I got the message below from a CAFO listserv I am on. Wally Taylor I am working with a group of organizations on an amendment to the Farm Bill (sponsored by Senators Grassley (R-IA) and Conrad (D-ND) that would ban packer ownership or control of livestock (cattle/hogs) (except for a window of 14 days before the livestock go to slaughter). There are exceptions for small-scale packers (less than 120,000 animals per year) and cooperatives or entities owned by cooperatives. The Farm Bill is in play in the Senate right now - if negotiations on amendments do not blow-up, the amendment process with start next week. The House may begin marking up its version of the Farm Bill the week of June 19. Thanks, Martha Noble -- Martha L. Noble, Senior Policy Associate National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition 110 Maryland Ave. NE, Suite 209 Washington DC 20002 PH: 202-547-5754 Cell: 202-236-2688 FAX: 202-547-1837 e-mail: [log in to unmask] website: www.sustainableagriculture.net - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp