Heritage Swine and Small Farms Prey to CAFO-pressured DNR?
First we aren't allowed to determine what we will drink and now a government agency will decide whose herds are "safe" and will do away with any that they deem suspect. If feral swine are a concern then do away with feral swine on a case-by-case basis. Attacking heritage breeds on small farms is not acceptable. Blanket laws that do not delineate between small, organic farms with well-maintained, effectively-contained animals and fly-by-night operations or wild animals are damaging. We need the diversity of heritage breeds to avoid mono-culture that will require ever-more chemical measures to sustain and run the risk of being wiped out all at once should nature move faster than we can - which we know can happen.
The Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund reports on this and other attempts to tamp down our whole-food alternatives. Please consider both sides when big government issues alarmist reports - there are too many factors to consider just one side or the other. Become an informed consumer (literally - I mean you are putting these things into your body daily!) and make your voice heard based on what you discover.
I passed a delivery truck for one of our local pork-producers yesterday. It was running but rusty. The local farmers are fighting to feed their families, not keep their lobby dollars. They are farming via their beliefs, not fishing for votes. These people are not in it for the money, prestige or influence. They simply want to be independent, self-sustaining, consumer-pleasing and left alone.
I hadn't thought about that when we spotted the truck yesterday Laura. I really like your read on it. I was stuck on the thought our culture has bred into me which was along the lines of, "poor folks, they need a new truck". Why do we honor insults and destruction while we dishonor hard work and valor?
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