Farm Bill is getting back on track. The Farm Bill is a mammoth piece of legislation that is renewed every 5 years or so; it funds and directs food and farm policy for the entire country. (Check out our Farm Bill page for more info or read our previous coverage here on our blog!)

Last week, both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees submitted their drafts of the 2013 Farm Bill. Today and tomorrow, members of the Agriculture Committees will “markup” each draft by introducing amendments for vote and prepping the bills for floor votes before the entire Senate and House down the pike.

In short, it means a frenzy of activity is occurring on the Hill. Each minute it seems something has changed or shifted. With budget constraints and plenty of corporate lobbyists putting pressure on the process, we’re proud to support our partners in DC, like the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and the National Family Farm Coalition, who are able to keep pace and protect critical programs that support family farmers and good food.

The latest word from our partner the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) is that Senate champions have introduced several amendments that support family farms, build strong communities, protect natural resources, invest in future farmers, and reform controversial subsidy payments. We were excited to see three key amendments that support beginning farmers and ranchers by enhancing their access to land, financial capital, and training; three amendments that support local and regional food systems through programs that increase production and access to healthy foods and two critical conservation amendments that will improve farmers’ ability to steward their land and protect our air, soil, and water being proposed. Check out NSAC’s amendment tracker here to see how various proposed amendments to the bill fared.

Today, the Senate Agriculture Committee had its markup. The House will have their markup session tomorrow. Stay tuned for more and of course, we’ll let you know when there’s a good window for you to take action on the 2013 Farm Bill!

Toni’s Farm and Food Roundup

2013-05-10T12:14:00.003-04:00

The population of honeybees continues to rapidly plummet, a trend that began in 2006, but now with global discrepancy as to the cause of the decline. In an attempt to face this dilemma, the European Union recently placed a temporary ban on neonicotinoids, a specific class of pesticides that is thought to be the main cause of the drop in population in Europe. The US, however, rejected this claim on Thursday with the release of a new study that cites various reasons for the lowered number of honeybees, with a certain mite, Verroa, said to be the greatest factor. The report cites pesticides as the lowest threat to honeybees, but notes that a high quantity of pesticides is detrimental to honeybee colonies. A study released in 2012 found that neonicotinoids negatively impact a honeybee’s sense of direction, making it so that a bee cannot find its way back to the hive.

A couple of weeks ago, we reported a new style in lamb fashion with a new brightly colored coat. Now, Julie Baker may have created the greatest new innovation in poultry fashion: diapers and saddles. Baker first made the diaper so her chickens could go inside her house. Her cottage (coop?) industry has since grown into a business, with Baker receiving 50 to 100 orders for chicken diapers a week from urban farmers. Her website, Pampered Poultry, offers the diapers in a variety of sizes and prints, as well as chicken saddles. Baker explains that roosters typically pull out hens' feathers during mating, leaving the hen raw and bleeding. The saddle prevents this from occurring. Other businesses are following suit, with websites popping up such as My Pet Chicken that sell similar products. These new developments point to the growing locavore movement in cities, with approximately 0.8 percent of households in Denver, Miami, Los Angeles and New York City raising chickens. What’s more, urbanites have begun taking on raising chickens as pets rather than livestock, with 4 percent of people in these cities anticipating buying a chick in coming years.

In support of its rapidly emerging urban agriculture movement, the Chicago Food Policy Advisory Council (CFPAC) is leading a food-labeling project that would place a new "Chicago Grown" sticker on foods grown in the community. CFPAC hopes that with the new sticker there will be more support for local food systems, and urban agriculture as a whole. When the label gains momentum, CFPAC plans to launch a Chicago Grown website in support of it. In 1999 the Mass. based Community Involved in Sustainable Agriculture (CISA, one of our long-term partners!) began a similar movement with its “Local Hero” campaign, which popularized the phrase “Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown.” Studies later found that the label was effective, with 82 percent of residents recognizing the label and further, those residents were twice as likely to shop for locally grown products. The Census of Agriculture even found that sales doubled for farms in the region and the acreage of land used for farming increased. The number of local farmers markets even spiked from 10 to 49. Though the outcome for the Chicago Grown label is still to be determined, backers of the project hope to make a similar impact.

