News and Blog
Please sign this petition to show your support for the UNR Main Station Farm, and forward to other supporters.
http://www.change.org/petitions/save-a-university-farm-from-development
created a change.org petition that will go to each and every city counsel member, every single member of the Board of Regents, the Chancellor, our state legislative reps, as well as our congressional members as well.
How this works is each and every time someone signs the petition it goes to all of these people's email -the unique part of this is this can become a national response to protect farmland - take it and run with it -send it to everyone you know this is a state concern but more important this can be David against Goliath and many people in the food movement will identify including those that are against developing open space.
We need to reach out to our 4-h clubs, FFA groups, we need to send it to all county USDA offices - if you want to ensure that you remain the caretakers of our local foodshed and the future of ag education for our sons and daughters - get out there and pass this along.
Please think horizontal in terms of your contact lists - bookclubs, dinnerclubs, your gym, daycare friends - serious this is not about who you think might be interested but instead a way to get everyone to become interested. Don't be afraid to ask as it is vital we get as many signatures as possible -
Remember Big Ol Bank of America well this self same styled petition caused them to withdraw there 5.00 fee and yes, I am sure they will backdoor it somewhere else but the point is IT WORKED!
I have friends in agriculture from Idaho to Arizona and I am going to reach to them all. I know you are a diverse group - let's make it happen!
Weston A. Price Foundation and Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund just put out a call to press Congress to pass HR1830 to legalize interstate sale of raw milk. Please take a moment to help!
From the WAPF action alert:
A year-long undercover sting investigation of an Amish farmer that included federal officials entering private consumers’ residences. A California food co-op raided by officials with guns drawn and at the ready. A Georgia man forced to destroy over 100 gallons of high-quality farm-fresh milk.
What do all of these have in common?
- They all involved small-scale farmers selling directly to consumers.
- There was never any allegation that the food had caused even one person to get sick or was contaminated in any way.
- They’re all part of FDA’s campaign to prevent consumers from getting raw milk, regardless of what consumers want.
While Cargill and other agribusiness giants get away with just a slap on the wrist when they sicken hundreds and even thousands of people, the FDA is spending your tax dollars to harass small farmers selling raw milk even when there hasn’t been a single illness.
The FDA claims authority in these cases under a pair of regulations–CFR 1240.61 and 131.110– that make it illegal to transport raw milk for human consumption across state lines.
HR 1830 would help put a stop to this. This bill, sponsored by Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) and co-sponsored by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME), would legalize the interstate sale of raw milk. States would still be free to impose whatever regulations they think appropriate, but the FDA would no longer be able to harass raw milk farmers based solely on the fact that they have customers in other states.
Please help us get this important bill passed!
TAKE ACTION
- Use the online petition system to send a fax to your Congressman, asking him or her to co-sponsor HR 1830. Go to www.farmtoconsumer.org/hr1830 and just fill in your information to send a fax with a click of the button.
- Forward this email to all of your friends and ask them to fax their Congressman
- Follow up your fax with a phone call to your Congressman. Phone numbers can be found a at www.house.gov
MORE INFORMATION
For more information on HR 1830 and FDAs campaign against consumer choice, go to www.farmtoconsumer.org/112Cong-HR1830.htm
BACKGROUND
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations require milk in final package form for human consumption to be pasteurized, and prohibit the delivery into interstate commerce of unpasteurized (or raw) milk for human consumption. The consumption of raw milk is legal in all 50 states, while the sale of raw milk for human consumption is legal in 28 states.
Consumers are increasingly seeking out raw milk as a natural, unprocessed food. Consumers in states where raw milk cannot legally be sold (although it can legally be consumed) are seeking sources of raw milk from neighboring states. For example, consumers in Georgia buy raw milk from farmers in South Carolina, while consumers in New Jersey and Virginia seek out Pennsylvania raw milk farmers.
FDA’S ACTIONS TO DATE
FDA has threatened enforcement and taken action against both farmers and buyers co-ops across the country for allegedly violating CFR 1240.61 and 131.110(a). Below are a few recent examples. There was no allegation that the raw milk had caused any illnesses in any of these cases.
- FDA spent a year in an undercover sting operation on an Amish farmer, Dan Allgyer of Rainbow Acres in Pennsylvania. Agency employees lied about their identity and joined local buying clubs. They picked up raw milk from private residences again, concealing their identities and sent the milk to be tested. Despite nearly a dozen tests, not one sample showed any contamination. Despite the fact that this clean milk had not made anyone sick, the agency ultimately raided Dan’s farm in May 2011.
