http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/farms/ en-us Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:04:40 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2349049/posts Environmentalism: Sen. Dianne Feinstein votes to deny water to California's drought-stricken San Joaquin Valley. Farmers, families and food are being held hostage to an endangered fish called the delta smelt. (snip) The Senate rejected the amendment by a largely party-line 61-36 margin, with Feinstein opposing the restoration of water deliveries to farmers. The California senator claimed she was blindsided by the amendment to the bill she was managing in the Senate, bizarrely comparing the move to a "Pearl Harbor." "No one from California has called, written or indicated they wanted this on the calendar," Feinstein protested. Investor's Business Daily http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2349049/posts#comment Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:04:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2348521/posts Delta smelts: Preferred over humans. Environmentalism: Sen. Dianne Feinstein votes to deny water to California's drought-stricken San Joaquin Valley. Farmers, families and food are being held hostage to an endangered fish called the delta smelt.There was a time when the San Joaquin Valley was the most productive agricultural region in the world. It was a large part of what made the Golden State golden.Now it's a place where farmers no longer farm, but instead line up at food banks to feed the families of those who once fed the rest of the country and a good chunk of the... IBD Editorials http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2348521/posts#comment Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:23:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2333457/posts LABOR DEPARTMENT SEEKS TO REVERSE CHANGES MADE DURING BUSH ADMINISTRATION The Labor Department is trying again to roll back Bush administration regulations that made it easier for farmers to hire temporary foreign farm workers. The agency Thursday said it is proposing new rules that would boost wages and increase safeguards for thousands of seasonal workers brought in each year to help farmers pick their crops. It also would require that growers make greater efforts to fill those jobs with American workers. If the rules are adopted, they largely will reverse regulations finalized shortly before President George W. Bush left office... AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2333457/posts#comment Sun, 6 Sep 2009 18:36:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2328338/posts NORTH ROSE – Border patrol officers can’t break the law to enforce it, the Wayne County Farm Bureau is asserting. Farm Bureau is in the process of gathering information for a formal complaint to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Buffalo, asking for an investigation into the circumstances of the stop of four migrant farm workers on Route 414 in front of Barbara Jean’s Furniture Store Aug. 17. Also, U.S. Sen. Kristen Gillibrand was made aware of the incident last week and indicated she will write a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napalitano regarding border patrol activity in... wayuga.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2328338/posts#comment Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:34:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2306275/posts Despite some really eloquent speeches to the contrary, our “for sale” House of Representatives passed the Food Fascism Act….euphemistically called a food safety act, by a margin of about 140 over the naysayer’s. True to form, Rosa DeLauro spoke about things she knows nothing about and couldn’t care less; Rosa just loves her some Monsanto! And that exclusion for farms??? Gone! And that includes you organic idiots who thought you had kissed enough behinds to have your industry excluded. The newly revised bill that appeared overnight after the original was defeated 29th of July, now includes all those farms we... Farm Wars http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2306275/posts#comment Sun, 2 Aug 2009 02:24:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2290395/posts Late blight, which caused the Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s and 1850s, is killing potato and tomato plants in home gardens from Maine to Ohio and threatening commercial and organic farms... "Late blight has never occurred this early and this widespread in the United States," said Meg McGrath, a plant pathologist at Cornell University's extension center in Riverhead, New York. She said the fungal disease, spread by spores carried in the air, has made its way into the garden centers of large retail chains in the Northeastern United States. "Wal-mart, Home Depot, Sears, Kmart and Lowe's are some of... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2290395/posts#comment Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:34:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2271357/posts The goal seems to be nothing short of eradicating American farms and self-sustainability. Even DEMOCRATS are opposing the Obama Energy Bill. Climate change legislation will be utterly devastating for American farmers. Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-IA) of the House Agriculture Committee says that not only will he not vote for it, but no one else on his committee will support it either. The bill would increase the cost of everything that farmers depend on, such as diesel fuel, gasoline, fertilizers, pesticides, and a host of other things. It would raise taxes on energy by $846 billion over the next ten years.... Start Thinking Right http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2271357/posts#comment Sun, 14 Jun 2009 03:23:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2228465/posts From The Evil Empire: Government control of our food supply is the ultimate step in our enslavement. Barack Obama has moved swiftly...to seize authority over the very food we eat. The mechanism...is legislation that most Congressmen will vote for without reading, as usual, based on the synoptic introduction listing intended improvements.... H.R.875, the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009 S.425, the Food Safety and Tracking Improvement Act These bills have the legal potential to eliminate organic farming, destroy small family farms, outlaw natural seed banks, and criminalize even backyard vegetable gardens. Their overt intention, although nobody is noticing, is to... American Daughter http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2228465/posts#comment Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:14:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2207063/posts The Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance (FARFA) is leading the fight to save family farms and individuals from expensive and unnecessary government regulation. Help us protect our food supply and our liberties! The National Animal Identification System ("NAIS") poses a serious threat to all farmers, ranchers, livestock owners, and companion-animal owners, whether they are organic or conventional, small or large, involved with animals for business or for pleasure. If it is made mandatory, every person with even one horse, cow, chicken, pig, goat, sheep, or virtually any other livestock animal on their premises will be required to register their homes... Farm And Ranch Freedom Alliance website http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2207063/posts#comment Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:17:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2204241/posts Something like the purges of the Kulaks during the Russian Bolshevik Revolution is about to happen to many of California's Central Valley farmers. Only in a Capitalist society like ours the government just adjudicates the de facto taking of your property only without additionally hanging you like Lenin did the Kulaks. But why are California's coastal cities not joining with agricultural water districts to appeal the court order which has blocked 85% of water deliveries through the California Aqueduct to both farmers and Southern California? Don't they both have something to lose? For those who haven't been following what is... Pasadena Sub Rosa http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2204241/posts#comment Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:32:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2202028/posts One of 14 ArmaTrac 602 tractors presented to local sheiks in the Lutifiyah Nahia during a ceremony on Combat Outpost Meade, March 5. Photo by Pfc. Evan Loyd, 1st Armored Division Public Affairs. COMBAT OUTPOST MEADE — Multi-National Division—Baghdad Soldiers presented 14 new tractors to local Shaykhs from the Lutifiyah Nahia during a ceremony here, March 5. Each ArmaTrac 602 tractor should help to cultivate an area over 25,000,000 square feet.  Troops from Task Force 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division used funds from the Commander’s Emergency Response Program to purchase the 14 new... Multi-National Force - Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2202028/posts#comment Sun, 8 Mar 2009 19:41:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2178689/posts 'We're looking at a scenario where there's no more agriculture in California,' Steven Chu says. He sees education as a means to combat threat. Reporting from Washington -- California's farms and vineyards could vanish by the end of the century, and its major cities could be in jeopardy, if Americans do not act to slow the advance of global warming, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu said Tuesday. L.A. Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2178689/posts#comment Thu, 5 Feb 2009 04:06:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2162400/posts PEACH BOTTOM, Pa. — Jacci Cook is a big fan of the Hangin’ Tree Cowdog breed. Her husband, Herman Cook, has six of the dogs on their 164-acre dairy farm in southern Lancaster County. “With a dog on the job, I don’t have to help drive the cows into the milking parlor, I don’t have to help bring them in from pasture, and if they get out, I don’t have to help round them up. “I love our dogs.” And so does her husband, and their 25-year-old son, Jordan. Father and son manage their 190-head herd of milking cows, young... Lancaster Farming News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2162400/posts#comment Sun, 11 Jan 2009 00:18:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2119573/posts An alarming new study to be published in November in the Annual Review of Environment and Resources finds that one-third of the world's marine fish catches are ground up and fed to farm-raised fish, pigs, and poultry, squandering a precious food resource for humans and disregarding the serious overfishing crisis in our oceans. Lead author Dr. Jacqueline Alder, senior author Dr. Daniel Pauly, and colleagues urge that other foods be used to feed farmed animals so that these "forage fish" can be brought to market for larger-scale human consumption. "Forage fish" include anchovies, sardines, menhaden, and other small- to medium-sized... Terra Daily http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2119573/posts#comment Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:25:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2103148/posts Phil Stine is not crazy, or possessed, or even that special, he says. He has no idea how he does what he does. From most accounts, he does it very well. “Phil finds the water,” said Frank Assali, an almond farmer and convert. “No doubt about it.” Mr. Stine, you see, is a “water witch,” one of a small band of believers for whom the ancient art of dowsing is alive and well. Emphasis, of course, on well. Using nothing more than a Y-shaped willow stick, Mr. Stine has as his primary function determining where farmers should drill to slake... NY Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2103148/posts#comment Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:02:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2095370/posts FOB DELTA — Team Borlaug conducted their last scheduled farm assessment is Wasit province, just outside al Kut, Sept. 25. The team from Texas A&M also accompanied Gov. Abd al-Latif Hamad Tarfah, governor of Wasit province, on a tour of a family cooperative farm, managed by two brothers. The 400-dunam (248 acre) farm was planted with 100 dunam of barley and wheat, 100 of alfalfa, 25 of cotton, 10 of corn, 25 of watermelon, 100 fallow and five devoted to greenhouses, said John Hargreaves, member of Team Borlaug. There were also 6,000 fish being raised in drainage canals, as well... Multi-National Force - Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2095370/posts#comment Thu, 2 Oct 2008 00:32:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1999365/posts Zimbabwe militants seize farm of Commercial Farmers' Union president By Sebastien Berger in Johannesburg Last Updated: 1:43am BST 10/04/2008 Zanu PF militants have invaded the farm of Commercial Farmers' Union president Trevor Gifford, saying he is never to return home. Mr Gifford, who has spent a frantic week in Harare trying to assist at least 60 fellow farmers cope with their own invasions around the country was not at home