Thursday, April 30, 2009
MULTINATIONAL FORCES???????????
I know this is a farm blog, but I can't help but see things and feel like I have to share it. This is one of them. I cannot, possibly, believe that I am the only one that has concern for this. Read this article from a Jacksonville, Florida newspaper. It give a "feely good" spin on an, otherwise, alarming occurrence of foreign and domestic troops, storming a local beach, "working together", and learning to "jell" with one another. I am appalled, to say it best. Why are our U.S. troops "working with" troops of other nations? Are they preparing to invade our sacred home? Is this part of the "North American Union"? Wow!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Over Consumption Of Grain Can Cause Problems In Your Cattle
There is the risk of causing acidosis in cattle when grain supplementing. This occurs when an acid environment is created in the rumen. A good rule to go by is to spread the grain out among the cattle to ensure each one gets an equal share.
Personally, I advocate just plain old grass fed. However, there are times that the grass just isn't there or is in poor condition due to dry weather. I prefer hay with a high protein range cube supplement. Grain is a bit cheaper and I know there are those who prefer it.
But overeating grain supplements can cause liver abscesses caused by mild cases of acidosis. If you are just raising a steer to butcher, it may not be a problem because he will hit the chopping block before that point, but this can become a serious problem in your herd cows. Just food for thought.
Personally, I advocate just plain old grass fed. However, there are times that the grass just isn't there or is in poor condition due to dry weather. I prefer hay with a high protein range cube supplement. Grain is a bit cheaper and I know there are those who prefer it.
But overeating grain supplements can cause liver abscesses caused by mild cases of acidosis. If you are just raising a steer to butcher, it may not be a problem because he will hit the chopping block before that point, but this can become a serious problem in your herd cows. Just food for thought.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
What Can 545 People Do?
545 PEOPLE
By Charlie Reese
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits? Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes? You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does. You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does. You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does. You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does. One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country. I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress.
In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank. I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes. Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party. What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits.
The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to. It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people.
When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red .
If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems. Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do. Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible. They, and they alone, have the power. They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses. Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees. We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!
Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.
By Charlie Reese
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits? Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes? You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does. You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does. You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does. You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does. One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country. I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress.
In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank. I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes. Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party. What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits.
The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to. It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people.
When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red .
If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems. Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do. Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible. They, and they alone, have the power. They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses. Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees. We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!
Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
The Story Of Warren Buffet
Warren Buffet is the world's second richest man. I don't write about him in regard to his wealth, per say, but because he has a fascinating story. Some look to Mr. Buffet for investing advice, some admire him for his fame and fortune. Other's feel that he has an uncanny "feel" for the market and the economy. Myself, I think his is the story of hard work and that is what I find fascinating. However, it must be said, that I don't know Mr. Buffet's beliefs and his success doesn't amount to a hill of beans if he is not saved. I do think that there is a lesson of hard work. The bible says, "Look to the ant, you sluggard...", and, "He who doesn't work, neither shall he eat...".
Warren Buffet wasn't handed a fortune to start with. He grew up in the depression era, we may be facing a worse one, but he knew how to be creative and survived. Here is a part of his story.
Mr. Buffet began as a door to door Coca Cola salesman, at the age of six, during the depression in Omaha, Nebraska. He wound his way through a series of different ventures, like retrieving lost golf balls to sell. He sifted discarded race track tickets looking for throw away winners. Then he moved on to a kind of mass production newspaper delivery with a route of 1500 deliveries. He even rented pinball machines to barber shops and all of this was done before the age of 18.
At the age of 18, he had accumulated the modern equivalent of $100,000.00 in the bank. The point here is that nothing he did is beyond anyone. It wasn't luck, it wasn't brilliant, it wasn't a positive outlook, it was because he wasn't afraid of hard work.
Now, here is my point. I believe there are some seriously trying times ahead. If survival is to be obtained, it will take hard work and now. I think that we need to look to God for provision and His provision is from the ground up. How is your garden? Are you putting up food? Most importantly, how is your spiritual life? Do you know Christ?
Like I said, I have no clue about Warren Buffet's spiritual well being, but this is one example of hard work that some life lessons can be gleaned. Not about the pursuit of wealth, for true wealth is from above, but about recognising the times and making an effort to survive.
Warren Buffet wasn't handed a fortune to start with. He grew up in the depression era, we may be facing a worse one, but he knew how to be creative and survived. Here is a part of his story.
Mr. Buffet began as a door to door Coca Cola salesman, at the age of six, during the depression in Omaha, Nebraska. He wound his way through a series of different ventures, like retrieving lost golf balls to sell. He sifted discarded race track tickets looking for throw away winners. Then he moved on to a kind of mass production newspaper delivery with a route of 1500 deliveries. He even rented pinball machines to barber shops and all of this was done before the age of 18.
At the age of 18, he had accumulated the modern equivalent of $100,000.00 in the bank. The point here is that nothing he did is beyond anyone. It wasn't luck, it wasn't brilliant, it wasn't a positive outlook, it was because he wasn't afraid of hard work.
Now, here is my point. I believe there are some seriously trying times ahead. If survival is to be obtained, it will take hard work and now. I think that we need to look to God for provision and His provision is from the ground up. How is your garden? Are you putting up food? Most importantly, how is your spiritual life? Do you know Christ?
Like I said, I have no clue about Warren Buffet's spiritual well being, but this is one example of hard work that some life lessons can be gleaned. Not about the pursuit of wealth, for true wealth is from above, but about recognising the times and making an effort to survive.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Japan Is Looking To Agriculture To Cure Its Woes
"Japan is expecting its unemployment rate to double over the next two years to record levels as the country’s export-oriented economy continues to shrink."
This is an excerpt from an article written by my favorite cattle man, Alan Nation. You can view the entire article here. It is this bloggers opinion (me) that this is the kind of economic times that will drive a service oriented society back to it agrarian roots.
However, there is another article on Mr. Nations blog, next to the one mentioned above about us little people in the middle of the nation, that might suggest that we might have it right?
This is an excerpt from an article written by my favorite cattle man, Alan Nation. You can view the entire article here. It is this bloggers opinion (me) that this is the kind of economic times that will drive a service oriented society back to it agrarian roots.
However, there is another article on Mr. Nations blog, next to the one mentioned above about us little people in the middle of the nation, that might suggest that we might have it right?
Go to Alan's blog and read on, then you can be the judge.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
NAIS Vs. The Equine Owner
Dr. R. M. Thornsberry, DVM, MBA, President of R-CALF USA
It is important for horse owners to know why NAIS is being forced on the equine industry within the United States. The United States and many other countries signed a World Trade Organization (WTO) treaty in the 1990's which obligated the first world countries, which had spent literally millions and millions of taxpayer dollars to eradicate contagious animal diseases, to develop a system of individual animal identification. The individual animal identification was demanded by the Organization of International Epizootics (OIE), a WTO world wide governmental agency, tasked with developing trade rules and internationally obligated trade regulations that would force animal and meat trade between countries that had eradicated contagious diseases with those that had not eradicated contagious animal diseases. In other words, the United States, which had eradicated Equine Piroplasmosis in the 1980's, a tick borne protozoal infection, would, by identifying all equines, be forced to trade with countries that had not eradicated Equine Piroplasmosis. In general, the argument goes something like this: Once you can identify every equine at birth and trace their every movement off the farm from birth to death, a first world country that has spent millions of taxpayer dollars to eradicate Equine Piroplasmosis, can no longer prevent trade with those countries who have refused to spend the necessary resources to eradicate Equine Piroplasmosis.
The United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) no longer seeks to carry out their mandate to prevent the introduction of foreign animal and plant diseases into the United States. Currently, USDA-APHIS in supporting NAIS, spending millions of tax payer dollars to entice livestock and equine owners into the system by promoting the acquisition of a free Premises Identification Number (PIN)from their respective state departments of agriculture. Producers of cattle, and equine owners, are the two classes of livestock owners who have overwhelmingly refused to receive an internationally sanctioned encumbrance to their private property. The USDA says a PIN is the first step to a painless process of identification of all livestock owners' physical locations, and that this PIN number is essential for the USDA to find a farm and quickly trace the movement of animals in the face of a contagious animal disease outbreak.
