During the past two years, the USPS has raised its rates twice. In January 2006, rates were raised by 5.4 percent. In July 2007, rates were raised by 11.7 percent. And there’s more to come.
The USPS has announced that on May 12 of this year, rates will increase by 2.9 percent. So we as a newspaper will soon be paying 25 percent more per newspaper mailed than we did just 2.5 years ago.<br>
We could accept this if it came hand in hand with an improvement in service, or at the very least maintenance of the status quo. However, at the same time as hitting us with these record-breaking increases, the USPS has seen fit to lower its delivery standards.
By the terms of a new set of standards put into place in 2008, up to half of our readers could receive Farm World one day later than they have previously enjoyed.<br>
For more than 50 years, we have published Farm World and entered all 40,000 copies in the mailing system by  Tuesday afternoon. <br>
We want the USPS to do its part in ensuring the periodicals industry in this country stays alive.<br>
We strongly urge you to write to the Postmaster General, the USPS Board of Governors, Federal Trade Commission, the Postal Commissioners and your Senator and Representative. <br>
Please tell them that by simultaneously increasing rates and lowering delivery standards, the USPS is damaging the periodicals industry.<br>
Please urge them to at the very least uphold the 2006 delivery standards, rather than providing even worse service for more money.<br>
Sincerely,<br>
Richard Lewis,  <br>
Farm World Publisher<br>

1. Congress<br>
Find your federal lawmakers at www.house.gov and www.congress.org<br>
2. Federal Trade Commission<br>
Here, you can enter your zip code to find your local contacts. Also, let the Federal Trade Commission know how the changes in USPS delivery standards affect you and your business; visit www.ftc.gov and look for a red text box on the right-hand side that says “Consumer Complaint? Report it to the FTC” <br>

3. Postmaster General<br>
Jack Potter, USPS, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington DC 20260-0010<br>
E-mail: pmgceo@usps.gov
4. The Board of Governors<br>
USPS, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington DC20260-0004<br>
Members: Patrick R. Donahoe, Deputy<br>
Postmaster General and COO,<br>
PATRICK.R.DONAHOE@usps.gov<br>
Alan C. Kessler, Chairman<br>
Carolyn Lewis Gallagher,
Vice Chairman<br>
Mickey D. Barnett, Member<br>
James H. Bilbray, Member<br>
Louis J. Giuliano, Member<br>
Thurgood Marshall, Jr., Member<br>
James C. Miller III, Member<br>
Katherine C. Tobin, Member<br>
Ellen C. Williams, Member<br>
5. Postal Regulatory Commission<br>
901 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20268-0001
Members: Nanci Langley, Director, Public Affairs and Government Relations<br><br>
E-mail: Nanci.Langley@prc.gov<br>
Dan Blair, Chairman<br>
Tony Hammond, Commissioner<br>
Ruth Y. Goldway, Commissioner<br>
Mark Acton,Vice Chairman