Family Farm Defenders Rural UPdates!
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ACTION NEEDED!
SUPPORT THE Conservation Security Act - DO IT TODAY!

On May 15, a great new piece of farm conservation legislation is
being introduced.  This proposal entitled the Conservation Security
Act is being circulated by the National Campaign for Sustainable
Agriculture.  They need your help finding co-sponsors for this bill.
Because Congress and the White House seem intent on cutting
spending for farm conservation programs, we need immediate
GrassRoots action.  Let Congress know you want federal backing
for programs that support conservation minded producers.  The
Conservation Security Act is one such program.  It will:

1) Provide direct income to farmers, many of whom are suffering
from the defeating cycle of high production costs and low farm-gate
prices.

2) Allow conservation on working lands in a flexible and voluntary
way that is applicable to all forms of production and regions.

3) Reward "good stewards" who already doing the right thing to
protect the land, water and biodiversity.

To learn more about the CSA go to http://www.familyfarmer.org and
click on the CSA box.  If you are interested in staying informed on
this issue send an email to [log in to unmask] with the words
CSA in the subject line.

Let's build a ground swell of support; please act today - Help
support this effort by the National Campaign for Sustainable
Agriculture.  Help support the Conservation Security Act.  Please
broadcast this email far and wide.

Thanks,
Scotty Johnson, Family Farm Defenders
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Defenders Rural UPdates!
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THIS ALERT FROM.... THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN
FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

IMMEDIATE ACTIONS NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE
CONSERVATION SECURITY ACT

Action needed by May 14th! Please forward this e-mail widely!

The Conservation Security Act is a key farm bill initiative for the
National Campaign and it has been endorsed by many leading farm
and environmental organizations.  Your help is urgently needed to
help build a groundswell of support within Congress.

1.  Urge Co-Sponsorship By Your House Member And Senators!
Please call your congressional delegation (2 Senators and 1 House
Member) and urge them to co-sponsor the Conservation Security
Act.  The Capitol Switchboard number is 202-224-3121.  Ask for
your Senator or Representative by name and they will connect you.
Ask to speak with the legislative aid who handles agriculture.  If
you get voice mail, leave a short message and/or ask to be called
back.  Simply tell them you support the Conservation Security Act,
that you understand the bill will be introduced on May 15th, and
ask them to become co-sponsors.  Senators who would like to be a
co-sponsor should be directed to contact Senator Tom Harkin (D-
IA) or Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR).  House (Representatives)
members who would like to be a co-sponsor should be directed to
contact Representative John Thune (R-SD).

You can help us keep track of how things are going by sending the
National Campaign a very brief e-mail to
[log in to unmask] to let us know you have
called your House member and Senators.

2.  Have Your Organization Endorse The Bill!  If you are part of an
organization that supports the Conservation Security Act and have
the authority to do so, indicate your organization's endorsement of
the bill by a..  calling the National Campaign at 845-744-8448 b..
e-mailing us at [log in to unmask], or c..  faxing
us at 845-744-8477.  Your endorsement can simply consist of the
name of the organization, your position with that organization, and
the words "CSA endorsement."

Of even greater impact is a brief letter of support on your
organization's letterhead addressed to Senators Tom Harkin and
Gordon Smith, US Senate, Washington, DC 20510.  Fax us a copy
of this letter at 845-744- 8477 and we will make certain that the
Senators receive your correspondence.  This letter can be very
simple.  The following is sample language.

"Our organization, (name of your organization here), endorses the
Conservation Security Act.  The (your thoughts) provisions are
particularly relevant to our constituency.  Thank you for your
support of this important legislation.

Sincerely, name of organization Be sure to provide contact info."

Time is of the essence!  While we can continue to add co-sponsors
over the next couple of months, we need to have as big a showing
as possible at the kick-off event on the 15th.

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