Posted on 05/05/2007 1:02:19 AM PDT by quietolong
Not registering
By Jim Massey
Editor
MADISON
— The May 1 deadline for Wisconsin dairy farmers to register their premises under threat of not having their milk-shipping licenses renewed is on hold.
A standing-room-only crowd of about 75 people on April 25 voiced their discontent and heard an update about the premises registration issue. A group of Wisconsin farmers — mostly dairy producers — have expressed concerns about the mandatory premises program and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection's plan to not renew dairy farm licenses for unregistered farms.
Concerns expressed at the March DATCP board meeting prompted formation of a board subcommittee and the informational meeting. Legislators, dairy farmers and other invited guests were asked for opinions about the issue.
Two days after the April 25 meeting, DATCP officials issued a statement saying dairy plant operators should continue to pick up milk from producers even after the May 1 deadline.
'You may continue to pick up milk from licensed producers until and unless the department specifically informs you that the producer's license has been suspended,' DATCP official Tom Leitzke wrote in a memo to dairy plant operators. 'The department is currently reviewing its next steps and has not yet taken any action to suspend milk producer licenses for failure to comply with the livestock premises registration law. However, you should continue to advise your patrons to register their premises as required under the (law).' Rod Nilsestuen, DATCP secretary, used the recent Clark County hog pseudorabies outbreak as an example of how the premises registration program could be used. He said because all farms weren't registered in the outbreak area, DATCP officials had to go door-to-door to find out which producers had hogs on their farms.
'The idea is to know where species of livestock are located, so in case of an outbreak — like pseudorabies this month — our veterinarians can find the farms and determine if there's a problem, test and isolate those animals from the rest of the herd, and minimize losses and the shutdown of markets to the rest of the states and beyond,' Mr. Nilsestuen said. 'Without this program, our markets can be put in jeopardy. Millions of dollars for Wisconsin agriculture are at stake here.'
Several dairy farmers said they didn't want to be forced to register their premises, and that state officials already have enough information about their farms. Rep. Al Ott, R-Forest Junction, called the farmers 'selfish' for thinking about themselves and not what's best for the state's agricultural industry.
'As far as I'm concerned, anything but full compliance is unacceptable,' Rep. Ott said. 'You talk about your personal feelings and violating your rights on this. All I can think about is the selfishness that your position presents. It's very selfish to put the state of Wisconsin at risk because you don't want to have a (premises) number.
'Do you want us to spend money foolishly, going up and down the road to find where these animals are when we could do it more effectively and at a lower cost? You come in here and expect the state of Wisconsin to roll over just because you don't want a premises ID and risk the rest of the state, the economic value, the national and international marketplaces. I think that is wrong. I'm offended that you can't recognize that we're trying to protect you all.'
Rep. Barbara Gronemus, D-Whitehall, was the primary sponsor of the premises registration law passed in 2004. She said DATCP staff interpreted the law differently than she intended.
'I made a grave mistake when I assumed that the department of agriculture would be the friend of the farmer when it came to this premises registration (law),' Rep. Gronemus said. 'I never intended to have the department uses premises registration to determine who were going to be the producers of the dairy industry in our state. I never thought that you would use that heavy-handed method that has become a public issue now.' Mark Brothen, a Viroqua dairy farmer, said the mandatory premises registration program supersedes the federal government's voluntary animal-identification program.
'The USDA has indicated that participation in the (National Animal Identification System) is voluntary and that producers can opt not to participate,' Mr. Brothen said. 'This means to me that I cannot be penalized for refusing to place a voluntary premises code on my farm or property.'
He criticized state officials for using a federal grant to run the premises registration program. 'The ag department has a conflict of interest — $1.7 million has been allocated (to Wisconsin) for the program for fiscal year 2007,' Mr. Brothen said. 'How many pieces of silver must we accept, Mr. Nilsestuen?' Jim Matson, a DATCP attorney, said the state's premises registration program isn't preempted by federal law. 'We believe it is, on its face, a mandatory law and there are certain sanctions that apply,' Mr. Matson said. Mike Dummer, DATCP board chairman, said the DATCP board and agency officials would consider the meeting comments, but the agency has a responsibility to implement the law.
