From mike@ncsipm1.cropsci.ncsu.eduMon Apr 10 12:18:46 1995 Date: Mon, 10 Apr 95 8:01:12 EDT From: Mike Linker To: sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu Subject: Southern Sustainable Farming - Mar., 95 SOUTHERN SUSTAINABLE FARMING MARCH, 1995 WHAT'S IN THE CAMPAIGN FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FOR SOUTHERN FAMILY FARMERS? based on an article by Elizabeth Henderson The policy proposals of the Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture will help many Southern family farmers who are trying to farm more sustainably. Below are some examples of how. 1. Many Southern farmers are striving to increase the amount of agriculturally related dollars kept in their communities by producing value-added products or creating farmer-controlled marketing strategies. The Campaign's Sustainable Rural Development and Marketing proposal redirects current USDA rural development programs to support alternative marketing, producer controlled coops, and locally-based small scale processing; and directs USDA to remove regulatory barriers to such programs. 2. The proposal for a Stewardship Payment Program, or "green payments" would reward family farmers for implementing whole farm resource protection plans, including practices such as crop rotations, soil conservation, water quality improvement, and wildlife habitat enhancement; and would provide technical assistance for their development. Green payments would also, in effect, support organic certification since every organic farm will have to develop and implement a whole farm plan under the Organic Foods Production Act. 3. The Campaign's proposal to modestly raise the commodity loan rate would increase family farm income for growers of cotton, sugarcane, small grains, rice, and peanuts; and enhance price stability for most of these crops. 4. The Campaign supports Minority Farmers' Rights by directing the USDA to give minority and limited resource farmers equal access to all USDA programs and committees. It also creates the first step to restoring the minority land base by developing a national minority farm land registry as a basic assessment tool to evaluate minority participation. 5. The proposal for enacting an Agricultural Bargaining Act for Farmers and Farmworkers would allow farmers who produce on contract, like many poultry and hog producers, the right to form cooperative associations and bargain collectively with integrators. 6. The Campaign proposes a new supply management dairy program--the Dairy Nutrition and Conservation Act--which would control production, encourage sustainable agricultural practices, and create a reasonable return on investment to dairy farmers. 7. The Pest Management and Education proposal would give farmers support for reducing pesticide usage by requiring USDA to provide research, education, and training in alternatives to conventional pesticides, and revising USDA programs to remove incentives for pesticide use. 8. The Campaign proposes to help farmers assess water quality problems and take remedial action on their farms by expanding technical assistance and agency coordination for designing water quality plans, and providing increased financial incentives to implement these plans. 9. By requiring the USDA to take the lead in creating a framework for a Strategic Farmland Reserve, the Campaign proposes to help protect farmland that is of unique value for food production or provides critical environmental benefits. The Campaign also proposes directing FmHA to utilize its loan programs to assist new, young and minority farmers to acquire farmland in urban-edge areas. 10. Proposed reform of the Integrated Farm Management Program would remove penalties on crop rotations in commodity programs. 11. The Campaign supports the labeling of all dairy products made from milk produced by cows receiving the synthetic hormone rBGH, allowing small family dairies to fill a niche market for consumers who desire a non-rBGH choice. 4TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE GETS RAVE REVIEWS "Positive" summarily describes the 4th Annual Conference and Trade Show of the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (SAWG) held January 13-15, 1995 in Gulf Shores, AL. Approximately 300 people from 16 states and Puerto Rico attended. Comments from the participants reflect the significance and enthusiasm that colored the weekend. "I found the workshop on minority farmers' and farmworkers' rights to be enlightening in that it allowed farmers to explain the problems they have been experiencing and how they are dealing with them," Ali ShamsidDeen of the Mississippi Association of Cooperatives remarked. "The exhibits at the Trade Show also were very impressive, and I was quite intrigued by the woman spinning wool." Jeana Myers of Partners in Agriculture, in NC, said, "I particularly valued the workshops led by farmers; farmers shared their practical expertise on ways to build soil fertility organically, and how to manage pests and diseases with biological controls. On Sunday morning, I went on the farm tour and saw people making a viable living using alternative systems." Renee Price, who hosted the 1st Annual Food