Story about new Organic Farming laws

[Big Daddy]

I'm going to have to actually read the WHOLE bill, so I can make an INFORMED opinion. Opeds are just one persons opinions.

 

[reinbeau]

There is an excellent thread over on BYC about this very thing. Click on the 'full text' link for the full bill. It's interesting reading - and is as insidious as many have said. An interesting little sideshow is how involved Monsanto is in the bill, the husband of the bill's sponsor does high-level research for Monsanto (among others, of course), and it's being billed by some as Monsanto's Dream Bill, and from what I've read, they aren't far from the mark.

This bill will do serious damage to small farmer, and offer free reign to the Big Ag Monsanto is so wrapped up in.

There was great hope when Obama took office that he'd actually be proactive and put people into place that really did offer hope and change to our agricultural industry in this country. Sadly he appointed Tom Vislack, an industry insider to maintain the status quo for business.

'I'm from the government and I'm here to help'. Just keep believing them, and follow them to slaughter.

 

[me&thegals]

Money I can see as a perfectly good reason.
A conspiracy by our government to suffocate every right we have? Not so much.

I really think it would be interesting to have a conversation, though, on how you begin to keep the food supply safe WITHOUT oversight and regulation. I think food safety is a legitimate concern. I also think growing one's own food and selling or giving it to friends, neighbors and community is an actual right.

Money is a good reason? At the risk of true food safety? The government is in place now to help business. Big business. They aren't here to help the little guy. Food safety is a legitimate concern. So why do they allow huge agribusiness to produce food in less than ideal conditions? Why is NAIS written in such a way to let the big businesses group and lump huge quantities together, yet the small holder has to ID and track every single animal? If any of this had true concern for food safety at its roots I'd be impressed, all signs point to the suppression of the small holder for the benefit of Big Ag.

Oops. That was poorly worded. I don't mean it is an acceptable reason. I mean that it is a reason I can understand, one that makes more sense to me than a gov't conspiracy. In fact, it seems to be the reason for a lot of things going bad in America--the love of money.

 

[reinbeau]

In fact, it seems to be the reason for a lot of things going bad in America--the love of money.

Bingo! And that love crosses party lines. All party lines.

 

[me&thegals]

Yep, I agree Probably why some politicians work so hard on campaign finance reform.

 

[Wifezilla]

I will never buy through a hatchery again. That must be how I was "identified," to use the clipboard man's word.

Reaaallllyyyyyyyy

Interesting.

Someone on the BYC Colorado thread got some university "survey" asking him about his flock, how many birds, what kind, etc... and he had no idea why anyone would even know he HAD chickens.

It sounded suspicious to me at the time and now this makes me even MORE suspicious.

 

[Big Daddy]

If it's available on your computer it is available to the govt. More likely they are required to report their customers to the govt. Or they might have a satellite that counts chickens. Maybe that's why my neighbor keeps his in the barn.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

If it's available on your computer it is available to the govt. More likely they are required to report their customers to the govt. Or they might have a satellite that counts chickens. Maybe that's why my neighbor keeps his in the barn.

Chickens??? what chickens??? everyone knows I don't have any chickens.

 

[Big Daddy]

We could disguise them in egg costumes.

 

[patandchickens]

Can someone point me to the exact part where the bill (it's just a BILL guys, not a law, vast numbers of bills are proposed but never become law) prohibits or regulates your growing your own food, organically or otherwise? People keep talking as if this is the case (here and on Rob's other sites) but I would really like to see the evidence and language. (Sorry, but I don't have time to plow thru the whole bill myself... I would hope that at least *some* of the people making this claim *have* and will be able to point out the correct passage, though).

I am not disbelieving per se, I just want to SEE it please?

Thanks,

Pat