Yet, in any location within the state of Missouri, and I am sure in most states, you can simply punch 911 into your phone, and in a matter of 15 to 20 minutes, the police, the fire department, the ambulance, the sheriff, and usually the Conservation Commission Agent will be at your doorstep, but the USDA says they cannot find you? At every Agricultural Services-USDA office in the United States, you may obtain a description of your farm or ranch, including a current aerial photograph. You can go on Google Earth, type in your physical address, and privately obtain a detailed satellite photograph of your farm or ranch, providing such detail, that you can actually count individual cattle or horses in your pasture, and the USDA says it cannot find your farm or ranch in a contagious animal disease outbreak? The reasons the USDA want you to obtain a Premises Identification Number have nothing whatever to do with the USDA's ability to find your farm or your cattle or your horses. My 10 year old grandson can find my farm, a detailed satellite photograph of my farm, my telephone number, my mailing address, and my physical address on his computer in a matter of seconds. It's called Google!!!
The USDA-APHIS has testified before the United States Department of Agriculture, House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, March 11, 2009 that the NAIS would have to be electronic in nature to function as envisioned by the WTO. This simply means no visual tags, hot or cold brands, tattoos, ear notches, or individual color markings or descriptions will be allowed for individual animal identification. While this is a problem for other types of livestock, for the equine industry, it becomes a major hurdle to overcome. For equines, dogs, cats, fish, poultry, and many exotic animals, the only acceptable means of electronic individual animal identification is a surgically implanted glass enclosed electronic microchip. This implant is not nearly as simple to surgically implant within an animal as some are led to believe. When I implant a chip into an animal, I clip or shave the area. I scrub the area with surgical preparation soap containing iodine, and I finish by spraying the area with a surgical site disinfection iodine-alcohol solution. Lastly, I inject the area over the site of implantation with lidocaine to render the skin and underlying tissues devoid of sensation. The chips come individually packaged in a sterile container. To maintain this sterility, I must be sterile, which requires a surgical scrubbing of my hands, and the donning of a pair of sterile surgical latex gloves. Only after this extensive preparation, am I ready to actually implant the chip in the nuchal ligament of the mid neck area of my equine patient. Compare this process to the cattle producer who simply places a small eartag in his cattle.
The glass enclosed chips do not always stay put. Like a splinter in your finger, the body often mounts a response to a foreign body, even one as innocuous as a piece of sterile glass. The response may include the formation of a sterile abscess around the chip, or it may simply be painful and generate a negative response from the horse as it turns its neck or tries to graze, or attempts a performance endeavor at a race, show, or event. Chips have been known to migrate quite extensive distances within the body of an animal. Ask any veterinarian that works in this area of interest. Simply finding a chip to make a reading in some animals becomes a major undertaking. Only recently, has another side effect of chipping become known. A small percentage of veterinary patients have developed a cancerous growth at the site of implantation. While the incidence is low in animals whose lives are relatively short, an equine patient, living to the age of 20 to 35 years, has much more time to develop a cancerous growth around the implanted chip, than does a dog or cat, whose lifetime is closer 12 to 15 years. For a very complete summary and analysis of the scientific literature on microchips and cancer, see Katharine Albrecht, Ed.D., "Microchip Induced Tumors in Laboratory Rodents and Dogs: A Review of the Literature, 1990 to 2006," available at http://www.antichips.com/cancer.
With all that being evaluated, the primary reason the USDA-APHIS desires to force the NAIS system onto the livestock sectors of the United States is simple: Bruce Knight told a large group of bovine practitioners at our annual meeting in Vancouver, Canada in September 2007, when asked why the USDA was pushing so hard for NAIS, and I quote, "It is quite simple. We want to be in compliance with OIE regulations by 2010."
Now I don't know about all you equine owners, but we cattle producers do not look kindly on an international agency in Belgium telling us what we can and cannot do with our livestock in the United States. Our grandfathers and fathers spend untold millions of dollars to assist the USDA in eradicating many serious contagious animal diseases during the last 75 years. Why would we now acquiesce to a system that will open up our privately owned animals to contagious animal diseases that we whipped and wiped out many years ago, for access to our marketplace to animals and meat from countries who have chosen in that same time period to ignore eradication of contagious animal diseases? No way!!!
We live in the United States, not the WTO. We have a Constitution that directs our legal system, not the OIE. We have a government by the people, for the people, and of the people. It is time for the people to stand up and say, "Enough with the one world government junk!!!" If equine owners do not stand up and unite their voices with other livestock producers, NAIS will become mandatory in the United States. It will cost the equine owner in excess of $50.00 a head to implant the electronic microchip desired by the USDA and the WTO. You will then be required to report any movement of your horse or horses off your property, and for any reason. Imagine the bureaucratic nightmare and the paperwork requirements of reporting to your government every time you go on a trail ride, every time you go to a show or an event, and every time you trailer a mare to go to the stud. There will have to be an NAIS office in every county seat to process all this data, keep track of your information, and report any violations to the USDA. Just imagine the fines and enforcement actions that will be carried out to enforce this NAIS system on the livestock industry of the United States of America, including equine owners.
R. M. Thornsberry, D.V.M., M.B.A.March 28, 2009
Max Thornsberry, D.V.M., is R-CALF USA's President of the Board of Directors. Thornsberry and his wife Brenda reside in Richland, Mo. He is the owner and manager of TNT Cattle Co., as well as Avanco Feeds.Thornsberry has a B.S. in Agriculture and a minor in Chemistry from the University of Missouri's College of Agriculture. In 1977, Thornsberry received his D.V.M. from University of Missouri's College of Veterinary Medicine. In 1992, Thornsberry acquired his M.B.A. at California Coast University in Santa Ana, Calif.Thornsberry is a past president of both the Missouri Stockgrower' s Association and the Missouri Cattlemen's Association. He also is a current member of the Academy of Veterinary Consultants and the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
The Every-Once-In-A-While Fertrell Highlight
I have changed the name of this from "Sunday Fertrell Product Of the Week" to the above title for obvious reasons. I don't seem to get it done every week, so, I will do it once in a while.
Really, this is the story of my life, no real consistency. But, I will muddle through. This time, I would like to focus on a viable alternative to the standard "triple seventeen or triple thirteen" fertilizers many farmers use for the hay fields and pastures.
Fertrell's liquid fertilizers can offer excellent quality and good value. The only catch is that you would have to have the means of spraying it onto the pasture. It must also be kept in mind how fast you apply it and what rate it is sprayed.
Really, this is the story of my life, no real consistency. But, I will muddle through. This time, I would like to focus on a viable alternative to the standard "triple seventeen or triple thirteen" fertilizers many farmers use for the hay fields and pastures.
Fertrell's liquid fertilizers can offer excellent quality and good value. The only catch is that you would have to have the means of spraying it onto the pasture. It must also be kept in mind how fast you apply it and what rate it is sprayed.
Fertrell Liquid 4-2-4. Made from a blend of soluble fish, Chilean Nitrate, and Soluble Sulfate of Potash. It is blended so that it can be use as a foliar feed, in transplant water and as a side dress when planting seeds. Fertrell 4-2-4 can be used indoors and outside on lawns, flowers, shrubs, trees, and all field row crops. This product has been reviewed, and approved for organic production.
Available Sizes:Plastic Jug 1 gallon Plastic Jug 5 gallons
If you would like more information on Fertrell and their products click the link above, or you can email us at sppowers@iglide.net and we will be happy to help.
USA Today Gun Poll
There are several things that I would like to talk about on this blog, but important news is keeping me from it. I have to share this with y'all, as well. I took the poll and the result surprised me not a little. Go and take the poll and maybe someone will notice (although, I have little hope in that). I will keep this up for a couple of days. Scoll down for other new posts.
