WA Toxics Alert:Help Increase Organic Farming in Washington

[Guest guest]

Washington Toxics Coalition,Hi all,

I thought I would pass htis on.

WA Toxics Alert:Help Increase Organic Farming in Washington

 

 

 

 

 

 

Help Promote Organic and Sustainably Grown Food In Washington

 

 

Calls Needed to Increase Funding For

The Biological and Organic Agriculture Program at WSU!

 

 

 

 

The organic sector of farming has been growing about 20% every year

because consumers want to purchase healthy and locally-grown food, but

Washington's growers are struggling and we lose 23,000 acres of farmland to

development every year. If we grew more food here at home, sustainably, we could

reduce our use of harmful pesticides and fertilizers, protect our fertile

farmland, and keep our agricultural economy strong.

 

 

 

Washington State can be a leader in organic and sustainable farming by

increasing funding for WSU's successful Biological and Organic (BIOAg) Program

that directly promotes organic and sustainable agriculture. The Legislature is

currently writing its budget for the next two years, and now is the time to push

hard to increase funding for this important program.

 

 

 

Call your legislators today!

 

Please contact your legislators and urge their support for this important

program. Dial 1-800-562-6000 between M-F 8am-8pm. You'll speak with an

operator who will ask for your address to identify who your legislators are.

Then you can leave a message that will be delivered to all three of your

legislators.

 

Basic Message:

 

" Please fully Fund Washington State University's Unified Ag Initiative -

including $400,000 more/year for WSU's Biologically Intensive Organic

Agriculture (BIOAg) program to reduce the use of harmful chemicals in our food.

Please contact me with your position on this issue. "

 

 

After making the call please contact Jim Dawson at jdawson or

at 206-632-1545 ext 120 so we can track how many calls are generated on this

issue.

Background Information:

 

 

In 2001, WSU launched an exciting new program focusing on biological and

organic farming (BIOAg). By providing cutting-edge research and teaching to

Washington farmers, this program will ultimately give consumers more options

for purchasing the freshest, highest quality food while supporting farmers who

employ good environmental stewardship on their land.Last year, we were

successful in winning legislative approval of $400,000 per year for BIOAg. This

was a start, but much less than needed for a comprehensive program. This year,

as part of WSU's Unified Ag Initiative, we are asking for an additional $400,000

each year for BIOAg to support research, outreach to growers and WSU's new

organic major.

 

Learn more about the BIOAg program at the Washington Sustainable Food and

Farming Network website (WTC is a founding member of the network)

 

For more information contact:

 

Contact Erika Schreder at 206-632-1545 ext 119 or eschreder

 

 

 

 

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Washington Toxics Coalition

Phone: (206) 632-1545

4649 Sunnyside Avenue N., Suite 540

Seattle, WA 98103

E-mail: info

http://www.watoxics.org

 

**The Washington Toxics Coalition is a non-profit membership-based

organization dedicated to protecting human health by preventing pollution in

industry, agriculture, schools, and the home. If you are not already a member,

please consider joining! Dues are $35 per year. Members receive our quarterly

newsletter and periodic action alerts.

 

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We respect the personal nature of e-mail communication. Every effort is

made to offer only information on pressing environmental issues. If you prefer

not to receive e-mails from us, you may here.

 

 

 

 

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