The bad news -- this is yet another request for phone calls.  I apologize, 
because I know we're all overloaded with them.   The good news -- word has it 
that just a moderate number of calls could put the prairie-protecting 
amendment below into the next Farm Bill.   So if you'd like to help prairies 
survive, this is a good opportunity.  Thanks for your interest in prairies, 
and please feel free to pass on the information below. 

Cindy Hildebrand

***
The information below is from the Midwest Sustainable Ag Working Group.  (A 
phone call is recommended because Senate offices vary in how much and how 
quickly they pay attention to email, and postal mail is still backed up 
because of the anthrax scare.)     Please feel free to send this message on.  
 Thanks!

Just a few calls on a key Senate amendment would add protection for prairies 
in the pending Farm Bill!

By February 8th, please call your senators and ask them to support the 
"Durbin grasslands amendment."

Here’s how:
* Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your Senator by 
name.
* Ask to speak with the legislative aide who handles agriculture. 
* If you get voice mail, leave a short message. 
* If you have trouble getting through to offices in D.C., please call your 
Senator’s district office. You can find this number in the government pages 
of your local phone book. 
* Make sure the district office understands that they are to communicate your 
message to the D.C. office. 

More background on this Durbin amendment: Senator Durbin (D-IL) has filed and 
intends to offer an amendment to limit the negative impact of commodity and 
crop insurance subsidies on soil erosion, water quality, and wildlife 
habitat.  The Durbin amendment would protect native prairie and other 
grasslands by denying farm commodity program and crop insurance subsidies on 
non-cropland converted to crop production in the future.  The Durbin 
amendment is projected to save $1.4 billion, some or all of which is likely 
to be redirected to the food stamp program.

The amendment is a common sense extension of existing law withholding 
taxpayer support to those who "sodbust" highly erodible land.  The Durbin 
proposal would extend protection to all land without a crop production 
history, recognizing the important soil and wildlife benefits to be gained by 
keeping fragile lands intact.  The amendment also would lessen incentives to 
increase production beyond levels supported by the market, reducing downward 
pressure on crop prices and farm income.  The amendment is carefully crafted 
to cover land without a cropping history in at least one of the last five (or 
three of the past ten) years, while exempting land in long term rotations.  
The exemption is important to ensure there are no unintended consequences for 
farms and ranches using environmentally sound, grass-based systems with 
occasional or sequenced cropping.

Please Call Both of Your Senators TODAY!    

Distributed by the Midwest Sustainable Ag Working Group, a coalition working 
for a system of agriculture that is economically profitable, environmentally 
sound, family-farm based, and socially just: [log in to unmask]

For more on the Farm Bill, visit www.sustainableagriculture.net

***

Cindy Hildebrand
[log in to unmask]
Ames, IA  50010