Guest guest Posted August 12, 2006 Report Share Posted August 12, 2006 Will- What are you talking of? I am confused? Why are they sending lawyers to MN? Is there a trial? Did one of our milk suppliers get thrown in jail? Is there an pending bill? Is there a conference, a protest? I think eveyrone on this board is of course on the side of the farmers, so I am uncertain what you mean by taking sides. What do you suggest we do? I am all for protecting our farmers, but I am uncertain as to what is happening or what event is occuring? I know the warf campaign is active right now, but is that what you are referring to? If so, what specifcally do you suggest we do? And how did warf throw a farmer in jail? I admit I do not get the paper and do not watch tv, so I likely missed something. Can you fill me in? Thanks, Carol F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2006 Report Share Posted August 13, 2006 > I'm fighting too. I've been told by the county, and supported by the state, that I CANNOT farm my land... well unless I put up a confinement poultry barn, which they would never allow me since I don't have enough land to get rid of the manure from 100,000 birds (not that I would even begin to consider such a horrible venture). I am amazed at the tactics and threats that have been used against me. They'd even " let " me right my land to some big commodity farmer, but my pastures, hayfield, chicks, goats... aren't ag. I'm also fighting the adjacent county that I do not want them to spray poisons right down the middle of my land. Then I end up getting some big military planes flying at tree-top level right over my pasture, scaring my goats more than once. Lynn > DAIRY FARMERS. That's right. The feds and the local gendarms have decided that uppity > farmers who are trying to make and sell a wholesome farm product, and not a commodity > are WORSE THAN TERRORISTS, WORSE THAN CRIMINALS and they are making a consorted > effort right now to shut down all independent dairies. > > Taking their focus off their assigned job of PROTECTING US, the courts and the police > agencies are really PROTECTING THE SYSTEM because nothing threatens them more than a > farmer who makes a stand and claims his or her CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT to grow and sell > a wholesome farm product. Any farmer with a backbone will be STOMPED in an effort to > make an example for the others lest they get uppity as well. > > It is far worse than you know. Right now the Hartmans, the Brunners, the s, and > actually independent dairy farmers in almost every state are being beaten down, forced > out of business, harrassed and, yes, even INCARCERATED. It's far worse than you think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2006 Report Share Posted August 13, 2006 Lynn- That is horrible. Is this a recent development, or has this been ongoing? What is their logic that you MUST have a confinement poulty barn? Are they against free range for some reason?? Carol F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2006 Report Share Posted August 13, 2006 Why don't we see if one of the tv stations will do a story on it? If someone can give me more background on it I will make the contact. Jeanne -------------- Original message -------------- From: " Carol Frisk " <> Lynn- That is horrible. Is this a recent development, or has this been ongoing? What is their logic that you MUST have a confinement poulty barn? Are they against free range for some reason?? Carol F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2006 Report Share Posted August 13, 2006 JOEL SALADIN, the most famous natural farmer in the US, and perhaps the most famous farmer of all, is under the gun for his free-ranging birds as well! On his West Virgina farm his EGGMOBILES and CHICKEN TRACTOR operations attract people from all over the wolrd and are the subject of several best-selling books he's written. Now the local farmers are up in arms because they say that the free range birds (as well as wild birds) will contaminate their sick, sick, sick confinement birds and give them West Nile and Avian Flu (see THE OMNIVORE'S DILEMMA for the best discription of a confinement poultry operation ever written). How IRONIC to think that his radiantly healthy birds are a health risk. The confinement farmers are livid with jealousy and rage at s fame and success. They would giggle with glee to see him go down the drain. also slaughers his own birds weekly in his own on-farm butchering facility. Since it is built with open walls, the Gestapo is trying to shut this facility down as well! Never mind that there have been ZERO problems, never mind that ALL the confinement poultry is loaded with E. coli, Salmonella and other pathogens. Never mind that EVERY CUSTOMER picks up birds ON SITE and has FULL VIEW of the entire operation and can decide riight then and there whether or not to purchase (isn't that what DEMOCRACY and FREEDOM are all about????) is hilariously funny and very very confrontational. He tells them that he sanitizes his processing facility with the two best disinfectants known to mn, SUNSHINE and FRESH AIR! It's very likely that, like so many other pioneers in organic and sustainable agriculture they will succeed in shutting him down. In one way, I almost hope they do because if they do, there is going to be a TSUNAMI of public backlash against the henchmen for big business. They will live to regret it if they try to take down Saladin. It's just a shame that it has come to this and that he is being forced to waste so much time, money and emotions on idiots. Will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2006 Report Share Posted August 13, 2006 Will, Please keep us posted if there is any thing we can do to help Salatin. He is definitely a role model, teacher, pioneer and is on the front lines. He has a great article on his website " Everything I want to do is illegal " . @ http://www.polyfacefarms.com I am sure many of us like-minded farmers agree with him. We owe a lot to for trying so many alternative methods and more importantly, sticking his neck out on the line by writing and speaking about it so we can all learn and adapt some of his ideas to our own unique farms. Janice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2006 Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 My situation started the day before Xmas and escalated late this spring. Their rationale is that the law says it must be " exclusively and intensively " farmed. This is suppose to mean that you can't have one corn plant and consider yourself a farm, not that only a factory " farm " is a " real " farm. The law specifically includes uses such as hay and pasture, which the bureaocrat ignored. I personally think that the bureaocrats are just on a power trip and only want big farms since they're much easier to regulate. I also think that they can't comprehend anything beyond commodity farming. Co just passed some law that says you can't have any livestock on less than 4 acres, in other words, you can have more chickens at your house in downtown St than someone with 3 acres in the middle of the country. I tried talking to the Star Trib, but they just blew me off. Lynn > > That is horrible. Is this a recent development, or has this been ongoing? What is their logic that you MUST have a confinement poulty barn? Are they against free range for some reason?? > > Carol F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2006 Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 Everyone on here should call the Star and Cycle. Maybe instead of a food party have a protest food party at the capital. The law they just passed is most likely unconstitutional. They will have a hard time enforcing it if it was being done in the past. There is a federal statute titled section 42 1983. Protects life liberty and property. The Supreme Court is coming down on these slobs when they trash plain folk. If you did it before. They have problems. Re: WORSE THAN TERRORISTS My situation started the day before Xmas and escalated late this spring. Their rationale is that the law says it must be " exclusively and intensively " farmed. This is suppose to mean that you can't have one corn plant and consider yourself a farm, not that only a factory " farm " is a " real " farm. The law specifically includes uses such as hay and pasture, which the bureaocrat ignored. I personally think that the bureaocrats are just on a power trip and only want big farms since they're much easier to regulate. I also think that they can't comprehend anything beyond commodity farming. Co just passed some law that says you can't have any livestock on less than 4 acres, in other words, you can have more chickens at your house in downtown St than someone with 3 acres in the middle of the country. I tried talking to the Star Trib, but they just blew me off. Lynn > > That is horrible. Is this a recent development, or has this been ongoing? What is their logic that you MUST have a confinement poulty barn? Are they against free range for some reason?? > > Carol F Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2006 Report Share Posted August 15, 2006 " " " Co just passed some law that says you can't have any livestock on less than 4 acres, in other words, you can have more chickens at your house in downtown St than someone with 3 acres in the middle of the country. " " " I keep wondering, what's next??? I know I sure wonder what will be in our futures as far as growing, buying and such of real foods?? Direct from the farmer!!! I love knowing and often seeing where my food is grown! I know then I can trust the farmer. Anyone who does not openly want you to see where they grow your food is someone to run from quickly! I love being able to go to MVV and see the cows out in the pasture, or being given the grand tour from Jan's granddaughter! She will even show you where the latest batch of kittens are hiding! Plus the nest the hen is hiding her eggs in. LOL. What a doll of a girl! Jan and Wayne, you are truly blessed. So where is our future heading? How can we preserve our rights to have and buy foods the way we want and know is best??? I think it is awful when you have to fear giving a child a glass of milk in your home because of peoples unrashional fears (caused by the gov) All I know is, I will proudly buy from the farmer, drink raw milk and fight tooth and nail to keep those rights! Kimi ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Romans 8:33 - 39 33 Who could bring a charge against Gods elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Even as it is written, " For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter. " 37 No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. --- http://USFamily.Net/dialup.html - $8.25/mo! -- http://www.usfamily.net/dsl.html - $19.99/mo! --- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2006 Report Share Posted August 15, 2006 Lynn- That is terrible! Have you contacted your law makers in the area, the congressman or woman in your district? Or are they unsympathetic to your needs? Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2006 Report Share Posted August 15, 2006 I talk to every law maker I see anywhere. For some, I knew it went nowhere, a few actually listened, including my own legislative rep. I'm hoping to get the law clarified so it will protect the " smallest of the small farmers. " My area is mainly Republicans so they would love that and how could the DFL turn down such a plea! The local assesor told me that the law was " vague " (yeah, right) and if I didn't like HIS interpretation then I should get more politically involved. Well, if he insists...so be it. I'm also sure this will end up in court. It would be great to have a court room packed for property and food rights since the beaurocrats packed our local hearing at the county with people from his side- I guess we were suppose to be intimidated. Lynn > > That is terrible! Have you contacted your law makers in the area, the congressman or woman in your district? Or are they unsympathetic to your needs? > > Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2006 Report Share Posted August 15, 2006 > Maybe instead of a food party have a protest food party at the capital. Excellent idea, Tom. I nominate you to research obtaining a permit to hold a protest food party on the State Capitol steps this fall. Maybe instead of having a swap, we can hold a demonstration and rally to draw attention to this issue. More realistically, if there's a NAIS demo/rally, let's find a way to