May 20, 2015
Posted for Dan Furmansky and Joanna Diamond.
Think poultry waste in our waterways is crappy? Want to see the government subsidize healthy, local, sustainable farming instead of CAFOs/factory farms? Concerned about toxic pesticides harming pollinators and the overuse of antibiotics in farmed animals causing antibiotic resistance?
These are some of the major issues that motivate the work of our Food & Farming Committee. Join us in our goals to make a difference in Maryland’s food system.
We've developed these exciting goals to guide our work:
- The Food & Farming Committee’s legislative goals are to (1) pass the Pollinator Protection Act in 2016, (2) eliminate use of human antibiotics in farmed animals in 2016, (3) watchdog manure management implementation regulations to ensure Maryland is on track to meet its 2017 TMDL goals, and (4) enact pollution transparency and accountability measures so the burden of cleanup falls to polluters, not taxpayers, and supports an equitable and sustainable food system.
- Our Committee will build an “advisory council” of at least 5 small farmers in Maryland who are willing to provide guidance on key issues and vocal support for our policy priorities.
- We will educate our membership about farming practices and explore differences between CAFOs and sustainable farms through two farms tours and a Chapter-wide book club reading of Christopher Leonard’s “The Meat Racket.”
- We will build our capacity to achieve policy successes by doubling the size of our opt-in list of people who have taken action on these issues.
To learn more about our work or to sign up for our listserv, email Food & Farming Consultant Dan Furmansky (danfurmansky@gmail.com) and Committee Chair Joanna Diamond (joannadiamond@gmail.com)