[Pollinator] URGENT FARM BILL ACTION REQUEST: Sign Group Statement in Support of Hastings Pollinator Protection Amendment. DEADLINE TODAY ASAP, no later than NOON Eastern!!

[R. Thomas Van Arsdall]

URGENT FARM BILL ACTION REQUEST:	  DEADLINE TODAY ASAP, no later than
NOON Eastern!!
1.	SIGN ON Attached GROUP STATEMENT [Organizations, Individuals] in
Support of farm bill pollinator protection amendment #75, to be offered by
Rep. Alcee Hastings (FL).
2.	Contact your Representative directly in support of the amendment.
If you don’t have a direct staff contact, can call Capitol Operator,
202-225-3121 & ask for your representative.  Ask for Ag LA, at minimum leave
short message in support of amendment #75.

TO COSIGN Group Statement, respond to this e-mail or contact me at
tom at vanarsdall.com. 

The Farm Bill is going to the floor TODAY, with debate starting shortly.
The Hastings amendment is one of 31 of more than 100 filed that will be
considered.  It will be the fifth amendment considered, probably sometime
after 1 PM.

	*****
Letter Text Attached & Follows:

RE:  	Support for Farm Bill amendment #75 offered by Rep. Hastings (FL)
	Pollinator Protection Research & Conservation

Dear Representative:

The undersigned urge you to vote for amendment #75, a Pollinator Protection
research and conservation provision which will be offered by Rep. Alcee
Hastings of Florida during floor consideration of the 2007 farm bill.

This amendment (1) authorizes research funding to address Colony Collapse
Disorder in honey bees and other factors confronting managed and native
pollinators; and (2) places a greater emphasis in existing USDA conservation
programs on habitat and other pollinator-beneficial best management
practices to protect and enhance native and managed pollinators.

As recognized in the Committee Report on page 226, “In addition to wildlife
benefits, crop pollination represents a major agricultural input, especially
for specialty crop producers.”  Enhancing pollinator research and
conservation through the 2007 farm bill to benefit honey bees and other
managed pollinators and native pollinators will help ensure both essential
crop pollination services and healthy wildlife ecosystems.

Please support the pollinator protection amendment.

Sincerely,

Organizations:
Coevolution Institute
Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

Individuals:

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:
*** Hastings amendment incorporates core provisions of (1) Senator Boxer’s
research bill (S. 1694) [which broadened provisions in Hastings’ original
bill, HR 1709 to include habitat and native pollinator concerns]; and (2)
Rep. Blumenauer’s habitat conservation bill (HR 2913).
*** Text posted at http://www.pollinator.org/farm_bill.htm. 
*** CoE has worked closely with Hastings and Blumenauer staff and strongly
supports the amendment. 
*** Chairman Peterson as floor managers of the bill reportedly will accept
the amendment.
*** Amendment #75 was deemed by House Rules Committee to be in order for
consideration on the floor [over 100 farm bill amendments were filed].
*** Key wildlife, conservation and environmental groups in the farm bill
conservation coalition have agreed to support amendment #75.
*** The Committee Report can be accessed at
http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/Legislation/110/FB/Hrpt110-256.pdf.  

Bill as reported by the Committee includes pollinator-beneficial provisions
and language:
-Legislative language, p. 56:  Section 2105, producers are eligible to
receive EQIP incentive payments for pollinator habitat.
-Report language, p. 226:  “The Committee included pollinator [habitat] to
the list of practices eligible for incentive payments under EQIP.  In
addition to wildlife benefits, crop pollination represents a major
agricultural input, especially for specialty crop producers.  The Committee
encourages USDA to clarify that habitat and other conservation measures
benefiting honey bees and other managed pollinators and native pollinators
are eligible for cost-share and incentive payments in other conservation
programs as appropriate, and to encourage such practices.”
-Legislative language, p. 170 (& p. 339), in Title X, specialty crops title:
Section 1001, USDA to report annually to Congress on response to CCD and
impact on honey bees.

The Manager’s Amendment reportedly includes an addition to Section 7411 in
the research title that would make research involving pollination services
for specialty crops eligible to compete for grants in the specialty crops
research program [$215 million over 5 years, mandatory funding].  CoE worked
with beekeeping interests in support of this provision.

Future of farm bill reauthorization remains in doubt due to a number of
issues, including partisan maneuvering.  Nevertheless, it is important for
pollinator stakeholders to engage in the process and work at each step in
support of pollinator-beneficial enhancements.

For more info:  www.pollinator.org 
 
R. Thomas (Tom) Van Arsdall, Public Affairs Representative for Coevolution
Institute/NAPPC
   Van Arsdall & Associates
   13605 McLane Place
   Fredericksburg, VA  22407-2344
   (540) 785-0949
   tom at vanarsdall.com 

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