System for keeping tabs on animals irks farmers
“Opponents of the ID system say USDA actions are making the program virtually compulsory. Since 2004, USDA has pledged more than $51 million to states and farm groups to promote premises registration – but they must register a certain number of farms to get the money…
Some states have responded by registering farms in less-than-voluntary ways…
Michigan required any cattle leaving a farm to have radio-frequency ID chips with individual numbers. When one farmer refused, arguing that he sells from his 20-head herd only to people he knows, the state agriculture department showed up with a search warrant, sheriff’s deputies and state troopers to tag and test his animals.”
Anyone else think USDA is getting too big for its britches?
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New group sinks teeth into meaty issues
“According to Leopold Centre for Sustainable Agriculture a team of researchers, entrepreneurs, regulators and producer groups hopes to change the Iowa landscape for small, independent meat processors.”
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Pennsylvania allows hormone-free milk labeling
“Pennsylvania resisted a lobbying push by Monsanto that sought to outlaw the labeling of milk that is free of artificial hormones.”
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Is your food natural (and what does that mean)?
“[The USDA’s proposed “naturally raised” label] still doesn’t address the issue of raising animals in confined — and therefore unnatural — quarters.”
I think the milk labeling thing is pretty cool–I live in Pennsylvania and it’s nice to see the state being proactive. Though I know it is done all the time, I find it just ridiculous to think that an industrial ag company could so blatantly influence lawmaking, especially when it comes to chemicals in our food. Ugh.Thanks for the links!
meg – it’s quite frustrating how much influence corporate agriculture has on the USDA 🙁