September 13, 2002

Ann M. Veneman
Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue SW
Washington DC 20250

Re: Emergency Action Needed to Buy Potentially Contaminated Iowa Corn

Dear Secretary Veneman:

Immediate USDA action is needed to prevent potentially contaminated corn in Iowa from being sold on the open market. This urgent situation is unfolding now in Shelby County, Iowa, on Jerry Rosman's farm. Friends of the Earth recommends that the USDA stop the problem from spreading by making up to $100,000 available before next Wednesday to purchase the contaminated corn from his farm to prevent its entry into the market place.

This crisis became apparent when Iowa farmer Jerry Rosman reported to local authorities that his pigs suffered extraordinary rates of reproductive failure: false-pregnancies with all the signs of pregnancy but no piglets. Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (USDA/ARS) conducted the initial investigations and suspect that the corn Mr. Rosman fed to his pigs is the source of the problem.

According to USDA Research Leader Mark Rasmussen on August 5, 2002, "They are not the only farm in Iowa to have reported this problem…I would like to ask that the corn suspected of causing reproductive problems in swine be held for purposes of scientific research…Animal reproduction studies, especially with swine, will require considerable quantities of the suspect corn."

Mr. Rosman's farm has been forced into receivership as a result of problems with the suspect corn. On Monday, September 16th, we are advised, an Iowa court is expected as part of the debt settlement to direct the sale of the corn within the ensuing 48 hours.

Friends of the Earth recommends that the USDA purchase the corn a) to prevent it from being sold on the open market; and b) to enable a full and proper scientific inquiry, consistent with the recommendations of USDA scientists.

Given the urgent nature of this matter, we request an immediate meeting with you to discuss this situation. You may reach me at 202-783-7400 ext. 284 or contact my assistant, Yasmeen Hossain at ext. 256.

Sincerely,

Brent Blackwelder

President

Enclosures:

1) Article from Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman, May 4, 2002, "Pseudopregnancies puzzle swine producer"

2) USDA letter of August 5, 2002, from Dr. Mark Rasmussen, Research Leader, Food Safety and Enteric Diseases, National Animal Disease Center, Ames, Iowa

Cc: Senators Harkin, Chairman Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry Committee

Senator Lugar, Ranking Member, Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry Committee

Senator Grassley

Representative Combest, Chairman, House Agriculture Committee

Representative Stenholm, Ranking Member, House Agriculture Committee

Members of the Iowa House Delegation: Leach, Nussle, Boswell, Ganske, and Latham

Governor Whitman, Administrator of EPA

Dr. Lester M. Crawford, Jr., Deputy Commissioner, Food & Drug Administration

Dr. Mark Rasmussen, USDA, National Animal Disease Center

Jerry Rosman