USA Today Gun Poll - important take the time to vote it may do some good.This gives you the right to make your opinion heard. It takes 5seconds It is still a live link.Our new Attorney General has already said firearm restriction is one ofhis major issues. This takes literally 2 clicks to complete. Please vote on this gunissue question with USA Today. It will only take a few seconds of yourtime. Then pass the link on to all the pro gun folks you know.Hopefully these results will be published later this month.. Thisupcoming year will become critical for gun owners with the SupremeCourt accepting the District of Columbia case against the right forindividuals to bear arms. First - vote on this one. Second - launch it to other folks andhave THEM vote - then we will see if the results get published. Vote inthe USA Today poll - click on the link below. The Question is: Doesthe Second Amendment give individuals the right to bear arms? Votehere: Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!0A http://www.usatoday.com/news/quickquestion/2007/november/popup5895.htm
USA Today Gun Poll - important take the time to vote it may do some good.This gives you the right to make your opinion heard. It takes 5seconds It is still a live link.Our new Attorney General has already said firearm restriction is one ofhis major issues. This takes literally 2 clicks to complete. Please vote on this gunissue question with USA Today. It will only take a few seconds of yourtime. Then pass the link on to all the pro gun folks you know.Hopefully these results will be published later this month.. Thisupcoming year will become critical for gun owners with the SupremeCourt accepting the District of Columbia case against the right forindividuals to bear arms. First - vote on this one. Second - launch it to other folks andhave THEM vote - then we will see if the results get published. Vote inthe USA Today poll - click on the link below. The Question is: Doesthe Second Amendment give individuals the right to bear arms? Votehere: Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!0A http://www.usatoday.com/news/quickquestion/2007/november/popup5895.htm
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Are Gardeners In Jeopardy?
Once again, I apologize for the craziness of the cut and paste method of posting this. This was in an email, again, and I wanted to share it with y'all. If someone has a better method of posting these, please let me know-I know this makes it hard to read. Thanks for stopping by.
Scott
There are no less than 18 pieces of 'food safety ' legislation on the fed level. The movers appear to be, HR875, HR 759, HR1332 and S425 and 510. All would have the net effect of licensing and registering anyone who 'holds, houses and grows food' and would be effectuated upon transfer at the least. 875 is the most pressing as it has at least 40 co sponsors. Attached is a rebut to some of the disinformation being put out on the bill that I did for Derry Brownfield. Don't know if he has covered it yet, but here it is anyway....This is a rebuttal to the organic groups who issued a 'myths and facts regarding 875 that Delauro's office actually gave to them. These groups are being paid to be watchdogs and instead have become the lapdogs of the administration and the bureaucrats they are supposed to be watching……..Page numbers for the print out of the legislation you have are inserted. Myths and FactsH.R. 875 – The Food Safety Modernization Act∑ MYTH: H.R. 875 “makes it illegal to grow your own garden” and would result in the “criminalization of the backyard gardener.” FACT: There is no language in the bill that would regulate, penalize, or shut down backyard gardens. The focus of the bill is to ensure the safety of food in interstate commerce.Answer to the 'purported' myth:page 20 SEC. 201. ADMINISTRATION OF NATIONAL PROGRAM.(a) In General- The Administrator shall--(1) develop, administer, and annually update a national food safety program (referred to in this section as the ‘program’) to protect public health; and(2) ensure that persons who produce, process, or distribute food meet their responsibility to prevent or minimize food safety hazards related to their products.(b) COMPREHENSIVEANALYSIS.—The program shall be based on a comprehensive analysis of the hazards associated with different food and with the processing of different food, including the identification and evaluation of— (1) the severity of the potential health risks; (2) the sources of potentially hazardous contamination or practices extending from the farm or ranch to the consumer that may increase the risk of food-borne illness; Note: there is No exclusion for gardeners, and ∑ MYTH: H.R. 875 would mean a “goodbye to farmers markets” because it would regulate and penalize “each farmer who wishes to sell locally.” FACT: There is no language in the bill that would result in farmers markets being regulated, penalized by any fines, or shut down. Farmers markets would be able to continue to flourish under the bill. In fact, the bill would insist that imported foods meet strict safety standards to ensure that unsafe imported foods are not competing with locally-grown foods.∑ Answer to 'purported myth' number 2page 45(b) INSPECTIONOF RECORDS.—A food production facility shall permit the Administrator upon presentation of appropriate credentials and at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, to have access to and ability to copy all records maintained by or on behalf of such food production establishment in any format (including paper or electronic) and at any location, that are necessary to assist the Administrator— (1) to determine whether the food is contaminated, adulterated, or otherwise not in compliance with the food safety law; or (2) to track the food in commerce.cont'd page 120……..SEC. 406. PRESUMPTION. In any action to enforce the requirements of the food safety law, the connection with interstate commerce required for jurisdiction shall be presumed to exist. ∑ Farmer’s markets under this bill would be deemed as commerce. How do you propose to track sales? Also note anyone in the definition of 'food production facility' shall be open to inspection whenever the agency deems it is 'reasonable'.∑ MYTH: H.R. 875 would result in the “death of organic farming” or “mandate the use of chemicals or certain types of seeds on organic farms.”FACT: There is no language in the bill that would stop or interfere with organic farming. The National Organic Program (NOP) is under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Food Safety Modernization Act only addresses food safety issues under the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).∑ Answer to 'purported myth' number 3page 120 againSEC. 406. PRESUMPTION. In any action to enforce the requirements of the food safety law, the connection with interstate commerce required for jurisdiction shall be presumed to exist. Also, from the definitions section: page 12…….. 14) FOOD PRODUCTION FACILITY- The term ‘food production facility’ means any farm, ranch, orchard, vineyard, aquaculture facility, or confined animal-feeding operation.page 44 and 45--the most damnable section…….. SEC. 206. FOOD PRODUCTION FACILITIES. (a) Authorities- In carrying out the duties of the Administrator and the purposes of this Act, the Administrator shall have the authority, with respect to food production facilities, to-- (1) visit and inspect food production facilities in the United States and in foreign countries to determine if they are operating in compliance with the requirements of the food safety law; (2) review food safety records as required to be kept by the Administrator under section 210 and for other food safety purposes; (3) set good practice standards to protect the public and animal health and promote food safety; (4) conduct monitoring and surveillance of animals, plants, products, or the environment, as appropriate; and (5) collect and maintain information relevant to public health and farm practices. (b) Inspection of Records- A food production facility shall permit the Administrator upon presentation of appropriate credentials and at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, to have access to and ability to copy all records maintained by or on behalf of such food production establishment in any format (including paper or electronic) and at any location, that are necessary to assist the Administrator-- (1) to determine whether the food is contaminated, adulterated, or otherwise not in compliance with the food safety law; or (2) to track the food in commerce. (c) Regulations- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and representatives of State departments of agriculture, shall promulgate regulations to establish science-based minimum standards for the safe production of food by food production facilities. Such regulations shall-- (1) consider all relevant hazards, including those occurring naturally, and those that may be unintentionally or intentionally introduced; (2) require each food production facility to have a written food safety plan that describes the likely hazards and preventive controls implemented to address those hazards; (3) include, with respect to growing, harvesting, sorting, and storage operations, minimum standards related to fertilizer use, nutrients, hygiene, packaging, temperature controls, animal encroachment, and water; (4) include, with respect to animals raised for food, minimum standards related to the animal’s health, feed, and environment which bear on the safety of food for human consumption; (5) provide a reasonable period of time for compliance, taking into account the needs of small businesses for additional time to comply; (6) provide for coordination of education and enforcement activities by State and local officials, as designated by the Governors of the respective States; and (7) include a description of the variance process under subsection (d) and the types of permissible variances which the Administrator may grant under such process. ∑ MYTH: H.R. 875 was written by Monsanto and other large agribusiness companies because Stan Greenberg, Rep. DeLauro’s husband, is a consultant for Monsanto.FACT: Monsanto and other large agribusiness companies did not write or express support for H.R. 875. Mr. Greenberg had no involvement in the drafting of the bill. Greenberg, Quinlan Rosner does no lobbying on any issue and its work is wholly independent. Mr. Greenberg never worked for Monsanto, and has not conducted surveys for Monsanto in the past decade. The bill is supported by several Members of Congress who have strong progressive records on issues involving farmers markets, organic farming, and locally-grown foods. Also, H.R. 875 is the only food safety legislation that has been supported by all the major consumer and food safety groups:-- Center for Foodborne Illness Research & Prevention-- Center for Science in the Public Interest-- Consumer Federation of America-- Consumers Union-- Food & Water Watch-- The Pew Charitable Trusts-- Safe Tables Our Priority -- Trust for America’s HealthAnswer to myth number 4……….Begs the question……Once the authority exists who will determine the practices? In so far as no producer groups were consulted in this draft or have been given voice, are we to be dictated to by consumer groups? Did these consumer groups, who seem to have not read the bill, have the slightest idea who actually authored the legislation??? This legislation incorporates both GAP (Good Agricultural Practices of the IPPC-International Plant protection Convention and Guide to Good Farming Practices, of the OIE-so it does the work of the WTO, and agribusiness, but maybe these groups who are sponsoring it have no clue about much of anything.