The seemingly never-ending battle for a new farm bill drags on, as Congress is set to begin writing a new $500 billion law next week. With immense pressure to reduce spending, over the next ten years the Senate version of the bill is reported to cut approximately $23 billion and the draft from the House is expected to reduce spending by $35 billion. In doing so, the drafts are expected to include cuts to food aid for those in poverty and a reduction in land-idling procedures. There is still discrepancy among members of Congress as to how much funding should be cut from the food stamp (SNAP) program. The Senate Agriculture chairwoman, Debbie Stabenow, formulated a draft with $4 billion cut from the program, whereas Frank Lucas, the House Agriculture Committee chairman, hopes to cut $20 billion. These plans are in opposition to a letter signed by 32 senators organized by Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, which would reduce funding to crop insurance subsidies, but retain food stamps as is. Farm lobbyists and environmentalists are pushing for other additions to the bill, with rice and peanut growers from the south hoping for higher floor prices of grains and oilseeds, whereas environmentalists are vying for crop insurance linked to conservation practices.

Cheers Michigan, 'tis the season for farmers markets and wine! Without hesitation, the state senate unanimously passed a new bill that will allow small winemakers to have tastings and sell products at farmers markets. The bill includes provisions, as the winemaker would need to pay a permit fee and be approved by the market and local law enforcement prior to becoming a vendor. The bill classifies a small winemaker as one that produces less than 5,000 gallons of wine a year, meaning about 60 of the state’s wineries are eligible. Before becoming a law, the bill still needs to pass in the state house, but senators explained that small winemakers should have the opportunity to play a role in the state’s economy.

Farm Aid Music Monday, Starring Dave Matthews Band

2013-05-06T18:29:00.002-04:00

Today's Music Monday features more new videos from the archives! Here we've got the second appearance of the Dave Matthews Band at a Farm Aid concert (their debut in 1995 was previously featured on Music Monday last September). This concert was held in Tinley Park, Illinois and took place before Dave Matthews became a Farm Aid board member in 2001. Check out "Crash into Me," "Two Step," and "Ants Marching" in the video playlist below:

Check out our YouTube channel for more Farm Aid videos.

An Evening with Farm Aid in NYC

2013-05-04T11:52:00.000-04:00

Last week, Farm Aid gathered with supporters of family farmers and good food for An Evening with Farm Aid at Haven's Kitchen, a recreational cooking school in Manhattan. The night's honoree Steve Ells, Founder and Chairman of Chipotle Mexican Grill, was presented with a "Courage Axe" for his leadership in bringing sustainable family farmer food to more people. In addition to Steve Ells, speakers included Liora Yalof and Joe DeFeo, co-chairs of the event; Alison Schneider, Founder of Havens Kitchen; Mark Rothbaum, Willie Nelson's manager; Carolyn Mugar, Farm Aid's Executive Director; and Thom Duffy from Billboard magazine, who introduced Amos Lee, provider of the night's entertainment.

The 80 or so people in attendance were treated to an intimate acoustic set by Amos Lee, who performed at Farm Aid's 25th anniversary concert in Milwaukee in 2010. Among the songs he played was Levon Helm's touching "Growing Trade" about a desperate farmer ready to try and grow anything in order to survive. After the show, he chatted with fans and said, "If we lose the connection to the family farm, we lose something really important."

Read more about the event on Billboard.com and see some photos we took on our flickr page or below:

Toni’s Farm and Food Roundup

2013-05-02T18:10:00.001-04:00

Though moisture returns to Midwest states, farmers are still facing the effects of last year’s drought. Veterinarians in midwestern states are discovering an abnormal amount of Vitamin A deficiencies in calves this year, likely due to feed provided to the calves. Many farmers are dipping into a stored supply of hay from last year earlier than usual. In many cases, the hay fed to cattle during the winter months was also lacking necessary nutrients as a result of the extended winter weather. Some farmers impacted by drought even needed to feed cattle hay that was up to two years old, leading to even lower nutritional content. Iowa State University veterinarian Grant Dewell recommends that Midwest farmers give calves a dose of Vitamin A at birth followed up with two to three additional supplements. Though drought conditions seem to be improving, it is clear that farmers will see its impact for months to come.

Weather in the mid-western states has recently taken a swift turn from drought to flooding. Residents of communities along the Mississippi River have been lining the edges of the waterway with sandbags to prevent more flooding after a relentless season of rain. In normal weather conditions, 60 percent of grain in the US is transported along the Mississippi River. In some places this year, corn and soybean transportation has been halted altogether, which led to some of the highest market prices of grain in recent times at exporting locations in the Gulf of Mexico this week. With constantly wet ground and temperatures that reach freezing at night, farmers in the region are also delayed in planting crops. Areas afflicted by the flooding are preparing for conditions to worsen, though in some regions water levels are expected to begin decreasing.

After the extension of the 2008 Farm Bill, the debate goes on in Congress to pass a new bill by the end of the year. Congress has also taken up immigration reform measures that could help ensure that farmers can count on legal immigrant labor on their farms. Up to half of all workers on Wisconsin dairy farms do not have the documentation needed to legally work in the US. Farmers rely on these workers because, as they explain it, Americans just don't want these jobs (despite the fact they pay more than minimum wage and provide health insurance). The current system relies on farmers to check potential workers' documents, but the farmers have no way of knowing whether the documents are truly legitimate. If they were to be audited and found to have accepted false documents, they would be liable and their business could be destroyed. A story on NPR, on the other hand, says that immigration reform won't help farmers with the labor they need.

Federal lawmakers turned over yet another attempt at a bill that would require GMO foods to be labeled. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) proposed the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act with bi-partisan support, which would mandate that any food containing a genetically modified ingredient be labeled. Though similar bills were previously introduced, more than 90 percent of the public support GMO labeling. In the past, bills fail to pass because of opposition from agri-business and biotechnology companies that whose business could be affected once their products carry a GMO tag. Supporters of the bill argue that consumers have the right to know what they are eating, a concept that Obama vowed to address during his 2007 presidential campaign.

Help unwrap our birthday gift for Willie Nelson!

2013-04-30T15:22:00.000-04:00

Willie Nelson is celebrating 80 years today!

Whether you're a loyal fan of his music, a supporter of good food, or a family farmer — chances are good that your life has been touched by Willie. We all have a "Willie story" to tell. And for his birthday, we've collected more than 1,500 heartfelt wishes from all of you and the artists that have rocked the stage alongside him. They're on display now at HappyBirthdayWillie.org!

We've chosen some of our favorite moving, warm and quirky entries and created this video as a gift for Willie. Check out the love that people have for Farm Aid's uniquely talented and inspiring Founder!

Willie's commitment to family farmers is legendary. Farm Aid wouldn't exist today if it weren't for Willie's tenacity, vision and dedication. Will you join Willie in our mission to keep family farmers on the land? Give today at HappyBirthdayWillie.org. Help us be there to answer the call from a family farmer in crisis. Together, let's put new farmers on the land! Your gift ensures that family farmers will be there to grow good food for all of us.

Thank you for watching, sharing your stories, and joining in this birthday celebration for Willie!

Toni’s Farm and Food Roundup

2013-04-26T17:04:00.001-04:00

The USDA is coming back to the table with a new system to track livestock, this time across state lines. This is the second recent effort to prevent disease outbreaks and monitor livestock movement; the first attempt was met with widespread opposition from farmers and eaters who protested the cost to independent livestock producers and loopholes for large producers. In addition to tracking the movement of animals, researchers believe the system will also provide insight into the source of disease, whether it is natural or a fault in practice. Though the law is mandatory, each state will determine how each animal is identified and the program only applies to animals transported across states.

