Yesterday in the Statehouse, the members of the VT delegation were all present to listen to Vermont farmers’ concerns about the state of the industry and the impact of federal policy on it. The federal Farm Bill is up for reauthorization, and the current one expires on Sept. 30th. The bill addresses farming, logging, conservation, nutrition programs and rural development.

As the Times Argus reports, a major concern of the farmers is the need for a more regional approach:

“I urge the (U.S. Department of Agriculture) to establish a national dairy policy which supports the regional production of milk,” said Mark Magnant, who runs a Fairfield dairy farm with his wife, three brothers and parents.

He and other farmers said they’re held captive by existing farm policy. The price they’re paid for their milk is controlled by that policy but the costs they’re forced to pay for feed, energy and other supplies is beyond their control.

“I would much rather extract the dollars needed to cover our cost of production from the marketplace versus through a government program,” Magnant said.

Another concern stated was that the current federal policies favor large agribusiness interests and their huge farms over those of the small family farm. From the Burlington Free Press:

Vermont’s farmers might be of one mind on federal dairy policy, but they are up against much larger dairy concerns in places like Texas, Arizona and New Mexico that run by a different set of economics than the state’s family-owned farms.

“The opposition to helping family-based dairy is going to be strong,” Sanders said noting that the Bush administration and large dairy processors are against regional programs.

Other concerns included the need for rural broadband, a simplification of the federal grant process, better forest and land conservation measures, and incentives for farmers to develop and promote renewable energy projects.

(with the rain coming later this week, this is on a lot of people’s minds… – promoted by JDRyan)

crossposted on EvolvingPeace http://www.evolvingw…

Here in the Capital City of Vermont, Montpelier we are patiently waiting the thaw of the winter’s snow and ice of frozen rivers. Many are hoping that the ice jam along the river does not unleash flooding that could cause havoc throughout the streets of town; however withholding our hope citizens of all are preparing for the worst and signs of preparation are abundant throughout town. Sand bags are stacked in front of buildings and signs of pre flood sales are at many of the downtown business. While the city of Montpelier braces itself for a possible flood, the rest of the human population should resolve themselves in embracing another thaw.

The ice and snow in Montpelier is a buildup from the winter season, while the planet’s buildup of ice and snow has been for centuries. Unlike the potential flooding of Montpelier, the results of a global thawing will be permanent and difficult to counteract. If a flood hits, Montpelier will be under havoc for a short time and eventually normality will return to the city streets and hopefully without any major casualties. For the planet, scientists are predicting world wide calamities are a possibility, and that serious actions are needed now.

Fortunately, there are only a few slivers of doubt shed upon global warming and the debate is spreading towards constraining it over denying it. But imagine, citizens refuting the potential of a flood. No preparations of moving storage or inventory to higher levels, no planning for evacuation routes and no advance placement of sand bags, everyone just leaving things alone and letting the events of Mother Nature unfold naturally and allowing the full scale repercussions to take place. Disaster strikes and people are left stranded, damage done to business, people drowning and homes destroyed.

So when it comes to the planning of a potential flood I am glad to see the community and government’s involvement in attempting to protect us and proceed with action instead of waiting in resistance or denial. I hope the same will hold true in regards to global warming. The majority of scientists have determined that man has directly attributed to the effects of global warming and global catastrophes are predicted, so like the flooding of a local river from a winter’s thaw, as a society we must take action in preparations of the thaw from an ice-age, whether it is man made or natural.

Peace
Robb Kidd

“There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat. And we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.” William Shakespeare

Here’s your handy-dandy Tuesday linkdump…

The details of the latest Defense supplemental bill are starting to come out… some good, some not so good. Evidently the ‘Blue-dog Democrats’ (aka Repub-lite) have struck a provision from the bill that required President Bush to get congressional approval before attacking Iran. And you can get more details on the bill over here at TPM Cafe.

Bush-enabler Sen. Susan Collins(R-ME) is going to have quite a challenge on her hands in ’08. due to the emergence of the netroots in Maine, something that wasn’t present last time she ran. Americablog has the details.

What is it with the Caledonian-Record? Apparently, there’s no problem with generosity in this country, and get this, John Edwards is a ‘far left liberal’.

Also from the C.R., Sen. Vince Illuzi clears the way for bringing Wal-Mart to Derby.

Gay-bashing… it’s as American as apple pie. First up, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace said that he thinks “homosexual acts are immoral.” Interestingly enough, he’s silent of the immorality of that little war he’s helping to run. Also, Truthdig has a great piece on intolerance, the Christian Right, and their concern over the ‘decline of male prowess in America’, with When They Came for the Homosexuals… UPDATE: General Pace “expresses regret” over his comments.

Remember that sinking feeling you got when Michael Dukkakis (or John Kerry) was the Dem nominee? Time to sit back and gloat a bit. Now it’s finally the Republicans’ turn. The NYT has more on that.

In labor news, why the “Employee Free Choice Act” that will be voted on in the Senate soon is important.

And finally, as compensation for having me read the Caledonian Record to give you this linkdump, I point you homeward for “Yet another reason to love VT.”

Happy Tuesday!