T
here are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace.
Aldo Leopold

31 August 2006

Reform Ag trade?

USDA Secretary Johanns said recently "that (US Farm Trade Policy) reform is necessary because current farm supports distribute much money to relatively few large producers and for selected crops that produce relatively little revenue, thereby unintentionally raising the prices of land and capital, and discouraging young people from entering agriculture."

Huh. From this administration? Johanns for President.

For more of the story, click here

25 August 2006

Making outlaws of us all

From the ASI newsletter:

New Regs for Transporting Hay

Under the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, regulations regarding the transporting of hay will go into effect in December. The new rules are designed to protect against serious threats to the food supply. The regulations relate only to transported hay that is destined to be fed to livestock entering the nation's food chain, such as beef and dairy cattle, sheep and goats. All size farms are affected, but those who grow hay exclusively for use in their own livestock operation will see no change in procedures.

The regulations state that specific documentation must be kept by farmers if they sell, barter, give away or otherwise ship hay destined for use as livestock feed off the originating farm. If someone else does the hauling, the responsibility for record keeping shifts to the transporter. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers transporters to be anyone who has possession or control of an article of food for the sole purpose of transporting it by rail, road, water or air. The FDA requires that records concerning animal food be kept for one year. Currently, a standard bill of lading provides most of this information.

02 August 2006

GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES NEW ETHANOL PRODUCTION FACILITY TO BE CONSTRUCTED AT THE SENECA ARMY DEPOT

Well, we did it. This was a "sticky wicket." Turned the train around, kept it from stopping in Seneca Falls permanetly, but kept it from leaving Seneca County. Seneca County wins, Agriculture wins, and the Environment wins. Next item...

See: http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/06/0801061.html