Wellstone

hails

Farm Bill amendment

Senator speaks at

Land Stewardship

Project meeting

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Sen. Paul Wellstone admitted he didn't have a prepared speech for the Land Stewardship Project (LSP) meeting Wednesday at the Holiday Inn.

He also admitted that never stopped him from talking.

Speaking to more than 100 LSP members from Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota -- some of them wearing colorful anti-factory farm shirts and caps -- Wellstone said LSP members were some of the people he respected most because they connected the lives they live with what they believe in.

He voiced his pleasure with last month's 51-46 U.S. Senate passage of the Wellstone-Johnson Amendment that would prohibit large, corporate meat packers from owning and feeding livestock.

"Who would have ever thought we'd do it? Go after the packers that keep jacking around small, independent producers. Unbelievable. We won that. Unbelievable," Wellstone said, his voice rising. "It's not the end-all, but there is nothing like victories to whet the appetite for us to go on and do more."

The amendment, which has not passed the U.S. House yet, does not affect contracts -- it just prohibits direct ownership of livestock by corporate meat packers.

The LSP says packers use ownership of hogs, cattle and sheep to force independent produces to take lower prices for the livestock they market.

Land Stewardship Project Policy and Organizing Director Mark Schultz attributed much of the success of the amendment to LSP members calling independent producers in key states like South Carolina and Texas.

Sign-up sheets to call independent producers in other states were passed among those at the meeting.

"We need to call small producers and stick it to corporate farmers. They're already sticking it to us," said another farmer.

Wellstone said he was against the expansion of already-large corporate hog farms with government funds.

"My gosh, when these conglomerates with more than 5,400 hogs want to expand with corporate welfare, we say no way," Wellstone said. "It's an assault on the rural environment. I'd rather put the money towards a decent price for farmers, renewable energy, environmental protection, rural economic development and education. And we're going to win! Thank you. I'm proud to work with you, Land Stewardship Project. Keep up the good work!"

Wellstone said the administration doesn't want his amendment in the 2002 Farm Bill, so he has a lot of work to do when he gets back to Washington.

A variety of LSP members spoke during a public input session.

Laura Bilel of Clearwater said farm land should be thought of as a precious, natural resource, along with parks and lakes.

"The soil depletion is repeated in rancid fields and farm land east and west of our farm," Bilel said. "Cheap, subsidized corn feeds factory farms and concentrated livestock operations. Could these operations stay in business without massive amounts of antibiotics in their feed?"

Bilel asked how many millions of pounds of antibiotics are fed to the animals? She voiced displeasure with the creation of antibiotic-resistant super bugs.

Another woman said independent hog producers in Missouri are locked out of production unless they sell to a large corporate at very low prices.

"This is our future. This is what we'll get unless we fight," she said.

Family farmers were urged to call other farmers, write, fax or e-mail letters to newspaper and agriculture magazine editors and call their congressional representatives about the 2002 Farm Bill.

A local meeting revolving around similar issues is set for next week.

The United Church of Christ, 301 S. Minnesota St., New Ulm, will host a meeting at 7 p.m., Tuesday. Mary Tacheny, School Sister of Notre Dame, Center for Earth Spirituality and Rural Ministry in Mankato will speak about "Personal Choices: Spiritual Values That Support Us."

Granite Falls farmer and Land Stewardship Project Program Organizer Terry VanDerPol will speak about "Sustaining Our Communities and Improving our River Environment through Food Production and Consumption Choices: a Western Minnesota Model."

The event is co-sponsored by the United Church of Christ, A River Friendly Faith Community in New Ulm, Christ the King Lutheran Church and the Minnesota Earth Sabbath Team.