Pax-salon Mailing List: Farm Bill Salon

[Fred H Olson (fholson]

Hi, we had a great salon last Tuesday.  Llewellyn Hille the organizer for
Oxfam America from Minnesota presented us w/facts about the farm bill
which effects all of us, not just farmers. Please follw the Action Alert
instructions below. It is so important.

Thanks, patty


Action Alert

Minnesota's Senators Are Ready to Vote on the Farm Bill. Tell Them to
Stand Up for Farmers Here and Abroad.

Learn:  The 2007 Farm Bill gives us a unique opportunity to have a real
safety net for U.S. farmers, including minority farmers, and address
poverty and hunger both here and abroad. Better risk
management programs combined with making the marketing loan program
less trade distorting will protect both farmers and their markets.
Current price based safety nets only protect farmers when price is low.
Better risk management based on whole farm revenue and income support
based on conservation would be a better approaches.  By removing
incentives for surplus production of a narrow range of crops and
allowing more flexibility, these reforms will provide opportunities for
pursuing alternative crops and implementing conservation practices.


By reforming trade-distorting subsidies, Congress could help 10 million
people in West Africa alone, who depend on cotton for their livelihoods.
Cotton is often the only source of cash income for many families who
live on less than $1 a day per person. With the added income from
increased cotton prices, the typical West African cotton farming family
could cover the costs of:
o one year's worth of health care for four to 10people,
o or one year of schooling for two to 10 children,
or one year's food supply for one or two children.

ACT -
Since every vote matters, can you take a moment to call your US Senators
today? Be sure to tell the staff member who answers the phone that you
are a constituent and that you want your US Senator to vote in support
of Farm Bill reform that reduces trade-distorting subsidies for
commodities such as cotton. Tell them that these subsidies encourage
excess production, discourage resource conservation practices, and
don't provide a safety net when natural disaster strikes.

For your convenience, we have set up a toll-free 800 number with simple
instructions on what to say.

1.Please call 1-800-977-1912
2.An automated message will give you a brief introduction.
3.When prompted, press 630403 # to be connected to Senator Coleman's
office.
4.After reaching Senator Coleman please hang up and repeat the
instructions to reach
Senator Klobuchar using code  630404#.

Be sure to tell the staff member who answers the phone that you are a
constituent and that you want your US Senator to vote in support of Farm
Bill reform that reduces trade-distorting subsidies for commodities such
as cotton. Tell them that these subsidies lead to excess production,
reducing world market prices and undercutting the poor in developing
nations who depend on agriculture to survive.

CHANGE -
It will only take a minute. A few well-placed calls from people like you
can help the world's poorest farmers. Please call today!  Thank you for
taking action!  Share this message and encourage your friends and
colleagues to call.  Thank you for this important action.