| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Annika |
Posted - Nov 19 2010 : 2:40:36 PM
...Where does that leave organic farming , CSAs and farmer's markets?
Now government and big business has say over what we eat, who we buy it from and even if we grow our own foods. This is a scary bill.
 I have a feeling things will be getting a lot worse. Will they arrest us for gardening organically now?????...Sheesh!
Here go read about it. I'm mad enough to catch on fire 
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s510/show
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
Palouse Prairie Girls Chapter
http://palouseprairiegirls.blogspot.com/
http://prairiegirlsjournal.blogspot.com/
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. ~Leonardo DaVinci
|
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Fiddlehead Farm |
Posted - Dec 11 2010 : 03:48:02 AM
This is still in the news...
S 510 Food Safety bill is still alive and may unleash a new army of FDA agents
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
(NaturalNews) The U.S. government wants to know where your greenhouse is. Under Senate Bill 510 -- which is now back in the hands of the U.S. Senate after the House hid an amendment in an appropriations bill and passed it last night -- American food producers would be required to register their facilities with the U.S. government. The feds, it seems, want a database of food growers so they know who to target for surprise inspections (show me your papers!).
As stated in the bill itself: (http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:s510rs.txt.pdf)
SEC. 102. REGISTRATION OF FOOD FACILITIES. 18 (a) UPDATING OF FOOD CATEGORY REGULATIONS; BIENNIAL REGISTRATION RENEWAL. Section 415(a) (2120 U.S.C. 350d(a))
"The registration shall contain an assurance that the Secretary will be permitted to inspect such facility at the times and in the manner permitted by this Act."
What this language shows is that the point of registration is so that government agents can conduct surprise inspections of food facilities. At least 4,000 new FDA agents will need to be hired if this bill becomes law, greatly expanding the FDA's agent presence in much the same way the TSA expanded over the last few years.
Kangaroo courts for violators
Once an FDA inspection occurs, if the government believes the food grower is producing anything that might pose a risk to the public (and note carefully that "belief" is the only thing required, not actual scientific evidence of harm), that food grower is then "suspended" from producing food.
After that, they get dragged into a kangaroo FDA court where a panel of FDA officials then decides their fate. This takes place with no due process, no attorney, no Constitutional protections and no rights whatsoever. This is, in every sense, a "King's court" where the King can simply decide that you're guilty and put you out of business.
Here's the language in the S.510 legislation:
"(2) HEARING ON SUSPENSION. - The Secretary shall provide the registrant subject to an order under paragraph (1) with an opportunity for an informal hearing, to be held as soon as possible but not later than 2 business days after the issuance of the order or such other time period, as agreed upon by the Secretary and the registrant, on the actions required for reinstatement of registration and why the registration that is subject to suspension should be reinstated. The Secretary shall reinstate a registration if the Secretary determines, based on evidence presented, that adequate grounds do not exist to continue the suspension of the registration."
Did you read this carefully? It means the Secretary (a bureaucrat) gets to decide who can grow food and who can't. This is the FDA's kangaroo court, much like the FTC's kangaroo court that's currently being used to destroy companies offering nutritional supplements and natural cancer cures.
Remember, too, the bill abandoned actual science and now relies entirely on the FDA's "belief" to determine which foods to recall:
SEC. 208. ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION OF FOOD.
23 (a) IN GENERAL. - Section 304(h)(1)(A) (21 U.S.C.24 334(h)(1)(A)) is amended by
(1) striking ''credible evidence or information indicating'' and inserting ''reason to believe'';
FDA tyranny is on the rise
So essentially what we have here is a food tyranny bill that would hand a group of un-elected bureaucrats who answer to no one the power to control virtually the entire U.S. food supply. This is an agency, by the way, that is already responsible for the deaths of millions of Americans (http://www.naturalnews.com/030461_Senate_Bill_510_Food_Safety.html).
