First CUFSP Spring Meeting

The spring semester is up and running and so is CUFSP! Please join us for our first meeting tonight, Wednesday January 21st, to plan for all our food sustainability efforts this semester.
Discussion topics will include:

-On-campus garden planning and expansion
-Real Food NE Conference
-Sustainable food advocacy on campus

Date: Wednesday, Jan 21
Time: 9pm
Location: Hamilton 306

The Grant Houses Garden Project group will meet starting next Tuesday, Jan 27, 9pm in Hamilton Hall. Room TBA.

Also, please take a minute to read President Obama's farm policy, which promises great change to benefit small farms, new farmers, and rural communities:


Ensure Economic Opportunity for Family Farmers

Strong Safety Net for Family Farmers: Fight for farm programs that provide family farmers with stability and predictability. Implement a $250,000 payment limitation so we help family farmers -- not large corporate agribusiness. Close the loopholes that allow mega farms to get around payment limits.

Prevent Anticompetitive Behavior Against Family Farms: Pass a packer ban. When meatpackers own livestock they can manipulate prices and discriminate against independent farmers. Strengthen anti-monopoly laws and strengthen producer protections to ensure independent farmers have fair access to markets, control over their production decisions, and transparency in prices.

Regulate CAFOs: Strictly regulate pollution from large factory livestock farms, with fines for those that violate tough standards. Support meaningful local control.

Establish Country of Origin Labeling: Implement Country of Origin Labeling so that American producers can distinguish their products from imported ones.

Encourage Organic and Local Agriculture: Help organic farmers afford to certify their crops and reform crop insurance to not penalize organic farmers. Promote regional food systems.

Encourage Young People to Become Farmers: Establish a new program to identify and train the next generation of farmers. Provide tax incentives to make it easier for new farmers to afford their first farm.

Partner with Landowners to Conserve Private Lands: Increase incentives for farmers and private landowners to conduct sustainable agriculture and protect wetlands, grasslands, and forests.

--www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/rural