Press Releases
AAM Commends Announcement of Senate Climate and Energy Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2010
Press Release #6
President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
(620) 727-0333
larry@stingerltd.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matlack Recognizes Outstanding Leadership by Senators Kerry and Lieberman
WASHINGTON (RuralWire), May 17, 2010 –Larry Matlack, President of the American Agriculture Movement (AAM), recognized the outstanding leadership of Senators John Kerry, D-Mass., and Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., and commended them for their announcement of the soon to be introduced American Power Act.
“Senators Kerry and Lieberman have taken our nation another important stride toward energy independence and a cleaner environment with their leadership, hard work and initiative in their announcement of the Senate climate and energy bill this week,” said Matlack, a grain and forage producer from Burrton, Kan. “America has been waiting for action by the Senate to lead on this critical measure for most of a year since the U.S. House passed their version of the bill last June. AAM is now much more optimistic and extremely please by the Senators’ actions.”
Supporters of the American Power Act are from all sectors of the American economy and all sectors of the American political landscape, including -- Governor Chris Gregoire, D-Wash., and Governor and Arnold Schwarzenegger, R-Calif.; investor owned electric utilities such as Duke Energy and Florida Power and Light; the United Steelworkers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Republicans for Environmental Protection; the Nuclear Energy Institute, American Natural Gas Alliance; Shell Oil and DuPont; and T. Boone Pickens.
“AAM encourages rapid action on the American Power Act because every day America waits it means more lost opportunities for the nation’s energy independence, for new green jobs in rural communities, for cleaner air and for new markets for new energy crops raised by family farmers.”
“We call upon Senate Majority leader Harry Reid to bring the American Power Act to the Senate floor in short order and we encourage all Senators to work with Senator Kerry and Senator Lieberman to complete this crucial endeavor as quickly as possible.” concluded Matlack. “I ask all AAM members as well as all Americans that support energy independence and a better environment for future generations to contact their Senators and tell them to support the American Power Act.”
AAM has been a leader in the advocacy of domestic, renewable energy development since their founding over three decades ago.
Towards that goal, AAM is a very strong advocate of accelerating the advancement of biomass energy for industrial heat and power as well as cellulosic ethanol made from non-food crops. AAM continues their vehement support for corn based ethanol as a key component of an overall renewable energy plan, but also realizes that it is not the single answer to obtaining energy independence.
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* AAM stands for food and fiber producer and commodity PARITY. Parity is a term that denotes a fair commodity price adjusted for inflation to the commodity prices. The Statutory Parity Index, established during the depression of the 1930s, reflects prices received in 1910-1914 (considered to be the last 5 normal years prior to the outbreak of World War I) when producers, middlemen, and consumers had a balanced income. Today, many commodities average less than PARITY. Meanwhile costs of trucks, combines, implements, tractors, and hired help have risen dramatically. AAM still demands a parity price for commodities. Go to AAM's website: http://www.aaminc.org/ for more information.
AAM Calls for Completion of Energy and Climate Legislation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2010
Press Release #5
President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
(620) 727-0333
larry@stingerltd.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Every Day America Waits for the Senate to Lead Means More Lost Opportunities
WASHINGTON (RuralWire), April 28, 2010 –Larry Matlack, President of the American Agriculture Movement (AAM), today called upon the U.S. Senate to advance and complete action on pending energy and climate legislation. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill combining both last June.
“America is waiting for action by the Senate to lead on this critical measure,” said Matlack, a grain and forage producer from Burrton, Kan. “Every day America waits means more lost opportunities for the nation’s energy independence, for new green jobs in rural communities, for cleaner air and for new markets for new energy crops raised by family farmers.”“AAM has worked for years to develop sound policies for renewable energy from farms and forests,” added Matlack. “I fully believe that the pending energy and climate bill will create and save jobs in rural America, help move us toward energy independence, keep energy more affordable in the long run and help reduce pollution.”
“America’s farmers are ready to help move our country down a path to more renewable energy, more diversity in our energy choices, more domestically produced energy and more sustainability in our energy production,” stated Matlack. “We know where we must go but we need Congress to lead the way and clear that path for all Americans. They must act now!”