This is an agency that has participated in armed raids against natural product companies (http://www.naturalnews.com/021791.html).
To all those who say "S. 510 is no big deal, the FDA won't abuse its power, this is just about safety" -- I say you have no grasp of the history of tyranny. The FDA has virtually never taken action to protect the People. Its actions have consistently been shaped to maximize the profits of the powerful corporations even at the expense of human lives.
Just read the history of Vioxx if you need a refresher on that point (http://www.naturalnews.com/009693.html).
That the U.S. Congress would now seek to hand over control of our food supply to this dangerous, rogue government agency is an obscene betrayal of the American people. This is precisely why we must stand up and fight S.510 once again to defeat it in the Senate where it is now schedule for yet another vote. (Like a bad case of herpes, this bill just won't die, it seems...)
Sign the petition at: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/568/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5303
Once again, CALL your representatives in the House and the Senate. You can reach the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for your representatives by name.
By the way, just for the record, I am appalled at the lack of action on this item by some so-called "health freedom" organizations which appear to be doing absolutely nothing to rally opposition to this bill. A few groups are fighting hard to oppose it (NaturalNews, ANH-USA.com, Natural Solutions Foundation, etc.) but there are several which appear to be sitting on the sidelines, doing nothing. I'm not sure why. This is precisely the kind of issue that should have the entire health freedom community up in arms to protect our food freedoms.
Robert Scott Bell gets it, by the way. So do the Vitamin Lawyer (Ralph Fucetola) and health freedom attorneys like James Turner and Jonathan Emord. All the freedom-oriented people seem to understand how crucial this is to maintain our food freedoms and keep the FDA out of our farms as much as possible. If you think the FDA is bad now, just wait until they are granted yet more powers (and funding) to unleash an army of thousands of new agents who sweep across America, raiding small family farms (no, they're not all exempted from this bill) and imprisoning raw milk producers.
The FDA is about to become the SS of food fascism. This is not an exaggeration. Who would have thought, five years ago, that the TSA would be reaching down your pants and feeling your genitals? Just imagine now what the FDA will do with similar powers over your food and farms. Crudely put, the TSA may be feeling your junk, but the FDA will have us all by the balls.
Take action now to protect your food freedoms (or you will forever lose them).
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
Happy to be a "Raggedy Ann" in a Barbie World!
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White |
| sonshine4u |
Posted - Dec 02 2010 : 6:57:21 PM
You are right. It is on hold for now, read the article here for an explanation: http://www.suite101.com/content/bill-s510-update--recalled-for-being-unconstitutional-a315974
Basically it's saying that the Senate wasn't supposed to pen a bill that has "revenue raisers" in it, it has to start with the House to have that kind of lingo in it.
Playing in the Sonshine
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/sonshine4u |
| sherrye |
Posted - Dec 02 2010 : 6:48:21 PM
i could be wrong, but i believe the bill was stopped. it was bound to pass, then they found a tax increase slipped in there. tax increases can only occur when congress starts it.the senate cannot request tax increases. now maybe i have the groups wrong but the bill now failed. so the bill was flawed and is back being rewritten. it will come up again next year written differently.just what i think occured today sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
|
| sonshine4u |
Posted - Dec 02 2010 : 5:37:24 PM
Hi Ladies,
I just came across another fantastic article about this bill. It was written right before thanksgiving. You need to read it! It's a great read!
http://www.tendergrassfedmeat.com/2010/11/23/thanksgiving-freedom-and-s510/
Playing in the Sonshine
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/sonshine4u |
| Annika |
Posted - Dec 02 2010 : 1:31:02 PM
I'm going to fight for Organic and heirloom seeds....this is really wrong. I don't want the GMO junk in my garden or in my life.
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
Palouse Prairie Girls Chapter
http://palouseprairiegirls.blogspot.com/
http://prairiegirlsjournal.blogspot.com/
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. ~Leonardo DaVinci
|
| medievalcat |
Posted - Dec 02 2010 : 1:26:35 PM
I did a little reading about the justification for this bill the article kept referring to the massive egg recall(s). At the end of the article it was mentioned that this bill will not effect eggs since eggs are under USDA regulation. All though this Bill will not effect us small farmers I have a feeling we will still feel it.
We need to find ways to become more self reliant and sustainable.
|
| sonshine4u |
Posted - Dec 02 2010 : 12:45:39 PM
All the more reason to stand up against the GMO seeds! Yikes!!!!
Playing in the Sonshine
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/sonshine4u |
| homsteddinmom |
Posted - Dec 02 2010 : 12:09:32 PM
according to what i have read, i read about the under 500,000 dollars BUT it will cover seeds and you wont be able to get herloom or organic seeds at all, so in a way for the gardeners that are organic it will affect us!
Homesteading Mom in East Texas. Raising chickens, Rabbits and goats here on my farm! |
| sonshine4u |
Posted - Dec 02 2010 : 09:07:09 AM
Perhaps that will help with stalling it and they can figure out a better idea than what is currently proposed. I understand that there should be certain regulations upheld for our safety, especially in the large factory farms. Those are the worst.
quote:
By one estimate, the kinds of farms that the bill would exempt represent less than 1 percent of the food marketplace. Does the food industry really want to sabotage an effort to ensure the safety of 99 percent of that marketplace because it is so deeply concerned about under-regulation of 1 percent? The largest outbreaks are routinely caused by the largest processors, not by small producers selling their goods at farmers’ markets.
Theodore Roosevelt ran up against the same sort of resistance when he fought for the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906. “Unfortunately,” he said, “the misdeeds of those who are responsible for the abuses we design to cure will bring discredit and damage not only upon them, but upon the innocent stock growers, the ranchmen and farmers of this country.” That is one reason the federal government decided to guarantee food safety during the last century — and why it must continue to do so in this one. -Michael Pollen and Eric Schlosser from an article in NY Times : http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/29/opinion/29schlosser.html?_r=2
The problem is that the smaller run farms that take care to make a wholesome product get trampled in the midst of the poor practices of the big guy. However, it looks like small family farms have been saved from the worst for now.
quote:
"The passage of the food safety bill, which grants the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandatory recall authority and includes provisions that protect family farmers engaged in direct sales of local foods is an historic victory for family farmers and the local food movement, said Dave Murphy, founder and executive director of Food Democracy Now!. "In overcoming the backlash of agricultural giants who desperately fought to kill these protections for family farmers, the sustainable agricultural movement has shown that it is a political force to be reckoned with."
But in the future...if we do nothing and keep with the same ole, same ole attitude, people who want pure food without pesticides, gmos, toxins etc... may be hard pressed if the big hand of government decides to regulate everything grown and sold no matter what scale of operation you run...
There was a bill a few years back with the mad cow disease in mind, it was to have all farmers tag and identify each and everyone of their cows with a new specialized tag that could be tracked with gps and if they got out of their fence, the feds would slap a fine or something on you after submitting a ton of paperwork...etc. Totally ludicrous and a huge nightmare to implement for the gov. Can you imagine!? "Bessy got out of her pen again and the feds busted us for leaving her sanctioned area."
If you want to read more about that and how they are fighting it, and how you can help fight it, along with bill s510 go here: http://nonais.org/
Here are some other articles about the NAIS:
http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/a-beeper-for-every-cow/Content?oid=928294
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustainable-Farming/2007-06-01/National-Animal-ID-System.aspx
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/05/business/05livestock.html
I understand the USDA's concern for keeping contaminated meat out of the marketplace, but the way in which they are going about it may not be feasible. There are probably better solutions to these problems, like not using feedlots for finishing cattle for one example. http://www.eatwild.com/foodsafety.html
Anyway, back to the topic at hand, the s510 and the regulation of our food. While I think it is a good thing (like with the peanut butter, the eggs, the spinach) to inform the non-discerning public who go into a grocery store trusting all the products on the shelf and who have no relationship with the farmer or manufacturer of those goods and what may be tainted, I find it cumbersome and not necessary to challenge small family farms who have a relationship with their customers and have some integrity in what they are producing. (sorry, world's longest run-on sentence)
The reason I brought all this up was imagining what kind of world we would be living in if we got busted for growing things in our backyards?! Would there be ground police? Would there be gps tracked seeds and robot ants and slugs checking our soil to see if we planted seeds? Would we get fined for pulling a potato out of our ground? Would we have neighborhood enforcement officers walking their beat and checking for illegal vegetable gardens? Would we get pulled over for hauling an unsanctioned watermelon to our family reunion in the park? Would we have to eat our cucumber and tomato salad secretly in the confines of our basements? Would we be busted for saving seeds? Would there be seed burning parties and all we could get were monsanto frankenstein seeds for our use? This all seems totally ridiculous and we have every right as Americans to stand up and do something.
Here are a few links where you can do something about fighting GMO aka Monsanto...because they really are the issue here:
http://www.saynotogmos.org/
http://www.nongmoproject.org/
And another link about saving our food:
http://www.fooddemocracynow.org/
Here is another article about the stall in passing the s510:
http://www.fooddemocracynow.org/blog/2010/dec/1/breaking-procedural-error-senate-could-kill-food-s/
Finally, I'd like to say that I'm glad we as farmgirls are keeping informed and sharing the passion to fight for our food! There's a lot going on in this world of ours, but if we don't have food and we don't have water...we don't have people. Keep up the good fight for our food!
~April
p.s. I chuckle everytime I think about you ladies and your gun thoughts...I'm picturing you sitting on your rocking chair with your prairie skirt and white ruffled petticoat covering your knees and your cowgirl booted feet propped up on a white picket fence with your shotgun in your hands... "Git outta my garden ya hooligans! It's mine!"
Playing in the Sonshine
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/sonshine4u |
| Okie Farm Girl |
Posted - Dec 02 2010 : 08:39:11 AM
It appears that the bill may not pass after all because of wording. It doesn't seem that it will affect us small potatoes, but the problem is with any of these bills is that they open the door to later reglation on all of us. That "give 'em an inch, they'll take a mile" kinda thing. We need to be calling our Congressmen and asking them to nip this in the bud. It isn't going to make us one iota safer. It'll just make us FEEL like we are safer.
Mary Beth
www.OklahomaPastryCloth.com
The Sovereign Lord is my strength - Habakkuk 3:19 |
| gracylfreebush |
Posted - Dec 02 2010 : 08:30:50 AM
I read about the guy in Georgia too. It wasn't the federal government really that went after him. He broke a zoning ordinance and was fined for breaking the ordinance. It has been changed since he was fined and he can now grow whatever he wants. As far as the new bill, it is only suppose to affect those that make more then $500,000. a year. That doesn't include most of us I think. I think it is a bad bill but it is not suppose to affect, farmers markets, road side stands etc. I read it yesterday. I think the government is to much in our business already and we don't need them interfering any more. But, I don't think this one will affect our growing and selling rights it will affect what we buy though.
Thoughts are things choose the good ones. |
| Fiddlehead Farm |
Posted - Dec 02 2010 : 06:35:34 AM
Sounds like their is a snag in the Bill...http://www.newswithviews.com/NWV-News/news229.htm
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
Happy to be a "Raggedy Ann" in a Barbie World!
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White |
| Room To Grow |
Posted - Nov 28 2010 : 7:29:21 PM
Grace, I agree with you. I bought heiloom seeds last yr. And I will buy more this yr. I am going to be looking into buying a book on how to save the seeds from my heirloom seeds. And I will be purchacing grain seeds too. My husband and Daughter think I am crazy to plant grain but I want to try. And I would love to plant corn. And if we have enough money I would like to buy a small grain mill....probably used. It is all in how we look at things....The govt says we are getting better....I say we are not...and it will only get worse..I read something in BWH and I will post when I find it....But it wasnt very good and something to think about...
