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St Petersburg March 26th,
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Anne on -
I haven't gotten the green light on it yet, but I sent in my e-mail to do it for the St. Petersburg show. How long did it take for Lydia to get back to you about the go ahead?
I'm ready to go on a moments notice though, haha. What do you have planned?
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Permalink Reply by Kurtis Marsh on -
Same thing I have heard nothing back . Have to find out if there is a way to confidentially give you my phone number we could always just plan it and show up.
Anne said:I haven't gotten the green light on it yet, but I sent in my e-mail to do it for the St. Petersburg show. How long did it take for Lydia to get back to you about the go ahead?
I'm ready to go on a moments notice though, haha. What do you have planned?
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Permalink Reply by Anne on
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I have a facebook, and I could add you (if you have one) and message you. I'm thinking that if I don't hear anything by Friday, I will e-mail again, but I think its a good idea to have it set up so we can plan ahead of time. I will have the task of having to go to school, then to the dentist, and then up to St. Pete, and have the food with me. But that's what coolers are for!
Kurtis Marsh said:Same thing I have heard nothing back . Have to find out if there is a way to confidentially give you my phone number we could always just plan it and show up.
Anne said:I haven't gotten the green light on it yet, but I sent in my e-mail to do it for the St. Petersburg show. How long did it take for Lydia to get back to you about the go ahead?
I'm ready to go on a moments notice though, haha. What do you have planned?
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Permalink Reply by shanrocks on -
i told my boyfriend about this (he's not on the internet as much as me haha)... and he is totally down for doing this. he said he's gonna send lydia an e-mail (if he hasn't already) and sign up on here as well to find out the scoop... i can't make this show cuz i live up in PA, but i just wanted to initiate the discussion of menu... im lookin forward to hearing your ideas + i am oh so jealous i can't be down there for this =)
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Permalink Reply by Chris on -
I agree, even if we don't hear back we should just show up with the food...You guys have any ideas yet? I was thinking organic wraps or sandwiches since my drive is about an hour away. And maybe some cookies or cupcakes for dessert. I don't want to make anything hot and then have it warm and slimy by the time I arrive...
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Permalink Reply by shanrocks on
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what did everyone fall off the face of st petersburg? haha... i got an email today from lydia but it doesnt do me much good now cuz im all the way up here in PA... did anyone else hear back from her yet?
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USDA Issues New Regulations Protecting Contract Farmers
The USDA released regulations (PDF link) this week that will provide new, much-needed protections for contract poultry farmers.Contract farming generally refers to a system in which a farmer raises or grows an agricultural product for a larger company. Contract poultry farmers invest their own money to build poultry barns to company specifications. Under contract, a company delivers the chicks to the grower who uses company feed and medicine to raise the chicks. The company retains ownership of the birds and dictates how the chicks are to be raised. The grown birds then go back to be processed by the poultry company for a previously agreed-upon price based on the birds' weight.
A typical chicken house costs about $300,000 to build, and most companies encourage growers to build at least four houses, for an investment in excess of $1 million. Frequently, growers take out loans covering that entire expense, only to find themselves dropped by the company, often with little or no notice. While there exists the potential for fair contracts in this agricultural system, that has not been the case historically. Contract growers have typically been extremely vulnerable, the contracts tilted against the grower who is subject to the whims of the poultry company. These new regulations issued by the USDA's Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration will help change that system.
Under the new rules:
- Companies must provide farmers with a written copy of the contract before the farmer makes an initial investment in his or her poultry houses;
- Contracts with confidentiality clauses must allow farmers to discuss contract offers with federal or state agencies, immediate family members, business associates, farmers who contract with the same company, accounting services hired by the farmer, a lawyer or financial advisor before signing;
- Contracts must state that if a farmer is put on a performance improvement plan (in other words, if they've received a warning that could potentially lead to their contract being terminated), they must be told why, what steps will be taken to help them improve, how they can regain good standing, and the factors that will be used to determine when or if the contract will be terminated;
- Farmers must be notified in writing within 90 days before a contract is terminated, expired, not renewed or not replaced.
"When the company terminated my contract, the company representative left a message on my answering machine saying that the flock of chickens that we had would be our last," Kevin said. "We had no warning. No one should be in that situation."
Mickey Box, a farmer in Berryville, Arkansas, agreed. "Growers have been left in the dark," Mickey said. "When I was put on a performance improvement plan, I knew I could lose my contract. It would have helped to know how I could get back in good standing."
Becky Ceartas, director of the contract agriculture reform program at Farm Aid-funded group Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA (RAFI), said these rules increase fairness, transparency and good business practices.
"Before farmers make the financial commitment to build poultry facilities on their farms, they need to know exactly what's expected and what the terms of that arrangement will be," said Ceartas. "An informed farmer can make better decisions, and that benefits everyone."
Farmers and concerned consumers can get more information about these rules by calling Ceartas at (919) 542-1396 x209 or by visiting www.rafiusa.org.
The Administration will release additional proposed regulations in early 2010 that will deal with other competition and fairness issues in poultry and livestock agriculture—stay tuned!
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