Tasting as part of the conference, noticed that "people were having fun while becoming familiar with the variety of interesting and exotic foods that can be produced and marketed using sustainable methods." She felt, as in previous years, the Southern SAWG Annual Conference was a complete success. The 1996 Southern SAWG Annual Conference will be held at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Lexington, KY on January 19-21, 1996. For information, contact Keith Richards, PO Box 324, Elkins, AR 72727, 501-292-3714 or e-mail to: HN3551@handsnet.org. NC FAMILY GIVES BIRTH TO A NEIGHBORHOOD OF ORGANIC FARMERS by Lynn Byczynski In the seven years since Kenny Haines started farming on just 10 acres, he has grown to be one of the biggest organic vegetable producers in North Carolina. With 130 acres, a greenhouse covering two-thirds of an acre, and the fields of three neighbors who have joined him in organic farming, his company, Misty Morning Farms, Inc., is now marketing more than 200 acres of certified organic vegetables and soybeans. Such a rapid expansion might seem staggering to many small growers, but it came naturally to Kenny. Before striking out on his own, he worked for 15 years as a farm manager for three of the largest vegetable growers on the East Coast. By the mid-1980's, though, Kenny was having serious qualms about conventional farming, and had been moving his operations as much as possible toward Integrated Pest Management. His wife Wanda, who is a registered nurse, was increasingly worried about the family's exposure to agricultural chemicals. Kenny recalls how he would spend the day applying a yellow pre-emergent herbicide, come home and shower, then find the yellow stuff seeping from his pores onto the bed sheets at night. So in 1987, when he was laid off, Kenny and Wanda decided to start their own farm and to do it organically. "It's a lot like religion," Kenny says. "You can go to church on Sunday and just sit in the pew, or you can live your beliefs all week long." They set to work on a rented 10-acre site next to the land where they had built a comfortable log home with their own labor. They erected a small hoophouse, and bought a 14-horsepower tractor. At first, Kenny sold to the farm stands on the road leading to the beach towns of the Outer Banks. But he was quickly disenchanted with that outlet because of fierce price undercutting among local growers. An Accident Brings Community Support In 1990, he decided he needed to go to Raleigh, 125 miles to the west. In June he started making the trip twice a week to sell to grocery stores. On August 1, at 8 a.m., he and his 14-year-old son were taking a load of produce to the city when a car came across the center line as they were crossing a bridge. They were hit head-on. "I could see it coming, I knew what was going to happen, and there was nothing I could do about it," Kenny says. Kenny's back was broken. His son suffered serious internal injuries. After seven hours of surgery, the doctor emerged to tell Wanda that if the boy survived the next 48 hours, he would still have only a 50-50 chance of living. Wanda didn't get home for 20 days as she traveled between the two hospitals where her husband and son struggled for their lives. Back at the farm, there was an outpouring of support from their community. "I had a field full of peppers, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, and eggplant," Kenny says. "The accident happened on a Wednesday and by Sunday there were 100 folks out there helping. People would come out at night after they had worked all day, for two or three months. There were a lot of folks I didn't even know--they stopped here, helped us and didn't ask for anything, and then were gone." The community's reaction was a testimonial to the respect the Haines family had earned in their short time in Belvidere. They attend church, are 4-H leaders and have been active in their three children's lives. Kenny says modestly, "I think there's just a lot of good people here. We wouldn't have made it without them." Kenny and his son both recovered, although their injuries will probably restrict their physical activity somewhat for the rest of their lives. Kenny was not at fault in the accident, but the suddenness and severity of the accident made him realize how vulnerable a farm family is if an accident while working opens them up to a lawsuit. So to protect his family's assets, he decided to form a partnership with a neighbor, Garlan Scott, and incorporate the farming business as Misty Morning Farms. One of the neighbors who helped after the accident was Richard Parker, a conventional grain farmer. He expressed interest in growing vegetables and Kenny told him that if he would grow organically, Misty Morning Farms would market his produce. "I always loved growing vegetables because I grew vegetables with my father," Richard says. "My son wants to farm, and I decided that instead of spending more money on farm equipment and land, we would go into intensive management. That will give him a chance to get started in farming." Richard's son, Joe, has already gotten his start at age 15. Last year he grew 15 acres of squash for Misty Morning