∑ MYTH: H.R. 875 would implement a national animal ID system (NAIS).FACT: There is no language in the bill that would implement NAIS, which is under the jurisdiction of the USDA. H.R. 875 addresses issues under the jurisdiction of the FDA.Answer to Myth number 5….read the Bill!!!!!!pages 71 and 72---72 mentions NAIS by name and ratifies the AHPA as giving the USDA authority to implement the program. Call if you want help on the ratification ramifications….SEC. 210. TRACEBACK REQUIREMENTS.(a) In General- The Administrator, in order to protect the public health, shall establish a national traceability system that enables the Administrator to retrieve the history, use, and location of an article of food through all stages of its production, processing, and distribution.(b) Applicability- Traceability requirements under this section shall apply to food from food production facilities, food establishments, and foreign food establishments.(c) Requirements-(1) STANDARDS- The Administrator shall establish standards for the type of information, format, and timeframe for food production facilities and food establishments to submit records to aid the Administrator in effectively retrieving the history, use, and location of an item of food.(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring the Administrator to prescribe a specific technology for the maintenance of records or labeling of food to carry out the requirements of this section.(3) AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS FOR INSPECTION- Any records that are required by the Administrator under this section shall be available for inspection by the Administrator upon oral or written request.(4) DEMONSTRATION OF ABILITY- The Administrator, during any inspection, may require a food establishment to demonstrate its ability to trace an item of food and submit the information in the format and timeframe required under paragraph (1).(d) Relationship to Other Requirements-(1) CONSISTENCY WITH EXISTING STATUTES AND REGULATIONS- To the extent possible, the Administrator should establish the national traceability system under this section to be consistent with existing statutes and regulations that require recordkeeping or labeling for identifying the origin or history of food or food animals.(2) EXISTING LAWS- For purposes of this subsection, the Administrator should review the following:(A) Country of origin labeling requirements of subtitle D of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1638 et seq.).(B) The Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act of 1930 (7 U.S.C. 499a-t).(C) Country of origin labeling requirements of section 304 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1340).(D) The National Animal Identification System as authorized by the Animal Health Protection Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.).(3) CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS- Nothing contained in this section prevents or interferes with implementation of the country of origin labeling requirements of subtitle D of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1638 et seq.).∑ MYTH: H.R. 875 will pass the Congress next week without amendments or debate.FACT: Food safety legislation has yet to be considered by any Congressional committee. As legislation moves forward, the House Energy and Commerce Committee will consider H.R. 759 as its base bill. The Senate HELP Committee will consider S. 510 as its base bill. Answer----on April 2nd the House Ag Committee had a hearing on Food Safety, the bill is in Energy and Commerce and Ag. 759 is equally as repugnant to the Constitution as 875, and neither one of them, or the other 16 pieces of legislation regarding food safety should have ANY hearing or even be introduced in a Democratic Constitutional Republic under Article 1 sec 8 of the US Constitution….Also, Obama promised to do 'something' about food safety within the next 100 days in the end of March. So fast track or not, we will see where this lands.Doreen HannesListen to "Truth Farmer" on Sentinel Radio at:http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Sentinel_Radio/2009/03/03/Truth-Farmer-with-DoreenAlso check out www.newswithviews.com for my articles on the National Animal Identification system and from other excellent researchers on many topics affecting your freedom...also my blog, www.truth-farmer.blogspot.com"It's dangerous to be right when your government is wrong"==Voltaire
Scott
There are no less than 18 pieces of 'food safety ' legislation on the fed level. The movers appear to be, HR875, HR 759, HR1332 and S425 and 510. All would have the net effect of licensing and registering anyone who 'holds, houses and grows food' and would be effectuated upon transfer at the least. 875 is the most pressing as it has at least 40 co sponsors. Attached is a rebut to some of the disinformation being put out on the bill that I did for Derry Brownfield. Don't know if he has covered it yet, but here it is anyway....This is a rebuttal to the organic groups who issued a 'myths and facts regarding 875 that Delauro's office actually gave to them. These groups are being paid to be watchdogs and instead have become the lapdogs of the administration and the bureaucrats they are supposed to be watching……..Page numbers for the print out of the legislation you have are inserted. Myths and FactsH.R. 875 – The Food Safety Modernization Act∑ MYTH: H.R. 875 “makes it illegal to grow your own garden” and would result in the “criminalization of the backyard gardener.” FACT: There is no language in the bill that would regulate, penalize, or shut down backyard gardens. The focus of the bill is to ensure the safety of food in interstate commerce.Answer to the 'purported' myth:page 20 SEC. 201. ADMINISTRATION OF NATIONAL PROGRAM.(a) In General- The Administrator shall--(1) develop, administer, and annually update a national food safety program (referred to in this section as the ‘program’) to protect public health; and(2) ensure that persons who produce, process, or distribute food meet their responsibility to prevent or minimize food safety hazards related to their products.(b) COMPREHENSIVEANALYSIS.—The program shall be based on a comprehensive analysis of the hazards associated with different food and with the processing of different food, including the identification and evaluation of— (1) the severity of the potential health risks; (2) the sources of potentially hazardous contamination or practices extending from the farm or ranch to the consumer that may increase the risk of food-borne illness; Note: there is No exclusion for gardeners, and ∑ MYTH: H.R. 875 would mean a “goodbye to farmers markets” because it would regulate and penalize “each farmer who wishes to sell locally.” FACT: There is no language in the bill that would result in farmers markets being regulated, penalized by any fines, or shut down. Farmers markets would be able to continue to flourish under the bill. In fact, the bill would insist that imported foods meet strict safety standards to ensure that unsafe imported foods are not competing with locally-grown foods.∑ Answer to 'purported myth' number 2page 45(b) INSPECTIONOF RECORDS.—A food production facility shall permit the Administrator upon presentation of appropriate credentials and at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, to have access to and ability to copy all records maintained by or on behalf of such food production establishment in any format (including paper or electronic) and at any location, that are necessary to assist the Administrator— (1) to determine whether the food is contaminated, adulterated, or otherwise not in compliance with the food safety law; or (2) to track the food in commerce.cont'd page 120……..SEC. 406. PRESUMPTION. In any action to enforce the requirements of the food safety law, the connection with interstate commerce required for jurisdiction shall be presumed to exist. ∑ Farmer’s markets under this bill would be deemed as commerce. How do you propose to track sales? Also note anyone in the definition of 'food production facility' shall be open to inspection whenever the agency deems it is 'reasonable'.∑ MYTH: H.R. 875 would result in the “death of organic farming” or “mandate the use of chemicals or certain types of seeds on organic farms.”FACT: There is no language in the bill that would stop or interfere with organic farming. The National Organic Program (NOP) is under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Food Safety Modernization Act only addresses food safety issues under the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).∑ Answer to 'purported myth' number 3page 120 againSEC. 406. PRESUMPTION. In any action to enforce the requirements of the food safety law, the connection with interstate commerce required for jurisdiction shall be presumed to exist. Also, from the definitions section: page 12…….. 