Map to convention (Marshalltown Community College)

2010 Iowa Farmers Union Convention Schedule

2010 Iowa Farmers Union

State Convention Agenda

Marshalltown Community College, Marshalltown, Iowa

Friday, August 27

2:00                        Registration

2:30                        Call to Order – Iowa Farmers Union Vice President Gregg Heide

Invocation-Fr. Marvin Boes                   

3:00                        Policy Development

4:45                                    John Whitaker, Iowa FSA Director

5:00                        Local Wine Reception

5:30                        Governor Chet Culver

5:50                                    Francis Thicke, Secretary of Agriculture Candidate

6:00                        Supper

Featured speaker: National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson

Legislative Awards

Lifetime Achievement Award

Live Auction

Saturday, August 28

8:00                          Registration

9:00                          Welcome, President’s Address

9:15                          Ratify 2009-2010 policy

10:00                          Special Orders of Business

11:00                          Election of 2009-2010 Directors and 2010 NFU Convention Delegate & Alternate

11:30                          Senator Chuck Grassley

12:00                         Luncheon

Lifetime Achievement Award

Educator Awards

Young Farmer Award

Silent Auction Wrap-up

1:00                          Steph Larson, Center For Rural Affairs: Rural Health Care

1:25                         Main Street Alliance, Sue Dinsdale

1:45                          Bill Maske, Candidate for Iowa’s 4^th Congressional District

2:05                         Break

2:10                         Keynote: Peter Komendowski, Iowa activist and communications specialist

“Rebuilding America from the Inside Out”

2:45                         Roxanne Conlin, Candidate for Iowa Senate

3:05                        Rich Olive, Iowa District 5 State Senator

3:25                        Dr. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Candidate for Iowa’s 2^nd Congressional District

3:45                          Adjourn

4:00                         Meeting of the 2010-2011 Board

Join the Center for Rural Affairs to:
*learn about federal conservation programs and how you can benefit from them
*learn how to participate in the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) State Technical Committees and Local Working Groups

We have a block of hotel rooms reserved in Ponca for the evening prior to the workshop. Space is limited so PLEASE RSVP.

Send questions and RSVPs to Traci Bruckner – tracib@cfra.org – 402-687-2103 ext 1016. Travel assistance is available if needed.

This workshop is hosted by the Center for Rural Affairs, Organic Farming Research Foundation, Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and Farm Aid. Funding for this workshop provided by Organic Valley and Farmers Advocating for Organics.

Share your comments after you Read Full Text of Draft Guidance.

[Docket No. FDA–2010–D–0094]
From the FDA Website:
The draft guidance summarizes a number of published reports on antimicrobial resistance and states that the overall weight of evidence available to date supports the conclusion that using medically important antimicrobial drugs for production or growth enhancing purposes (i.e., non-therapeutic or subtherapeutic uses) in food-producing animals is not in the interest of protecting and promoting the public health.

The document recommends phasing in measures that would limit medically important antimicrobial drugs to uses in food-producing animals that are considered necessary for assuring animal health and that include veterinary oversight or consultation. These steps would help reduce overall use of medically important antimicrobial drugs, thereby reducing the pressure that generates antimicrobial resistance.

The FDA recognizes the importance of antimicrobial drugs for addressing the health needs of animals. Antimicrobial drugs have been widely used in human and veterinary medicine for more than 50 years with benefits to both human and animal health. The development of resistance to these drugs, and the resulting loss of their effectiveness, poses a serious public health threat.

“Using medically important antimicrobial drugs as judiciously as possible is key to minimizing resistance development and preserving the effectiveness of these drugs as therapies for humans and animals,” said Bernadette Dunham, D.V.M., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. “FDA is committed to working with animal drug sponsors, the veterinary and public health communities, the animal agriculture community, and all other interested stakeholders in developing a practical strategy to address antimicrobial resistance concerns that is protective of both human and animal health.”

The agency invites comments on the draft guidance, available online and titled The Judicious Use of Medically Important Antimicrobial Drugs in Food-Producing Animals.

The Iowa Farmers Union State Convention will be August 27-28 at Marshalltown Community College in Marshalltown, Iowa.

Light refreshments will be provided

Contact Amber Anderson Mba at 800-775-5227 with any questions.

A Natural Blast – Party and Fund Raiser for Iowa’s Environment
Izaak Walton League, 4343 George Flag Parkway in Des Moines

Dinner starting at 5 p.m., followed by music by Cousin Eddie

All proceeds benefit Iowa Environmental Council in partnership with Iowa’s Water and Land Legacy (IWILL).  IWILL is a coalition of environmental groups working together to establish a trust fund for the protection of Iowa’s natural resources.

Visit their website for tickets