Deborah
we have moved to our farm...and love it |
| grace gerber |
Posted - Nov 28 2010 : 12:22:41 PM
Jewel - the best thing you can do is get the word out. Too many folks are busy with their Black Friday sales to see that while the public is being poked into purchasing stuff they really don't need we are lossing our rights to just about everything that means something. I have felt like chicken little for years telling folks about what was going on and they would look at me like I was nuts - WELL, the sky has fallen. I keep trying to get those who I come in contact with to hear what is being done to them but for most they just want a bigger flat screen TV and some ugly boots they can not walk in the snow with - forget about getting them to take a stand, or maybe they might when there is no real food to eat. Remember the movie Soulent Green? Those of us here who care about our food, save our seeds, purchase responsibily and educate our families, friends and those who wish to learn are starting to grow in numbers but I am not sure if it will be enough with the billions of dollars the corporate food mills have and all of the political power they have in the back pockets. When I started my farm 14 years ago my kids where not allowed to show their animals because we were organic and practiced differently then the establishment - I spent 11 years on the fairboard to turn that around and within one year of me leaving it is all back to what is was - ass backwards and full of chemicals. So, I am not too sure folks want to have what is best for their health but rather they turn to what is easier... Sorry to sound so glum but I have been fighting this fight for so long and I do not feel like I have made much of a difference.
I would love to have some new ways to approach this - believe me I truely believe heart in soul in the natural way...
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
|
| Mama Jewel |
Posted - Nov 26 2010 : 6:23:53 PM
Here's a site that I found after going to some of the links you gals posted. Here's a way to contact your congress person via email. Type in your zip code in the upper right corner. It's quick & easy: http://www.congress.org/ Alee's right! We farm girls can "git 'er done." I've already contacted my senators! Anyone know of any specific place to battle GMO? I do with my dollars by buying organic food and organic/non-GMO seeds, but I'm wondering what else I/we can do.
Farm Girl Sister #1683 Living Simply & Naturally on our lil Sweet Peas Farmette
"Do Everything in Love." 1 Cor 14
http://www.piecemama.etsy.com |
| medievalcat |
Posted - Nov 26 2010 : 4:52:47 PM
I haven't read the bill yet but belong online to several watchdog food organizations that I will be happy to post Monday here.. I've been reading Mother Earth's magazine that just came out regarding becoming self sufficient. We need to do this now more than ever.
On a side note.. everyone in my family owns a gun even my 10 yr old daughter (it's a BB gun) and my 14 yr old daughter has a 22/410. We have a lot of people around where we live that we don't know all with the natural gas monsters.. We also hunt for our food.. thankfully deer won't eat GMO tainted crops! |
| Alee |
Posted - Nov 23 2010 : 11:50:51 AM
I think that it is important for us farmgirls to take the lead in being very well self-educated about this bill and then helping to educate others. We can get the wheels in motion to get this bill repealed.
I definitely think that large farms need to, if anything live up to a higher standard because their impact is higher. Certainly food costs need to stay low (or wages need to be higher) but we should not feel at risk when we purchase foods. Also one company should not have control of our food source. I think we need to remind out elected officials of the anti-monopoly laws.
I'll do some digging and see what we need to do to start working on this as group. Let's unite our voices!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| Fiddlehead Farm |
Posted - Nov 23 2010 : 07:01:33 AM
Establishes whistleblower protections for employees of entities involved in the manufacturing, processing, packing, transporting, distribution, reception, holding, or importation of food who provide information relating to any violation of the FFDCA. The only time I see this being OK is like in the instance of the dairy farms that were abusing animals in OH.