near Chipinge, about 220 miles south east of Harare, when the mob of about 30 wearing Zanu-PF T-shirts arrived at his security gate. "They have left messages with staff for... The Telegraph (UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1999365/posts#comment Thu, 10 Apr 2008 05:11:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1987289/posts FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU — Chicken farming in Iraq is moving toward pre-war levels, as Coalition forces work with farmers to overcome challenges. There are about seven functioning chicken houses in the region where 3rd Battalion, 7th infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division operates, and dialogue has begun with the owners on how to increase production. One of the first areas where the unit discovered chicken houses was the community of Abu Lukah. It has four chicken houses, three of which are functioning. The first visit by the unit was at the end of January during which... Multi-National Force - Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1987289/posts#comment Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:05:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1972489/posts South Africa may force more white farmers to sell in order to speed up the transfer of land into nonwhite hands, the agriculture minister said Thursday. Lulu Xingwana also said the government was considering new regulations for foreign land ownership. She said that black South Africans, who make up nearly 80 percent of the population, currently own just 4.7 percent of the land — even though land reform has been a key part of government policy since 1994 to right the wrongs of apartheid. Xingwana and other officials have repeatedly ruled out Zimbabwe-style land grabs, but the public's patience is... AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1972489/posts#comment Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:57:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1957661/posts Hugo Chavez leveled a threat against Venezuelan farmers over the weekend, another step in creating his socialist paradise. He called farmers who sell abroad to gain a better price for their goods "traitors", and told his ministers to identify them so that he could send the Army to confiscate their property: President Hugo Chavez threatened on Sunday to take over farms or milk plants if owners refuse to sell their milk for domestic consumption and instead seek higher profits abroad or from cheese-makers. With the country recently facing milk shortages, Chavez said "it's treason" if farmers deny milk to Venezuelans... Captain's Quarters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1957661/posts#comment Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:23:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1659241/posts EL CAMPO, Tex. -- Even though Donald R. Matthews put his sprawling new residence in the heart of rice country, he is no farmer. He is a 67-year-old asphalt contractor who wanted to build a dream house for his wife of 40 years. Yet under a federal agriculture program approved by Congress, his 18-acre suburban lot receives about $1,300 in annual "direct payments," because years ago the land was used to grow rice. Matthews is not alone. Nationwide, the federal government has paid at least $1.3 billion in subsidies for rice and other crops since 2000 to individuals who do... Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1659241/posts#comment Sun, 2 Jul 2006 12:12:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1910628/posts I really don’t understand what Marlys Miller is so upset about. Marlys is a writer for Pork magazine, which bills itself as “The Business Magazine of Professional Pork Producers”, and to her, Greg Niewendorp’s civil disobedience in refusing Michigan’s bovine TB test is an example of how “it's a few that create the greatest challenges for the whole.” In other words, if not for Greg, whom she references, and a few like him, we’d be rid of food contamination and, I infer, we’d have this beautiful wonderfully sterile country in which germs would go the way of…E.coli 0157:H7? The Complete Patient Blog http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1910628/posts#comment Sat, 13 Oct 2007 03:49:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1897583/posts Farms seizure warning in South Africa By Mike Pflanz in Nairobi Last Updated: 2:30am BST 17/09/2007 Farmers in South Africa have been warned that they could have their land taken from them unless they stop "abusive" policies towards workers. Most highly productive farmland in South Africa is still in the hands of white farmers. While the government has enacted a "restitution" policy of handing plots to blacks under a willing buyer, willing seller system, critics have said progress has been too slow. While the situation is far from that witnessed in neighbouring Zimbabwe, tensions have soared recently over alleged illegal... The Telegraph (UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1897583/posts#comment Mon, 17 Sep 2007 01:49:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1881176/posts 'Cool farms' mask the extent of global warming 13:33 14 August 2007 NewScientist.com news service Catherine Brahic You've heard of urban heat islands. Now researchers have confirmed the existence of their opposite: cool farm patches. Whereas urban development generates pockets of hot air, irrigated fields tend to cool things down, they say - and there is evidence that the effects have been felt in California for over a century. In areas of intensive irrigation, such as the Central Valley in California, US, these "cool farms" have counteracted global warming, say Céline Bonfils and David Lobell of the Lawrence Livermore National... New Scientist http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1881176/posts#comment Tue, 14 Aug 2007 21:31:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1873307/posts Zimbabwe farmers wait out Robert Mugabe By Stephen Bevan, Sunday Telegraph Last Updated: 12:52am BST 29/07/2007 For Rod Swales and many of Zimbabwe's 4,000 white farmers forced off their land by President Robert Mugabe's chaotic and violent land reforms, the chance to start afresh somewhere else was too good to pass up. Resilient: Rod Swales hopes to return his farm in Zimbabwe to profitable production Neighbouring countries welcomed them with open arms and furnished them with land, while the agricultural companies provided them with cash incentives. But five years later, 52-year-old Mr Swales is back in Zimbabwe at the forefront... The Telegraph (UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1873307/posts#comment Sun, 29 Jul 2007 16:26:52 GMT