ACTION ALERT April 20, 2007

--CALLS NEEDED TODAY! Help the Omnibus Ag Bill get to the Governor's Desk!
--Rural Vermont Events! - An Awesome Week of Exciting Events!
--Other events...

OMNIBUS AGRICULTURE BILL NEEDS YOUR HELP!
The Omnibus Agriculture Bill (H. 522) has passed out of the Senate Agriculture Committee. The bill still includes language that would allow farmers raising fewer than 1000 birds per year to process those birds on the farm (without inspection) and to sell from the farm, at farmers' markets, and to restaurants. The Senate version also includes the labeling requriements right in the bill, so the law could go into effect right away - and farmers could sell this year! Sections 7, 8, and 9 of the H.522 appear below, so you can see the poultry language, and the full bill can be seen here: click here

WE NEED YOUR HELP! The end of the legislative session is coming fast and furious, and this means that we have very little time for the full senate to pass this bill, so it can go to the Governor's desk. At this time of the year, all bills are in jeopardy as deals are cut and threats are made. We need to make sure that Senators know this bill is a "must pass" bill and that it must pass just the way the Senate Agriculture Committee passed it - with the poultry language and without any additional language.

HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY TO HELP:
1) Call YOUR SENATORS at the STATEHOUSE today! Call 802-828-2228 and leave a message for ALL of your Senators - if you are not sure who your senators are, the Sergeant at Arms can tell you (they will be the person answering the phone) - you'll just have to tell them what county you live in. When you call, leave your name and number and ask for a call back. When your Senators call you back, ask them to please PASS H.522 JUST THE WAY THE SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE PASSED IT ON THURSDAY. Please DO NOT EMAIL Senators. This is NOT effective. A phone call is needed, and EVERY SENATOR NEEDS CALLS.

2) See below for great Rural Vermont events coming up next week! Please come and join us and get up-to-the-minute reports on what's happening in the statehouse!

3) JOIN RURAL VERMONT! We need your (financial) support to keep our work going! Please make a secure on-line donation at www.ruralvermont.org, or call 802-223-7222 - we can accept cash, credit cards, and checks! Your membership dues will go directly to our work to achieve our vision of living soils, thriving farms, and healthy communities.

Here is the Poultry Language from the bill:
* * * On-farm Poultry Processing and Labeling for Sale * * *
Sec. 7. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND AGENCY OF AGRICULTURE,
FOOD AND MARKETS REGULATIONS
The department of health shall not require inspection of poultry that is exempt from inspection under 6 V.S.A. § 3312(b).
Sec. 8. 6 V.S.A § 3312 is amended to read:
§ 3312. INSPECTION; EXCEPTION EXCEPTIONS
(a) Inspection shall not be provided under this chapter at any establishment for the slaughter of livestock or poultry or the preparation of any livestock products or poultry products which are not intended for use as human food, but these products shall, prior to their offer for sale or transportation in intrastate commerce, unless naturally inedible by humans, be denatured or otherwise identified as prescribed by rules of the secretary to deter their use for human food. These licensed establishments shall be subject to periodic review.
(b) Inspection shall not be required for the slaughter or preparation of poultry products of the producer's own raising on the producer's own farm, whether or not they are intended for use as human food if:
(1) Fewer than 1,000 birds are slaughtered annually; and
(2) No birds are offered for sale or transportation in interstate commerce; and
(3) The poultry products are only sold, as whole birds only, from the farm, at a farmers' market, or to a food restaurant licensed by the commissioner of health, or are for personal use.
(c) All poultry sold at a farmers' market or to a restaurant pursuant to the exemption in subsection (b) of this section shall be labeled with the following information:
(1) Name of farm and name of producer;
(2) Address of farm including zip code;
(3) "Exempt per 6 V.S.A. § 3312(b): NOT INSPECTED." This statement shall be prominently displayed with such conspicuousness (as compared with other words or statements, designs, or devices in the labeling) as to render it likely to be read and understood under customary conditions of purchase and use.
(4) Safe handling and cooking instructions as follows:
"SAFE HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS:
Keep refrigerated or frozen. Thaw in refrigerator or microwave.
Keep raw poultry separate from other foods.
Wash working surfaces, including cutting boards, utensils, and hands after touching raw poultry.
Cook thoroughly to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit maintained for at least 15 seconds.
Keep hot foods hot. Refrigerate leftovers immediately or discard."
(d) Poultry sold to food restaurants under the exemption in subsection (b) of this section shall also include the following on the label:
"Any menu item that includes this poultry must clearly state the name of the farm and have the words "poultry processed on the farm and not inspected" on the menu in proximity to the menu item."
(e) The poultry producer, upon first selling poultry to a food restaurant, must procure a signed statement from the food restaurant stating that the food restaurant is aware that the poultry is exempted from inspection under subsection (b) of this section, and that the menu of the food restaurant must have the information required by subsection (d) of this section. The poultry producer must keep the signed statement on file as long as the producer is selling poultry to the food restaurant under this section. The poultry producer must have a signed statement on file from each food restaurant to which poultry is sold under this section and an exact copy of each statement, including the name of the producer and the name of the purchasing restaurant shall be forwarded to the department of health.
Sec. 9. POULTRY SLAUGHTER STUDY
(a) The agency of agriculture, food and markets shall review the effectiveness of the mobile processing units authorized by this act and the exemption from inspection authorized by this act. The agency shall also consider the benefits to the poultry industry of each program individually and both programs working together.
(b) The agency shall report its findings and recommendations no sooner than November 1, 2009 and no later than December 1, 2009.

****RURAL VERMONT EVENTS!!!*****
FARM FRESH MILK SPEAKER TOUR!
Dr. Ron Schmid, author of The Untold Story of Milk. Speaking on the history of Milk Pasteurizationand the health benefits of Farm Fresh Milk
Hot Chocolate Social
Tuesday, April 24, 2007, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Boccelli's on the Canal, 46 Canal Street
Bellows Falls, Vermont

Rural Vermont
2007 Annual Meeting
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Applecheek Farm
Hyde Park, Vermont

HEMP 101 - WHY IT'S GREAT, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OTHER STATES, AND HOW WE CAN GROW IT IN VERMONT
with Representative David Monson from North Dakota -- farmer, house representative, and one of the first applicants for an industrial hemp-growing license in North Dakota and Tom Murphy, President of Vote Hemp

Friday, April 27, 2007
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Christ Church, State Street
Montpelier
across from the Post Office)
Suggested donation $5-10
nobody turned away!
light snacks will be provided
Call 802-223-7222 for information about any of the above events!

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OTHER EVENTS!

Salvation Farms Spring Celebration & Fundraising Event at Morrisville VFW on Sunday, May 6th from 5 - 9 pm. Local foods dinner and dessert with music by the Brambles and the Mud City Ramblers. Raffles, Silent Auction, family-friendly and open to the public. $10 door fee, free for Veterans and children under 5. Call Salvation Farms at 888-5055 or visit www.salvationfarms.org for more info.

April 20: Live Where you Work
Panel discussion on affordable housing followed by screening of Taken for a Ride.
Venue and Time: The Big Picture at 7pm
Organized by Mad River Valley Housing Coalition
www.bigpicturetheater.info

April 21: Mad River Energy Day
Green vehicle show, talks and demonstrations about new technologies.
Venue: The Big Picture Theater
Time: 11am - 5pm
Organized by Mad River Sustainability Group
www.bigpicturetheater.info

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April 22: Earth Day
Film screening, plus afternoon discussion on planning our earth friendly future.
Venue and Time: various
Organized by Yestermorrow and a host of Valley leaders www.yestermorrow.org