14) FOOD PRODUCTION FACILITY- The term ‘food production facility’ means any farm, ranch, orchard, vineyard, aquaculture facility, or confined animal-feeding operation.page 44 and 45--the most damnable section…….. SEC. 206. FOOD PRODUCTION FACILITIES. (a) Authorities- In carrying out the duties of the Administrator and the purposes of this Act, the Administrator shall have the authority, with respect to food production facilities, to-- (1) visit and inspect food production facilities in the United States and in foreign countries to determine if they are operating in compliance with the requirements of the food safety law; (2) review food safety records as required to be kept by the Administrator under section 210 and for other food safety purposes; (3) set good practice standards to protect the public and animal health and promote food safety; (4) conduct monitoring and surveillance of animals, plants, products, or the environment, as appropriate; and (5) collect and maintain information relevant to public health and farm practices. (b) Inspection of Records- A food production facility shall permit the Administrator upon presentation of appropriate credentials and at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, to have access to and ability to copy all records maintained by or on behalf of such food production establishment in any format (including paper or electronic) and at any location, that are necessary to assist the Administrator-- (1) to determine whether the food is contaminated, adulterated, or otherwise not in compliance with the food safety law; or (2) to track the food in commerce. (c) Regulations- Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and representatives of State departments of agriculture, shall promulgate regulations to establish science-based minimum standards for the safe production of food by food production facilities. Such regulations shall-- (1) consider all relevant hazards, including those occurring naturally, and those that may be unintentionally or intentionally introduced; (2) require each food production facility to have a written food safety plan that describes the likely hazards and preventive controls implemented to address those hazards; (3) include, with respect to growing, harvesting, sorting, and storage operations, minimum standards related to fertilizer use, nutrients, hygiene, packaging, temperature controls, animal encroachment, and water; (4) include, with respect to animals raised for food, minimum standards related to the animal’s health, feed, and environment which bear on the safety of food for human consumption; (5) provide a reasonable period of time for compliance, taking into account the needs of small businesses for additional time to comply; (6) provide for coordination of education and enforcement activities by State and local officials, as designated by the Governors of the respective States; and (7) include a description of the variance process under subsection (d) and the types of permissible variances which the Administrator may grant under such process. ∑ MYTH: H.R. 875 was written by Monsanto and other large agribusiness companies because Stan Greenberg, Rep. DeLauro’s husband, is a consultant for Monsanto.FACT: Monsanto and other large agribusiness companies did not write or express support for H.R. 875. Mr. Greenberg had no involvement in the drafting of the bill. Greenberg, Quinlan Rosner does no lobbying on any issue and its work is wholly independent. Mr. Greenberg never worked for Monsanto, and has not conducted surveys for Monsanto in the past decade. The bill is supported by several Members of Congress who have strong progressive records on issues involving farmers markets, organic farming, and locally-grown foods. Also, H.R. 875 is the only food safety legislation that has been supported by all the major consumer and food safety groups:-- Center for Foodborne Illness Research & Prevention-- Center for Science in the Public Interest-- Consumer Federation of America-- Consumers Union-- Food & Water Watch-- The Pew Charitable Trusts-- Safe Tables Our Priority -- Trust for America’s HealthAnswer to myth number 4……….Begs the question……Once the authority exists who will determine the practices? In so far as no producer groups were consulted in this draft or have been given voice, are we to be dictated to by consumer groups? Did these consumer groups, who seem to have not read the bill, have the slightest idea who actually authored the legislation??? This legislation incorporates both GAP (Good Agricultural Practices of the IPPC-International Plant protection Convention and Guide to Good Farming Practices, of the OIE-so it does the work of the WTO, and agribusiness, but maybe these groups who are sponsoring it have no clue about much of anything.∑ MYTH: H.R. 875 would implement a national animal ID system (NAIS).FACT: There is no language in the bill that would implement NAIS, which is under the jurisdiction of the USDA. H.R. 875 addresses issues under the jurisdiction of the FDA.Answer to Myth number 5….read the Bill!!!!!!pages 71 and 72---72 mentions NAIS by name and ratifies the AHPA as giving the USDA authority to implement the program. Call if you want help on the ratification ramifications….SEC. 210. TRACEBACK REQUIREMENTS.(a) In General- The Administrator, in order to protect the public health, shall establish a national traceability system that enables the Administrator to retrieve the history, use, and location of an article of food through all stages of its production, processing, and distribution.(b) Applicability- Traceability requirements under this section shall apply to food from food production facilities, food establishments, and foreign food establishments.(c) Requirements-(1) STANDARDS- The Administrator shall establish standards for the type of information, format, and timeframe for food production facilities and food establishments to submit records to aid the Administrator in effectively retrieving the history, use, and location of an item of food.(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring the Administrator to prescribe a specific technology for the maintenance of records or labeling of food to carry out the requirements of this section.(3) AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS FOR INSPECTION- Any records that are required by the Administrator under this section shall be available for inspection by the Administrator upon oral or written request.(4) DEMONSTRATION OF ABILITY- The Administrator, during any inspection, may require a food establishment to demonstrate its ability to trace an item of food and submit the information in the format and timeframe required under paragraph (1).(d) Relationship to Other Requirements-(1) CONSISTENCY WITH EXISTING STATUTES AND REGULATIONS- To the extent possible, the Administrator should establish the national traceability system under this section to be consistent with existing statutes and regulations that require recordkeeping or labeling for identifying the origin or history of food or food animals.(2) EXISTING LAWS- For purposes of this subsection, the Administrator should review the following:(A) Country of origin labeling requirements of subtitle D of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1638 et seq.).(B) The Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act of 1930 (7 U.S.C. 499a-t).(C) Country of origin labeling requirements of section 304 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1340).(D) The National Animal Identification System as authorized by the Animal Health Protection Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.).(3) CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS- Nothing contained in this section prevents or interferes with implementation of the country of origin labeling requirements of subtitle D of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1638 et seq.).∑ MYTH: H.R. 875 will pass the Congress next week without amendments or debate.FACT: Food safety legislation has yet to be considered by any Congressional committee. As legislation moves forward, the House Energy and Commerce Committee will consider H.R. 759 as its base bill. The Senate HELP Committee will consider S. 510 as its base bill. Answer----on April 2nd the House Ag Committee had a hearing on Food Safety, the bill is in Energy and Commerce and Ag. 759 is equally as repugnant to the Constitution as 875, and neither one of them, or the other 16 pieces of legislation regarding food safety should have ANY hearing or even be introduced in a Democratic Constitutional Republic under Article 1 sec 8 of the US Constitution….Also, Obama promised to do 'something' about food safety within the next 100 days in the end of March. So fast track or not, we will see where this lands.Doreen HannesListen to "Truth Farmer" on Sentinel Radio at:http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Sentinel_Radio/2009/03/03/Truth-Farmer-with-DoreenAlso check out www.newswithviews.com for my articles on the National Animal Identification system and from other excellent researchers on many topics affecting your freedom...also my blog, www.truth-farmer.blogspot.com"It's dangerous to be right when your government is wrong"==Voltaire
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Socialism?
I know this may be hard to read, but I recieived this as an email and they don't copy and paste very well. However, I encourage y'all to read it. I fear that this fight is just beginning.
Date: Monday, April 13, 2009, 9:02 PM *HR 45 Blair Holt Firearm Licensing & Record of Sales Act of 2009* *P**lease send this to everybody on your list... **this is Obama gun/control/ /by/ /secrecy/.* ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Very Important for you to be aware of a *new bill HR 45 introduced into the House*. This is the *Blair Holt Firearm Licensing & Record of Sale Act of 2009*. We just learned yesterday about this on the Peter Boyles radio program. Even gun shop owners didn't know about this because it is flying under the radar. To find out about this - go to any government website and type in *HR 45* or Google *HR 45 Blair Holt Firearm Licensing & Record of Sales Act of 2009*. You will get all the information. Basically this would make it illegal to own a firearm - any rifle with a clip or ANY pistol unless: .It is registered .*You* *are* fingerprinted .*You* *supply* a current Driver's License .*You* *supply* your Social Security # .*You* *will* submit to a physical & mental evaluation at any time of their choosing .*Each* *update* - change or ownership through private or public sale must be reported and costs $25 - *_Failure_* *to* *do* *so* you automatically lose the right to own a firearm and are subject up to a year in jail. .There is a child provision clause on page 16 section 305 stating a child-access provision. Gun must be locked and inaccessible to any child under 18. * The Government* would have the _right_ to come and inspect that you are storing your gun safely away from accessibility to children and fine is punishable for up to 5 yrs. in prison. If you think this is a joke - go to the website and take your pick of many options to read this.. _http://www.opencong ress.org/ bill/111- h45/text <http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h45/text>_ It is long and lengthy. But, more and more people are becoming aware of this. Pass the wordalong. FAILURE TO DO SO AT YOUR PERIL! Any *hunters* in your family - pass this along. Peter Boyles is on this and having guests. Listen to him on *KHOW* *630* a.m. in the morning. He suggests the best way to fight this is to tell all your friends about it and "spring into action". Also he suggests we all join a pro-gun group like the Colorado Rifle Association, hunting associations, gun clubs and especially the NRA.. This is just a "termite" approach to _complete confiscation of guns_ and _disarming of our society_ to the point we have no defense - chip away a little here and there until the goal is accomplished before anyone realizes it.
