Family Farm Defenders Rural UPdates! ---------- 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 <[log in to unmask]> <[log in to unmask]> Defenders Rural UPdates! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]