Proposed USDA Rule Undermines Small Farms; Victory on rBGH Labeling

December 1, 2007

JOE MILLER

Below find an alert from the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), as well as information about an important VICTORY. The alert invites you to sign-on to a letter to the USDA by December 3 opposing a "proposed rule that would force small farms growing green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and lettuce, to put into place industrial-style sterilization measures that reduce biodiversity and soil fertility." Directly below the alert is news about an important GRASSROOTS CITIZEN VICTORY in pressuring Pennsylvania to back off of its proposed ban on "rBGH-free" dairy product labels.

The OCA website (1) is an excellent site for articles and alerts in a large number of interrelated areas. They point out, for instance, that unless citizens can prevail, yet another unlabeled and genetically engineered ingredient -- GE sugar (2) -- will appear in massive quantities in many of our foods in 2008. Links 3, 4, and 5 will take you to recent articles on the massive experiment we're conducting on ourselves with genetically engineered crops.

USDA Proposes Rule Undermining Organics and Small Farms

http://www.organicconsumers.org/bytes/ob123.cfm#1

The USDA is accepting public comments until December 3 on a new proposed rule that would force small farms growing green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and lettuce, to put into place industrial-style sterilization measures that reduce biodiversity and soil fertility. The proposal follows in the wake of the USDA's recent controversial crackdown on raw almonds, continued interference with raw milk production, and bans on the sale of locally produced organic meat directly to consumers.

The proposed rules basically cover up the fact that e-coli 0157H contamination in lettuce and spinach crops comes from feedlot or industrial livestock-contaminated irrigation waters or contamination in large processing plants. The rule limits hedgerows, and other non-crop vegetation commonly found on and around small organic and sustainable farms. In addition, although every organic farmer knows that healthy soil is literally alive with multiple types of healthy bacteria, the rules also discourage the development of beneficial microbial life in the soil.

For more information, and to send a message to the USDA click on the following link:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_8679.cfm

Grassroots Pressure Forces Pennsylvania to Back Off on "rBGH-Free" Dairy Labels

http://www.organicconsumers.org/bytes/ob123.cfm#5

In Organic Bytes issue #121, the OCA reported that the Pennsylvania Agriculture Department (PDA) was moving to ban labeling of dairy products as rBGH-free. Under pressure from Monsanto, the manufacturer of the genetically engineered Bovine Growth Hormone, the PDA listed 16 companies that would be required to remove rBGH-free labels by December 31, 2007.

Market analysts surmised that once Pennsylvania successfully banned such labeling, other states would likely follow. Thanks to a massive outcry from the public, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell has intervened on this issue and is delaying probably permanently the implementation of the rule in order to thoroughly review the impact and legality of banning rBGH-free labels.

This is great news for dairy farmers and consumers. The OCA applauds all who took action on this issue. According to PDA spokesman Chris Ryder, "There was some level of surprise. We weren't anticipating quite this response."

For more information on the issues and victory click on:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/rbghlink.cfm

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Joseph Miller
Department of Psychology
51 Madeleva
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN 46556

St. Joe Valley Greens, South Bend, IN

SJVGreens