Comments for The Ruminant http://blogs.edf.org/healthyfarms A daily update on the debates shaping the 2007 Farm Bill Mon, 21 Jan 2008 22:49:51 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5.2 hourly 1 Comment on Speaker Pelosi: Please Make Our Farm and Food Policies Fair by Pages tagged "ruminant" http://blogs.edf.org/healthyfarms/2007/07/22/speaker-pelosi-please-make-our-farm-and-food-policies-fair/comment-page-1/#comment-131 Pages tagged "ruminant" Mon, 21 Jan 2008 22:49:51 +0000 http://blogs.edf.org/healthyfarms/2007/07/22/speaker-pelosi-please-make-our-farm-and-food-policies-fair/#comment-131 [...] bookmarks tagged ruminant Speaker Pelosi: Please Make Our Farm and Food Poli... saved by 1 others     UltramasterBDJ bookmarked on 01/21/08 | [...] [...] bookmarks tagged ruminant Speaker Pelosi: Please Make Our Farm and Food Poli… saved by 1 others     UltramasterBDJ bookmarked on 01/21/08 | [...]

]]> Comment on Fatter Futures? by Melinda http://blogs.edf.org/healthyfarms/2007/09/10/fatter-futures/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Melinda Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:03:20 +0000 http://blogs.edf.org/healthyfarms/2007/09/10/fatter-futures/#comment-44 Hi--Got to your site from the Fanatic Cook's site. I like your take on this. It's interesting to contrast the responses of the federal legislature to the obesity problem with Fred Thompson's recent pronouncement that government shouldn't tell people what to eat (see http://fanaticcook.blogspot.com/2007/12/what-to-eat.html). It's a shame that our economy is in such a mess (and/or that some people are so materialistic) that both parents in 2-parent families must work. "Back in the day," a parent who stayed home made a healthy lunch for their child to take to school, instead of having to rely on school-prepared lunches (which were awful even when I was growing up in the 1950s and 60s)! Of course the situation is quite different for single parents, who may well *have to* rely on foods provided by the schools. Another option is what Alice Waters has done in encouraging schools to get kids involved with school-based gardening--if they grow it, they will eat it! Hi–Got to your site from the Fanatic Cook's site. I like your take on this. It's interesting to contrast the responses of the federal legislature to the obesity problem with Fred Thompson's recent pronouncement that government shouldn't tell people what to eat (see http://fanaticcook.blogspot.com/2007/12/what-to-eat.html). It's a shame that our economy is in such a mess (and/or that some people are so materialistic) that both parents in 2-parent families must work. "Back in the day," a parent who stayed home made a healthy lunch for their child to take to school, instead of having to rely on school-prepared lunches (which were awful even when I was growing up in the 1950s and 60s)! Of course the situation is quite different for single parents, who may well *have to* rely on foods provided by the schools. Another option is what Alice Waters has done in encouraging schools to get kids involved with school-based gardening–if they grow it, they will eat it!

]]> Comment on Tick, tick, tick… by Tom http://blogs.edf.org/healthyfarms/2007/08/07/tick-tick-tick/comment-page-1/#comment-40 Tom Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:51:52 +0000 http://blogs.edf.org/healthyfarms/2007/08/07/tick-tick-tick/#comment-40 We do need reform and need it now. Title 10 of the farm bill would correct the fascist legal decisions that undermine the Packers and Stockyards Act. Decisions in the 11th circuit have made protections for farmers almost non existent and allowed large mostly family controlled agribusiness to cheat family farmers so they can capture the profits in the industry. They then use these profits to bribe Congress. The Packers and Stockyards Act should be enforced without excuses. The 1.3 billion dollar jury verdict with interest should be paid to the cattlemen in the suit and judges should stop making up decisions that write laws giving corporations a license to steal from producers the value of their products and manipulate the supply markets. The Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards Administration, with the help of USDA attorneys have allowed their favorite companies to break the law. It was THE reason Joann Waterfield left in disgrace when the OIG report on GIPSA came out as well as Bruce Knignht. The USDA needs to be investigated and the corporate revolving door people who are making and enforcing policy against the suppliers (farmers) and for big Agribusiness need to be prosecuted under RICCO. You can get to title 10 by going to agriculture.senate.gov and scrolling down to Section by Sections, pick title 10. We do need reform and need it now. Title 10 of the farm bill would correct the fascist legal decisions that undermine the Packers and Stockyards Act. Decisions in the 11th circuit have made protections for farmers almost non existent and allowed large mostly family controlled agribusiness to cheat family farmers so they can capture the profits in the industry. They then use these profits to bribe Congress.