AAM has been a leader in the advocacy of domestic, renewable energy development since their founding over three decades ago. Towards that goal, AAM is a very strong advocate of accelerating the advancement of biomass energy for industrial heat and power as well as cellulosic ethanol made from non-food crops. AAM continues their vehement support for corn based ethanol as a key component of an overall renewable energy plan, but also realizes that it is not the singular answer to obtaining energy independence. “We must move forward with alternative feedstocks for ethanol production and other forms of renewable energy such as biomass, wind and solar as soon as possible,” concluded Matlack.
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* AAM stands for food and fiber producer and commodity PARITY. Parity is a term that denotes a fair commodity price adjusted for inflation to the commodity prices. The Statutory Parity Index, established during the depression of the 1930s, reflects prices received in 1910-1914 (considered to be the last 5 normal years prior to the outbreak of World War I) when producers, middlemen, and consumers had a balanced income. Today, many commodities average less than PARITY. Meanwhile costs of trucks, combines, implements, tractors, and hired help have risen dramatically. AAM still demands a parity price for commodities. Go to AAM's website: http://www.aaminc.org/ for more information.
AAM Still Has Eye on Energy Independence
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2010
Press Release #4
President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
(620) 727-0333
larry@stingerltd.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matlack Endorses American Renewable Biomass Heating Act
WASHINGTON (RuralWire), April 20, 2010 –Larry Matlack, President of the American Agriculture Movement (AAM), has endorsed The American Renewable Biomass Heating Act of 2010 (S. 3188), as he and the farmers of his organization continue their endeavor to move America toward energy independence.
S. 3188 was introduced by Senators Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Mark Begich, D-Alaska, and will help businesses across the country meet their heating needs with renewable biomass. The proposed measure would establish a corporate tax credit equal to 30 percent of the installed cost of biomass-fueled heating or cooling systems for commercial or industrial applications. The credit would have no maximum value and would be available for biomass thermal systems placed in service on or before December 31, 2013.
“The American Agriculture Movement has been a leader in advocating domestic, renewable energy development since our founding over three decades ago,” said Matlack, a grain and forage producer from Burrton, Kan. “Towards that goal, AAM is a very strong advocate of accelerating the advancement of biomass energy for industrial heat and power and home heating, as well as cellulosic ethanol made from nonfood crops.”
“America’s family farmers are a key part of advancing our nation towards energy independence for the 21st century, just as we were in past centuries,” declared Matlack. “When AAM brought thousands of farmers and tractors to the nation’s capital in 1979, we came with much more than protests; we came with solutions. Farmers, camping on the National Mall, set up a small ethanol still and produced renewable ‘gasohol’ and made cookies from the distiller’s grains. Those cookies were served to members of Congress, including several currently sitting in key leadership positions in this 111th Congress. Working with Congress and President Carter, we were able to enact the nation’s first ethanol programs. Thirty years later, we are reminded that we not only identified solutions to help farmers find alternative markets for their crops and better prices, but also helped America move towards energy independence.”
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* AAM stands for food and fiber producer and commodity PARITY. Parity is a term that denotes a fair commodity price adjusted for inflation to the commodity prices. The Statutory Parity Index, established during the depression of the 1930s, reflects prices received in 1910-1914 (considered to be the last 5 normal years prior to the outbreak of World War I) when producers, middlemen, and consumers had a balanced income. Today, many commodities average less than PARITY. Meanwhile costs of trucks, combines, implements, tractors, and hired help have risen dramatically. AAM still demands a parity price for commodities. Go to AAM's website: http://www.aaminc.org/ for more information.
AAM Joins 75 Organizations Asking USDA to Improve Food Safety of Beef
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2010
Press Release #3
President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
(620) 727-0333
larry@stingerltd.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mad Cow Disease Policy Must be Revised
WASHINGTON (RuralWire), March 31, 2010 –Larry Matlack, President of the American Agriculture Movement (AAM), has signed his organization’s name, along with 75 other U.S. farmer and consumer related organizations, to a letter to United States Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack requesting stringent standards for beef imported into the U.S. from Canada.
The request by AAM, R-CALF USA, the National Farmers Organization, the Consumer Federation of America, the National Family Farm Coalition and scores of additional national, state, regional and local organizations comes after Canada confirmed its eighteenth case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE – a.k.a mad cow disease) last month.
