Action Alert USDA Moving to
Degrade Organic Standards

NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
campaign@sustainableagriculture.net

Sent 6.7.02

ACTION NEEDED TODAY!

ORGANIC INTEGRITY UNDER ATTACK

SECRETARY VENEMAN IS CONSIDERING SUSPENDING
100% ORGANIC FEED RULE FOR ORGANIC LIVESTOCK

At Issue:

Fieldale Farms, a large poultry operation headquartered in Georgia, has
been working with their congressional delegation to pressure Secretary of
Agriculture, Ann Veneman, to grant an exemption to the requirement that
organic livestock be fed organically-grown feeds. The basis for this
exemption would be the alleged lack of commercially available organic feed
at prices acceptable to Fieldale. Granting an exemption would severely
compromise the integrity of what organic means to the consumer, and it
would provide a disincentive for the continued increase in production of
organic feeds to keep up with increasing demand -- an important market for
organic farmers producing feed grains. The Secretary is also looking at the
option of suspending all livestock provisions in the national regulations,
or delaying the start of implementation, currently scheduled for October
21, 2002. The issue is not just about protecting organic integrity, but
reflects a pattern by USDA that puts into question their stewardship of
national organic standards.

A letter from the National Organic Standards Board to Secretary Veneman
explains the issue in greater detail and is at the end of this e-mail.

Taking Action is Easy!

Fax or Call Secretary Veneman, Undersecretary Hawkes, and your
Congressmembers TODAY!

The Message? Tell Secretary Veneman, Undersecretary Hawkes to....

1) Stand fast with 100 percent organic feed for poultry and other organic
livestock
2) Uphold current livestock rules. Dilution threatens the thriving organic
feed industry
3) Do Not bow to pressure that would undermine organic in the marketplace
4) Keep the implementation date of October 21, 2002 for national organic
standards on schedule.

...and ask your Representative and Senators to put pressure on Secretary
Veneman to maintain stringent organic standards.

Contact information for Secretary Veneman

Ann M. Veneman, Secretary
Fax: 202-720-2166; Phone: 202-720-3631
Bill Hawkes, Undersecretary
Phone: 202-720-4256

Mail: United States Department of Agriculture
14 th & Independence Ave. SW
Washington, DC 20250

Contacting your Senators (you have 2) and Representative

To call your Senators or Representative dial the Capitol Switchboard at
202-224-3121 and ask for your member by name or tell them where you live
(the operator will probably ask for your zip code) and they'll connect you.
You'll be making three calls, but it's worth it! You can leave a detailed
message, or if you prefer you can ask for the fax number and fax them a
letter.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING ACTION! from....
The Organic Steering Committee of the National Campaign for Sustainable
Agriculture
Michael Sligh, RAFI-USA
Elizabeth Henderson, Peacework Organic Farm and NOFA-NY
Roger Blobaum, Organic Watch
Joe Mendelson, Center for Food Safety
Liana Hoodes, National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture

Please let us know that you took action. Send a quick email, or copy of
your letter to: action@sustainableagriculture.net

For More Information:
Want to know more about the issue? Below is a letter from the National
Organic Standards Board to Secretary Veneman that goes into a bit more
detail about the concerns over impact of weakening organic feed
requirements.

May 30, 2002

The Honorable Ann Veneman
Secretary of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture
14th & Independence Ave. SW
Washington, D.C. 20250

Dear Madam Secretary:

I am contacting you on behalf of the National Organic Standards Board
regarding the importance of maintaining the requirements for using
certified organic feed in all certified organic livestock production,
including poultry.

We understand that the Department is under mounting pressure from some
members of Congress to grant a waiver on the organic feed requirement
because of the alleged lack of commercially available supplies in Georgia.
However, representatives of the company requesting the waiver testified
publicly before the NOSB earlier this month that organic feedstocks are
available, but are much more expensive than conventional feed. Following
the NOSB meeting, I also had contact with two organic milling companies
stating their ability to supply organic feed into the Georgia market. One
of milling companies reported that the Georgia firm had contacted them
about supplying grain, but rejected the price offered for delivery.

A market-based economy will respond to supply and demand. The growing
demand for organic poultry, and the price premiums on organic grain, will
create new opportunities for farmers to grow and market organic feedstocks.
Granting a waiver will undermine these market forces and severely
compromise the honesty behind organic marketing.

Madam Secretary, the response to this issue is larger than simply providing
a waiver in a regional production area. The Department's stance on this
issue is critical to the integrity of the organic seal. To put it simply,
we have one opportunity to make a good first impression with the American
consuming public. Let's make sure we get it right.

The development of the organic industry is truly an example of a
market-based agricultural model. The organic sector supported passage of
the Organic Food Production Act in 1990 as a means to develop national
standards that would protect the integrity of the marketplace. The
difficult work of the past 12 years has been centered on the single issue
of defining the "story" behind the new USDA organic seal. Organic producers
and consumers alike made it very clear with more than 270,000 public
comments in 1998, that the organic seal must represent products that are
produced with the highest standards of inputs, management and processing.

The organic community is watching with concern the mounting pressure to
compromise on the organic feed provisions. Again, we urge you to uphold the
regulations carefully developed over the past 12 years.

Sincerely,
Dave Carter,
Chair, National Organic Standards Board