>From Gianni Ortiz: Hi Mark,
We need to demand that Senators Gillibrand (202-225-1168) and Schumer (202-225-1168) vote against this bill in its current form when it comes up for a vote. We also need to educate people about the true purpose of this legislation. If it's voted down, it needs to be amended to meet the needs of small farms and producers. You can call more than once, and faxes are the most effective. People must do both. Many feel that the Senate will be too busy with the health care bill to deal with this one quickly. But let's now how this bill passed in the House: They voted on it two days in a row, resorting to an overnight rule-change: from requiring a two-thirds majority, which they failed to achieve, to a simple majority--with the vote held after no debate, with no amendments. So there's good reason for concern that something similar will happen in the Senate-- and, very possibly, within the next two weeks. The biggest problem is that very few of us have even heard about this legislation. So people have to learn about the bill, the take immediate action. Outside of New York, you can find your Senator here: <http://www.senate.gov/>http://www.senate.gov/. Best, Gianni > Pass, or pay food bill? By Francesca Olsen Hudson-Catskill Newspapers <http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2009/09/08/news/doc4aa5dda0ba972867881443.txt>http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2009/09/08/news/doc4aa5dda0ba972867881443.txt Published: Tuesday, September 8, 2009 1:16 AM CDT As the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009 (HR 2749/S510) makes its way to the U.S. Senate, concerns in the local community continue to mount about the effect such a bill will have on the farmers of Columbia County, as well as the nation. The bill already passed in the U.S. House of Representatives July 30, with 283 ayes, 142 nays, and 8 present/not voting. It will head to the Senate when it is scheduled to reconvene today. Gianni Ortiz, executive director of the Regional Farm and Food project, a non-profit dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture and local food systems in the Hudson Valley, is concerned about the potential implications for local farms. "Our farmers, especially small farms, are a national treasure," she said. "We can't be making it impossible for them to do this." Ortiz refers to a yearly registration for all farms with the Federal Drug administration (FDA) at a cost of $500; FDA-approved methods by which crops are raised and harvested, and a full Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Plan (HACCP plan) for every type of produce sold or processed, all included in the bill. She says this kind of regulation translates into additional cost and off-field man hours that small farms will not be able to afford or survive. A guide to developing a HACCP plan from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations outlines 12 tasks required to develop such a plan, and calls for the work of several specialists, such as a mycotoxicologist and process engineer. Hazards must be identified, information must be recorded, and appropriate control measures must be considered, adding up to a lengthy process. "We're going to lose farms this year anyway," said Ortiz, referencing an abysmal growing season here in Columbia County. "And we have so many new farmers. One of the most exciting things that is happening is that we have young people coming into farming." "Obviously, the math around farming is very challenging. You cannot purchase a farm and expect to pay the mortgage by farming," Ortiz said. "Young farmers have a lot of challenges. They probably don't own their land. If they have additional administrative demands and fees on top of it - it's just the wrong thing at the wrong time. In Columbia County, farming is and has been a cornerstone of the local economy. "We happen to be blessed with a lot of artisanal processors and farms. It's one of our greatest distinguishing marks. And this will impact each and every one of them," said Ortiz. During the vote in the U.S. House, congressmen John Hall, NY-19, and Scott Murphy, NY-20, voted yes on HR 2749; Maurice Hinchey, NY-22, voted no. Hinchey was part of a group of congressmen who sponsored the Kaptur/Farr Amendment, which recommends changes to the Food Safety Act. The proposal recommends "removing unintended negative impacts on family farms, local and regional food systems, conservation and the environment." "We are particularly concerned about the impact of the bill on the growing numbers of farms across the country that combine agricultural production with on-farm, value-added processing," the introduction letter to the amendment reads. Among other suggestions, the Kaptur/Farr amendment to the bill suggests a sliding scale for facility registration fees "for farms that qualify by virtue of their processing activities." "This needs to be scaled appropriately and science-based," said Ortiz. "I would say unless people are made aware of this and pay attention to it that it probably will get passed." Several letters concerning HR 2749 have already been published in the Register-Star prior to the vote in the house of representatives. Peter Sagal of Philmont wrote a letter asking Congressman Murphy to vote against the bill "unless the proposals included in the Kaptur/Farr letter are included in the final bill." Henry Smedley of Millerton also encouraged congressmen to vote no in order to "allow small, local farmers to continue to exist without burdensome regulations that are geared toward the large, industrial food companies that have created the food safety problems." Nick Franceschelli of Ghent also wrote in to oppose the bill, "on the grounds that it would inevitably brutally stifle the one area of economic activity that will be the cornerstone of a revitalized economy, namely local and regional food systems." Ortiz said that most food safety issues arise from the growing and harvesting practices at large factory farms, citing infamous incidents concerning bagged lettuce contaminated with salmonella. "If you contrast that with how small farmers harvest, it's a person with a set of eyes and a brain, in the light of day inspecting each cut leaf or head of greens. It's a human, one-on-one process," she said. "Now our representatives can say that they did something about food safety, which for all intents and purposes is basically to hamper the efforts of those providing the safest food in the system." Ortiz said she has been trying to get an appointment with congressman Murphy to discuss the bill but has so far been unsuccessful. For more information about the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009, visit <http://www.thomas.loc.gov>www.thomas.loc.gov for a full list of votes, status updates, and a summary and full text of the proposed bill. *** To reach reporter Francesca Olsen call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]. Copyright © 2009 - The Register Star Online __._,_.___ ._,___ > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to Mark Crispin Miller's "News From Underground" newsgroup. To unsubscribe, send a blank email to [email protected] OR go to http://groups.google.com/group/newsfromunderground and click on the "Unsubscribe or change membership" link in the yellow bar at the top of the page, then click the "Unsubscribe" button on the next page. For more News From Underground, visit http://markcrispinmiller.com -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
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