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SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE UPDATES (updated 3/20/09) -
Tom Vilsack named as Secretary of AgricultureWhile the Secretary of Agriculture is an important position, Under Secretaries may actually have more influence on the day to day workings of the agency than the Secretary.

Food Democracy Now! has created a list of 12 candidates
for the crucial Under Secretary positions that will stand up for family farms, safe food, clear air and water, animal welfare and soil preservation.
To read up on GMO's (AKA GE crops, crop Bioengineering and biotech) and cellulose and non-cellulose biofuels, check links at right).
Also:

• Support your local sustainable farmer.
• Write your President-elect, and government representatives.
• Educate your friends about biodiversity and crop safety.
• Endorse the Declaration For Healthy Food and Agriculture

Read more HERE.

U.S. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE

THIS CABINET POSITION IS A CRUCIAL ONE.
How the US moves forward on food and farm policy is vitally important to the future of our country, and world.
(Updated 3/20/09)

CAN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW?
Yes, you can.

1. Write to the Obama transition team.
2. Write and call Rep. Rick Larsen, Senators Patty Murray, and Maria Cantwell.
3. READ AND VIEW MORE on this from Michael Pollan and Nicholas Kristof.

GOT TIME TO READ A BIT MORE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS DECISION?
Former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack has been chosen for this post. Vilsack has:

• Supported cloning of cows;
• Originated the seed pre-emption bill in 2005 which prohibited local governments' ability to regulate seeds - including the decision on where genetically engineered/modified (GE, GMO) crops would be grown, or having GMO/GE-free buffers, among other things;
  
• Vigorously supported genetically engineered(GE/GMO) crops and chemical and energy-intensive industrial agriculture; and
• Often traveled in Monsanto's jet.

Others said to have been under consideration were Rep.'s Charlie Stenholm, Dennis Wolff, Colin Peterson, and John Salazar, all unlikely to support reforms in the Dept. of Agriculture and the Farm Bureau.

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!

NEWS regarding corn farmers - U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Brendan Shannon approved a process that would allow VeraSun Energy Corporation ten business days prior to delivery of corn, contracted with farmers, to cancel purchase contracts.
Keith Bolin, (corn and hog farmer from Bureau County, Ill., and one of the drafters of the Declaration for Healthy Food and Agriculture), Pres. American Corn Growers Association (ACGA), stated “There were only four real farmers and corn producers in the room.” and warned “this ruling leaves a lot of farm families in limbo, uncertain what their contracted bushels are worth and when they can actually sell them.” He added that VeraSun now has a captive supply of grain to 2011 with no guarantee of price. "If left unchecked, this debacle will erode the integrity of the markets and the rights of farmers.”
- Information from ACGA webpage. You can join the ACGA; (read about why), and you can write your government representatives today.

Cellulose based ethanol is not the best choice for future energy needs, or any fuels based on use of genetically modified crops or enzymes. Farmers pushed to grow crops for these needs should not be then left hanging.

To learn more about alternative energy, and genetically modified organisms (GMO's), scroll down to the right.

To Join Land and Sea/Slow Food USA, go here.