In the next two weeks, the Washington Legislature will make a decision that will strongly influence the future of Washington's agriculture. Washington State University (WSU) is our state's main public agricultural research and education institution. Therefore, the direction of WSU's programs has a great impact on the future of agriculture in Washington. We have an opportunity to ensure that this future depends on organic and sustainable farming rather than genetic engineering of food crops.

Urge legislators to support BIOAg...

A new, innovative program has been created by WSU's Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resources to conduct the research and education that growers need to use organic and sustainable techniques. The Biologically Intensive and Organic Agriculture Program, or BIOAg Program, addresses the need for economically viable, environmentally sound, and socially responsible solutions that work for Washington growers and farm workers, and that meet the public demand for healthy, local food. BIOAg will establish WSU as a visionary, forward-thinking national leader in support of sustainable and organic agriculture.

...Not Biopharming!

Rather than make BIOAg the centerpiece of its funding request for 2005, WSU leaders are working to increase the University's capacity for promoting biotechnology. This includes biopharming, which is the use of genetically modified plants and animals, including food crops, to manufacture pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals. Profits from new technologies would go primarily to multinational corporations, not family farms.

The direction of WSU depends primarily on funding granted by the Washington State Legislature. We are asking the Legislature to fund the BIOAg Program in the amount of $2.6 million for the state's 2005-7 biennial budget.

Stand up for healthy foods and family farms by writing your legislator today. Request they make the BIOAg program a funding priority. Click here for a sample letter.

House and Senate budget negotiators are meeting now to resolve differences in their respective budgets. We need your help to get the BIOAg program included in the final budget! The legislative session ends on April 24—less than 2 weeks away!

Below is contact information for key budget negotiators and the message we need to give them. Because they are developing the budget for the entire state, calls are needed from across the state. If you are in one of their districts, your call is especially important! Legislative district information follows contact and message info below. If you are a constituent from their district, you can call the legislative hotline (800-562-6000) toll free and leave messages.

Sen. Margarita Prentice - Chair of Senate Ways & Means Committee: prentice_ma@leg.wa.gov, 360-786-7616

Sen. Mark Doumit - Vice Chair of Senate Ways & Means Committee: doumit_ma@leg.wa.gov, 360-786-7636

Rep. Helen Sommers - Chair of House Appropriations Committee: sommers_he@leg.wa.gov, 360-786-7814

Rep. Bill Fromhold - Vice Chair of House Appropriations Committee: fromhold_bi@leg.wa.gov, 360-786-7924

Rep. Frank Chopp - House Speaker: chopp_fr@leg.wa.gov, 360-786-7920

Message:

"Please support the House budget proviso that will be offered in the joint House/Senate conference process, for $2.6 million in new funding for the Biologically Intensive and Organic (BIOAg) program at Washington State University. This innovative program will help growers across the state reduce input costs, protect the environment, access higher value markets and meet the public demand for organic and sustainably-produced foods."

Legislative district info:

Senator MARK DOUMIT
(D) 19th Legislative District
Pacific, Wahkiakum, and parts of Grays Harbor and Cowlitz county

Senator MARGARITA PRENTICE
(D) 11th Legislative District
South Seattle communities of West Seattle, Int'l District, Beacon Hill, White Center, South Park, and Harbor Island. Also includes portions of Burien, Kent, Renton and Tukwila and the Boeing Industrial Park.

Rep. HELEN SOMMERS
(D) 36th legislative district
Seattle: Magnolia, Queen Anne, Phinney Ridge and parts of Ballard, Crown Hill, Denny Regrade, Fremont, Greenwood, Lake Union, Loyal Heights, Sunset Hill.

Rep. BILL FROMHOLD
(D) 49th legislative district
Parts of Vancouver and Clark County

Rep. FRANK CHOPP
(D) 43rd legislative district
Seattle communities including downtown Seattle, Capitol Hill, Madison Park, Wallingford, Fremond, Ravenna

BACKGROUND/DETAILS ON BIOAG PROGRAM:

BUDGET REQUEST: Healthy Farms, Food and People $2.6 million/biennium for BIOAg program at WSU (Biologically Intensive and Organic Agriculture Program)

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: BIOAg is an innovative program that will:

• Enhance the economic and environmental health of Washington agriculture through research, education and outreach on organic and other biologically-based methods
• Assist producers in meeting environmental regulations, accessing higher-value markets and developing value-added products, thereby increasing farm profitability
• Respond to the rapidly growing public demand for locally-grown, organic and natural foods
• Investigate links between improved human health, food quality and biologically-based farming method

• Research: $500,000/year competitive grants program for research; Research and extension nutritionist to investigate links between local and organic foods and nutrition
• Teaching: Biologically Intensive and Organic Farming faculty position; Academic major in organic farming; Establish and operate an organic teaching and demonstration farm and organic research land at each research unit to integrate course curriculums with in-field examples
• Outreach & value-added product development: 3 value-added extension educators; Statewide BIOAg coordinator; BIOAg publications/workshops/training; Evaluation of BIOAg Program impacts

• Washington Sustainable Food & Farming Network
• Washington Farmers Union
• Tilth Producers of Washington
• Washington State Grange
• Cattle Producers of Washington
• Pacific NW Direct Seed Association
• Rural Roots
• PCC Natural Markets (40,000 member households)
• Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance (Seattle)
• Small Planet Foods
• Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington State
• Cascade Harvest Coalition
• Seattle Tilth
• Washington Toxics Coalition
• Earth Ministry
• Anti-Hunger and Nutrition Coalition
• Physicians for Social Responsibility (WA State Chapter)

Please consider making a donation to the Network to support our BIOAg campaign, and/or becoming a member, if you're not already! Send your contribution to: WSFFN, P.O. Box 6054, Bellingham, WA 98227. You can download a membership form from our web site - see the 'Join the Network' bar on our Home page.