Rural Advocates!

We're asked to make calls to Harkin and Latham on behalf of "Beginning Farmers and Ranchers".  Please forward this to others who might be willing to call.

Tim

FY03 FUNDING ACTION ALERT  - PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY!!



                                         May 21, 2002



Please immediately write and fax IOWA SENATOR TOM HARKIN AND CONGRESSMAN

TOM LATHAM (R-5TH) and urge them to champion funding for the new BEGINNING

FARMER AND RANCHER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM for Fiscal Year 2003 (FY03).




WHY SENATOR HARKIN AND CONGRESSMAN LATHAM?

Each is a member of the appropriations subcommittee in their house of

Congress that determines funding for agriculture programs.  It is IMPORTANT

THAT YOU WRITE AND FAX THEM QUICKLY to urge their strongest possible

funding support for the new Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development

Program.





WHY NOW?

Many of you wrote and faxed Sen. Harkin and Rep. Latham in March, urging

their support for two key sustainable agriculture programs. Thank

you!  Because the NEW FARM BILL introduces programs that need their funding

support for FY03, we must write them again.





THE MESSAGE IS SIMPLE:

. Please THANK SENATOR HARKIN for sponsoring the BEGINNING FARMER AND

RANCHER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM  in the Farm Bill.  Ask them both to SEEK

FUNDING OF $15 MILLION FOR it in FY03.



This program provides competitive grants to support new local and regional

training, education, outreach and technical assistance initiatives directed

at new farming opportunities.  We seek $15 million, as authorized, for this

important program.



IT'S EASY TO WRITE.

Below are Sen. Harkin's and Rep. Latham's addresses and FAX numbers, plus

key points you may find helpful to make. Short simple letters in your own

words are best.  But above all, please WRITE AND FAX SOON  no later than

THURSDAY, MAY 30th.  (Because of the anthrax scares of the fall, FAXing to

Congress is currently more reliable than U.S. mail.)  THANK YOU FOR WRITING

IMMEDIATELY!





P.S. Now that the Farm Bill's passed, its worth depends on how it's

actually implemented.  PLEASE WRITE NOW to make sure the BFRDP gets

funding.





Here's how to write:



The Honorable Tom Harkin     The Honorable Tom Latham

United States Senate               U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, D.C.  20510         Washington, D.C. 20515

FAX # is (202) 224-9369          FAX # is (202) 225-3301



Dear Senator Harkin:                Dear Congressman

Latham:



Key Points You May Want to Make:

. YOU LIVE IN IOWA and have witnessed the lack of new family farmers

replacing those leaving farming.  The future of agriculture depends on

having new family farmers and ranchers enter  agriculture.  In recent

decades, farm entry rates have declined; in many states, the farmer

"replacement" rate has fallen to below 50 percent.  There are twice as many

farmers over 65 as under 35 years old.



. Traditional methods of farm entry and farm succession are no longer

adequate to meet current challenges.  In the 1990s, Congress responded to

some of these concerns by enacting major changes to federal farm credit

programs, resulting in increased new farming opportunities.  Access to

credit, however, is only one of many issues facing potential and beginning

farmers.



. The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) helps in

other ways.  It offers regional training, education, outreach and technical

assistance initiatives directed at new farming opportunities. Eligible

recipients include collaborative State, local, or regionally-based network

or partnerships of public or private entities, which may include a state

cooperative extension service, a Federal agency, community-based

non-governmental organization, college or university.



. THANK them for their past support for family farmers.  Ask them both to

support $15 million for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development

Program for FY03.



Your letter MUST BE RECEIVED BY THURSDAY, MAY 30th.  If you can't write,

please call Senator Harkin's aide, Richard Bender at (202) 224-3254 and

Rep. Latham's aide, Kevin Berents at (202) 225-5476. Leave messages with

your key points, name and phone number.)



THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ACTING TO PROTECT THESE PROGRAMS!



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