- FDA officials, together with officials from five other local, state, and federal agencies raided the Rawesome Food Club, a private buying club in Venice, California on June 30, 2010. Police accompanying the various agency officials entered the store with guns drawn. The officialsconfiscated 17 coolers of food including raw milk and raw milk products, even though the warrant stated that they could only take samples. This year, the government raided Rawesome a second time on August 3 with FDA officials again participating in the raid. Government agents seized almost the entire food inventory at the store, dumping out all the raw milk on the premises without any court order to do so. The store manager, a farmer supplying the store, and an administrator for the farmer who did nothing more than take orders and disseminate information for the farmer, were each charged with multiple felonies alleging violations of state food and dairy laws.
- An FDA agent participated in the dumping of over one hundred gallons of impounded raw milk belonging to members of a Georgia food buying club, which had been legally purchased from a licensed South Carolina dairy in October 2009. The primary agency in that action was the Georgia Department of Agriculture, but the FDA official present at that time told the buying clubs agent that even an individual consumer cannot legally cross state lines to buy raw milk and bring it home under 1240.61 and 131.110.
In all of these cases, there was no allegation that the raw milk had caused any illnesses or was contaminated in any way.
THE LAWSUIT
In an effort to protect both farmers and consumers, the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund has sued the FDA on behalf of itself and eight individuals, asking the Court to declare that FDAs ban on the interstate sale of raw milk is invalid and violates the plaintiffs constitutional rights. The individual plaintiffs include consumers who cross state lines to buy raw milk, the owner of a buying club or virtual farmers market who crosses state lines to buy milk to distribute to the club members, and a raw milk farmer.
The FDA has long opposed freedom of food choice, but its response to the FTCLDF complaint represents FDA’s strongest public statement yet on the freedom to obtain and consume the foods of one’s choice. Here are some of FDA’s views expressed in its response on ‘freedom of food choice’ in general and on the right to obtain and consume raw milk in particular:
- “There is no absolute right to consume or feed children any particular food.”
- “There is no ‘deeply rooted’ historical tradition of unfettered access to foods of all kinds.”
- “Plaintiffs’ assertion of a ‘fundamental right to their own bodily and physical health, which includes what foods they do and do not choose to consume for themselves and their families’ is similarly unavailing because plaintiffs do not have a fundamental right to obtain any food they wish.”
- “It is within [the federal governments] authority . . . to institute an intrastate ban [on unpasteurized milk] as well.”
- “There is no fundamental right to freedom of contract.”
For more information on the lawsuit against FDA to assert our food freedom, go towww.farmtoconsumer.org/litigation-FDA-status.htm
This action alert is posted at
http://www.westonaprice.org/2011-action-alerts/support-food-freedom-now
100% Grass Fed
Albaugh beef and lamb are raised on a three generation family ranch, near Fallon, Nevada.
The Albaugh family has been breeding purebred Shorthorn cattle since 1946. All forage is grown on the ranch, along with salt, mineral mix and cooked molasses.
They do not feed any grain
Click here to see the selection of cuts
The USDA has now approved GMO alphalfa, sugar beets and now they they have announced that they will approve "Bio Fules Corn" this corn can and will contaminate food corn. Center for Food Safety
The Center for Food Safety Last year battled Monsanto in the U.S. Supreme Court – and were victorious in maintaining the four year ban on the planting and sale of GM alfalfa. Read more here.
Rise and Shine Farms has made a donation to CFS to help in the fight against GMO foods.
Now is our deal for every new CSA sign up during the month of March we will donate $10 to the Center for Food Safety for each buyers club member sign up we will donate $2.00.
For any products purchased from the farm store menu or the buyers club we will also make a donation to the Center for Food Safety.
Lets stop Monsanto and the USDA from destroying the future of sustainable organic foods and farms
To sign up for the 2011 Rise and Shine Farms CSA RENO/SPARKS BATTLE MOUNTAIN/ELKO
March will be the last month to sign up using the three month payment plan.
Thank you all for supporting local family farms
Mike, Terri and Kassie
Rise and Shine Farms
If you receive more than one copy of this e mail it is because you are subscribed to more than one list.
Some came from friends and customers others from OFAN, Food and Water Watch and other organic orginazations. Click here to read more from RODALE
I sat down and sent a fax to the White House because the switch board was busy when I tried to call I figure those fax machines work 24/7.
All the groups I have heard from are urging President Obama to over rule the USDA decision you can help by calling or faxing.
One voice is a whisper a thousand voices can be heard in Washington
President Barack Obama
Phone- 202-456-1111
FAX 202-456-2461
Critical Food Safety Vote in 24 Hours: Tell your Senators to protect family farmers and local food today!
In the last two years alone America has witnessed some of the largest food safety recalls in our nation’s history, including the American Peanut Corporation fiasco and more recently, Jack DeCoster’s massive egg recall.