Farms. Two other farmers are also growing on smaller acreages for Misty Morning Farms. Although the company is not a cooperative--it's owned by the Haines and Scott families--the four farmers involved do plan their crops and some purchases together. Misty Morning Farms does all the cleaning, grading, packing and marketing, and keeps one-third of whatever it sells. A Strong Organic Market Misty Morning Farms is doing a good job of selling produce these days. Kenny, who estimates that he spends at least two days a week on the phone marketing, sold three times as much in 1994 as the year before. Everything is sold to organic wholesalers who pick up at Misty Morning Farm's packing shed and distribute up and down the East Coast. "We could double our acreage and still not meet the demand," Kenny says. That's not to say that wholesaling has been easy money. Kenny says that his family had to rely on Wanda's salary as a nurse the first five years while all profits were plowed back into the business. Richard expected to make his first profit last year, his fourth in the organic business. Part of the problem, both farmers say, is that they have found little information about organic growing in their area, so they have learned by trial-and-error. Consequently, they have had several crop failures and lower-than-expected yields as they have experimented with varieties and scheduling. In addition, input costs are considerably higher for organic production, Kenny says. For example, he uses feather meal as a nitrogen fertilizer source, which costs $270 a ton. An equivalent amount of chemical nitrogen fertilizer would cost $120. Equipment costs for this scale are high, too. Kenny has an assortment of planting and harvesting equipment, including three Lannen transplanters from Finland, a tiller bed shaper that makes three 72-inch beds in one pass, a sweet corn picker, and a bean picker. He also has several pieces of equipment for grading and packing tomatoes, potatoes, and green beans. The packing shed, which is located on the highway about five miles from his farm, is rented from his partner, Garlan Scott. Behind the packing shed is a cooler, and the business also owns a refrigerated truck. Labor is another big expenses. Kenny employs 15 to 20 people throughout the season, including about four year-round. Most of his workers are high school and college students. Kenny says he has had excellent luck with his young employees and adds, "I hate to say it, but the girls are about two times the workers the boys are." With production costs so high, Kenny says he has to aim for an organic premium price on his produce. And when he can't get it, he will often just plow the crop down rather than harvesting and selling it for a lower price. Since August is peak time for vegetables in North Carolina, Kenny aims for two marketing seasons, April through July, then September through the end of the year. Greenhouse Production One of his first crops each year is greenhouse tomatoes, which are planted in January for harvest beginning in April and running through July, when field-grown tomatoes ripen in his area and prices plummet. Kenny and Garlan erected the first three 22-by-216-foot gutter-connected greenhouses in 1991, then added three others the next year. He has been growing tomatoes and cucumbers, but plans to try a sugar snap pea or other crop to follow the tomatoes as a hedge against disease. "I think if we grow tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes, we're going to get a problem," he says. As another preventative measure against disease, he sprays in the greenhouse twice a week with food-grade (35 percent) hydrogen peroxide, diluted to one percent. So far, he's had no problems. The greenhouse is 12 feet tall, which helps dissipate some of the heat that builds up, but he still has to run the 6-foot-tall swamp coolers and fans much of the year. For the winter months, the greenhouse is equipped with regular propane heaters, but it also has three of the first waste-oil burners sold for greenhouses. The waste oil, which burns extremely hot, costs about one-third as much per BTU as propane. Kenny says the biggest problem in the greenhouse has been whiteflies, which have ruined two crops. He tried neem-based pesticides with little luck, then began working with Encarsia formosa, a parasitic wasp. He has one of his employees monitor whitefly populations with yellow sticky cards; each Wednesday she counts the number of insects on the traps. As soon as she finds any whiteflies on a trap, Kenny starts to release 7,500 Encarsia per week. When the total on the cards reaches 100, he doubles the number. This year, he spent about $1,000 on Encarsia, but was pleased with the level of control he obtained. Kenny starts nearly all his own transplants, using a vacuum seeder and Speedling trays, in the greenhouse for spring crops and outside for fall crops. He has bought in transplants in the past, but is trying to avoid it now because he sees it as an opening for troubles. Finding the Right Size Throughout his expansion, Kenny has given considerable thought to the question of scale. Profits increase to a certain size, then drop off when the farm expands