piggyback their efforts and show people how and why we believe what we believe about real food, small farms and local economies. ~Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2006 Report Share Posted August 15, 2006 Bear with me--but the more I hear on this topic, and on monoculture-farming--the more I think we'll be having our own " Black '47 " someday soon. The Irish Potato Famine happened because the bounty of the land was all being exported; the working folks relied on their own scrawny patches of land--tiny yards--to mainly grow potatoes, and when a blight hit the taters, they starved, despite the abundance of food in their country. As all of our lush farmland is devoted to corn and soy, " exported " to food conglomerates for processing, it's not hard to imagine that something like a gas hike or a war or severe weather patterns will crash our carefully orchestrated web of global food trading, and it will affect many Americans the way the potato famine affected the Irish. Most Americans are so far removed, they wouldn't have a clue as to how to feed themselves in a crisis. Or mend a shirt. Or repair just about anything. Preaching to the choir in this group, I know. But of all the historical comparisons I can make, I just keep coming back to the potato famine. I shall now go eat a nice, fresh caprese salad, prepared by my loving husband. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2006 Report Share Posted August 15, 2006 Peaceful demonstrations at the Capital do not need permits. Re: WORSE THAN TERRORISTS > Maybe instead of a food party have a protest food party at the capital. Excellent idea, Tom. I nominate you to research obtaining a permit to hold a protest food party on the State Capitol steps this fall. Maybe instead of having a swap, we can hold a demonstration and rally to draw attention to this issue. More realistically, if there's a NAIS demo/rally, let's find a way to piggyback their efforts and show people how and why we believe what we believe about real food, small farms and local economies. ~Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2006 Report Share Posted August 15, 2006 There is a group called minnesotans against nais. It's been very quiet lately, but that would be a good group to work with. Ben Powers is in that group and he's the only senate candidate from MN whose against NAIS. Lynn > > Maybe instead of a food party have a protest food party at the capital. > > > Excellent idea, Tom. I nominate you to research obtaining a permit to > hold a protest food party on the State Capitol steps this fall. Maybe > instead of having a swap, we can hold a demonstration and rally to > draw attention to this issue. > > More realistically, if there's a NAIS demo/rally, let's find a way to > piggyback their efforts and show people how and why we believe what we > believe about real food, small farms and local economies. > ~Joe > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 There is also scientific clout that can be brought to bear in such a discussion/demonstration coming from the Union of Concerned Scientists. They have a good list of publications: http://www.ucsusa.org/publications/ A new publication supports our beliefs: http://www.ucs.usa.org/food_and_environment/sustainable_food/greener- pastures.html Benefits of Sustainable Agriculture Greener Pastures How grass-fed beef and milk contribute to healthy eating ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- Greener Pastures author Dr. Kate Clancy describes the benefits of grass-fed beef and dairy. UCS comments supporting a grass-fed beef standard Americans love their beef and milk. With about 70 percent of the population consuming one or the other several times a week, the United States is the largest beef producer and one of the largest dairy producers in the world. But this love affair has serious consequences for the health of consumers, the environment, and the cattle themselves. Many people assume that beef and dairy cows spend most of their lives happily grazing in grassy meadows. The reality is that most cattle in the United States spend significant parts of their lives in crowded feedlots with hundreds or thousands of other animals, eating feed that contains large amounts of grain (primarily corn). While cattle on pasture rarely get sick, those confined to feedlots and fed grain are prone to disease and most feedlot operators routinely feed antibiotics to prevent illness and to accelerate growth. This, in turn, increases the risk of antibiotic resistance in humans. In addition, air and water pollution stemming from dust and mountains of feedlot manure, and the many fertilizers and pesticides used in grain production, exact a heavy toll on the environment and the health of farmers, farm workers, and nearby residents. Fortunately, there are better ways to raise food animals. Raising cattle on pasture lessens environmental damage, improves animal health, and reduces antibiotic use. Over the past decade, numerous scientific studies have shown that the meat and milk from pasture- raised animals are higher in fats that may confer health benefits on humans. To confirm how strong the findings are, UCS undertook the first comprehensive comparison of fat levels in beef and dairy products from conventionally raised and pasture-raised animals. Our report, Greener Pastures: How Grass-fed Beef and Milk Contribute to Healthy Eating, presents the results of this analysis and examines what health benefits food producers could promote on their product labels. Randi > > There is a group called minnesotans against nais. It's been very quiet lately, but > that would be a good group to work with. Ben Powers is in that group and he's the only > senate candidate from MN whose against NAIS. > Lynn > > > More realistically, if there's a NAIS demo/rally, let's find a way to > > piggyback their efforts and show people how and why we believe what we > > believe about real food, small farms and local economies. > > ~Joe > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2006 Report Share Posted August 16, 2006 > > Peaceful demonstrations at the Capital do not need permits. Who says it would be viewed as peaceful? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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