If one thing is clear from watching this news, it’s the fact that America’s food system is broken and needs to be fixed.
During this same time, the sustainable food and agriculture community has been gripped by the debate over food safety legislation. After countless rumors, battles behind the scenes in DC and passage in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Food Safety Modernization Bill (S.510) has languished in the U.S. Senate until now.
Tomorrow (Nov. 17th) the Senate is finally set to vote on the controversial bill, and small-scale and organic farmers urgently need two important amendments so the new regulations don't place huge financial burdens on small farmers.
Without these two important amendments -- currently opposed by all the big names in agribusiness -- small farmers will not be protected from inappropriate regulations meant to curtail the largest and most likely culprits of food safety outbreaks in the U.S.: giant, consolidated agribusinesses and their massive processing partners.
Please call your Senators and tell them it's time to stand up for family farmers, farmers markets and restaurants that source their products locally from small farmers and are driving the safe, healthy food renaissance in America.
When you click, we'll provide your Senators' contact information and a way to tell us how the call went. That way we can track our campaign's progress.
For those who have followed this debate closely, one needs to only consider that yesterday a Who’s Who of Big Ag sent Congress a letter demanding that your Senators not allow the Tester Amendment nor the Manager’s Amendments to pass.
The battle lines are drawn, with the American Meat Institute, National Chicken Council, National Meat Association, National Pork Producers Council and the National Turkey Federation once again railing against small-scale family farms and local food production.
It's clear that we need food safety legislation. However, without the Tester-Hagan Amendment, small farmers will be subject to "one size fits all" food safety regulations that will unfairly subject them to the same standards as Tyson, Smithfield, DeCoster and the worst food safety abusers.
Sustainable Ag groups such as the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) have been hard at work for the past 18 months on this bill, protecting the interests of small farmers and we need to support their efforts.
Farmer Protections from The Tester-Hagan Amendment
The first and most important provision is the Tester-Hagan amendment, which provides an exemption for family farmers who gross less than $500,000 and sell direct to farmers markets, restaurants, customers and local stores within 400 miles of their farm/processing facility. As the only organic farmer in the U.S. Senate, John Tester has made sure that this amendment protects the growing local food movement and allows small and beginning farmers the opportunity to grow the most economically vibrant part of agriculture, without excessive fees or paperwork that could harm smaller-scale producers.
The Manager's Amendment
In addition, the Manager's Amendment, which includes 5 vital amendments, would protect small-scale farmers from burdensome paperwork, offer farmers competitive grants for food safety training, allow them to engage in co-mingling of products from multiple farms in processing, reduce paperwork and excessive traceability requirements, and protect wildlife and wildlife habitat.
While we understand that there are fears from many members within the sustainable food and agriculture community regarding S. 510, only the Tester-Hagan Amendment and the Manager’s Amendment stand to offer real protections to small-scale local and organic farmers that are at the center of a resurgence in agriculture today, while protecting all of America's food consumers.
Tomorrow (Nov. 17th) this bill is finally set to come up for a vote in the U.S. Senate and farmers need you to call your Senators and tell them it’s time to stand up for family farmers, farmers markets and restaurants that source their products locally from small farmers.
With the most recent elected officials set to take office next year, this may be our last best hope of protecting consumers and small farmers alike - please take a moment to make this important call today!
Thank you for participating in food democracy today!
- Dave, Lisa and The Food Democracy Now! Team
Forwarded from Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance
Call Now to Protect Local Foods!
Although it has been delayed many times, the Food Safety Modernization Act (S.510) continues to be a threat to both farmers and consumers who care about local foods. This bill greatly expands FDA’s authority over both processed foods and fresh fruits and vegetables, and would give FDA authority to impose extensive, burdensome requirements on even the smallest processing facilities and farms who sell to local consumers.
While the latest version of the bill included some provisions for flexibility and scale-sensitivity, the provisions do not go far enough to protect the small-scale local food businesses that could be destroyed by new federal regulations.
TAKE ACTION
Senator Coburn (OK) has placed a “hold” on the bill, but Senator Reid continues to push to bring S. 510 to the floor of the Senate, and the vote could occur without much notice. So the time to call your Senators is now!
You can find your Senators’ contact information at www.Senate.gov or by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 or toll-free at 877-210-5351. When you call your Senators’ offices, ask to speak to the staffer who handles food safety issues, and tell them these two things:
1) Support the Tester-Hagan amendment to exempt small-scale, direct marketing farms and facilities from some of the most burdensome portions of the bill. This common-sense amendment is critical to protecting local food sources.