Lambs are beginning to make a bold statement with this new coat. Don’t jump on this fashion craze just yet, as this trend, meant to keep the lambs warm, is quickly falling out of season.

Leave it to Willie Nelson, Farm Aid’s founder and president, to transform an event as monumental as his own 80th birthday into a fundraising event for the firefighters that battled the fire after the horrific explosion at West Fertilizer Co. in West, TX. Willie’s hometown, Abbott, is just miles from West, Texas where the blast occurred. The concert is a part of Willie’s tour and will be held on April 28 at The Backyard in Austin, with all proceeds to the West Volunteer Fire Department.

Researchers are studying if urine can be used as an alternative to manure as a plant fertilizer because of its high concentration of nitrogen, which plants need to grow. Farmers in Nepal have been using the method for hundreds of years, and now colleagues at Tribhuvan University are testing its effectiveness. Researchers at the university grew sweet peppers using different kinds of fertilizers: human urine, compost and urea, the most effective of which was a combination of human urine and compost. Farmers shouldn’t switch to this method just yet, as a study in Africa found commercial fertilizer to be more successful than urine alone. The urine would need to be mixed with compost to be most effective according to the results in the Tribhuvan study, and some cultures might be hesitant to accept human urine as a plausible alternative to commercial options. Still, if further research yields similar results, urine would provide a free alternative for farmers that does not harm the environment.

The US Department of Agriculture is exploring the possibility of a new poultry inspection policy that would reduce supervision of large poultry processors. If the bill passes, it will allow poultry companies to speed up the amount of birds processed. Right now, each large poultry processor is required to have four USDA inspectors monitoring the kill lines, which average about 140 birds per minute. Under the new law one inspector will be able to oversee the plant, which would be able to increase kill line production to about 175 birds per minute. The concept of the bill originated last year, but was killed when food safety advocates expressed concern that conditions would become unsafe. The latest proposed USDA budget, however, includes the provisions of the law with plans to implement the more lax inspection guidelines by September 2014.

Recent reports show that most of the meat commercially sold in supermarkets is contaminated by potentially dangerous bacteria, which probably means that a large percentage of that meat has come in contact with fecal matter. Grist reports:

87 percent of meat—including beef, pork, chicken, and turkey products—tests positive for normal and antibiotic-resistant forms of Enterococcus bacteria. Fifty percent of ground turkey contains resistant E. coli, 10 percent of chicken parts and ground turkey tests positive for resistant salmonella, and 26 percent of chicken parts come contaminated with resistant campylobacter.

Hidden in the depths of the Food and Drug Administration’s 2011 Retail Meat Report, the FDA stated that much of the meat sold at supermarkets contains antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Though the FDA reported vague figures, the Environmental Working Group used this data to formulate solid statistics. These antibiotic-resistant “superbugs” are linked to various health concerns in humans, with one strain of salmonella even found to be deadly. With 80 percent of all US antibiotics used in raising livestock, this should come at no surprise.

Your Comments Needed on Food Safety Regulations

2013-04-18T14:30:00.001-04:00

Everyone has a role in ensuring safe food from field to fork. The risk of foodborne illness is largely preventable by good food safety measures at every stage of the food system, including hand washing and keeping foods at the right temperature. However, it's not as simple as requiring all farms and processing facilities to meet identical safety requirements. Depending on the complexity of the supply chain, types of food, and practices implemented from farm to table, different kinds of farms and facilities face different types of risks when it comes to contamination that could cause illness.

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), enacted in early 2011, is the first major overhaul of our nation's food safety practices since 1938 (that's 73 years!!) Earlier this year the Food and Drug Administration released a 1200 page document proposing how the law is to be implemented, known as a "proposed rule." The FSMA represents some big changes to our food system – and it is extremely important for the Food and Drug Administration to get these regulations right.

