The following is part of a message sent out in the Defenders Rural UPdates:

The farm bill is coming to a close VERY SOON in Washington and we have
got to apply pressure.

A growing alliance of rural and environmental advocates have
fought long and hard for nearly a year to ensure that family farmers
and conservation are protected and supported to the best degree
possible in the re-authorization of the next farm bill.

All of the gains may be won, OR LOST, as the Senate Bill now
goes to conference committee with the agribusiness dominated
House of Representatives.  This may happen as early as February
25.  Then we will have to live with what passes for, at least, the
next five years.

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PLEASE HELP OUT - CALL CONFERENCE MEMBERS!
=============================================

All this coming week Congress will be in winter session and calls to
HOME OFFICES are powerful.  It is very effective for them to
hear from home town constituents.

Please go to our website at www.familyfarmer.org and find a list of
the conferrees with both their Washington and State office phone
numbers.  PLEASE CALL THEM NEXT WEEK.  (February 18 -
22)

If you live in a state with a committee member, call them locally.  If
you don't live is a state with committee member, call them at the
DC office as a US citizen.

You will also find a list of  items that will need protection as the
conference committee meets.

They are:

**The Conservation Security Program

**Increased funding for conservation programs

**The expansion of WHIP to include easements and targeting for
imperiled species

**Wellstone's sensible modifications of the EQIP program


Forwarded by
Erin Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
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