Hi all,
I'm sure you've all seen this but just sending it along again. D

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	[GNF] Fw: Beginning Farmer farm bill crisis
Date: 	Sat, 20 Oct 2007 10:14:18 -0400
From: 	KATHRYN RUHF <[log in to unmask]>
To: 	<[log in to unmask]>



Greetings, Growing New Farmers colleagues,
 
You may know that mandatory funding for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher 
Development Program in the upcoming Farm Bill is threatened. Please read 
below for more details.  If you are concerned about this potential loss, 
consider responding as requested below.
 
Thanks for your commitment to beginning farmers.
 
Kathy Ruhf
 
---------------------------
Here is information to sign on to the attached letter.  Please contact 
Adam Warthesen at [log in to unmask] 
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> or 612-722-6377 with the OK.   
Monday noon deadline.  And please forward to other groups that have a 
beginning farmer mission or focus area of some kind that you think would 
sign on.

The crisis, in a nutshell, is that the $15 m and $5 m a year promised by 
Sen. Harkin for Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and BFR 
Individual Development Account was lost a couple days ago in harsh 
negotiations he faced with Sens. Chambliss and Conrad.  We need to get 
it back.  This letter is part of that strategy.  We are likely working 
toward an amendment of some kind, but can't wait for the details of that 
to be worked out before getting a letter up there to the Committee.  
Senate Ag Committee marks up Farm Bill next week, probably starting 
Wednesday.  Time is of the essence.  Show of strength important.  Email 
or call Adam and sign on!

Thank you,

Ferd Hoefner



-- 
Debra Heleba
Land Link Vermont Coordinator
University of Vermont Center for Sustainable Agriculture
63 Carrigan Drive
Burlington, Vermont 05405
v 802.656.0233
f 802.656.8874
[log in to unmask]
www.uvm.edu/landlinkvt




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