Before FDA can finalize the proposed rules, the agency must seek input from the public.

Comments from farmers and on-farm processors will directly shape the final rules and are critical to ensuring that they work for small and mid-sized farmers, sustainable and organic growers, value-added businesses, and conservation systems.

If you're an eater, these rules could, over the long term, impact the kind of food you are able to find and purchase in your community. Ultimately, we want to ensure a safe and affordable food supply, strong on-farm conservation of natural resources, and thriving family farms and small value-added farm and food businesses. That translates into fresh, healthy food for communities across the country, from the farmers' market to the grocery store to the school cafeteria. As a concerned consumer, you absolutely have a say in these proposed rules and should speak out.

A big thanks to Farm Aid partner and grantee, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, for all the above information, and for putting together a fantastic website that breaks down the 1200 page proposed rule to help farmers, processors, and eaters learn more and get involved. We encourage you to check it out and follow their link for submitting a comment to the FDA.

Just this morning, we heard news that the comment period has been extended 120 days beyond May 16, the original deadline. This is a very positive development, giving us more time to get the word out and rally public input. With the right approach, we can ensure the final food safety rules foster good practices across the nation without placing an unfair burden on family farmers.

Farm Aid Music Monday, Starring Beck

2013-04-15T12:13:00.002-04:00

Today's Music Monday features the singer-songwriter Beck at Farm Aid 1997 (so far his only appearance, although I'd love for that to change). Beck was one of my favorite artists at the time; I was amazed at the variety of musical styles incorporated into his work. After the initial hype of his hit song "Loser" wore off, I was overjoyed to hear other songs by him that ranged from and blended hip-hop, folk, country, blues, psychedelia, experimental noise, and probably twenty other genres.

In any case, check out his Farm Aid performance (from Tinley Park, Illinois, where Farm Aid would return in 1998 and 2005) below, including a duet with Willie Nelson.

Check out our YouTube channel for more Farm Aid videos.

Toni's Farm and Food News Roundup

2013-04-12T08:43:00.000-04:00

As Congress begins to discuss immigration reform this week, a plan to stabilize a work force for dairy farmers is among the issues under debate. While many divisions of agriculture already rely on the H-2A program, which allows farmers to hire foreign labor when domestic workers are unavailable, dairy farmers are not included in the program. Congressmen Peter Welch (D-VT), Bill Owens (D-NY) and Richard Hanna (R-NY) are behind the proposition for the H-2A Improvement Act to ensure dairy farmers a secure labor force. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is pushing the program in the Senate. The new bill would allow foreign workers to acquire a three-year visa to work within the dairy sector. With dairy farmers still struggling to stay in business amid an industry in shambles, those in support of the act hope this would reduce hardship in the sector. Official proposals are expected this week.

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) reintroduced the Local Farms, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 to the Senate and Congress in a special presentation. Though the bill already gained significant support when it was originally proposed in 2011, it was dropped when the 2008 Farm Bill was extended. The act focuses on increasing jobs while supporting local communities through farming by using strategies such as supporting rural development, national growth of farmers markets and providing local farm-fresh food to schools. The bill would support numerous programs that were cut upon the Farm Bill’s extension, such as the Market Promotion Program, National Organic Certification Cost Share Program and Value-Added Producer Grants. The act would also include a Whole Farm Diversified Risk Management program through the USDA that would offer insurance to farmers for things such as transporting crops from the farm to other outlets. Other aspects of the bill address increased access to specialty crops, renewed funding for organic programs and funding to small meat or poultry processors.