because it requires more farm equipment, more labor, etc... He acknowledges that growing organic vegetables on his scale is expensive, and that his net income may be no better than a market gardener with 10 acres. But because he doesn't have a nearby market, he says he really has no choice but to sell wholesale and to continue his expansion. "If we were in Raleigh, we would make a living with 10 acres," Kenny says. "The ideal situation would be a subscription service, but you have to be in the right place for that to happen. You have to have the right kind of people--educated people who want to know where their food is coming from." Without that option, Kenny plans to continue his expansion. He hopes to buy more land himself and he's willing to sell for other farmers who convert to organic practices. "We think we're doing the right thing and if somebody else thinks we're doing the right thing and wants to try it, we'll be more than happy to help," he says. An earlier version of this article first appeared in Growing For Market, PO Box 3747, Lawrence KS 66046, phone 913-841-2559. Subscriptions: $26/year for 12 issues. ACTION ON APPROPRIATIONS NEEDED TO SAVE SUSTAINABLE AG PROGRAMS by Margaret Krome Most federal sustainable agriculture programs are in jeopardy during this next congressional appropriations cycle. Collective grassroots action is essential to protect the gains of the past few years. Just because a bill is passed by Congress, doesn't mean the programs involved are automatically enacted. Authorizations, like the 1995 Farm Bill, set policy for programs and maximum levels of funding. Appropriations, which happen every year, are where Congress actually allocates the money for programs in a given fiscal year. Sustainable agriculture programs have faired moderately well in getting money appropriated. With a new Congress committed to cutting the budget, though, the challenge will be greater than ever in 1995 to sustain or increase funding for many valuable programs. Fortunately, we have a powerful asset--the many supporters of sustainable agriculture around the country who can make a case for these programs with their subcommittee members in key states and districts. This first year of the new Congress is crucial. We must do everything possible to demonstrate broad bi-partisan support for sustainable agriculture in its many facets. Also, the track record we establish of strong coalition-based work at the grassroots level on appropriations gives credibility to the negotiations in the months ahead on the Farm Bill. What Actions Are Needed? First, write a letter or make a phone call to the key subcommittee members if you live or work in their district or state. This doesn't have to be an extensive letter, but it should reflect your particular "citizen identity" of farmer, researcher, consumer, farmworker, etc... Second, get some opinion editorials or "op eds"--guest columns that are longer than a letter to the editor--in papers around the country on the importance of sustainable agriculture and, hence, of higher funding for these programs. Third, help get others in key districts and states to write or call also. Key Sustainable Agriculture Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1996 (FY96) * Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE): The Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture seeks $20 million for this competitive grants program which funds high-quality, farmer-involved research and education on economic, agronomic, and environmental aspects of sustainable agriculture farming systems. Authorized in the 1990 Farm Bill at $40 million, this excellent program has been grossly under funded, with a high of $8.1 million appropriated for FY95, which is less than one half of one percent of USDA's research and extension budget. The administration proposes $9.5 million for FY96. * Sustainable Agriculture Technology Development and Transfer Program (SATDTP): The Campaign requests $8 million for this program, also referred to as "Chapter 3," which funds projects to train extension agents, relevant SCS and ASCS staff, and other agricultural professionals in sustainable agriculture concepts, research and practices. This program, though authorized in the 1990 Farm Bill at $20 million, was first funded in FY94, and then only at $3 million after a political battle with holdovers from the Bush Administration. The administration proposes $5 million for FY96. * Minority Farmer Outreach: The Campaign seeks $5 million for the minority farmer outreach program, which seeks to address the needs of minority farmers across USDA's credit, commodity, conservation, and other programs. It targets information toward minority farmers, with at least 50 percent of the program money and effort being used by community-based organizations that have actual experience in working with minority farmers and understand their specific needs for assistance. It was funded at $3 million in FY95; the Clinton budget proposes another $3 million for FY96. * Agricultural Conservation Program (ACP)/Water Quality Incentive Program (WQIP): The WQIP is a voluntary cost-share program designed to help farmers comply with state and