A group of organizations that consider themselves part of the food movement have come together to form Food Policy Action. This new group released a scorecard on Senators and Representatives based on 32 floor votes taken in the last two years – and declared 11 Senators and 39 House members food champions. They also named some food policy failures. In the near-term – Food Policy Action wants to inform voters about the standing of each Member of Congress ahead of the election. Longer-term – the group hopes to influence member votes and behavior. According to the Food Policy Action website – the group’s mission is to highlight the importance of food policy and to promote policies that support healthy diets, reduce hunger at home and abroad, improve food access and affordability, uphold the rights and dignity of food and farm workers, increase transparency, improve public health, reduce the risk of food-borne illness, support local and regional food systems, treat farm animals humanely and reduce the environmental impact of farming and food production.

On their National Food Policy Scorecard – members who voted to limit farm subsidies, repeal the ethanol tax credit, stop the Environmental Protection Agency from legalizing E15 ethanol, require labeling of genetically modified foods, require conservation compliance, offer crop insurance for organic crops, encourage pulse crops in school meals and to spend more on rural development programs that encourage local food systems got a thumbs up. Members got a thumbs down for voting to reduce funding for domestic and international food assistance programs, weaken EPA pesticide regulation and cut conservation spending to fund disaster assistance.

The Food Policy Action Board includes Environmental Working Group President Ken Cook and Humane Society of the United States President and CEO Wayne Pacelle. Bread for the World, the National Black Farmers Association and Food Democracy Now! are among the other groups represented.

Visit FoodPolicyAction dot org (www.foodpolicyaction.org) for more on this newly-formed group.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon presented agricultural leaders in Vienna, St. James  and Rolla with the Governor’s Award for Agricultural Achievement, which honors outstanding farmers, growers and processors for their work with agricultural commodities and their communities

Gov. Nixon and Missouri’s Director of Agriculture, Dr. Jon Hagler presented the awards to Otto Williams of the WW Cedar Company in Vienna; Terry and Myrna Geiler of the Rolla Horse Auction in St. James; and Bob and Gretchen Thompson ofGlengrove Farm in Rolla.

“Agriculture has always been, and will always be, the heart of Missouri’s economy,” Gov. Nixon said. “Missouri farmers not only feed the world, they create jobs, support their communities and our economy. The farmers, ranchers and producers of Missouri are moving our state forward through innovation and are creating new opportunities for our future.”

The National Corn Growers Association says state corn associations across the country are laying the groundwork for a shift toward greater use of ethanol. A wide variety of programs are underway that will help fuel tomorrow with E15 and midlevel blends while providing easier access to E85. Efforts in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota are helping make the increased use of higher ethanol blends a reality by helping fund the installation of the necessary fuel pumps. NCGA says from programs that completely support the installation of E85 pumps for retailers looking to convert multiple locations to programs that help cover the cost of signage highlighting ethanol options – these programs provide not only infrastructure for retailers but also choice for consumers.

There are approximately 162-thousand service stations nationwide – but only three-thousand currently offer E85 for the eight-million flex fuel vehicles already on the road today. Also – few offer the choice of E15 – recently approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use in vehicles model year 2001 or newer.

State associations are joining with national groups representing corn farmers and ethanol producers to educate consumers about ethanol and increase awareness of the available options through the American Ethanol partnership with NASCAR and the Blend Your Own program.

Drawing on the experience in the aftermath of Proposition 65 – which involved chemicals and water – three national law firms are bracing for an onslaught of lawsuits that will result if Proposition 37 passes. The firm Alston and Bird says Prop 65 has led to 16-thousand lawsuits and 500-million dollars in settlements. Their website expects Prop 37 will impact many California businesses – creating an atmosphere favorable to private enforcers and leading to frequent litigation and settlements. The Prop 37 ballot initiative outlines certain labeling requirements for genetically engineered food products sold in California. Law firms are warning that the measure will expose grocery retailers, food companies, farmers and others to what they call predatory, shakedown lawsuits.

Much like Prop 65 – Prop 37 allows trial lawyers to file suit against anyone and everyone associated with any food product without a label. They don’t even need evidence, testing or research to show the unlabeled product contains genetically engineered ingredients. Those promoting the proposition emphasize that those sued have an easy out if they produce sworn statements that there was no knowing or intentional use of GE. But a client alert from Morrison and Foerster says the defendant would have to submit to discovery on the question of knowledge and intent in order to take advantage of that exemption.

The law firm Downey Brand says the sworn statement exemption will hit everyone on the food production chain – setting in motion a series of certifications and indemnity agreements that will stretch from the grocery stores all the way back down the chain of production to the nursery or seed company. They go on to say a sworn statement will be required of the farmer, the trucker, the packer, the processor, the wholesaler/distributor and finally the retailer. While aimed directly at the retailer – Downey Brand says Proposition 37 will mean everyone in the food supply chain is responsible for compliance.

NEW HAVEN, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon was in Franklin County today to recognize Rick Scheer and Scheer Family Dairy Farm with the Governor’s Award for Agricultural Achievement, which honors outstanding farmers, growers and processors for their work with agricultural commodities and their communities.

“Agriculture has always been, and will always be, the heart of Missouri’s economy, and dairy farmers like Rick Scheer are a big part of the reason why,” Gov. Nixon said. “Missouri farmers not only feed the world, they create jobs, support their communities and our economy.”

During his visit today, Gov. Nixon and Missouri’s Director of Agriculture, Dr. Jon Hagler, toured the Scheer Family Dairy operation, which includes 120 Holstein dairy cattle.

The Scheer Family Dairy Farm was the first dairy farm in the state to feature a fully-automated milking system.