This issue of The Weekly Rind includes a number of announcements & congratulations, and requests for your help - - your help to support the changes to the watermelon grade standards and your input prior to the Senate’s consideration of the immigration bill. 
 
Please take a moment to help us congratulate the annual raffle winners, and thank the newly elected officers and executive committee of the NWA.
 
Then, log on to the Federal Register and support the pending changes to the watermelon grade standards, which are being modernized to reflect today’s varieties – today’s watermelon crop – which will help growers and inspectors alike.  USDA needs to hear from everyone in support of these efforts.  It will only take a few minutes of your time.  Please help us.
 
Additionally, the U.S. Senate will very soon take up the House immigration bill, known as the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.  There are issues galore with the House version, and this may be our only chance to work with federal legislators to make some necessary changes to the bill.  Please take some time to review the highlights of the House version, and let us know what your thoughts are - - good or bad - - and what you would like to have changed - - and what to change it to.  This is vital, and needed quickly.