Date: Monday, April 13, 2009, 9:02 PM *HR 45 Blair Holt Firearm Licensing & Record of Sales Act of 2009* *P**lease send this to everybody on your list... **this is Obama gun/control/ /by/ /secrecy/.* ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Very Important for you to be aware of a *new bill HR 45 introduced into the House*. This is the *Blair Holt Firearm Licensing & Record of Sale Act of 2009*. We just learned yesterday about this on the Peter Boyles radio program. Even gun shop owners didn't know about this because it is flying under the radar. To find out about this - go to any government website and type in *HR 45* or Google *HR 45 Blair Holt Firearm Licensing & Record of Sales Act of 2009*. You will get all the information. Basically this would make it illegal to own a firearm - any rifle with a clip or ANY pistol unless: .It is registered .*You* *are* fingerprinted .*You* *supply* a current Driver's License .*You* *supply* your Social Security # .*You* *will* submit to a physical & mental evaluation at any time of their choosing .*Each* *update* - change or ownership through private or public sale must be reported and costs $25 - *_Failure_* *to* *do* *so* you automatically lose the right to own a firearm and are subject up to a year in jail. .There is a child provision clause on page 16 section 305 stating a child-access provision. Gun must be locked and inaccessible to any child under 18. * The Government* would have the _right_ to come and inspect that you are storing your gun safely away from accessibility to children and fine is punishable for up to 5 yrs. in prison. If you think this is a joke - go to the website and take your pick of many options to read this.. _http://www.opencong ress.org/ bill/111- h45/text <http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h45/text>_ It is long and lengthy. But, more and more people are becoming aware of this. Pass the wordalong. FAILURE TO DO SO AT YOUR PERIL! Any *hunters* in your family - pass this along. Peter Boyles is on this and having guests. Listen to him on *KHOW* *630* a.m. in the morning. He suggests the best way to fight this is to tell all your friends about it and "spring into action". Also he suggests we all join a pro-gun group like the Colorado Rifle Association, hunting associations, gun clubs and especially the NRA.. This is just a "termite" approach to _complete confiscation of guns_ and _disarming of our society_ to the point we have no defense - chip away a little here and there until the goal is accomplished before anyone realizes it.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Grass Farming Dicipline
Let me start off by saying that I am not a expert in the field of grass farming, not by any means. I am truly a novice, at best. I can't even say that I have quality pasture (yet). And, quite frankly, I am small time. We are just a small homestead family, trying to provide more for ourselves and selling a bit of the leftovers. That being said, we do treat our small enterprises as businesses. I believe you have to in order to keep a profit.
As I said, we are a small, family homestead and I don't even try to look any bigger than that. I don't want any false pretenses out there. I have read a lot on the subject of grass farming and have gained a bit of knowledge, but I find myself, at times, trying to manage my small acreage like a "pro". This ideology comes with its share of anxiety, especially when, year after year, I find that I don't know all that much anyway.
This brings me to the subject of this article. I have said this before and I'll say it again, my biggest enemy on our homestead is dicipline. I have never been very diciplined, I could list the names of all my teachers in school and they would whole heartedly agree, but I will spare that embarasment to myself at this time.
What I have decided to do is to quarentine the few bovine we own into small areas in order to let the grass grow, so I can begin the rotation plan. However, every time I look at the paddocks, I get all nervous and really want to let them out. I go through this every year. I am trying very hard this time. I don't want to let them eat everything right off the bat. I have done this every year that we owned them and the end result is always the same, the grass is eaten to little nubs and it takes forever for it to recover. There are spots where it hasn't recovered at all.
I wish to avoid that this year. Like I said, I have read a lot on this subject, and I know that what I am doing is not sustainable, nor good for the land. And that is one of our core beliefs-stewardship. I know all of this. The problem is not in a lack of knowledge. I can't plea ignorance, like I spent my school career doing.
The discipline is in waiting for the grass to grow tall enough to sustain a large animal. Right now, the grass is the perfect height for chickens, which would be fine, if that was all we were raising.
I have read that the ideal situation would be grass at a height of eight inches, grazing down to around four inches, then let it recover. So, this is what I am shooting for, if I can hold out. It is tough, I tell you. You should see the look on the cows faces as they long for that fresh green stuff on the other side of that wire.
Another "wrench" in the plan is that it has been cool and nothing is growing exceptionally fast. This goes back to the poor soil quality (another thing I am working on), as I see other places around that are nice and lush. This is another discipline area. It takes time to get the soil where it should be. We don't have a ton of cash lying around to spend on fertilizers. Plus, this is the first year we have used Fertrell on the soil. We have focused on Fertrell's animal nutrition until this year. So I am excited to see some results. I must be said that, even that, will be limited on results as we don't have the money to outlay for a full fertilization program. Mr. Obama, can I get some of that stimulus?
I am trying to be disciplined enough to watch the grass grow. I hope I can last that long.
As I said, we are a small, family homestead and I don't even try to look any bigger than that. I don't want any false pretenses out there. I have read a lot on the subject of grass farming and have gained a bit of knowledge, but I find myself, at times, trying to manage my small acreage like a "pro". This ideology comes with its share of anxiety, especially when, year after year, I find that I don't know all that much anyway.
This brings me to the subject of this article. I have said this before and I'll say it again, my biggest enemy on our homestead is dicipline. I have never been very diciplined, I could list the names of all my teachers in school and they would whole heartedly agree, but I will spare that embarasment to myself at this time.
What I have decided to do is to quarentine the few bovine we own into small areas in order to let the grass grow, so I can begin the rotation plan. However, every time I look at the paddocks, I get all nervous and really want to let them out. I go through this every year. I am trying very hard this time. I don't want to let them eat everything right off the bat. I have done this every year that we owned them and the end result is always the same, the grass is eaten to little nubs and it takes forever for it to recover. There are spots where it hasn't recovered at all.
I wish to avoid that this year. Like I said, I have read a lot on this subject, and I know that what I am doing is not sustainable, nor good for the land. And that is one of our core beliefs-stewardship. I know all of this. The problem is not in a lack of knowledge. I can't plea ignorance, like I spent my school career doing.
The discipline is in waiting for the grass to grow tall enough to sustain a large animal. Right now, the grass is the perfect height for chickens, which would be fine, if that was all we were raising.
I have read that the ideal situation would be grass at a height of eight inches, grazing down to around four inches, then let it recover. So, this is what I am shooting for, if I can hold out. It is tough, I tell you. You should see the look on the cows faces as they long for that fresh green stuff on the other side of that wire.
Another "wrench" in the plan is that it has been cool and nothing is growing exceptionally fast. This goes back to the poor soil quality (another thing I am working on), as I see other places around that are nice and lush. This is another discipline area. It takes time to get the soil where it should be. We don't have a ton of cash lying around to spend on fertilizers. Plus, this is the first year we have used Fertrell on the soil. We have focused on Fertrell's animal nutrition until this year. So I am excited to see some results. I must be said that, even that, will be limited on results as we don't have the money to outlay for a full fertilization program. Mr. Obama, can I get some of that stimulus?
I am trying to be disciplined enough to watch the grass grow. I hope I can last that long.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Beneficial Bacteria In Raw Milk
Through the process of fermentation, milk can be even more digestible. This is accomplished through several strains of bacteria that are already present in raw milk.
Some bacteria can be added. How, you may ask? Through foods that are drived from soured milk like yogurt and kefir. These provide plenty of health benefits to those that eat them. These bacteria are acid lovers and will survive through the stomach acid and make their way into the intestines, where they really do their work.
While there, some of them make enzymes the help break down protiens. This is a major benefit to those with digestive problems from age, pharmaceutical side effects, or illness.
Other strains work by creating lipases that chop triglycerides into useable chunks. And others take on the milk sugar (lactose) and make lactic acid out of it.
Having lactic acid working for you can be a good thing. It's not just the pain you get from a hard workout. The lactic acid, created by the digestion of the lactose, helps your body absorb calcium, iron, and phosphorus, breaks up casein and helps prevent bad bugs.
Raw milk is a living food with remarkable self-protective properties, but here's the kick: most foods tend to go south as they age, raw milk just keeps getting better.
