Old McDonald Had a Farm...and He Got Arrested?

[Kali]

Interesting goings-on in the direct farm to consumer arena. First mainstream source I have seen mentioning the corporate protection function of supposedly consumer protection agencies.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20071203/gumpert

[kestrel91316]

1. I guess I'm a spoilsport. I think the farmer in MI has a public duty to

help document eradication of TB from the state by participating in the program. It will help the value of HIS product along with all the other beef raisers. Testing for TB will not taint his product in any way.

That said, I fully support the right of farmers to contract with individuals privately for butchering of animals they have pesonally raised on a small scale. And I support the right of individuals to purchase raw milk as long as they are informed of the risks and the producer participates in TB and brucellosis testing programs.

Why on earth ANYONE would want to consume raw milk from untested animals is beyond me. I would like to have a dairy goat some day, but you can bet she will be tested before I drink a single drop.

[achtung_circus]

2. Sorry, I'm a big fan of food safety,

and most farmers don't have the meat inspection training to slaughter or the facilities to do it hygienically. I see illegal slaughter and often the animals welfare issue is there as well.

Around here you can feed whatever you want to your own family, but for sale, it needs to be inspected. It costs about $1.75 per chicken to run them through a provincial plant. I couldn't begin to do that myself for that price, plus I got the inspection seal.

[Kali]

4. I guess the question is when is really about safety vs halting competition?

Shutting down some scuzzy fly-by-night deal is one thing, but harassing some guy who runs a sound clean operation and has an informed, loyal customer base? I don't think enough distinction is made. They seem to just shut down anybody (small) that isn't following the status quo (selling to the mega-packers)

Hi AC:hi:

[Kali]

3. Yeah I kind of wondered why he was refusing, myself.

You would think it would be good promotion for his product to have the (negative) results.

My interest was the take on overzealous "protection" actually benefiting big ag. As in keeping the small producer economically out of the picture in terms of selling his own meat/milk/whatever. (Salatin talks about this)