What's "natural" to you? Voice your comments to USDA.

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Services is taking comments on the voluntary label "naturally raised."  You can find more information on the USDA AMS News Release or at the Federal Register.  Comments must be submitted to USDA by January 28th for consideration. 

Recently, other voluntary labels, such as antibotic free, have come under scruntiny.  USDA revoked Tyson's use of the claim "antibiotic free" based on definiations of specific feed additive.  'Organic' has federal regulations, 'antibotic free' has specific definitions, and now, is your chance to comment on the development of a "naturally rasied" definition at the federal level.

Link to Federal Register Notice

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Yesterday at E3, an energy conference hosted by the University of Minnesota, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Xcel Energy President Dick Kelly, Eileen Claussen and numerous other renewable energy experts and civic leaders, I heard similar messages about the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions because we are experiencing global warming.

At the global scale, we are experiencing hot extremes, cyclones, droughts and abrupt and possibly irreversable conditions though global warming, Eileen Claussen of the Pew Center for Global Climate Change reported. Over 170 nations have agreed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by signing the Kyoto Protocol. The agreement expires in 2012 and negotiations to update the treaty are beginning. The United States has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol. 

Claussen believes businesses will be a major player in the next step toward addressing global warming.  Businesses realize that greenhouse gas reduction policy will soon be created and it will impact them. They want a seat at the table. 

Additionally, many businesses recognize that reducing emissions is good for business, according to Xcel President Dick Kelly. Xcel uses electricity from solar, wind, hydro, biomass, nuclear and coal sources for their customers.  Xcel has over 23,000 Minnesotans signed on as Wind Source customers, demonstrating the public's committment to renewable energy. They are expanding their renewable sources by adding a wind farm near Austin, MN too. 

Senator Kloubchar noted that little is being done on a federal level to address greenhouse gas emissions, however, states are making bold decisions and taking action (see States Greenhouse Gas Emissions Targets). Senator Klobuchar noted that 31 states are in discussions about creating regional carbon registries and trading systems.

It's refreshing to see civic leaders, businesses and organizations all recognize the imminent need to make changes in our nation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.

More news from the Summit, youth seek rural life

Rural youth in attendance at the Rural Youth Summit and 2007 National Summit on Agriculture and Rural Life talk about their desires to live and work in rural communities in a Brownfield Network audio piece.  Many are looking for a way to return to, or move to, rural areas to begin farming, but face a lack of access to capitol and high land prices. 

At the Summit, youth discussed these and other challenges, and they worked together to identify sustainable solutions for youth to create a life and a living in rural communities.