Some bacteria can be added. How, you may ask? Through foods that are drived from soured milk like yogurt and kefir. These provide plenty of health benefits to those that eat them. These bacteria are acid lovers and will survive through the stomach acid and make their way into the intestines, where they really do their work.
While there, some of them make enzymes the help break down protiens. This is a major benefit to those with digestive problems from age, pharmaceutical side effects, or illness.
Other strains work by creating lipases that chop triglycerides into useable chunks. And others take on the milk sugar (lactose) and make lactic acid out of it.
Having lactic acid working for you can be a good thing. It's not just the pain you get from a hard workout. The lactic acid, created by the digestion of the lactose, helps your body absorb calcium, iron, and phosphorus, breaks up casein and helps prevent bad bugs.
Raw milk is a living food with remarkable self-protective properties, but here's the kick: most foods tend to go south as they age, raw milk just keeps getting better.
Raw milk can help you digest and intake vitamins, minerals, and overall digestion. This is something to consider for old age. Folks, all I can really say is that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made". And, so is the food we eat. We need it and we live in a society that tells us all foods are bad, except what they deem proper in the form of the government food pyramid. I have talked to several folks that I know in the medical field and asked how much time they spend, in medical school, learning nutrition. The common answer I recieve is less than 2%. Think about that in relation to the "experts" and their food pyramid.
There might be one more installment in this series, so keep checking. Thanks for stopping by.
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Scariest Website, Ever
This is one of the scariest website I have come across. I found while continuing my search for ammo. I had read some about this legislation, but had not seen this organisation before.
I do not agree with any of this for any reason. I am posting this link for your information ( and, hopefully, outrage) only. Use the link and read on.
I do not agree with any of this for any reason. I am posting this link for your information ( and, hopefully, outrage) only. Use the link and read on.
Trouble Putting Thoughts Together
I have been wanting to finish the raw milk series, but I am having a difficult time of it. The reason is that I am having trouble focusing on informational articles and furthering my own education because of "things of this world". I am currently consumed, and depressed, with the state of affairs in our once great nation.
I can't seem to get my mind off of certain legislations that are looming down upon farmers and backyard growers, alike.
I fear for my family, as Christians, as this "one world movement" progresses. I see the very real possability that believers will be taken out and shot.
I am trying to buy ammo, but can't because nobody has any.
I am trying to keep my eyes on the Lord, but find myself weak.
I also find myself wrestling between being affraid and living in fear. I can be affraid, but must fear nothing. The victory is won.
The more I listen to the news, the more I fall into this funk. Christ is all and in all, He is my sufficiency. So, I am asking for prayer. Pray that Christ fills my thoughts and directs my paths. Pray that He comes soon. Pray that Obama gets saved (along with the rest of our government).
I apologize for the lack of direction in this post. This is just where my mind is right now. Thanks for listening, but do pray.
I can't seem to get my mind off of certain legislations that are looming down upon farmers and backyard growers, alike.
I fear for my family, as Christians, as this "one world movement" progresses. I see the very real possability that believers will be taken out and shot.
I am trying to buy ammo, but can't because nobody has any.
I am trying to keep my eyes on the Lord, but find myself weak.
I also find myself wrestling between being affraid and living in fear. I can be affraid, but must fear nothing. The victory is won.
The more I listen to the news, the more I fall into this funk. Christ is all and in all, He is my sufficiency. So, I am asking for prayer. Pray that Christ fills my thoughts and directs my paths. Pray that He comes soon. Pray that Obama gets saved (along with the rest of our government).
I apologize for the lack of direction in this post. This is just where my mind is right now. Thanks for listening, but do pray.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
The Meltdown Continues...
Cattle Feeders Lose Five Billion
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
CattleFax market reporting service estimates that grain finished cattle have lost their owners around five billion dollars since November of 2007. The service notes that despite these horrendous losses cattle feeders continue to pay too much for feeder cattle and they are still betting on the come. However, at some point this will have to end and feeder cattle will have to come down in price. CattleFax estimates feeder cattle will trade between $90 and $95, basis the CME feeder cattle contract for the next 60 days. After that, it could get dicey unless cattle feeders start making some money.
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
CattleFax market reporting service estimates that grain finished cattle have lost their owners around five billion dollars since November of 2007. The service notes that despite these horrendous losses cattle feeders continue to pay too much for feeder cattle and they are still betting on the come. However, at some point this will have to end and feeder cattle will have to come down in price. CattleFax estimates feeder cattle will trade between $90 and $95, basis the CME feeder cattle contract for the next 60 days. After that, it could get dicey unless cattle feeders start making some money.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Evil Cholesterol? More On Raw Milk
Today we are going to talk about that evil word, cholesterol. It would appear that our bodies need cholesterol for several reasons, which I will get to in a moment. But it is interesting how the established, scientific, medical community has been preaching for years for all Americans to lower their cholesterol. The trouble is, Americans haven't just lowered it, they have eliminated it. Could this be one reason, of many, for Americans health problems? Let's take a look and see.
Raw milk contains about 3mg of cholesterol per gram, which is a fair amount. However, our bodies make much of what we need, and that amount fluctuates depending on what we eat. The more cholesterol you intake, the less your body makes, and vice-verse. The bottom line is that our bodies need it, so raw milk can be a good source of it.
The raw milk facts web site says, "Cholesterol is a protective/repair substance. A waxy plant steroid (often lumped in with the fats), our body uses it as a form of water-proofing, and as a building block for a number of key hormones."
It is perfectly natural to find it in our blood, liver, brain and every cell membrane, among other places. Someone said that blaming cholesterol for clogging arteries is like blaming the police for crimes because they are always at the scene. You can learn more here.
I will continue to read and share, as long as you care. (Nice rhyme-eh?)
Until next time...
Raw milk contains about 3mg of cholesterol per gram, which is a fair amount. However, our bodies make much of what we need, and that amount fluctuates depending on what we eat. The more cholesterol you intake, the less your body makes, and vice-verse. The bottom line is that our bodies need it, so raw milk can be a good source of it.
The raw milk facts web site says, "Cholesterol is a protective/repair substance. A waxy plant steroid (often lumped in with the fats), our body uses it as a form of water-proofing, and as a building block for a number of key hormones."
It is perfectly natural to find it in our blood, liver, brain and every cell membrane, among other places. Someone said that blaming cholesterol for clogging arteries is like blaming the police for crimes because they are always at the scene. You can learn more here.
I will continue to read and share, as long as you care. (Nice rhyme-eh?)
Until next time...
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Blown Away
After church, today, we came home to go to work at "battening down the hatches" as the forecast for the next couple of days is rather chilling. We are expecting sub-zero temperatures at night. This with the fruit trees all having set fruit.
There is a certain amount of frustration with this, because we are faced with this for the third year in a row. To top things off, the wind is blowing like crazy out there, even at this hour (9:00 pm) as I write this.
So, we went ahead and tucked in the week old broilers in the brooder. That job was easy enough, we didn't have to add much, just some extra precautions. The next job was to tuck in the broilers already on pasture. The chicken tractors are really a warm weather contraption and with the wind blowing the way it is, I felt they needed to be covered. This was quite the chore. I attempted to put a tarp over the half that is exposed, but, again, that confounded wind kept blowing it away before I could get it set. I did have the help of my six year old daughter, and she was out there with me like the trooper she is, the whole time. She managed to grab a corner of the tarp and hold it long enough for me to get a big rock on it. I couldn't have done it without her. Thank you Elisabeth.
I even took an old, plastic garbage can and cut (broke) a side out of it and placed it in the tractor for added shelter. They were taken care of. Then it was time for the comedy event of the century as we attempted to put sheets on the fruit trees.
As my wife and I tried to throw the sheet over the trees, the wind took them away. It was like being in a gale at sea. According to the Weather Bug, we are in the 30 mph zone out of the N-NW. I would say that there are gusts well beyond that. The 30 mph wind is most certainly a sustained wind speed.
Because of all the wind and the coming temps on Monday and Tuesday (Maybe the upper teens) we have begun to feel that our efforts to save the fruit are futile. I would say that the frustration level is quite high.
As we finished, we looked at each other and said that we did what we could, now we just pray. I indicated that I had been praying that God would allow this to pass. I even lamented that we are just trying to be good stewards and use what He has provided (yup, I was whining). Then my wife suggested that it was part of the judgement. But then a verse hit me (thank you Lord) that set me back to right.
