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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Note the request for other national, regional and local
organizations to consider signing.&nbsp; We worked with several other
conservation organizations over the weekend and urged that group letter(s) be
circulated across the nation to provide state and local groups the opportunity
to sign on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>If you would like to sign your organization on to one or both of
the letters, please e-mail me at <a href="mailto:tva@pollinator.org">tva@pollinator.org</a>
by 11:00 eastern Wednesday, July 21.&nbsp; I will compile and forward all I
receive to Ferd.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>The Pollinator Partnership has committed to sign on to both
attached letters.&nbsp; Note that pollinator habitat is specifically
mentioned.&nbsp; The farm bill conservation programs represent the major resource
to help farmers and ranchers voluntarily invest in conservation, habitat and
related practices.&nbsp; Defending hard-won &#8220;mandatory&#8221; funding
from raids to fund other program and cut federal funding is critically
important.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Feel free to forward (asap) to others who may be interested.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Tom<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>R. Thomas (Tom) Van Arsdall, Director of Public Affairs<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>&nbsp;&nbsp; Pollinator Partnership<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>&nbsp;&nbsp; (703) 509-4746<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="mailto:tva@pollinator.org"><span
style='color:blue'>tva@pollinator.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://www.pollinator.org/"><span
style='color:blue'>Pollinator Partnership</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://www.nappc.org/"><span
style='color:blue'>North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>

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<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Ferd Hoefner
[mailto:fhoefner@sustainableagriculture.net] <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, July 19, 2010 12:06 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Farm Bill Conservation Programs Full Committee<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [ag] Urgent - Two Sign On Letters<o:p></o:p></span></p>

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<p class=MsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Hi all - Negotiations over
finding offsets for the Child Nutrition bill are heating up this week in the
House.&nbsp; In addition, as you know, the pending bill in the Senate contains
a large cut to EQIP, and the Senate Approps Co just included cuts to the easement
programs in their ag approps bill.&nbsp; We need a strong showing of national,
regional and state organizations to show united opposition to using farm bill
conservation budget as the ATM machine for other purposes.&nbsp; <br>
<br>
Please let me know if you can sign on to both of these attached letters - one
to Pelosi, one to Reid.&nbsp; House letter addresses just child
nutrition.&nbsp; Senate addresses both child nutrition and approps.&nbsp; But
same basic letter otherwise.<br>
<br>
Deadline is noon eastern time on Wednesday.<br>
<br>
Also, please strongly consider sending the letter out to your regional and
state affiliates, partners, lists, etc.&nbsp; If you send the two letters out,
please have the sign-ons from the hinterlands come back to YOU, and then
forward them to me as a complete set.&nbsp; Also, in sending it out for groups
to sign onto, please pay particular attention to California, Connecticut,
Maryland, and Massachusetts, which happen to be the key states for House
negotiations.&nbsp; Michigan and South Carolina also help.&nbsp; And of course
Nevada in Senate.<br>
<br>
Thanks!!!! -- Ferd<br>
<br>
<br>
-- <br>
Ferd Hoefner<br>
Policy Director<br>
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition<br>
110 Maryland Avenue NE<br>
Washington, DC 20002<br>
202-547-5754<br>
<a href="mailto:fhoefner@sustainableagriculture.net">fhoefner@sustainableagriculture.net</a><o:p></o:p></p>

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