'It's not a maybe-we-should-or-shouldn't deal,' he said. 'This agency has responsibilities to the Legislature. This rule was mandatory by Jan. 1, 2006, and this is how long we've continued to extend an outreach and education effort. In truth, (the Legislature) could confront the agency and say you are way past your deadline.
'As an agency, where do we go? We're caught between the Legislature telling us what to do and what the producers are saying are their concerns and issues. Somehow we have to make the call, and it's not going to be popular with everyone. At some point we won't have the option of procrastinating. At some point we have to draw a line in the sand.'
Deb Reinhart, Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium chairwoman, said state officials should 'continue to work to make all producers find ways to be in compliance.'
'We do not want a disaster dictating how we manage our industry,' Ms. Reinhart said. 'I have been told by our state vet that if we would have a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Florida, that in two weeks nothing would move on or off my dairy farm. I get paid for what I produce on my dairy. If I cannot feed my cows or ship my milk, I no longer have a livelihood. I believe to make premises registration no longer mandatory would be a grave mistake.'
John Peck, Family Farm Defenders executive director, said the group is preparing for legal action against the state if farmers are forced against their will to apply for a premises registration number.
Jim Massey may be reached at jimmassey@mhtc.net.
Maybe I should have told them about the fish that swim in the stream that runs through my property. That’s the stream whose banks I’m not allowed to shore up against erosion without US Army Corps of Engineers permission!
Well, looks like I’ll just be cultivating those “weeds” that grow behind the barn “all by themselves,” LOL! If I’m going to get in trouble, may as well go all the way. ;)
I did talk this over with a goat farmer at work today. I printed out the original article posted here, and a few of the links for him. He has a herd of about 300 goats, and sells the milk to a local cheese maker and he gets back some of the product to sell at market. He does the Dane County Farmer’s Market around the capitol square, and it’s a BIG DEAL to be a vendor there. Very lucrative and they are uber-selective, so the guy knows his stuff.
Anyhow, he agreed with me to a point, but then he said he would like to know if the ‘Hobby Farm’ down the road had some sort of outbreak that would infect his goats, he’d want to know right away and vice versa.
I told him it’s just another foot in the door for Government and Big Ag to more easily confiscate our animals in the future. I was surprised at his reaction because he is a smart business owner, and an intelligent guy.
He’s got to be one of many out there that aren’t worried about this though, and won’t know what hit them when the goat pellets hit the fan. :(
You actually may be more right than you realize.
Does that stream run into a watershed? If so, that stream is owned by the EPA. Along with 300 foot greenway out from the waterline.
Because that was the criteria that was used on the Henshaws.
We have the bid contract and the presentation that was used on the Henshaws. It was the EPA, not disease. The disease was a front.
‘Weeds’ are subject to plant tagging.
(I know what you meant; but the level of the USDA/EPA/FDA have reached insane)
http://msu.edu/~ramchan1/pda/ArrThesisFinal.pdf
PLANT SCANNER:
A HANDHELD PDA USING RFID TAGS FOR CHILD VISITORS TO THE MICHIGAN 4-H CHILDREN’S GARDEN
By Aparna Rajan Ramchandran
A THESIS Submitted to Michigan State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS
Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media
2004
Page 2 ABSTRACT
PLANT SCANNER:
A HANDHELD PDA USING RFID TAGS FOR CHILD VISITORS TO THE MICHIGAN 4-H CHILDREN’S GARDEN
By Aparna Rajan Ramchandran
This thesis project investigates the viability of using interactive handheld and RFID technology in the Indoor 4-H Children’s Garden at Michigan State University. The project involves the integration of technologies such as RFID, Flash, Embedded Visual Basic and XML to develop a usable interface on a Pocket PC.
The Plant Scanner Project is designed to teach children introductory plant biology and enhance their exploration of the Indoor 4-H Children’s Garden. The results from initial testing suggest that students learn more about plants by using the Plant Scanner, students use the technology with ease, students engage with the technology, the Plant Scanner works better in the outdoor garden, and that learning with the Plant Scanner is enhanced when a plant expert accompanies children.
(more at the PDF link)
“...and that learning with the Plant Scanner is enhanced when a plant expert accompanies children.”