The letter states, “Above all other considerations, the health and safety of the people of the United States and United States’ livestock must come first – first before trade and first before international relations.”
Specifically, the groups are asking that Secretary Vilsack reinstitute safeguards that can ensure animals and beef products that may be infected with BSE not be allowed into the U.S. One of those safeguards is a restriction on imports of animals over thirty months old. “Canada’s Detection of 11 BSE-Positive Cattle Born after March 1, 1999, Cannot Be Considered Isolated, It Is Epidemiologically Significant, and it Does Contribute to the Spread of BSE,” stated the letter.
The full text of the letter, including a list of 76 organizations that signed it, may be found at http://kscw.com/kscwdocs/JointOrganizationalLettertoSecretaryVilsackonBSE.pdf .
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* AAM stands for food and fiber producer and commodity PARITY. Parity is a term that denotes a fair commodity price adjusted for inflation to the commodity prices. The Statutory Parity Index, established during the depression of the 1930s, reflects prices received in 1910-1914 (considered to be the last 5 normal years prior to the outbreak of World War I) when producers, middlemen, and consumers had a balanced income. Today, many commodities average less than PARITY. Meanwhile costs of trucks, combines, implements, tractors, and hired help have risen dramatically. AAM still demands a parity price for commodities. Go to AAM's website: http://www.aaminc.org/ for more information.
AAM CONCURS WITH NFO'S CALL FOR INTERNATIONAL FOOD RESERVES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2010
Press Release #2
President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
(620) 727-0333
larry@stingerltd.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The U.S. Has No Grain Reserves
WASHINGTON (RuralWire), Jan. 27, 2010 –Larry Matlack, President of the American Agriculture Movement (AAM), commended and concurred with Gene Paul, National Farmers Organization (NFO) Agricultural Policy Analyst, and his call this week for an international grain reserve in the wake of the disaster in Haiti.
“According to the January 1, 2010 CCC inventory report, there is no wheat, corn, or any other grain left the entire CCC inventory,” warned Matlack. “The only thing left in America’s food pantry is a small amount of dry milk powder, of which two thirds is committed to domestic and international donations.
America needs a grain reserve, as does the world. We fully support the NFO initiative announced at their annual convention held last week in Coralville, Iowa.
“This lack of emergency preparedness is the fault of the 1996 farm bill, which eliminated the government’s grain reserves as well as the Farmer Owned Reserve (FOR),” explained Matlack. “We had hoped to reinstate the FOR and a Strategic Energy Grain Reserve in the 2008 bill, but the politics of food defeated our efforts. As farmers, it is our calling and purpose in life to feed our families, our communities, our nation and a good part of the world, but we need better planning and coordination if we are going to meet that purpose. AAM pledges to continue our work for better farm policy which includes a FOR, a Strategic Energy Grain Reserve and an international grain reserve.”
AAM’s support for the FOR program, which allows the grain to be stored on farms, is a key component to a safe grain reserve in that the supplies will be decentralized in the event of some unforeseen calamity which might befall the large grain storage terminals. A Strategic Energy Grain Reserve is as crucial for the nation’s domestic energy needs as the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. AAM also supports full funding for the replenishment and expansion of Bill Emerson Humanitarian Trust.
“There should be a reestablishment of federally owned and federally supported farmer owned strategic grain and food reserves for the nation’s national security, food security, livestock sector, renewable fuels industries and international famine relief,” said Matlack.
The CCC Inventory report may be reviewed at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/wid2a.pdf. The CCC is a federal government-owned and operated entity that was created to stabilize, support, and protect farm income and prices. CCC is also supposed to maintain balanced and adequate supplies of agricultural commodities and aids in their orderly distribution.
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* AAM stands for food and fiber producer and commodity PARITY. Parity is a term that denotes a fair commodity price adjusted for inflation to the commodity prices. The Statutory Parity Index, established during the depression of the 1930s, reflects prices received in 1910-1914 (considered to be the last 5 normal years prior to the outbreak of World War I) when producers, middlemen, and consumers had a balanced income. Today, many commodities average less than PARITY. Meanwhile costs of trucks, combines, implements, tractors, and hired help have risen dramatically. AAM still demands a parity price for commodities. Go to AAM's website: http://www.aaminc.org/ for more information.
