Pa. bars hormone-free milk labels

Pennsylvania is stopping dairies from stamping milk containers with hormone-free labels in a precedent-setting decision being closely watched by the industry. Synthetic hormones have been used to improve milk production in cows for more than a decade. The chemical has not been detected in milk, so there is no way to test for its use, but a growing number of retailers have been selling and promoting hormone-free products in response to consumer demand. The product, sold by St. Louis-based Monsanto Co. under the brand name Posilac, is the country's largest-selling dairy pharmaceutical. It is also known as recombinant bovine growth hormone, or rBGH. More here.

This is a huge blow to consumers rights and the struggle for accurate labeling laws. Please take the time to email:
John Frey, Executive Director of the Pensylvania Center for Dairy Excellence
c-jfrey@state.pa.us
and The Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board
ra-pmmb@state.pa.us
to voice your disdain.

$288 billion farm bill lies fallow after Senate vote

Money troubles could be unraveling the age-old coalition of Democrats and Republicans that has preserved Depression-era farm subsidies for most of the past century, as pressure from nontraditional farm interests continues to be felt. The Senate's failure Friday to move forward on a $288 billion, five-year farm bill delays the effort to preserve subsidies to farmers of cotton, corn, rice and a handful of other crops. At the same time, it blocks an increase in spending on a vast array of popular programs to improve the American diet, make farming practices more environmentally sustainable, and provide California fruit and vegetable growers a place in federal policy. More here.

Why the NAIS Must Be Stopped

The Environmental Conservation Organization has just released a presentation on Why the National Animal Identification System must be stopped. This massive federal program has been under development since at least 2002, has already used more than $138 million, and is currently being imposed upon livestock animal owners - with no legislative authority. The USDA first annnounced that the program would be mandatory, with stiff fines imposed for non-compliance. A rebellion, of sorts, among animal owners, forced the USDA to re-think its strategy, and announce that the program would be "voluntary." Nevertheless, by awarding grants to - some would say by "bribing" - certain non-government organizations, the program is being imposed through coercion and the denial of services to people who are not registered in the "voluntary" program. Currently, this program is represented in section 10305 of the Senate's version of the Farm Bill . The Liberty Ark Coalition is working hard to get Senators to delete this section in the Farm Bill. This new presentation provides extensive detailed information that will arm you to better influence your Congressman, and your state legislators.

Please take a few minutes and view this important presentation here. You can also view the Liberty Ark Coalition presentation on the same topic here or use their "citizen action tools" to email or fax a letter to congress.

Reality Burning Biodiesel Industry

In Oklahoma, Green Country Biodiesel in Chelsea filed for liquidation after Cargill cut off soybean oil deliveries when the company fell behind on payments. In the past month, at least five other biodiesel plants have shut down due to high feedstock prices. In Iowa, the Freedom Fuels biodiesel plant in Mason City has shut down production last month. The plant has a capacity of 30 Mgy of biodiesel, and hoped to resume production in November. Four people were laid off from their jobs as a result of the shut down. Rising soybean prices have shuttered two Texas biodiesel plants, and are forcing producers to seek alternative feedstocks. Grainnet.com reported in September on two plant shutdowns in Pennsylvania, where state production has dropped to 5% of capacity. More on the Biofuels Digest.

Spraying for Light Brown Apple Moth to Begin Sunday Night

From the Sentinel:
BREAKING NEWS: Judge clears path for aerial spraying to begin Sunday By TOM RAGAN
Sentinel staff writer

A trio of state-owned planes will begin spraying a pesticide in North Monterey County on Sunday to prevent spread of the light brown apple moth, an invasive pest the state says is capable of causing millions of dollars in crop damage if not stopped soon.

Spraying in Santa Cruz County will start early next week.

A judge Thursday denied the county’s request to temporarily halt the Department of Food and Agriculture program, which has come under fire for health and environmental reasons, saying county attorneys failed to prove the pesticide would harm the public.

Links to the Sentinel's coverage of the moth spraying debate.

Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Paul Burdick ruled that the county “wasn’t able to sustain its burden of proof,” said Jason Heath, a county attorney who spoke on behalf of the judge after the ruling was issued.

“The spraying will not be delayed,” Heath told the crowd of some 50 people who had gathered for the decision in Burdick’s courtroom at the Santa Cruz County Government Center. Heath said the county could appeal the case to the 6th District Court of Appeals but said that decision had not been made.

Find out what actions you can take at this website: http://lbamspray.info/