Mt 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
This provided some comfort. Our daily struggles are not, necessarily, part of a consequence of our disobedience to Him. He causes the sun to rise on the just and the unjust, the evil and the good. This is His land, and we are simply sojourners here. It is a comfort to know that we did what we could, the rest is according to His will. With this knowledge I can now take the bad a little better. He truly is in control and I must accept that, no matter what. I get it. Job got it also when he fell on his face and said "the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
Thank you, Lord, for giving me peace in the midst of anxiety. You are King, supreme, and You alone, command the winds and the rain.
I was just reminded of another thing, that great hymn, "How great Thou Art". Amen!
There is a certain amount of frustration with this, because we are faced with this for the third year in a row. To top things off, the wind is blowing like crazy out there, even at this hour (9:00 pm) as I write this.
So, we went ahead and tucked in the week old broilers in the brooder. That job was easy enough, we didn't have to add much, just some extra precautions. The next job was to tuck in the broilers already on pasture. The chicken tractors are really a warm weather contraption and with the wind blowing the way it is, I felt they needed to be covered. This was quite the chore. I attempted to put a tarp over the half that is exposed, but, again, that confounded wind kept blowing it away before I could get it set. I did have the help of my six year old daughter, and she was out there with me like the trooper she is, the whole time. She managed to grab a corner of the tarp and hold it long enough for me to get a big rock on it. I couldn't have done it without her. Thank you Elisabeth.
I even took an old, plastic garbage can and cut (broke) a side out of it and placed it in the tractor for added shelter. They were taken care of. Then it was time for the comedy event of the century as we attempted to put sheets on the fruit trees.
As my wife and I tried to throw the sheet over the trees, the wind took them away. It was like being in a gale at sea. According to the Weather Bug, we are in the 30 mph zone out of the N-NW. I would say that there are gusts well beyond that. The 30 mph wind is most certainly a sustained wind speed.
Because of all the wind and the coming temps on Monday and Tuesday (Maybe the upper teens) we have begun to feel that our efforts to save the fruit are futile. I would say that the frustration level is quite high.
As we finished, we looked at each other and said that we did what we could, now we just pray. I indicated that I had been praying that God would allow this to pass. I even lamented that we are just trying to be good stewards and use what He has provided (yup, I was whining). Then my wife suggested that it was part of the judgement. But then a verse hit me (thank you Lord) that set me back to right.
Mt 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
This provided some comfort. Our daily struggles are not, necessarily, part of a consequence of our disobedience to Him. He causes the sun to rise on the just and the unjust, the evil and the good. This is His land, and we are simply sojourners here. It is a comfort to know that we did what we could, the rest is according to His will. With this knowledge I can now take the bad a little better. He truly is in control and I must accept that, no matter what. I get it. Job got it also when he fell on his face and said "the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
Thank you, Lord, for giving me peace in the midst of anxiety. You are King, supreme, and You alone, command the winds and the rain.
I was just reminded of another thing, that great hymn, "How great Thou Art". Amen!
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Where Have We Gone Wrong?
"Any people that would give up liberty for a little temporary safety deserves neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin (Think of the Patriot Act)
"The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed." Alexander Hamilton
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."
Thomas Jefferson, Proposed Virginia Constitution, 1776, Jefferson Papers 344
"The balance of power is the scale of peace. The same balance would be preserved were all the world not destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside ... Horrid mischief would ensue were one half the world deprived of the use of them ... the weak will become prey to the strong."
Thomas Paine, Thoughts on Defensive War
A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicity. Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural Address.
"We base all our experiments on the capacity of mankind for self-government." James Madison
"Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." John Adams
"The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed." Alexander Hamilton
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."
Thomas Jefferson, Proposed Virginia Constitution, 1776, Jefferson Papers 344
"The balance of power is the scale of peace. The same balance would be preserved were all the world not destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside ... Horrid mischief would ensue were one half the world deprived of the use of them ... the weak will become prey to the strong."
Thomas Paine, Thoughts on Defensive War
A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicity. Thomas Jefferson, First Inaugural Address.
"We base all our experiments on the capacity of mankind for self-government." James Madison
"Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." John Adams
Friday, April 3, 2009
Key Enzymes In Raw Milk
There are, apparently, 60 plus enzymes found in raw milk. They all have key roles to play in our systems, each and every one of them. Some of the enzymes are native to milk and some come from the bacteria found in the raw milk.
Even skilled practitioners have a hard time sorting out all these enzymes. However, one of the most interesting things the enzymes do for us is to give our bodies a chance to work less. These enzymes digest the milk for you, thereby reducing the load on your pancreas.
Here is another quote from the raw milk facts web site, "The amylase, bacterially-produced lactase, lipase and phosphatase in raw milk, break down starch, lactose (milk sugar), fat (triglycerides) and phosphate compounds respectively, making milk more digestible and freeing up key minerals. Other enzymes, like catalase, lysozyme and lactoperoxidase help to protect milk from unwanted bacterial infection, making it safer for us to drink."
Even skilled practitioners have a hard time sorting out all these enzymes. However, one of the most interesting things the enzymes do for us is to give our bodies a chance to work less. These enzymes digest the milk for you, thereby reducing the load on your pancreas.
Here is another quote from the raw milk facts web site, "The amylase, bacterially-produced lactase, lipase and phosphatase in raw milk, break down starch, lactose (milk sugar), fat (triglycerides) and phosphate compounds respectively, making milk more digestible and freeing up key minerals. Other enzymes, like catalase, lysozyme and lactoperoxidase help to protect milk from unwanted bacterial infection, making it safer for us to drink."
Thursday, April 2, 2009
A Perfect Balance Of Minerals Found In Raw Milk
The insides of our bodies, or, the chemistry of it, is as unique as our finger prints. I have learned that there is no real boundry or specification of mineral intake, simply because everyone's body is so uniqely different.
But, that is what this article is about, the minerals found in raw milk. According to the sources that I am using for these articles, raw milk has a wide range of readily available minerals in it. The leader, of course, is calcium. "Drinking milk builds strong bones and teeth", remember? But there are many trace elements and minerals residing in the white liquid, also.
Let's start with calcium. This mineral has been called the 'macronutrient' and is abundant in raw milk. Some of the health benefits are: "reduction in cancers, particularly of the colon; higher bone mineral density in people of every age, lower risk of osteoporosis and fractures in older adults; lowered risk of kidney stones; formation of strong teeth and reduction of dental cavities, to name a few." (You can read the full exerpt here.)
It is interesting to note, here, that there is a delicate balance that minerals require with other minerals for proper function. As an example, calcium needs a proper ratio of two other macronutrients, phosphorus and magnesium, to be properly utilized. Consider this quote from the Raw Milk Facts web site, "Nature codes for the entire array of minerals in raw milk to be in proper balance to one another thus optimizing their benefit to us." (I would insert the name of God where the quote uses the word 'nature'.)
So, have you read Sally Fallon's book, Nurishing Traditions, yet? If you would like to, you can use the link located at the right of this blog that will take you directly to a descrition of it at Amazon.
Thanks for stopping by...
But, that is what this article is about, the minerals found in raw milk. According to the sources that I am using for these articles, raw milk has a wide range of readily available minerals in it. The leader, of course, is calcium. "Drinking milk builds strong bones and teeth", remember? But there are many trace elements and minerals residing in the white liquid, also.
Let's start with calcium. This mineral has been called the 'macronutrient' and is abundant in raw milk. Some of the health benefits are: "reduction in cancers, particularly of the colon; higher bone mineral density in people of every age, lower risk of osteoporosis and fractures in older adults; lowered risk of kidney stones; formation of strong teeth and reduction of dental cavities, to name a few." (You can read the full exerpt here.)
It is interesting to note, here, that there is a delicate balance that minerals require with other minerals for proper function. As an example, calcium needs a proper ratio of two other macronutrients, phosphorus and magnesium, to be properly utilized. Consider this quote from the Raw Milk Facts web site, "Nature codes for the entire array of minerals in raw milk to be in proper balance to one another thus optimizing their benefit to us." (I would insert the name of God where the quote uses the word 'nature'.)
So, have you read Sally Fallon's book, Nurishing Traditions, yet? If you would like to, you can use the link located at the right of this blog that will take you directly to a descrition of it at Amazon.
Thanks for stopping by...
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