When people think of agriculture, a scene from The Jetsons doesn’t typically come to mind, but Mark Hosch of Round Hollow Farm in Iowa is able to farm using lasers, robots and a smartphone. The revolutionary tool is the Lely Astronaut and, while it is a hefty investment, the robot milks up to 60 cows per day, on their own schedule. In other words, the cows can go eat feed and be milked whenever they wander into the barn, a process that results in about 75 pounds of milk per cow each day. When there is a technical problem with the machine, Hosch receives voice alerts on his cell phone.

There has been an increasing discrepancy between the population of rural America and the number of lawyers that represent such areas, with about 20 percent of Americans living in rural areas and a mere 2 percent of law firms in these regions. Recently in South Dakota, 1,000 cattle were sold at the Martin Livestock Auction, requiring the presence of numerous lawyers. Every lawyer at the auction was paid by Bennett County to drive over two hours to reach the event. Recognizing this plight, the American Bar Association asked federal, state and local governments to address the growing trend. Last month South Dakota became the first state to make an effort to increase the number of lawyers in rural areas by passing a law that pays lawyers to live and work in these regions. The law requires lawyers to live in an area for 5 years, during which time they will receive $12,000 annually. The first 16 participants will begin the program this June. Other states such as Nevada, Montana, Wyoming and Iowa with a similar problem have taken an interest in the new law, which will be discussed at the Jackrabbit Bar Conference in June. The Iowa State Bar Association began a campaign in 2012, which encourages law students to spend summers in rural areas. Similarly, the Nebraska Bar Association began taking law students on rural bus tours this year. In some counties of these states, there are stretches of 100 miles or more without any legal services available.

As the drought drags on in Western states, the USDA recently approved aid for counties heavily affected by arid conditions. Farmers and ranchers in approved counties of Wyoming, Colorado and Montana will be able to apply for emergency disaster grants this year from the Farm Service Agency. Nine counties in Colorado, six counties in Montana and the entire state of Wyoming are eligible for the aid.

Interview with Farmer Author of "Gaining Ground" and Book Giveaway

2013-04-11T12:07:00.005-04:00

Forrest Pritchard has been farming his entire life, but it wasn’t until he almost lost his family farm that he decided to take a stand for farmers everywhere. Forrest not only saved Smith Meadows farm but also became a leader in sustainability, becoming one of the first “grass finished” farms in the nation. Through tales of suffering, humor and, of course, food, Forrest details this account in his new book, Gaining Ground: A Story of Farmers Markets, Local Food, and Saving the Family Farm. We're giving away five copies of the book — read below for information on getting one.

I recently got a chance to chat with Forrest and ask him a few questions about food, farming and the upcoming book.

Toni Tiemann: Can you tell me about your background in farming, particularly with Smith Meadows?

Forrest Pritchard: So I’m the seventh generation farmer. The farm has been passed down on my mom’s side since the early 1800s, so when I was growing up my grandfather was a professional farmer. He started farming actually about 1920, in the late 1910s. I grew up on his farm and have just been around farming all my life. He was a cattle farmer, a livestock guy and an orchardist. This region, Shenandoah Valley, back in the ‘50s and ‘60s was hugely involved in apple production. He was very much in the forefront of all that, so I grew up around cattle and apples as a kid and took it for granted. That was my whole world. The rest of the world might have been that way and I wouldn’t have known the difference. That’s kind of my background.

TT: Outside of the story itself, as a farmer what inspired you to write Gaining Ground?

FP: Aside from the passion, and all farmers are passionate about farming in their own way or they couldn’t do it. It’s too hard of work. Every farmer has that passion, but it takes a different kind of personality to not only grow food, but also be willing to load up your truck every weekend to go to a farmers market. Not all farmers are willing to do that. That’s understandable. They don’t have time for it, or they’re shy, or they just want to grow food and that’s the end of it. That’s what a lot of folks do. In order to make ends meet, the commodity end of things, putting stuff on a truck and rolling it out of the driveway was not working for us. So far as, we put everything on a truck and waited for a check to appear in the mail. Then we’d sell stuff at the stock sale or we’d sell a truckload of grain, we’d get that check back and it was not a sustainable financial future for us. So going to farmers markets, that allowed me to interact with customers.

