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Dear Members of the Board –

First, the big news:

20 million people may face famine in the next six months from four potential famines. Wars in Yemen, northeastern Nigeria and South Sudan – and a drought in East Africa means we are in unprecedented territory. This is the first time we’ve ever faced four famines at the same time.

Last week, a famine was declared in parts of South Sudan, where 100,000 people are facing starvation. WFP, FAO and UNICEF are calling for urgent action as more than 40% of South Sudan’s population is in critical need of food, agriculture and nutrition assistance.

Two highlights:


· Rick wrote this oped in The Hill<http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/321278-famine-in-south-sudan-a-turning-point-in-global-food> today calling on the global community to step to meet the alarming food assistance needs, especially as we navigate the budget process this year.


· The first field hearing for the 2018 farm bill took place last Thursday, Feb 23 in Manhattan, KS – a town just 130 miles from where Senator Dole was born and raised. Thanks to the efforts of our policy and comms staff, we placed an oped by Senator Dole in the Kansas City Star<http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/readers-opinion/guest-commentary/article134236464.html> last week highlighting the enormous impact the Farm Bill will have not just on American growers and consumers but the world’s hungry people.

Could you please share these two opeds in your networks? Thanks, as always, for your support.

-Erin

Erin Cochran
Vice President, Communications

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