Please read this important message from Oregonians for Farm & Food Rights regarding proposed canola production in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Attend the hearing on Jan. 23 or submit your written comment to the Oregon Department of Agriculture by Jan. 25.
Last fall, many of you testified against allowing canola production in the Willamette Valley. Thank you! Unfortunately, the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) hasn't heard our message so we need your help again. Even though only six farmers spoke in support of canola at last fall’s hearing, and 34 farmers said they would be directly harmed by canola, the ODA is still moving forward to allow canola production in the Williamette Valley.
Please attend the public hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 23rd, 9 am at the Salem Fairgrounds, in Salem, Oregon, at Cascade Hall. Bring a friend. Bring a farmer! Submit your testimony and support your farmers. We need to stand up to the ODA and let them know the public is watching.
The Willamette Valley is one of the world’s last five great seed-growing regions. An unprecedented coalition of farmers – vegetable seed, wheat, clover, grass seed, organic farmers, fresh produce growers, and even sugar beet seed farmers – have banded together to try to stop the harmful introduction of this crop in their region. Our farmers truly need your help. Our food system needs your help.
If you are unable to attend the hearing, please send in a written comment by Jan. 25 at 5pm. Written comments can be mailed to: Canola Hearings Officer, Department of Agriculture, 635 Capitol Street NE, Salem, OR 97301 or sent via email to: canola-rulemaking@oda.state.
Learn more about the impact canola would have in the Williamette Valley atwww.farmandfoodrights.org. Scroll down the homepage for a map and directions to the public hearing on Jan. 23.
SAMPLE EMAIL:
If only six farmers spoke in support of canola at last fall’s hearing, and 34 farmers said they would be directly harmed by canola why are you still allowing the production of Canola in the Valley? Our country is supposed to be a Democracy and it is our taxes that keep you working. You are paid to represent the majority of the people in your region, and it is clear that the majority does NOT want Canola production next to the local farmers in one of the world’s last five great seed-growing regions that grow vegetable seed, wheat, clover, grass seed, organic farmers, fresh produce growers, and even sugar beet seed farmers.
I ask of you to save the economy in the Willamette by not allowing the contamination of Canola.
I ask you to represent the people and not the corporations and dollar.
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