Oh, No! Don’t let an adult teach children about Nature. The Horror! The Horror!
They’ll obviously stop at nothing to indoctrinate...
Having been raised on a dairy farm near Green Bay Wisc, way back in the 50s and early 60s, I can tell you flat out that the use of power by the Ag and forestry departments in Wisconsin goes back even further... They have always been heavy handed, and it has never changed. There is no point in worrying about Government Nazi's, as the state of Wisconsin pioneered the practice.
You should have seen the nonsense they forced on everyone when the Great Lake cleanup and reforestation programs were in full bloom. Many small farms just left their acreage and buildings, and escaped....Just let it rot....
Not so sure about a watershed, but it feeds a river which feeds another river, which feeds another river which feeds the Monongahela River, which is navigable...thus USACE permission is needed to do any work in my stream. By rights, I can’t even clear debris which causes daming without their permission. Needless to say, I ignore that when a choke point becomes clogged with branches etc, but in doing so, I break the law.
Then we get into the mess of what the Gov’t. considers ‘wetlands’. Around here it seems that any puddle that forms during a rain constitutes ‘wetlands’!
After I posted this article. Was in bed getting ready to get some Zzzz’s I had an interesting thought. “ Hmm It is called “Mark of the Beast” “.
As I have stated to you on other threads, Once more for those who may not have seen it.
Next comes the “tax” then it will be a “privilege”
And if I put my tin foil hat on now......
OK that’s better!
Heard the term “ Round Up Ready” For those of you that haven’t. It refers to seeds that have been genetically engineered to resist herbicides that will kill plants of the same type that have not been modified. You can also in this group include plants the have been engineered to resist pests also. Both are in wide spread use now.
It’s been a few years back now. But over around a six month span. There was a “rash” of scientists found dead. Not just any old scientists. But scientists that were prominent in the field of (need I say it?) Genetic Engineering.
Those of you that want to take the time can find the threads in the FR archive. Not conspiracy threads. Just people posting news articles on so & so was found dead.
For the sake of time I won’t point out the all connection. But I’m sure most can figure the rest of the story out.
( you don’t have the mark..Well you sure can’t have livestock & seed that resist the plague)
Who’s more of a danger to this type of NWO government? People running around looting, rapeing but need the government to give them there basics. Or people who can give the government the finger and get along fine with out them?
Sound far fetched? Well doesn’t this scene play out like some of those “in the back of” the Bible?
If I would have said “ A Hurricane is coming and the government will take everybody’s guns”
People would have been posting pictures of screws & balls
Were did the government go first down in New Orleans?
New Orleans Gun Confiscation is Blatantly Illegal
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1481673/posts
(play video on #11)
And as if you didn’t have enough for your worry box:
Tracing a poison’s global path back to China
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1829171/posts
Crying Over Raw Milk: An Amish Farmer Confronts a Government Edict
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1786344/posts
Small dairyman shakes up milk industry
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1572002/posts
Dairy gets squeezed by the feds
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1414369/posts
“In addition to the abuse of the depopulation there is question of the possibility that the EPA and similar government agencies may be using this as an excuse to depopulate small farms along rivers as a means of controlling pollutants.”
________________________________________________________
IIRC, something similar to this was done a while back on the South Branch of the Potomac in the Potomac highlands in WV. All the small farms in the area were removed (not sure how that was accomplished) so as to prevent polluting the South Branch. Recent tests done on the waters just downstream of this area held a big surprise. Those waters are even more polluted now than when the farms were there. They’re blaming the increased population of bear and deer in the area for the dirty water. It seems that bear and deer poop ‘n’ pee there. Imagine that!!!
Manure run-off is the #1 crisis for the Enviro-wackos around here. You wouldn’t believe what farmers have to go through to spread manure on their own land in Dane County.
I’m surprised County Exec Kathleen Falk (two-time loser running for Governor) isn’t going on “ride-alongs” on manure spreaders and telling Farmer Joe exactly what to do, LOL!
>>> United Nations agenda 21 <<<<
China orders resettlement of thousands of Tibetans
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1830980/posts
Coming soon to a farm near you ???
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