In a roundabout way of getting back to your question, when you meet with the actual people that eat your food, you create relationships with those folks. You are their food provider and you’re watching their kids grow up, and you’re basically nourishing these families. So when I saw how valuable that was to people, to have that communication and to have that opportunity to ask farmers where their food comes from. ‘Are your chickens raised outdoors? Do you give antibiotics to your chickens?’ I’m able to look them right in the eye and answer these questions for them. I thought to myself how valuable it would be for the customers to have the full story. That’s where Gaining Ground originated, because from one side you’ve got farmers, who are frankly too busy to be writing the story and on the other side, the journalistic, Omnivore’s Dilemma and Food Inc. aspect of things. There was a story that was missing in the middle, the backstory of how all of these farmers markets came to be.

TT: What is one thing you would like readers to take from the book?

FP: The biggest thing I would love for readers to take from the book is that their food choices genuinely matter. It’s really easy to talk about it and be philosophical, but this story should convey to readers how deeply important it is that they make conscientious food choices. By shopping at farmers markets, by subscribing to a CSA, by joining a buying club that supports a farm or a co-op of farmers. By shopping at a co-op, your dollar is going either directly or almost directly to a local farm. It’s not going to be filtered through a grocery store or distribution or Wal-Mart. The dollars that you spend are handed right over to that farmer and that is so powerful.

Hopefully when people read this book they understand when you break that dollar up into pennies and nickels and dimes, it’s easy to lose track of all those nickels and dimes. What was happening for us in the commodity system is by the time customers spent a dollar and it all trickled down to the farmer, we were literally getting 3, 4 or 5 cents of that. It’s really hard to create a dollar’s worth of product and only get 5 cents of that. When the customer spends with a farmer, the farmer gets 25 percent of that or 30 percent, enough to generate revenue so they can maintain their farm not just for today but for the future.

TT: Here at Farm Aid, we’re all about food and music. What is your favorite food and who is your favorite band?

FP: Well, what is my favorite food? That’s a great question. Jimmy Buffett, to combine references, a cheeseburger and paradise. There ain’t nothing wrong with anything that he said in that song. In the introduction of Gaining Ground, there’s no coincidence that I mention Farm Aid and I mention Willie Nelson and I mention Neil Young and I mention John Mellencamp. I didn’t mention Dave Matthews, because he wasn’t chronologically applicable at that point.

In the introduction, Farm Aid was very much on my consciousness in 1985. Here I am 10, 11 years old in 1984 and 1985 and there were these big superstars, Willie Nelson was playing with Julio Iglesias at that point and John Mellencamp was singing "Little Pink Houses" and "Rain on the Scarecrow." They were like pop icons to me and then they’re turning around and supporting farms? I got that as an 11-year old.

I don’t think I needed to be growing up on a farm to get that these pop superstars or cultural superstars found importance in the value of what was happening to American farmers in the ‘70s and ‘80s. They’re like ‘we’re not going to take this lying down. We’re going to stand up for this.’ It’s one of those things that makes your hair stand up on the back of your neck with pride. Who am I listening to? I still listen to all of those guys. I still think they’re as relevant as ever and there’s more voices that are definitely participating and contributing to that mission.

Gaining Ground hits shelves on May 21, but we've got five copies to give away! Just leave a comment below with your favorite food and favorite music artist and we'll pick five random winners. Make sure your comment profile has a way to contact you in case you're a winner.

Farm Aid Music Monday, Highlights From 1990

2013-04-08T13:38:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was the 23rd anniversary of Farm Aid IV, held on April 7, 1990 in Indianapolis, Indiana. So, to mark the occasion, today’s Music Monday is a throwback to the kickin' rad tunes from Farm Aid IV!

