[USCC] Fwd: "Organic Farmer Elected to US Senate;

[Jim McNelly]

>
>*   "Organic Farmer Elected to US Senate; International Organic 
>Sector Celebrates Election of Organic Farmer Jon Tester to United 
>States Senate" is the title of a November 10 News Release issued by 
>International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), 
>which states in part that " ... Jon Tester, an organic farmer and 
>leader in the organic movement since 1987, has been elected as a US 
>Senator from the state of Montana. A third generation farmer from 
>Big Sandy, Montana, he has been farming organically for nearly 
>twenty years. In 2005, Tester and his wife Sharla were named 
>outstanding agricultural leaders by the College of Agriculture at 
>Montana State University. Their T-Bone Farms is a diversified 
>organic operation with 1400 acres (567 hectares) ... Their crops 
>this year included hard red wheat, hard white wheat, kamut, lentils, 
>and purple barley. Tester is a strong believer in green manures, a 
>type of cover crop grown to be plowed under and incorporated into 
>the soil, adding natural sources of nitrogen and phosphorous, not to 
>mention improving and protecting the soil. Tester has been a leader 
>in the organic movement for more than a decade. He served as the 
>national treasurer for the Organic Crop Improvement Association 
>International, and helped to develop the Montana Organic 
>Certification program ... IFOAM Executive Director Angela B. Caudle 
>praised the election of Jon Tester. 'IFOAM looks forward to working 
>with Senator Elect Tester to develop and promote Organic Agriculture 
>both in the United States and internationally' she said ... IFOAM is 
>the international umbrella organization of organic agriculture 
>movements worldwide. IFOAM's mission is leading, uniting and 
>assisting the organic movement in its full diversity. Our goal is 
>the worldwide adoption of ecologically, socially and economically 
>sound systems that are based on the Principles of Organic 
>Agriculture ..." - The complete text of the news release is posted 
>at 
><http://www.ifoam.org/press/press/John_Tester_US_Senate.html>http://www.ifoam.org/press/press/John_Tester_US_Senate.html 
>
>
>http://www.ifoam.org/press/press/John_Tester_US_Senate.html
>
>Organic Farmer Elected to US Senate
>
>November 10, 2006
>
>International Organic Sector Celebrates Election of Organic Farmer 
>Jon Tester to United States Senate
>
>Jon Tester, an organic farmer and leader in the organic movement 
>since 1987, has been elected as a US Senator from the state of 
>Montana. A third generation farmer from Big Sandy, Montana, he has 
>been farming organically for nearly twenty years.
>
>In 2005, Tester and his wife Sharla were named outstanding 
>agricultural leaders by the College of Agriculture at Montana State 
>University. Their T-Bone Farms is a diversified organic operation 
>with 1400 acres (567 hectares).
>
>The stated goals of their operation are:
>
>To produce high quality food;
>To use environmentally sound farming practices ;
>To improve soil health on their farm; and
>To keep the farm in their family.
>Their crops this year included hard red wheat, hard white wheat, 
>kamut, lentils, and purple barley. Tester is a strong believer in 
>green manures, a type of cover crop grown to be plowed under and 
>incorporated into the soil, adding natural sources of nitrogen and 
>phosphorous, not to mention improving and protecting the soil.
>
>Tester has been a leader in the organic movement for more than a 
>decade. He served as the national treasurer for the Organic Crop 
>Improvement Association International, and helped to develop the 
>Montana Organic Certification program.
>
>Bob Quinn, an organic farmer and President of Kamut International, 
>said "We all started in organic farming nearly 20 years ago in 
>north-central Montana, and since that time Jon Tester has been a 
>great supporter of sustainable and Organic Agriculture - not only 
>on  his farm, but also while he was serving at the Montana State 
>Senate. I'm sure he'll be a strong voice for sustainable and Organic 
>Agriculture in the U.S. Senate as well, as someone who has learned 
>it by experience." He added "We are extremely happy as an organic 
>community" that Tester has been elected to the U.S. Senate. They 
>have been neighbors and friends for 30 years.
>
>According to Thomas B. Harding, former IFOAM President, colleague of 
>Jon Tester and Director of Agrisystems International, "Jon Tester, 
>now U.S. Senator Elect Jon Tester, is an extraordinary man - one who 
>walks his talk, an excellent organic farmer, dedicated to the family 
>farmer, the farm community and to Organic Agriculture in 
>general.  He sees the big picture and he will make a very great 
>difference to all of us as he meets his elected responsibilities in 
>the U.S. Senate.  How lucky we are to have a man like Jon in our community."
>
>IFOAM Executive Director Angela B. Caudle praised the election of 
>Jon Tester. "IFOAM looks forward to working with Senator Elect 
>Tester to develop and promote Organic Agriculture both in the United 
>States and internationally" she said. "His  understanding of soil 
>ecology and the economics of organic production systems will 
>undoubtedly bring a fresh perspective to the U.S. Senate and 
>contribute to the establishment of more sustainable agricultural programs."
>
>##
>IFOAM is the international umbrella organization of organic 
>agriculture movements worldwide.
>
>IFOAM's mission is leading, uniting and assisting the organic 
>movement in its full diversity.
>
>Our goal is the worldwide adoption of ecologically, socially and 
>economically sound systems that are based on the Principles of 
>Organic Agriculture.
>
>END
>
>
>
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>
>Jack Cooper
>
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>
>Jack L. Cooper
>Food Industry Environmental Network, LLC
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>and
>Cindy Roberts
>Food Industry Environmental Network, LLC
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