The Packers and Stockyards Act should be enforced without excuses. The 1.3 billion dollar jury verdict with interest should be paid to the cattlemen in the suit and judges should stop making up decisions that write laws giving corporations a license to steal from producers the value of their products and manipulate the supply markets. The Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards Administration, with the help of USDA attorneys have allowed their favorite companies to break the law. It was THE reason Joann Waterfield left in disgrace when the OIG report on GIPSA came out as well as Bruce Knignht. The USDA needs to be investigated and the corporate revolving door people who are making and enforcing policy against the suppliers (farmers) and for big Agribusiness need to be prosecuted under RICCO.

You can get to title 10 by going to agriculture.senate.gov and scrolling down to Section by Sections, pick title 10.

]]> Comment on Green energy or greener water in the Chesapeake? by catlin http://blogs.edf.org/healthyfarms/2007/09/06/green-energy-or-greener-water-in-the-chesapeake/comment-page-1/#comment-43 catlin Thu, 27 Sep 2007 20:34:40 +0000 http://blogs.edf.org/healthyfarms/2007/09/06/green-energy-or-greener-water-in-the-chesapeake/#comment-43 This situation is so frustrating to me as an educator, and decent human being. I am trying desperately to research how to help the situation with factory farming and school lunches. I am appauled that the USDA would support such cruelty to animals and feed them to our children. We need to support our local farmers and put the bad factory farmer OUT OF BUSINESS! Meanwhile, the senate needs to LISTEN to the National Humane Society, Sierra Club, and numerous other organizations that have tried desperately to implement humane laws. Seriously, do the kids really need meat in their school lunches? I know my kids usually throw it out because it's gross anyways!! WASTE of land, animals, and it is one of the 7 LEADING causes of pollution in our environment.....BAD DECISION USDA!!!!!!!!!!!! Concerned teacher.....Dena This situation is so frustrating to me as an educator, and decent human being. I am trying desperately to research how to help the situation with factory farming and school lunches. I am appauled that the USDA would support such cruelty to animals and feed them to our children. We need to support our local farmers and put the bad factory farmer OUT OF BUSINESS!
Meanwhile, the senate needs to LISTEN to the National Humane Society, Sierra Club, and numerous other organizations that have tried desperately to implement humane laws.
Seriously, do the kids really need meat in their school lunches? I know my kids usually throw it out because it's gross anyways!! WASTE of land, animals, and it is one of the 7 LEADING causes of pollution in our environment…..BAD DECISION USDA!!!!!!!!!!!!
Concerned teacher…..Dena

]]> Comment on Subsidies, Savings Accounts and Small Farmers by Eric http://blogs.edf.org/healthyfarms/2007/06/26/subsidies-savings-accounts-and-and-small-farmers/comment-page-1/#comment-10 Eric Sat, 22 Sep 2007 09:23:55 +0000 http://blogs.edf.org/healthyfarms/2007/06/26/subsidies-savings-accounts-and-and-small-farmers/#comment-10 This is exactly what I expected to find out after reading the title Subsidies, Savings Accounts and Small Farmers - Environmental Defense. Thanks for informative article This is exactly what I expected to find out after reading the title Subsidies, Savings Accounts and Small Farmers – Environmental Defense. Thanks for informative article

]]> Comment on Speaker Pelosi: Please Make Our Farm and Food Policies Fair by l. miceli http://blogs.edf.org/healthyfarms/2007/07/22/speaker-pelosi-please-make-our-farm-and-food-policies-fair/comment-page-1/#comment-34 l. miceli Mon, 27 Aug 2007 19:19:19 +0000 http://blogs.edf.org/healthyfarms/2007/07/22/speaker-pelosi-please-make-our-farm-and-food-policies-fair/#comment-34 let's eliminate subsidies to ALL farmers and especially to those who are growing corn for ETHANOL. let's eliminate subsidies to ALL farmers and especially to those who are growing corn for ETHANOL.

]]> Comment on California Cows are NOT Happy Cows by the personal farmer http://blogs.edf.org/healthyfarms/2007/07/26/california-cows-are-not-happy-cows/comment-page-1/#comment-39 the personal farmer Sun, 29 Jul 2007 22:58:10 +0000 http://blogs.edf.org/healthyfarms/2007/07/26/california-cows-are-not-happy-cows/#comment-39 The NY Hudson Valley is under comparable siege. We are losing an average of seven farm acres per day to development, because farmers can't make enough money to put food on their own tables. I encourage everybody who cares about local food to write to their congress people and support the farm bill! The NY Hudson Valley is under comparable siege. We are losing an average of seven farm acres per day to development, because farmers can't make enough money to put food on their own tables. I encourage everybody who cares about local food to write to their congress people and support the farm bill!