This is just a little tiny piece of the food bill that really caught my eye! Protect whistleblowers, can anyone say Brown Shirts?
I am also ashamed to see that both Senators from WI voted for this bill. I wrote and called them, but had to leave a voice message. One of them was voted out this last election.
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
Happy to be a "Raggedy Ann" in a Barbie World!
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White |
| Okie Farm Girl |
Posted - Nov 22 2010 : 7:41:37 PM
Here is the website where you can read the full text of the bill and can also read a summary of it. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-510
And here is a website where you can see how your senator voted regarding cloture. http://www.opencongress.org/vote/2010/s/251
Mary Beth
www.OklahomaPastryCloth.com
The Sovereign Lord is my strength - Habakkuk 3:19 |
| Room To Grow |
Posted - Nov 22 2010 : 5:48:34 PM
This bill was first introduced in 2008.
Go read any communist manifesto and it will tell you to start by controlling the food source! Control the food, control the people. Can anyone say Stalin and how many people he STARVED to death? This Bill is a frightening piece of legislation!! They have already controlled the food. We are one crop away from starvation. That is because of Mansanto and GMOs.
If Uncle Sam wants to eliminate dangerous food they should close down Monsanto! We need WAY less Government.
I haven't heard of ANY food illnesses from ANY small farm. They all come from the huge, government backed suppliers. If anything, the government should disband the large food suppliers that put the little farms out of business and let the little farmers provide us food locally! Just like wall street, when a business gets too big, you CANNOT manage it correctly! Big farms ARE NOT being managed safely.
we have moved to our farm...and love it |
| Fiddlehead Farm |
Posted - Nov 22 2010 : 2:37:20 PM
I am posting a link to a site about the S510 food safety modernization bill that just passed. I still believe that whenever there is more regulation in the name of safety or health it will affect small farmers and growers. I grow or buy all my produce and meat from small local farmers and I have never had a problem with safety. More regulation means more taxes and fees.
http://www.justmeans.com/Senate-Bill-S510-Food-Safety-or-Food-Fascism/27723.html
Go here and see what you think, there is a link to the complete bill if you want to read it.
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
Happy to be a "Raggedy Ann" in a Barbie World!
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White |
| Bellepepper |
Posted - Nov 22 2010 : 09:00:35 AM
WE THE PEOPLE can change that. Is there Any one of us willing to give up our time, energy, or money to run for office, or campain for someone "on our side"? I know Mr Monitor, this is getting political. But I think the whole FARMGIRL thing is in danger.
Belle |
| sherrye |
Posted - Nov 22 2010 : 07:13:51 AM
it is truly getting scary out there. gov. has all the control. hang onto your seeds for sure. sincerely sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
|
| natesgirl |
Posted - Nov 21 2010 : 11:07:24 AM
The full law is still unavailable for the public to read. There are sites that have people who were there when it was read into law and they said that the effect on the small farmer and the personal gardener comes into play in a few years. It will be the control over seed that will affect us. It will become illegal to keep, buy, or own any seed that is not government approved. The same will go into the food animals shortly after. The man who will be in charge of the whole thing is connected to monsanto at the uppermost levels! I don't want monsanto seed and I am goin out of my way right now to track down companies that are not monsanto connected. My garden cost me about $45 to plant before I learned about heirlooms and altered seed and such. To avoid altered and chemically messed with seed my garden cost me $123 to plant this year. I will be spending even more next year as I am avoiding anything monsanto to protect my family even more (since monsanto doesn't tell which seed has been messed with), closer to $200 or better. I am learning to save seed which will make a huge difference and I hope in the next year or so to be back down around the $45 mark. Or less!
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
| Room To Grow |
Posted - Nov 20 2010 : 8:36:13 PM
Belle, I am with you...it will be for protection, personal and property. I dont hunt either but if I had to I would. Ihope it doesnt come to that. But one never knows. Thanks for the information.
Deborah
we have moved to our farm...and love it |
|
|
