Contact: Arlene Kovash, VP Communications, 503-8388-3512,
akovash@earthlink.netColumbus, OH…..Forty-six American Agri-Women (AAW) leaders from throughout the United States met in Columbus, Ohio, last week to update their positions on legislative and regulatory policy for the year and to conduct other business of this national farm women’s organization. These positions will be discussed with policymakers and members of Congress during the annual AAW Legislative Fly-In to Washington, D.C., held June 8-11, 2008.
AAW members are particularly interested in seeing that the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistical Service (NASS), which is now under-funded, is fully funded as they rely on publicly-available, accurate data to make sound policy decisions impacting food safety, affordability, and environmental quality. They are also concerned that farmers have unrestricted access to world markets and so oppose attempts by U.S. manufacturers to limit exports or imports of farm products such as wheat.
In other actions taken at their yearly mid-year meeting, members took a stand for responsible management of horses and other farm animals and opposed the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act as introduced in Congress in January 2007, and all other attempts on the local and state level to outlaw horse slaughter. This is a real concern when horses are turned loose to fend for themselves, starve because of overpopulation, or are left to damage environmentally sensitive rangeland.
Also, after an exciting exchange with Provider Pals founder Bruce Vincent, a Montana logger, AAW members also made plans to work with him to help promote the Provider Pals’ website for children, a game called Provider World. This site provides children a safe environment in which to explore farming and other natural resource-based occupations, through exciting games and activities.
American Agri-Women is the nation’s largest coalition of farm, ranch and agribusiness women, with 50 state, commodity, agribusiness affiliate organizations and collegiate chapters throughout the country. AAW is an all volunteer organization, working to provide reliable information about agriculture to the public since 1974.
For more information about AAW’s positions on a wide range of agricultural topics, contact Marcie Williams, President, president@ americanagriwomen.org, or visit the web site at
http://www.americanagriwomen.org.