August, 2007 - ISSUE #10
What's Available??
I have provided a link on the website to show everyone what is currently available and what to expect in the upcoming months. I will also review it here:
Here is a list of what is available:
- * Salad Bar Eggs (from Pastured Poultry) - $2/doz.
- * Tomatoes - Rutger, Marglobe heirloom varieties - limited quantity
- * Limited supplies of Shallots, Onions and Garlic
Items growing well and soon to be available:
- * 6 varieties of organic paste tomatoes growing nicely.
- * Cantaloupe, Watermelon and Honeydew melons coming soon
- * Pasture raised broilers (by appointment only) will be ready Mid-November - $2.50/pound.
The August batch of broilers is sold out!
- * Pasture raised turkeys (by appointment only) will be ready around the middle of November - $3.25/pound.
Food, Health and Farming News
The FDA expanded its recent ban on canned food The original ban on canned foods containing botulism has been updated to include canned pet food. The initial ban effective July 18th of this year was for human canned foods. Now the umbrella is opening wider - this update was made on July 30th of this year. For more information
Read this article
NAIS excluded from the Farm Bill
On Friday, the House voted to approve the 2007 Farm Bill. The final language of the bill did NOT include NAIS, so we won this round!!! The Agriculture Committee and Representatives received many phone calls and faxes from people opposed to NAIS, and they responded by taking out the language that linked NAIS to Country of Origin Labeling. THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to call and write.
This is a great step forward. But there are still several battles coming up. The House will probably vote on the Agriculture Appropriations Bill early this week.
The Appropriations Committee Report includes:
- * No new funding for NAIS until USDA provides a "complete and detailed strategic plan for the program, including tangible outcomes, measurable goals, specific milestones, and necessary resources for the entire program."
- * $1.98 million for a cooperative agreement with the Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium, which supports NAIS
- * $594,000 for the Farm Animal Identification and Records (FAIR) program
The lack of new funding specifically for NAIS is a good step! But it doesn't look like Congress has really gotten the message that we want funding for NAIS stopped, and having a detailed USDA plan will not change that fact. And funding the Wisconsin Consortium and FAIR programs will continue to push the program ahead with federal funding.
No amendments have been filed yet, but it is possible that an amendment will be offered to completely strip NAIS funding. It's also possible that the other side will get an amendment introduced to add unconditional funding back in.
The Senate Agriculture Appropriations bill has also been reported out of Committee, with a recommendation for continued funding for NAIS, but less funding than in previous years. No date has been set yet for the Senate vote.
To your Health,
PWeber
Weber Farms
Copyright © 2006 Patrick Weber/Weber Farms - All Rights
