ACTION NEEDED - Please Call Rep. Peter Welch about the Farm Bill!
--Please call Congressman Peter Welch about the Farm Bill TODAY
--Rural Vermont ICE CREAM SOCIALS
--Other upcoming events
***FARM BILL UPDATE***
The U.S. House Agriculture Committee has passed their Farm Bill out of committee, and it is scheduled for a floor vote on THURSDAY. Several key provisions are still being hotly debated, and potential amendments could be offered.
Please call U.S. Representative Peter Welch TUESDAY AFTERNOON or WEDNESDAY MORNING about these potential amendments (see details below) - at 202-225-4115.
The updates below come from several of our allies who have been working hard in DC to keep abreast of the Farm Bill issues. Representative Welch sits on the Rules Committee, which gets to decide which amendments are offered for a vote...
ON FEDERAL PRE-EMPTION...
In the committee version of the Farm Bill, the provision that would prohibit state and local regulations on meat, poultry, and GMOs has been struck out. However, there is a strong push to offer a floor amendment to put this provision back in. Please THANK Rep. Peter Welch for his work so far to oppose this provision and ask him to continue to work to stop this amendment.
ON NAIS & COOL...
Until very recently, the Farm Bill was linking the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) with Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), saying that in order to implement COOL, we could have mandatory NAIS. In the committee bill, this link is broken! The current version of the Farm Bill keeps the current law intact, which says that mandatory NAIS cannot be used to implement COOL. However, those who support NAIS are trying to get this link back in and are preparing an amendment that would do that. Please ask Rep. Peter Welch to make sure that mandatory NAIS never happens.
ON FAIR TRADE...
An amendment that needs your help is the Fairness Amendment - it would shift funds from trade-distorting subsidies into other priorities, such as food stamps, conservation, and programs that help minority and socially disadvantaged farmers. It will help America take important first steps on a new course toward real reform of family farm and food policy. Please ask Representative Peter Welch to support the Fairness Amendment.
***RURAL VERMONT ICE CREAM SOCIALS****
TONIGHT - ADDISON....THURSDAY - SPRINGFIELD!
The Ice Cream Socials are in full swing, with new dates and locations being added everyday! These are events that you do NOT want to miss! Enjoy homemade ice cream with friends and meet fellow Farm Fresh Milk enthusiasts and farmers! Hear guest speakers offer solutions for sustaining Vermont family-scale agriculture! Collect and trade Farm Fresh Milk recipes, while the kids learn to make whipped cream! And while you’re there, we invite you to become a member of Rural Vermont (and be entered in a raffle for a signed copy of _Animal, Vegetable, Miracle_ by Barbara Kingsolver) and pre-order our awesome local foods cookbook (see below)!
We will also be holding prep events to make the ice cream and toppings for the socials. If you would like to attend a prep event, volunteer to help at the socials, make calls to invite people, or flyer around your town, call Shelby or Kara at 223-7222 or email shelby@ruralvermont.org.
Please bring a friend and tell everyone you know!
Be on the lookout for more socials to come...
We will be covering the whole state, working our way north through the summer.
--ADDISON: Tuesday, July 24th – 7 – 8:30 pm – Eastman Farm – 435 Town House Rd.
--SPRINGFIELD: Thursday, July 26th – 7 - 8:30 pm - Cherry Hill Farm - 409 Highland Rd.
--WAITSFIELD: Thursday, August 9th – 6:30 – 8 pm – 1824 House Inn Barn – Route 100
--ALBURG SPRINGS: Tuesday, August 21st – 6:30- 8 pm – Claire’s Country Garden – 27 Greenwoods Rd.
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OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS!
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The Central Vermont Eat Local Challenge is Kicking Off August 1st!!
Plan to spend your lunch hour on the State House Lawn to learn about the local foods challenge and participate as a citizen judge in a cook-off that challenges local chefs to create 100% local dishes. Competition samples are available from 12:00 – 1:00 (to first 200 people), judging is at 1:00 with a people’s choice award and local celebrity judges panel. There will be information tables, music, cooking demonstrations, recipes, free samples, and kid-friendly activities from 12:00 – 3:00 pm.A detailed schedule for the August 1st event can be found at http://centralvtlocalvores.pbwiki.com Visit the Rural Vermont table while you're there!
