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Landowners gain more time to protect their rights and the environment from tar sands pipeline Read news release Read comments on inadequate Keystone Pipeline application

Homegrown Prosperity WORC’s Homegrown Prosperity Renewable Energy Tour has completed its 12-week journey through seven states to promote good-paying jobs and income for rural communities and offer solutions to reduce greenhouse gases and pollution. Member Group News Oil Shale: Groups looking to Obama administration to help in 2009 – Western Colorado Congress joins in requesting new administration to withdraw commercial oil shale regulations. (Glenwood Springs Post Independent, December 14, 2008) Farm group calls ag mailing deceptive – Dakota Rural Action says letter on animal identification and meat labeling uses coercion to get producers to sign up for federal program. (Aberdeen News, December 13, 2008) Rural Action kicks off new chapter– Oregon Rural Action’s newest chapter will work on plastic recycling, renewable energy, and local foods. (The East Oregonian, November 21, 2008))) More Member Group News... Animal Factories In a last minute favor to the animal factory industry, President Bush's Environmental Protection Agency exempted animal factories from a federal reporting requirement first enacted 28 years ago. The rule required animal factories to tell EPA about emissions of ammonia or hydrogen sulfide from manure pits or other farm operations. The animal factory industry failed in several attempts to get this through Congress in the last three sessions. See comments that WORC and some member groups organizations submitted on this and another proposed rule change earlier this year. A report released December 16 exposes how industrial hog and dairy operations are subsidized through the federal Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The report, entitled Industrial Livestock at the Taxpayer Trough, estimates that between 2003 and 2007, roughly 1,000 industrial hog and dairy operations have captured at least $35 million per year in taxpayer support through EQIP. CAFOs Uncovered – The Untold Costs of Confined Animal Feeding Operations, a new study by the Union of Concerned Scientists. Putting Meat on The Table: Industrial Farm Animal Production in America, a recently released report by the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production. Court Rulings require water law clarification – WORC supports the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act More Factory Farms... GM Crops Wheat and rice growers tell Congress about USDA’s failure to study economic impacts of genetically modified crops. Testimony of Todd Leake, Dakota Resource Council Testimony of Harvey Howington, Arkansas Rice Growers Association WORC submits comments on scope of study to evaluate deregulation of genetically modified alfalfa (pdf 46k) Is Roundup Ready alfalfa growing near you? USDA has listed counties where Roundup Ready alfalfa is grown, or call USDA, 866-724-6408, to find out More GM Alfalfa... More GM Crops... Energy WORC seeks new 90-day comment period to protect landowner rights and the environment from tar sands pipeline Read letter to Department of State Read news release Surveys show Coloradans and Montanans support shift to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and fuel-efficient vehicles. Read Colorado and Montana surveys and news releases Read statement by Peggy Utesch, Western Colorado Congress Read statement by Beth Kaeding, Northern Plains Resource Council Listen to streaming audio recording of Colorado and Montana news events WORC joins with 10 groups to protest oil shale leasing plans. Is there a Future for FutureGen?, a WORC briefing on a cancelled plan to build a coal-fired power plant and store carbon dioxide emissions. Al Gore sounds off on mountaintop removal and coal to liquids in a brief video by Netroots Nation. "Clean Coal” doesn’t exist, a short video by CLEAN WORC criticizes plans for massive oil shale leasing program The Key to Lower Gas Prices: Efficiency, not oil shale, can reduce the price at the pump now, a factsheet by the Natural Resources Defense Council. Western Resource Associates report addresses resource planning for generation and transmission cooperatives (pdf 2MB) House votes to boost renewable energy and protect western waters and landowners Learn how your representative voted Read summary of key provisions Stripmine Act 30 years later – Is it working? See testimony of rancher Ellen Pfister See WORC news release More on Energy... Clean Water Background briefing on Clean Water Restoration Act More on Clean Water... Biofuels Making biofuels microprocessing legal, WORC briefing. Sustainable bio diesel production goes hand in hand with cattle ranching, an audio commentary by rancher Jeanne Charter. WORC urges EPA to deny request for freeze on enthanol Renewable Fuels Standard. Read Letter WORC releases new report Biodiesel Benefits for Cattle Producers: Feeding Byproducts of Biodiesel Production News release Executive summary Growing Sustainable Biofuels: Common Sense on Biofuels, by Patrick Mazza Union of Concerned Scientists releases new report, “Biofuels: An Important Part of a Low-Carbon Diet” John Farrell, Institute for Local Self-Reliance, comments on why energy policies should encourage “better” rather than “more” Read report “Locally owned wind and ethanol – better, not bigger” More on Biofuels... Trade A new way to trade, WORC factsheet on the TRADE Act. WORC urges end to World Trade Organization Talks Read Statement Peru Pact Senate Vote Lets Down Western Agricultural Producers Read WORC Press Release WORC urges Senators to oppose Peru trade pact (pdf 16kb) Peru Trade Agreement Vote Ignores Public Sentiment New report by Public Citizens says pending trade agreements will worsen imported food safety program by increasing food imports while replicating limits on U.S. food safety policy from past trade deals (pdf 639k) WORC Calls on USTR to stop imports from countries with animal disease More on Trade... Family Farms Powder River member Audrey Malan gives thanks for local food and local producers in a High Plains News radio commentary. (2 min audio) Tell USDA to fix meat labeling rules WORC's comments on Country-of-Origin Labeling rules. WORC opposes using school lunch program to sneak through a National Animal Identification System. Read Letter Farm bill is a missed opportunity. Read Farm Bill Summary. Read WORC's statement. WORC tells Congress JBS Swift merger “would further harm price, choice, innovation and competition in the U.S. beef markets.” Read WORC's testimony. WORC joins in opposition to JBS Swift merger. Farm bill seeks fairer livestock markets – commentary by WORC’s Mabel Dobbs WORC Praises Livestock and Renewable Energy Provisions in Senate Farm Bill WORC urges Congress to pass water protection legislation. Tell Your Senators to Return Fairness & Competition to Livestock Markets Livestock Title Voting Guide Packer Ban Fact Sheet Captive Supply Myths & Facts Captive Supply Fact Sheet WORC and allies urge Senate to support Livestock Title in Farm Bill Commentary outlines risk to local foods in Farm Bill debate WORC, the member groups, and more than 175 organizations reiterate need for a livestock title in Senate Farm Bill Read letter Read news release Factsheet lists key provisions of the Farm Bill passed by the House of Representatives (pdf 76k) Chart compares 2002 Country-of-Origin Labeling law to changes in House Passed Farm Bill pdf 35k) Why Competition Reforms Are Needed in the 2007 Farm Bill, an R-CALF USA Fact Sheet More on Captive Supply... More on Family Farms...

Features Way Out West Cookbook Order your Way Out West Cookbook today! Cook, bake, eat and enjoy!! Cowboys Don't Walk Cowboys Don't Walk: A Tale of Two - a memoir of life in the 20th Century West and the emergence of the environmental movement among farmers and ranchers in eastern Montana. Published by WORC in 1999. Read what Robert Redford says about this book.   Donate to WORC Donate to WORC - support our efforts to make the voices of family farmers and ranchers, rural residents, and working families heard in Washington. WORC is a regional network of seven grassroots community organizations that include 9,700 members and 44 local chapters. WORC helps its member groups succeed by providing training and coordinating issue work.