In addition to our board artists, the likes of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Bonnie Raitt, Arlo Guthrie, John Denver, Jackson Browne, John Hiatt, Elton John, Lou Reed and many more graced the Farm Aid stage that day. It was also last show that Steven Adler, the drummer from Guns N’ Roses, ever played with the band.

Check out some of the highlights from the bill, including:

Jackson Browne & Bonnie Raitt – World in Motion
Willie Nelson - Whiskey River & Stay All Night & Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – This Old House
Lou Reed – Last Great American Whale
John Mellencamp – Paper in Fire
Neil Young – Mother Earth
John Denver – Rocky Mountain High

Our YouTube channel has over 900 Farm Aid videos! Which one's your favorite from 1990?

Toni's Farm and Food News Roundup

2013-04-04T16:23:00.000-04:00

Hydraulic fracturing, more commonly called “fracking,” is a practice that uses high-pressure water and chemicals to extract oil and natural gas from rocks deep underground. While energy companies have been buying rural land across the country, environmentalists have been warning of the dangers behind fracking. Now energy companies are vying for the 1,750-square-mile Monterey Shale region of California, a crucial area of America’s largest farming state, highlighting the threat of the fracking boom on the sanctity of the US domestic food supply. Energy companies already dominate 17,000 acres of land in the state to which they own the water and oil rights. Though the toxic remnants from fracking are typically contained, food and farm activists caution that this liquid could seep into the soil and water necessary to cultivate food. Grazing livestock have already died after drinking water polluted with fracking liquids in Pennsylvania, Colorado and Ohio. Though the full impact of fracking on America’s farmland is still in question, it seems clear that the practice deserves more scrutiny.

A new bill passed by Congress to fund the federal government until September 30 protects Monsanto through a measure that allows farmers to grow the company’s genetically engineered seeds during legal appeals. In other words, farmers will be able to grow Monsanto crops even if USDA approval is temporarily overturned in court, placing unapproved food into the food system. The new bill, dubbed the “Monsanto Protection Act,” is under heavy criticism, as it permits Monsanto to avoid due process. Roy Blunt, a senator from Monsanto’s home state of Missouri, supported the measure, which was kept in the dark until just before the bill was voted on. Monsanto has been under fire recently, dealing with a number of court cases and public reproach. It’s hoped that the bill’s impact will be limited, unless it is extended after September 30.

In 2011 the Food Safety and Modernization Act seemed to be a major victory for food safety regulations as the first big update to food laws in about 80 years. The law addressed food recalls, inspections and food contamination; however, the White House Office of Management and Budget neglected to include many of these provisions in a revision to an outline created by the Food and Drug Administration that summarized methods to apply the new safety regulations. Under the new laws created by the Office of Management and Budget, the food safety protocols in the 2011 bill are now essentially voluntary practices. When the law was published earlier this year, food advocates celebrated its long-delayed release. That being said, the revisions were not discovered until someone from the Department of Health and Human Services revealed documents detailing the modifications to the law. There is a comment period on the new bill that will allow the public to weigh in that runs through the middle of May.

Nothing spells health like food and exercise, but who would have thought that exercise could make the food supply unhealthy? Some workout clothes now include microscopic silver particles that kill bacteria and prevent odor. Sounds great, right? Not if these invisible particles will destroy farmland, which could be the case as the Environmental Protection Agency is working to determine the ecological impact of the nano silver. Being that a purpose of the substance is to kill bacteria, it is considered to be a pesticide. The environmental effect of nanotechnology has been under scrutiny for the past decade, but continues to sneak past the EPA’s radar under a “conditional registration” clause. In fact, the Natural Resources Defense Council recently released a report explaining that 65 percent of all pesticides legally used in the US have not been fully inspected and registered by the EPA, which is required under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. When “conditional registration” was originally created, it was intended only to be implemented in extreme situations, such as a health emergency requiring fast pesticide action. When workout clothes containing the nano silver are washed, the particles enter the wastewater system that eventually reaches farmland. What this means to US agriculture is still a mystery.