[Texgreen] USDA PROPOSES RULE UNDERMINING ORGANICS AND SMALL FARMS

[Erica]

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Hi,
I thought this might be of interest to you. It's from the Organic Consumers=
 Association-
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USDA PROPOSES RULE UNDERMINING ORGANICS AND SMALL FARMS=20
The USDA is accepting public comments until December 3 on a new proposed ru=
le that would force small farms growing green leafy vegetables, such as spi=
nach and lettuce, to put into place industrial-style sterilization measures=
 that reduce biodiversity and soil fertility. The proposal follows in the w=
ake of the USDA's recent controversial crackdown on raw almonds, continued =
interference with raw milk production, and bans on the sale of locally prod=
uced organic meat directly to consumers. The proposed rules basically cover=
 up the fact that e-coli 0157H contamination in lettuce and spinach crops c=
omes from feedlot or industrial livestock-contaminated irrigation waters or=
 contamination in large processing plants. The rule limits hedgerows, and o=
ther non-crop vegetation commonly found on and around small organic and sus=
tainable farms. In addition, although every organic farmer knows that healt=
hy soil is literally alive with multiple types of healthy bacteria, the rul=
es also discourage the development of beneficial microbial life in the soil=
. Send a message to the USDA today:
Learn more and take action: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/articl=
e_8679.cfm



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Hi,<BR/>I thought this might be of interest to you. It's from the Organic C=
onsumers Association-<BR/>------<BR/>USDA PROPOSES RULE UNDERMINING ORGANIC=
S AND SMALL FARMS <BR/>The USDA is accepting public comments until December=
 3 on a new proposed rule that would force small farms growing green leafy =
vegetables, such as spinach and lettuce, to put into place industrial-style=
 sterilization measures that reduce biodiversity and soil fertility. The pr=
oposal follows in the wake of the USDA's recent controversial crackdown on =
raw almonds, continued interference with raw milk production, and bans on t=
he sale of locally produced organic meat directly to consumers. The propose=
d rules basically cover up the fact that e-coli 0157H contamination in lett=
uce and spinach crops comes from feedlot or industrial livestock-contaminat=
ed irrigation waters or contamination in large processing plants. The rule =
limits hedgerows, and other non-crop vegetation commonly found on and aroun=
d small organic and sustainable farms. In addition, although every organic =
farmer knows that healthy soil is literally alive with multiple types of he=
althy bacteria, the rules also discourage the development of beneficial mic=
robial life in the soil. Send a message to the USDA today:<BR/>Learn more a=
nd take action: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_8679.cfm<B=
R/>
<BR><BR>Take action now at <a href=3D'http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/=
organizations/oca/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=3D21743&t=3D'>http://www.democr=
acyinaction.org/dia/organizations/oca/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=3D21743&t=
=3D</a>
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