federal environmental laws. It offers technical and financial assistance in preventing surface and groundwater pollution through reduced and better use of fertilizers, pesticides and animal wastes; and other alternative farming practices. It is currently administered and funded through the ACP. ACP funding for FY95 is $100 million; the Administration's budget request cuts ACP to $50 million, with $15 million of ACP monies to be designated for the WQIP. The Campaign supports current higher ACP funding levels and requests $30 million be designated for the WQIP. * WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP): The Campaign seeks $8 million for WIC's FMNP, which offers vouchers or coupons for participants in the low-income Women, Infant and Children (WIC) program to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at local farmers' markets. This program was authorized at $8 million for FY95 but only funded at $6.8 million. The administration requests funding at the same level for FY96. The Campaign endorses full funding in FY96 for this innovative program with a proven track record of providing high quality, locally grown vegetables to low-income citizens while supporting small family farmers. The total WIC budget has been increasing substantially for several years, with more increases likely. Money for the FMNP can almost certainly be found within the WIC budget. * National Organic Food Production Act: The President's budget requests $1.06 million for FY96 to implement and administer the organic certification program; and to help defray the costs of accreditation to certification organizations. It was funded at $500,000 in both FY94 and FY95. The Campaign supports the administration's request. * Agricultural Technology and Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA): The Campaign supports $1.8 million for this national information service, which answers practical questions from farmers and others who call its toll-free telephone number about matters ranging from sustainable agriculture methods to economic implications of alternative practices. Its caseload averages 1,000 calls monthly. ATTRA received $1.3 million in FY95, and that amount is requested by Clinton for FY96. Its appropriation has been determined by the appropriations subcommittee of the Interior, but will be transferred back to USDA within the Rural Technology and Cooperative Development Grants in FY96. Julie Burns and Margaret Krome, both working with the Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture, will coordinate contacts on appropriations and let people know what actions are most helpful at any given time. Margaret has also offered to help anyone draft letters or op ed pieces. Julie Burns, 4 Lindsey Rd, Asheville, NC 28805, phone 704-299-1922 or fax 704-299-1575. Margaret Krome, 2524 Chamberlain, Madison, WI 53705, phone 608-238-1440 or fax 608-238-1569. LOBBYING: CONVINCING POLITICIANS TO SUPPORT YOUR POSITIONS There are 33 members of Congress from Southern states who will be making major decisions about the fate of sustainable agriculture in the 1995 Farm Bill. They need to be educated and persuaded by their constituents (YOU) about the need for a change. Paid lobbyists are not the only people who can lobby. Concerned citizens can also practice the fine art of influencing how their members of Congress vote. Following are some suggestions for effective citizen lobbying. Before You Meet With a Member of Congress 1. Do your homework. What do you know about the Congressperson? How long has he/she been in office; what party affiliation? Is the legislator on a committee that will be voting on your issue? Has the legislator been supportive of sustainable agriculture in the past? What is his/her record on environmental, farm or fiscal issues? 2. Decide who will attend. People who live in the congressperson's district - very important! People representing different constituencies; for example, someone who belongs to an environmental group, a farm group, a consumer group and a church group. People who are directly affected by the issue(s) you are discussing, who can explain them clearly, and provide real life examples. Two to four people is a good number for most lobby visits. 3. Plan it! Have a meeting beforehand to plan the lobby visit. Decide your goals for the meeting. Are you asking the legislator to sponsor a bill, commit to voting a certain way, or just providing him/her with information? Agree on an agenda to follow that can be accomplished in the amount of time you have for the meeting. Agree on "roles" for each participant. You will need: someone to chair the meeting and keep it on track, someone to take notes, and more than one person prepared to explain the issue and its importance. Prepare the arguments you would use in response to an opposing position. Have a practice meeting, with one person pretending to be the legislator and everyone else playing their roles. This will help you think through possible questions the legislator might ask, and identify any problems with the agenda or time constraints. Decide what written materials you want to leave with the legislator and who will prepare or bring them. Prepare a