All posts in Class Settlement
America’s New Farm Bill
“America, it’s your responsibility to decide who will emerge victorious from this battle of the bulge,” says the spoof reality show’s host.
The federal government’s expansive agricultural and food policy legislation, known as the Farm Bill, will be back up for debate in 2012. As HuffPost reported last week, the congressional super committee’s failure to agree on future budget cuts this November means the bill will shift from a controversial fast-track reauthorization to a more open and lengthy discussion.
Public health advocates hope the extra time will provide an opportunity to start a national discussion about the importance of protecting or even enhancing health-promoting programs, such as those that support fruit and vegetable production, affordability and access, as well as others that slow the drive to produce unhealthy processed foods.
“The Farm Bill is one of the most critical — if not the most critical — opportunity we have for human health,” Matthew Marsom, director of public health policy and advocacy for the nonprofit Public Health Institute told The Huffington Post.
Read more > http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/07/farm-bill-obesity-fruits-vegetables-agriculture-industry_n_1133742.html?utm_campaign=120711&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Alert-green&utm_content=Photo
Biotechnology and the 21st Century Agriculture Advisory Committee
The Biotechnology and 21st century agriculture advisory committee convened on August 30th and 31st in Washington, D.C. at the USDA headquarters. The Group consisted of a diverse group of 24 people with interest in biotechnology, organics, international markets, and farming. On day one, the Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, met with the Committee to give his charge. The meeting was recorded and public comment was allocated also on day one. Day two of the meeting was followed up with the attendance of the Deputy Secretary, Katherine Merrigan, who reiterated the charge and gave us the battle charge. USDA Economic Research Service doctors Greene and Fernandez gave a report on the current data available on the distribution of costs, risks, and returns on different agricultural production systems on day two also.
The Committee will be focusing its efforts on Co-existence of genetically engineered, conventional and organic commercial crops. Efforts include the possible enumeration for unintended contamination of conventional and organic crops by genetically engineered crops. Potential workgroups were formulated and future meeting dates were discussed.
Hagan Supports USDA’s Minority Farmer Advisory Committee
Hagan Supports USDAs Minority Farmer Advisory Committee | Kay Hagan | U.S. Senator for North Carolina
Greensboro, N.C. – U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (NC) today applauded the efforts of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Minority Farmer Advisory Committee after the group’s first meeting last week. The Committee will help ensure fair and equal access to USDA services. Archie Hart, a farmer from Knightdale, N.C., was selected to serve on the committee.
“Agriculture is a $78 billion industry in North Carolina, and it is imperative that this critical sector of our economy be open and accessible to all of our residents,” said Hagan. “This committee wouldn’t be complete without a seat at the table for North Carolina and I am proud that Secretary Vilsack selected Archie Hart of Knightdale to serve on the panel. I look forward to hearing the group’s first set of recommendations.”
Last Congress, Hagan worked closely with Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and others to successfully pass the Pigford Claims Funding Act to ensure that African-American farmers who were unfairly discriminated against when applying for loans, credit and other forms of financial help would receive their due settlements. The discrimination affected 4,000 African-American farmers in North Carolina and 75,000 farmers nationwide.
Read more > http://hagan.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=1379
Black Farmers Get Your Dough
Repost from the Charlotte Post| Pigford settlement applications open |
| Black farmers can sign up for compensation |
| Published Monday, June 6, 2011 1:50 pm |
The process of black farmers and their heirs about a $1.25 billion class action settlement against the U.S. government is underway.
African American farmers who tried to file a claim in the original 1999 Pigford settlement but didn’t receive a decision because their claims were late are now getting information about their rights and options in the mail. A national media campaign through radio and black-oriented newspapers, trade publications and online will also launch.
President Barack Obama signed the bill authorizing payment for the so-called Pigford II settlement in December 2010. If the settlement is approved in federal court, it will resolve discrimination claims against the U.S. Department of Agriculture for farm loans and other benefits. The settlement includes $1.25 billion for cash payments and loan forgiveness for class members who file valid claims.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia will consider whether to grant final approval of the Settlement at a hearing in Washington D.C. on Sept. 1, 2011 at 9:30 a.m.
