Cracks in egg deal?

This article was originally published in April 2012

A deal between the commercial egg industry and The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is facing resistance in Congress. The chair of the House Agriculture Committee says he won’t allow a hearing for a bill that would double the living space required for egg-laying hens.

The United Egg Producers (UEP) and HSUS agreed last summer to work together on a bill that would address the confinement of laying hens coast to coast. In exchange for UEP’s pledge to address chicken welfare nationally, HSUS dropped a Washington state ballot initiative that would have required all laying hens in Washington be cage-free.

Many PCC shoppers helped gather signatures for the state initiative, and PCC supports the federal measure. Please ask your U.S. Representatives to co-sponsor H.R. 3798, the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012.

Also in this issue

Farm tour in the Walla Walla Valley

Join us on Saturday, May 12 for an educational tour of two Walla Walla farms and meet three farmers who have decided to modify their business practices and make a commitment to farming their land sustainably.

PCC Board of Trustees report, April 2012

Notice of annual membership meeting, 2012 PCC election, 2012 PCC election: correction, and more

Honeybee disaster

A Purdue University study indicates pesticides are one cause of Colony Collapse Disorder among honeybees. Some say the study suggests pesticides called neonicotinoids may even be the major or precipitating cause — with mites and other problems the final blow.