NORTHEAST ORGANIC FARMING ASSOCIATION'S 33RD ANNUAL SUMMER CONFERENCE
AUGUST 10-12, 2007: A CELEBRATION OF SUSTAINABLE LIVING
Not only for farmers, anymore. Join us for over 200 workshops, incredible Keynote Speakers (Bill McKibben and Hazel Henderson), fun Saturday afternoon Fair, numerous Exhibitors and Vendors and great organic food all in one fantastic weekend at Hampshire College, Amherst, MA on August 10-12. An incredible opportunity to learn all about organic agriculture, natural landscaping, organic gardening, homesteading, animal care, sustainable living, holistic healing and so much more. Separate Children and Teen Conferences going on simultaneously with Adults. To receive a Registration Form contact Julie Rawson at (978) 355-2853 or julie@nofamass.org. Online registration available: www.nofamass.org. Check out the website, www.nofamass.org, for complete workshop schedule and all the latest information regarding the Conference. Still seeking Exhibitors. A great way to gain exposure for your business to over 1,400 people. Contact Katie Campbell-Nelson at (413) 337-4327 or katiecampbellnelson@gmail.com. Fun-makers: lend your ideas or talents to the fun Saturday afternoon Fair: still seeking jugglers, musicians, gymnasts, dog-tricksters, game-makers, etc. The Music Stage is open to those with a desire to play if you want a venue, youve got it. For the above, contact Tricia Cooper at: (617) 558-3322 or triciacoop@hotmail.com.
NOFA SUMMER WORKSHOP SERIES...How do you start an organic garden? Keep a tractor in working order? Use cover crops to improve soil nutrition? Limit energy use on a farm? Grow medicinal herbs? And create an attractive display at a farm stand? The NOFA-VT annual Summer Workshop series is here again to answer all of these questions and many, many more, providing everyone from the beginning back-yard gardener to the experienced organic farmer with the tools and information for successful organic growing. For descriptions and directions, please visit the NOFA-VT website, www.nofavt.org. All workshops are held rain or shine. Workshops are $8 for NOFA members, $12 for non-members unless otherwise indicated. Pre-registration is required for workshops marked by an *. To pre-register call the NOFA-VT office at 802-434-4122 or email info@nofavt.org.
Tues. August 21
Whole Farm Approach to Selling Raw Goat Milk and Goat Nutrition
9:45am – 3pm
Berle Farm, Hoosick, NY (right over the VT boarder)
Pre-registration required for this workshop. Please call NOFA-VT to register (802-434-4122). www.nofavt.org.
Berle Farm is a 500-acre OCIA-certified organic farm located in Hoosick, NY, near the Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts borders. They produce raw goat milk, goat cheese, as well as organic beef. All animal feed is grown on the farm, including hay, corn, oats, rye, wheat, and buckwheat. The herd of goats consists of 40 does, with 25 milking at one time. Carol Delaney, UVM Small Ruminant Dairy Specialist, will help lead this workshop along with farmers Beatrice Berle and Jim Buckley. The first ½ of this workshop will focus on producing and selling raw goat milk. The second ½ will emphasize goat nutrition for farm health and milk quality. Directions: From Bennington, take Route 279 West (Bennington by-pass) until you cross into NY (will become NY Rte 7). Right on Farmer’s Inn Rd. Make a left onto Bayer Rd. Right onto Beechwood. Go 2 miles, look for sign on left. Co-sponsored by the Small Ruminant Dairy Project at the UVM Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the Vermont Sheep and Goat Association.
Northeast Animal-Power Field Days Trade Fair & Conference
September 29-30, 2007, Fair-Grounds, Tunbridge, VT
The Field Days will be promoting conservation, stewardship, small farms, healthy forests and the roles they play in vital communities. The weekend activities will include presentations, panel discussions, vendor exhibits, working animal presentations, field demonstrations of animal-powered farming and logging equipment, plus an equipment auction. Workshop topics will include grazing management, composting, CSA/Market Gardening, and working with draft animals on the farm and in the woods. For information, or to reserve exhibit space, contact; Carl Russell or Lisa McCrory, Earthwise Farm & Forest, 341 MacIntosh Hill Rd., Randolph, VT 05060. Phone: 802-234-5524, Email: lmccrory@together.net. For directions and lodging, go to: www.tunbridgefair.com.