one-page version of the information you want to convey most. Make sure everyone knows how to get to the meeting location and decide what time to arrive. At the Meeting 1. The person who set up the appointment should open the meeting by thanking the legislator (or aide) for the meeting, introduce everyone, and quickly review the agenda order. Identify yourself and the organization you represent. If you live in his/her district, make sure you say so. Explain that you are participating in the Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture. 2. If possible, open with a compliment thanking the legislator for past support, statements, or anything positive you've found out. 3. Stick to your agenda. Each speaker should be concise and give compelling examples to illustrate the importance of the bill. Be prepared to convey your message in five minutes if necessary. 4. Don't assume the congressperson knows anything about your bill. Lobbyists are the main sources of information and education about bills. Congress reviews and votes on thousands of bills each year. 5. Know your facts and be scrupulously honest. If a question arises, you can always say "I'll check on that and let you know." If so, make sure you do. 6. Ask for a specific commitment. If you don't get a clear answer, ask again. (You may want to assign one person just to this role.) 7. Listen carefully to the arguments that he/she has heard from the other side and answer with concise facts if possible. Avoid heated arguing. 8. Pay close attention to how your arguments are being received. Don't raise more than a couple of issues unless the legislator is really interested and receptive. 9. Try to get a clear commitment on where he/she stands on specific bills or amendments. 10. End the meeting on time, and thank the congressperson. Give written materials at this time. After the Meeting 1. Have a brief group evaluation of the meeting. Did you stick to the agenda, play the agreed-upon roles? Did you get any commitments from the politician? What are they? 2. Compare your impressions of the legislator's responses and reactions, and fill out the District Farm Bill Report (available from the Campaign for Sustainable Ag). What went well? What would you do differently next time? 3. Write down what the congress member said he or she would do, and any arguments raised that others lobbying for sustainable agriculture should be aware of for future lobbying meetings. 4. Identify the specific tasks that need to be done as follow-up: a thank-you note (mentioning any commitments made), sending information promised during the meeting, or reporting on the meeting to the regional campaign coordinator. Decide who will do each task. 5. Congratulate yourselves for conducting a well-planned, professional lobby visit. Adapted from materials from the Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture, 32 N. Church St., Goshen, NY 10924, phone 914-294-0633 or fax 914-294-0632. GRASSROOTS EFFORTS REALLY DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE by Keith Richards In the mid-1980's a growing number of farmers felt they were being treated unfairly by the Farmers Home Administration (FmHA). If their loans with the agency became delinquent for any reason, FmHA had the power to call them in without discussing options and without an independent appeals process. Individuals and grassroots organizations around the country decided they wanted to make a change, so they organized around the 1985 Food Security Act (commonly called the 1985 Farm Bill). "It was a massive effort," recalls Benny Bunting, a North Carolina farmer and advisor for Farm Plan Advocates. "Farmers came in from all over and testified, and learned the rules [of shaping our laws]. That's what it takes--testifying at subcommittee and committee hearings at every stage of the process." "There were phone trees, too. [A phone tree is a simple system for generating phone calls to legislators before key votes.] Any time the bill went through changes, they were activated," Bunting says. "And the media played an important part by publicizing the crisis. A lot of hard work went into this." Working from the 1985 Farm Bill through the 1987 Credit Act, their efforts finally paid off in the 1990 Farm Bill. A policy--commonly referred to by its place in the bill, 1951-S--was put into law requiring the FmHA to give borrowers a list of servicing options if their loans become 30 days delinquent . This was coupled with an independent appeals process created in the National Appeals System. Farmers are now informed of their rights through due process and can appeal any adverse decision from FmHA through an independent system. When asked if grassroots organizing made a difference on this policy change, Bunting replied, "It was successful because of the grassroots effort!" Volunteers are setting up phone trees and coordinating visits to the home offices of Southern legislators for the Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture. To become involved in an issue, contact your local Southern SAWG member organization or Julie Burns, Southern Campaign Coordinator, 4 Lindsey Rd., Asheville, NC 28805, phone 704-299-1922. SOUTHERN MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE: (Room numbers with 3 digits are in Cannon HOB, 4 digits beginning with 1 are in the Longworth HOB, 4 digits beginning with 2 are in Rayburn HOB. Phone prefix is 202-225-, the switchboard is 202-224-3121.) Phone: Room: Terry Everett (R-AL, 2nd) 2901 208 Earl Hilliard (D-AL, 7th) 2665 1007 Jay Dickey (R-AR, 4th) 3772 230 Karen Thurman (D-FL, 5th) 1002 130 Charles Canady (R-FL, 12th) 1252 1222 Mark Foley (R-FL, 16th) 5792 506 Sanford Bishop (D-GA, 2nd) 3631 1632 Saxby Chambliss (R-GA, 8th) 6531 1708 Cynthia McKinney (D-GA, 11th) 1605 124 Ron Lewis (R-KY, 2nd) 3501 412 Scotty Baesler (D-KY, 6th) 4706 113 Richard Baker (R-LA, 6th) 3901 434 Bennie Thompson (D-MS, 2nd) 5876 1408 Eva Clayton (D-NC, 1st) 3101 222 Charlie Rose (D-NC, 7th) 2731 242 Frank Lucas (R-OK, 6th) 5565 107 Ed Bryant (R-TN, 7th) 2811 1516 Kika De La Garza (D-TX, 15th) 2531 1401 Charles Stenholm (D-TX, 17th) 6605 1211 Larry Combest (R-TX, 19th) 4005 1511 Bob Goodlatte (R-VA, 6th) 5431 123 SOUTHERN MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE: Phone: Room: Ray Thornton (D-AR, 2nd) 2506 1214 Jay Dickey (R-AR, 4th) 3772 230 Jack Kingston (R-GA, 1st) 5831 1507 Bob Livingston (R-LA, 1st) 3015 2406 SOUTHERN MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE: (Room numbers beginning with SD are in the Dirksen Bldg., SH are in the Hart Bldg., and SR are in the Russell Bldg. Phone prefix is 202-224-, the switchboard is 202-224-3121.) Phone: Room: Howell Heflin (D-AL) 4124 SH-728 David Pryor (D-AR) 2353 SR-267 Paul Coverdell (R-GA) 3643 SR-200 Mitch McConnell (R-KY) 2541 SR-120 Jesse Helms (R-NC) 6342 SD-403 John Warner (R-VA) 2023 SR-225 SOUTHERN MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE: Phone: Room: Dale Bumpers (D-AR) 4843 SD-229 Mitch McConnell (R-KY) 2541 SR-120 Bennett Johnston (D-LA) 5824 SH-136 Thad Cochran (R-MS), Chair 5054 SR-326 EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE NAMED FOR EXTENSION TRAINING The following individuals have been selected to serve as the first Executive Leadership Committee for the SARE sustainable agriculture training program (often called Chapter 3) in the Southern region: Samuel Bass, SC; Barry Colley, AR; Cynthia Connolley, FL; Robert Jenkins, TN; Joe Judice, LA; Charles Miller, KY; Oscar Muniz-Torres, PR; James Pease, VA; Jerry Pennick, GA; Peggy Sechrist, TX; James Smith, NC. These committee members will gather input from the diverse circle of Southern sustainable agriculture interests, and develop recommendations for the regional SARE/ACE Administrative Council concerning the training of Extension and other agricultural professionals in the South. The committee will also evaluate results of SARE-sponsored training projects and the state strategic plans for sustainable agriculture. If you would like to be involved in the strategic planning and training process for sustainable agriculture in your state, contact your state extension coordinator: AL--Ronald L. Shumack, 205-844-3214, Chinella Henderson, 205-851-5710, or Lincoln M. Moore, 205-727-8806. AR--Tom L. Riley, Jr., 501-671-2001. FL--Mickie Swisher, 904-392-1869 or Cass Gardner, 904-599-3546. GA--William Segars, 706-542-9072 or Fred Harrison, Jr., 912-825-6296. KY--Curtis Absher, 606-257-1846. LA--Jack L. Bagent, 504-388-5336 or Adell Brown, Jr., 504-771-2242. MS--Douglas W. Houston, 601-325-2311 or William B. Patton, 601-877-6126. NC--J. Paul Mueller, 919-515-5825. OK--Gerrit Cuperus, 405-744-5531. PR--Luis R. Mejia-Maymi, 809-834-4590. SC--Elwyn E. Deal, 803-656-3384, or Sam D. Bass, 803-479-6991. TN--D. Ray Humbert, 615-974-7112 or Alvin Wade, 615-320-3650. TX--John R. Beverly, 409-845-7980. VA--Gerry M. Jones, 703-231-6704 or Mitchell Patterson, Jr., 804-524-5960. or contact the Training Consortium: Roger Crickenberger, North Carolina State Univ., 919-515-3252, Jim Lukens, NCAT/ATTRA, 501-442-9824, John O'Sullivan, North Carolina A&T Univ., 910-334-7956. CLASSIFIEDS Classified Advertising Rates: 25 cents per word. Call 501-292-3714 for display ad rate. Northeastern market looking for quality, organic Southern produce. Call Countrywide Produce 412-765-1964. WANTED: Working partner for organic production & marketing on family farm (20 acres) in Northeast Oklahoma. Pretty, rural setting with excellent highway access and markets. Open to negotiation with serious and qualified individual or family. Send introductory letter to Bob Holman, Star Route, Box 150, Kansas, OK 74347. Southern Sustainable Farmint March, 1995 - Issue Number 4 Published by the Community Farm Allicance, 200 Short St. #10, Berea, KY 40403 Please send al editorial inquiries to: P.O. Box 324 Elkins, AR 72727 501-292-3714 email: hn3551@handsnet.org Interim editor: Keith Richards Editorial Board: Janet Bachmann,Jean Mills, Renee Price, Michael Sligh Southern Sustainable Farming ins the voice of the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group, 50 member organizations working for more sustainable agriculture in 13 southren states. The Southern SAWG assists family farms and farm communities to prosper in a healthy environment by helping remove technical, institutional and economic barriers to sustainability.