Tell Governor Cuomo: Don’t Encourage Fracking by Lifting New York’s Ban on Liquefied Natural Gas Infrastructure

Despite widespread grassroots opposition to fracking, Governor Cuomo is attempting to lift New York’s ban on liquefied natural gas infrastructure. Governor Cuomo’s proposal would make it significantly easier to transport fracked gas into and around New York by legalizing the construction of facilities for liquefying fracked gas, fueling heavy trucks with fracked gas and even exporting fracked gas overseas. As a result we are likely to see expanded fracking in nearby states and increasing industry pressure to lift New York’s moratorium on fracking. Currently, Governor Cuomo’s Department of Environmental Conservation is accepting public comments on this dangerous proposal for just over a week. Click here to tell Governor Cuomo don’t encourage fracking by lifting New York’s ban on liquefied natural gas infrastructure.

Tell the FDA: Don?t Impose Unfair Burdens on Local, Organic & Sustainable Vegetable Farms?

New rules proposed under the Food Safety & Modernization Act (FSMA) are threatening our local farms, CSA?s, and farmer?s markets.?Unless the FDA agrees to some key changes in the FSMA, the law will erect new barriers for small and mid-scale farmers and processors who have been successfully creating local markets ? restaurants, co-ops, groceries, schools ? for their locally grown produce. And if the rules don?t drive local growers out of business, they will surely drive up the price of local food. FSMA puts small and mid-scale farmers and processors at a competitive disadvantage against corporate farmers and producers who can more easily absorb costs, fees and fines. Please revise the FSMA to level the playing field for small growers. We need to encourage local, organic and sustainable agriculture. As written, the FSMA promotes the corporate, industrial food and farming model that is a hazard to human health and the environment. The FSMA was signed into law in 2011. But only recently has the FDA proposed new rules that create requirements for every aspect of growing and harvesting fruits, vegetables and nuts ? requirements that include costly and burdensome reporting and hazard analysis controls.? The FDA is accepting comments on the proposed new rules until November 15. Click here to submit your comments today!

Support?Organic Certification Cost Share in the Farm Bill

If you live or work in any of the States/Districts in this list, please make a call. Ask your conference member (click here for a list) to: “Support the Senate proposal on the National Organic Certification Cost Share (NOCCS) program”?The House Farm Bill (H.R. 2642) repeals the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program, and continues to provide 10 percent of AMA program funding ($1 million annually) for organic farmers (not handlers), but only for farmers in 16 designated AMA states. ? The Senate Farm Bill (S. 954) includes a provision to merge the two programs together under the AMA program umbrella, using the permanent funding baseline of that program in a manner that provides $11.5 million annually for organic certification cost share. Help suppurt the organic community by uniting in support of the Senate Farm Bill’s effort to streamline organic certification cost share by consolidating programs.