]]> Comment on A Clear Choice by Daniel Hanson http://blogs.edf.org/healthyfarms/2007/07/26/a-clear-choice/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Daniel Hanson Fri, 27 Jul 2007 18:59:12 +0000 http://blogs.edf.org/healthyfarms/2007/07/26/a-clear-choice/#comment-38 The damage of the current farm program is far greater than wasted tax dollars. The program is forcing all the producers to over produce at all costs. The payments that even the smaller procducers need to make a living are based on Maximum Yeilds. This means that Farmers big and Small are rewarded for sacraficing soil health for maximum yeild. I am refering to the damage caused by the excessive use of commercial fertilizer that contains large amounts of Hydrogen. The cheapest source for Nitrogen is Anhydrous Amonia or NH3. Producers have put tons and tons of this product on the soil anually to recieve the maximum yeild. This causes a dramatic change in soil PH and the overal health of the soils. It kills soil microbes and even causes Aluminum to become plant available. Not to good for anybody if you keep up with the medical studies. In the Pacific Northwest we are currently in the mid to upper 4s in soil ph and dropping fast. We will hit the wall and the soil will not produce. One only needs to look at Brazil to see the efects of adding Hydrogen the soil. Thousands of acres of rain forests in the 3.5s that will not grow anything. Farm policy should support sustainable farming practices like crop rotation and green manure crops that build the soil not destroy it for maximum wheat yield. The costs for repairing damaged soils will be astronomical. And yes it will be necesary as we already know that cheap imported food is not always safe and will not always be available. The damage of the current farm program is far greater than wasted tax dollars. The program is forcing all the producers to over produce at all costs. The payments that even the smaller procducers need to make a living are based on Maximum Yeilds. This means that Farmers big and Small are rewarded for sacraficing soil health for maximum yeild. I am refering to the damage caused by the excessive use of commercial fertilizer that contains large amounts of Hydrogen. The cheapest source for Nitrogen is Anhydrous Amonia or NH3. Producers have put tons and tons of this product on the soil anually to recieve the maximum yeild. This causes a dramatic change in soil PH and the overal health of the soils. It kills soil microbes and even causes Aluminum to become plant available. Not to good for anybody if you keep up with the medical studies. In the Pacific Northwest we are currently in the mid to upper 4s in soil ph and dropping fast. We will hit the wall and the soil will not produce. One only needs to look at Brazil to see the efects of adding Hydrogen the soil. Thousands of acres of rain forests in the 3.5s that will not grow anything. Farm policy should support sustainable farming practices like crop rotation and green manure crops that build the soil not destroy it for maximum wheat yield. The costs for repairing damaged soils will be astronomical. And yes it will be necesary as we already know that cheap imported food is not always safe and will not always be available.

]]> Comment on By All Means Necessary by Vickie http://blogs.edf.org/healthyfarms/2007/07/18/by-all-means-necessary/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Vickie Thu, 26 Jul 2007 23:49:46 +0000 http://blogs.edf.org/healthyfarms/2007/07/18/by-all-means-necessary/#comment-30 I say lets all start growing our own food in our own back yards or window boxes, and that will show those greedy farmers who make more money than I do! How do we get around the ordinances prohibiting livestock if we're meat eaters? I agree that we need to means test and eliminate loopholes to make the system fair (ha, like that will ever happen) but lets lay off the farmers who are making a good living and not criticize them because they make more than the average American (me). They work darn hard to earn it, I'm assuming much harder than the average American, and I don't have to plow or sow or water or harvest (or not harvest if there's no water/rain) and all the other things the farmers have to do (like pay their employees regardless if it's a good year or a bad one) so we can go to the local grocery store and fill our carts with whatever we want, whenever we want it. Now professional atheletes...THEY make too much money! I say lets all start growing our own food in our own back yards or window boxes, and that will show those greedy farmers who make more money than I do! How do we get around the ordinances prohibiting livestock if we're meat eaters? I agree that we need to means test and eliminate loopholes to make the system fair (ha, like that will ever happen) but lets lay off the farmers who are making a good living and not criticize them because they make more than the average American (me). They work darn hard to earn it, I'm assuming much harder than the average American, and I don't have to plow or sow or water or harvest (or not harvest if there's no water/rain) and all the other things the farmers have to do (like pay their employees regardless if it's a good year or a bad one) so we can go to the local grocery store and fill our carts with whatever we want, whenever we want it. Now professional atheletes…THEY make too much money!

]]> Comment on A Clear Choice by Cheryl Hori http://blogs.edf.org/healthyfarms/2007/07/26/a-clear-choice/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Cheryl Hori Thu, 26 Jul 2007 21:50:24 +0000 http://blogs.edf.org/healthyfarms/2007/07/26/a-clear-choice/#comment-37 I completely agree. Farm subsidies were originally designed to help small mom and pop farms. now 80% of farm subsidies are going to large corporations including fortune 500 companies, celebrity farmers (ie Ted Turner) and even some memebers of Congress. Remember what Dante said "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." I completely agree. Farm subsidies were originally designed to help small mom and pop farms. now 80% of farm subsidies are going to large corporations including fortune 500 companies, celebrity farmers (ie Ted Turner) and even some memebers of Congress. Remember what Dante said "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

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