Here's installment #2 of questions concerning the new farm bill and
sustainable agriculture. If you have any information or opinions, please
respond!
4/10/96 QUESTION #1
--What will happen to indebted farmers if land values drop by $300-400
due to the elimination of bases in 7 years? How will lenders react to
apparent decline in assets? Will foreclosures rise?
and
4/10/96 QUESTION #2
--Is federal organic certification a good thing for organic farmers?
Will Dole and Cargill be able to shoulder smaller organic farmers out
under new, permissive standards?
and
4/10/96 QUESTION #3
--What are the chances of complete food input labelling (all chemicals)
being instituted for consumers' benefit? I'm imagining something like
the Toxics Release Inventory for industry, but for supermarkets,
suppliers, and producers.
Thanks for responding!
Sincerely,
Matthew Norton
Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies