<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:12pt"><br><div> </div><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: bookman old style,new york,times,serif; color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">Lawrence A. Parker</span><img alt=""><br><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Managing Director</span><img alt=""><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Akron Cooperative</span><br style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">234-525-0543</span><br><span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.akroncooperative.com/">http://www.akroncooperative.com/</a></span><br><br><span style="color: rgb(0, 191, 96); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.</span><div><br></div><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br><div
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<td class="date" valign="bottom" align="right"><em><font style="color: rgb(112, 112, 112); font-family: arial,verdana,sans-serif;" color="#707070" face="arial,verdana,sans-serif" size="2">October 23, 2009 </font></em></td></tr>
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<td colspan="2"><font style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial,verdana,sans-serif;" color="#000000" face="arial,verdana,sans-serif" size="2"><p><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;"><em>Welcome to your October edition of E-news. <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://action.farmland.org/site/R?i=YbiUByyNQYblzgror-Ikww..">Click here to view a version of this E-newsletter on the web</a>.Thank you to everyone who took part in the E-news survey last month. We recieved great feedback and are working to implement your great suggestions. In this issue, read about the potential for local farms to feed the northeast; zoom in from space to see how climate change might affect different parts of the world with Google Earth's new tool; and join us in celebrating a good year for federal conservation funds.</em></span></span></p>
<h3><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">Can Local Food from Local Farms Support Us?</span></span></span></span></h3>
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<td><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;"><img style="border: 0pt none ;" src="http://action.farmland.org/site/../images/content/pagebuilder/16875.png" alt="Fresh Food on the Urban Fringe" width="160" height="89"></span></span></td>
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<p><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">The </span></span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://action.farmland.org/site/R?i=yDjf6-ZAIQIRIP7GZgtq7A.."><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">availability of local food</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;"> from Maine to Virginia will be investigated by an upcoming study. The study, to be conducted by the United States Agriculture Research Service, will attempt to answer the question: can local food from local farms support the region? “Understanding the ability for people to have access to food from regional sources will provide a poignant view of how critically important farmland surrounding our populated regions really is,” says Julia Freedgood, Managing Director of our </span></span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank"
href="http://action.farmland.org/site/R?i=DKO6aEbpDAqsXe0py5kfRg.."><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;"><em>Growing Local</em> campaign</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">. “We can expect that the results from this study will echo the reality that </span></span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://action.farmland.org/site/R?i=HWYgbFwIDYnUrw1dCDtBbw.."><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">the majority of our fruits and vegetables are grown on urban fringe</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;"> farmland, which is at the highest risk for development.”</span></span></p>
<h3><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">A Fluid Timeframe for Clean Energy Legislation?</span></span></span></h3>
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<td><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;"><img src="http://action.farmland.org/site/../images/content/pagebuilder/16741.jpg" alt="Farmer in Wheat Field" width="150" height="154"></span></span></td>
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<p><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">The 2009 U.N. </span></span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://action.farmland.org/site/R?i=56r59bpQJU-BOp5y5hcrKw.."><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">Conference on Climate Change</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;"> is coming up in Denmark on December 7-18—</span></span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://action.farmland.org/site/R?i=VA7YEq0xKboea1FJ2vDdYQ.."><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">a key meeting as countries struggle to address this global environmental issue that can have a significant impact on farms, farmland and opportunities for farmers</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">. Next
week the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on the </span></span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://action.farmland.org/site/R?i=mFsTIBiE2RAfN_TmS2sEKg.."><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">Kerry-Boxer Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;"> with anticipated markup in early November. We look forward to working with Senate leadership, Chairwoman Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and the Agriculture Committee, and members of the Senate to strengthen the legislation so agriculture can play an important role in protecting and restoring our environment. </span></span></p>
<h3><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">What Climate Change Might Look Like</span></span></span></h3>
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<td><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;"><img src="http://action.farmland.org/site/../images/content/pagebuilder/16377.jpg" alt="Earth in a Bed of Clover" width="85" height="100"></span></span></td>
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<p><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">Was your summer cooler than normal? Will rain fall on the plain in Spain? Record snowfall predicted for your region this winter? Explore </span></span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://action.farmland.org/site/R?i=K-WWjQDgkZLy3O8PF-AyLw.."><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">Google Earth’s new mapping tool</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;"> that shows expected temperature and precipitation under different climate scenarios by using data from the </span></span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://action.farmland.org/site/R?i=18wPbRVnAg54auuWNs6siA.."><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change</span></span></a><span style="font-family:
arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">.</span></span></p>
<h3><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">The Numbers Are In, and Farmland Benefits</span></span></span></h3>
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<td><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;"><img src="http://action.farmland.org/site/../images/content/pagebuilder/16043.jpg" alt="Jon Scholl, American Farmland Trust's President" width="160" height="120"></span></span></td>
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<p><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">“The news on federal conservation funding this year is good,” </span></span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://action.farmland.org/site/R?i=vGpy8Kh6mhON7k0YWEyRug.."><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">says our President Jon Scholl</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">, referring to Congress’s commitment of $1 billion in conservation funding, a full $40 million dollars more than was allocated in 2009. In terms of protecting working farm and ranch land, Congress was able to preserve critical funding for the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program at $150 million—the highest it has ever been. The news comes not a moment too soon. “State, county, local and private funds are strapped with requests from farmers who want to protect
their farms. Waiting lists are growing,” said Scholl. In addition, the </span></span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://action.farmland.org/site/R?i=QGgYiO4GWMc6T45WWHyKRw.."><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">Conservation Loan Program</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">, a program proposed by American Farmland Trust during the 2008 Farm Bill, locked in $150 million ensuring that it will boost national farmland protection and conservation efforts next year.</span></span></p>
<h3><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">Around the Country</span></span></span></h3>
<p><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">Two <strong>Michigan</strong> colleges </span></span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://action.farmland.org/site/R?i=1Bl2U_kNDBRl_FBl_s0SbA.."><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">are expanding their use of local food from area farms</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;"> to save money and play a part in a local green economy.<br><br><strong>Pennsylvania</strong> Senator Mike Brubaker spoke about </span></span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://action.farmland.org/site/R?i=HbHZU-PnmpUr7XmpiCcIKg.."><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">the importance of protecting farmers and farmland</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:
120%;"> while ensuring the success of restoring one of the nation’s most treasured waterways. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">Find out more on farming issues and opportunities in and near urban centers at the </span></span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://action.farmland.org/site/R?i=KJYbsrkgyWxK8ZhWrg1KbQ.."><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">Southwest Marketing Network Annual Conference</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;"> in Salt Lake City,<strong> Utah</strong>.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">The first of a three part webinar series in <strong>New York</strong> is now posted online. The webinar, “</span></span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://action.farmland.org/site/R?i=uBCGdfvI330wIN5x0jnSsg.."><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">Creating a Voice for Local Agriculture</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">,” offers a view into creating and utilizing agriculture commissions to promote local farms. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">Sign-up to see what the scientific community is saying about agriculture and the environment at the </span></span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://action.farmland.org/site/R?i=P7iXudcO0iGLH2pQjnEnGg.."><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">Science to Solutions</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;"> workshop in Des Moines,<strong> Iowa</strong>.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">The </span></span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://action.farmland.org/site/R?i=42jZNPKf6mEPm1jCWWWW6g.."><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">New Partners for Smart Growth conference will be held in one of the nation’s greenest cities</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;"> this year! So book your ticket to Seattle, <strong>Washington </strong>and register now for the conference.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;"><strong>Wisconsin </strong>Farmers and landowners can now submit </span></span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://action.farmland.org/site/R?i=C6QZ2BfYQXGUNFNgwVaL-w.."><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">Agriculture Enterprise Area petitions</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;"> due to the new Working Lands Initiative, signed into law earlier this year. </span></span></p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://action.farmland.org/site/R?i=10pYuJbtZVFr2VDMflqM_A.."><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">Register now to attend a day-long training</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;"> in Ashville, <strong>North Carolina</strong> next month on the Transfer of Development Rights planning tool.</span></span></p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://action.farmland.org/site/R?i=geT8r9zqEmklH0vHI_sPFg.."><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">Take action to protect a farmland protection tool </span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">and make sure that the Easement Tax Incentive doesn’t expire!</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">October 24th is <strong>International Climate Action Day</strong>! </span></span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://action.farmland.org/site/R?i=y1z1OX0YbIQHU9gsGOnkEQ.."><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">Check out what is going on around the globe</span></span></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 120%;">.</span></span> </p><img src="http://action.farmland.org/site/PixelServer?j=TAw_ELgJ-KO8X_EP93XW-A.." width="1" height="1">
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