AAM FOCUSES ON THE POSITIVES OF RENEWABLE ENERGY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2010
Press Release #1
President, AAM, Inc.
Larry Matlack
(620) 727-0333
larry@stingerltd.com------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Renewable Energy Patriot and Pioneer Holmberg Honored as Keynote Speaker
OKLAHOMA CITY (RuralWire), Jan. 22, 2010 – Larry Matlack, President of the American Agriculture Movement (AAM), highlighted the positive impacts of the short and long term benefits of renewable energy produced in the heartland, and his organization’s dedication to those objectives at their thirty-first annual convention earlier this month in Oklahoma City. “Agriculture has received these positive impacts because of the proactive lead of many organizations such as AAM,” explained Matlack. “For more than thirty years we have dedicated ourselves in the area of American-raised energy.”
“Unlike many other farm organizations, who generally come late to the table after the visionary work has gone forward and the outcome is clear, AAM has always worked for what was best for America and America’s farmers,” said Matlack. “Even today, some farm organizations collaborate with those seeking to delay the development of additional and newer renewable fuels and power from American agriculture and forests. This is one major reason that it has taken over thirty years to bring biofuels into the picture as a major supplier of our transportation fuel.”
“AAM has always fought for programs that best serve the American farmer, rancher, and forester no matter which political party supported those advances,” explained Matlack. “Our keynote speaker at this year’s AAM convention is a testament to that effort; William Holmberg, Chairman of the Biomass Coordinating Council of the American Council on Renewable Energy, first worked with AAM in the late seventies when he was with the U.S. Department of Energy and established the federal government’s first alcohol fuels office.”
Holmberg retired from military service as a highly decorated Marine Lieutenant Colonel and served both Republican and Democratic administrations for an additional thirteen years, helping to pioneer the ethanol and biodiesel industries. “Holmberg continues to serve his country, working on behalf of sustainable renewable energy from America’s farms and forests,” stated Matlack. The AAM lauded the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) and the Biomass Coordinating Council (BCC) for their efforts in launching the American Agriculture and Forestry Movement for Sustainable New Wealth Industries (SNWIs) and declaring 2010 the Year of Biomass to increase the awareness of the American people about what farms and forests can contribute to energy self-reliance.
Matlack quoted former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director R. James Woolsey who said, “This is the only war the U.S. has ever fought where we pay for both sides. We fund and support our brave military personnel fighting terrorists, and we then fund countries supporting those terrorists by purchasing their oil. So, when we look at the problem and seek a solution, we need only to look into our own eyes in the rear view mirror when we pump fuel into our gas tanks. As fast as possible, we should be fueling our cars with alternative fuels and electricity produced right here in the United States.”
“If not for the economic prosperity for rural areas, and America in general, that results from producing our own renewable fuels, then we all certainly have a moral obligation to our troops and our country. We must all rise to this task and AAM asks farmers across the nation to avoid the shortsighted advice of those farm organizations, or others, who would weaken America by continuing our dependence on foreign energy far into the future,” charged Matlack. “AAM also asks each American to become informed, involved and dedicated to SNWIs so energy self-sufficiency becomes a reality in our lifetime.”
Larry Matlack and Bill Holmberg invite interested people involved with agriculture, ranching, and forestry in any way to a two hour workshop on SNWIs to be held at the ACORE RETECH Conference (www.RETECH2010.com) at the Washington DC Convention Center. The Agriculture and Forestry Movement side event is from 8:00AM to 10:00AM on Friday Feb. 5th. Seating is limited, so please register as soon as possible. While there is no charge for this side event on its own, you are invited to register for the entire RETECH conference in order to take full advantage of this great opportunity. Click here to register for just this side event.
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* AAM stands for food and fiber producer and commodity PARITY. Parity is a term that denotes a fair commodity price adjusted for inflation to the commodity prices. The Statutory Parity Index, established during the depression of the 1930s, reflects prices received in 1910-1914 (considered to be the last 5 normal years prior to the outbreak of World War I) when producers, middlemen, and consumers had a balanced income. Today, many commodities average less than PARITY. Meanwhile costs of trucks, combines, implements, tractors, and hired help have risen dramatically. AAM still demands a parity price for commodities. Go to AAM's website: http://www.aaminc.org/ for more information.