2) Oppose criminal penalties for violations that do not endanger human health or safety. An amendment might also be introduced to add criminal penalties for knowingly introducing adulterated or misbranded food into interstate commerce. This language sounds reasonable, but it would include technical violations that do not endanger human health or safety. For example, when combined with the House version of the bill, a jam maker who didn’t register with the FDA could face criminal penalties. Criminal penalties should only apply when a violation causes harm to human health or safety.
SAMPLE EMAIL (if you have time, a phone call is more effective than email):
Dear Senator XXX:
As you consider sweeping new federal food safety legislation (S. 510, the Food Safety Modernization Act), please vote in support of common sense amendment offered by Senators Tester and Hagan to exempt small-scale direct marketing processing facilities from federal hazard analysis and control regulations and to exempt small-scale direct marketing farms from the produce safety standards. Local and state health and sanitation laws are enough for producers selling into local markets. These small-scale producers do not need – and many would not survive – new federal regulations.
In August, half a billion eggs were recalled to try to prevent the spread of salmonella that had originated on two related farms in Iowa. Those two farms had sold eggs under at least 25 different labels in 12 different states. The recall is symptomatic of the industrialized food system characterized by mega-farms and long, complex supply chains and distribution systems. This industrialized food system needs reform.
But without Senators Tester's and Hagan’s common sense amendment to S. 510, the bill actually hurts food safety by imposing FDA regulation on the local food businesses that provide consumers with an alternative to the industrialized food system. More and more people are seeking out local producers to buy fresh, wholesome foods from people they trust, and they don’t need or want FDA to interfere.
I urge you to vote FOR the Tester-Hagan Amendment to S. 510!
I also urge you to vote against any amendment to create criminal penalties for “adulterated or misbranded” food unless they cause injury to human health or safety. Technical violations that cause no physical harm should not subject individuals to criminal penalties.
Sincerely,
Name
City, State
For more information on the food safety bill, including fact sheets, go to our website
RISE and SHINE FARMS BUYING CLUB
What is the buying club?
The buying club is set up for those of you who only want farm fresh produce and meats or other farm products without having to subscribe to a CSA. It was also set up so that our CSA members can add to their weekly share. CSA Members will be automatically joined to the buying club with their membership.
Current CSA Members should be receiving their passwords within the next 24 hours. If you are a CSA member and do not receive your password by Sunday February 21, 2010 please contact us to request your password.
What does your $25.00 membership fee buy you?
Buying Club Members have access to the private Farm Store page where you can buy at a discount off our regular farm stand prices.
Buying club Members receive home or office delivery in the Reno/Sparks, Carson City delivery area.
Buying Club Members receive discounts on quantity purchases like pickling cucumbers, stewing tomatoes and other canning produce and products.
Buying Club Members receive updates to the Farm Store before they are sent to the general mailing list.
Enjoy Special Promotions for Buying Club Members.
To join use our Member Sign Up page and choose either a CSA or Buying Club Membership
http://www.riseandshinefarms.com/members
Thank you for supporting local farmers
We look forward to serving you
Mike, Terri and Kassie
Rise and Shine Farms
Genetic food giant Monsanto is at it again. Its next target: genetically-modified (GE) alfalfa. One of the biggest impacts of allowing the use of GE alfalfa is contamination of other crops, including organic alfalfa, which is used by most organic dairies.
The USDA is well on its way to approving Monsanto's GE alfalfa. In its own report, the USDA acknowledges the problem with contamination but says that consumers may not care enough about it for the USDA to block Monsanto's modified alfalfa seeds. [1] This is absurd since one of the main reasons people buy organic food is to avoid genetically engineered crops.
The USDA is only accepting public comments for the next two weeks. We need you to write to the USDA right now and tell them they must not approve Monsanto's mutant alfalfa.[2]
FRESH will deliver your comments before the deadline.
Click here: http://action.freshthemovie.com/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1753
Just like its corn and soy, Monsanto's alfalfa is designed to tolerate its leading herbicide: Roundup. We can't allow Monsanto's greed to take-over one more crop. The consequences to our choice as consumer, to biological diversity, to the survival of our small and organic farmers depends are too dire.
Write your comments to the USDA now and say no to genetically modified alfalfa.
Monsanto's domination of our food must stop. For the USDA to shrug it off like nobody cares is to add insult to injury. We only have two weeks to submit our comments. The fight for FRESH food will continue, and with your help we'll make it clear that people care about the food they eat.
Thanks for all you do.
Hello Everyone
FARM HAPPENINGS
Some good things have been happening here this last week.The hens have doubled the egg production, just a little sun and they get excited. We received our second shipment of new chicks, looks like there will be plenty of eggs this summer.
Today was delivery day for the new poultry processing equipment. everything is new scalder, plucker, chill tanks, and scales. No more spending hours plucking birds. We will now be able to do the job in a quarter of the time we used to.We will never have to turn away people who want chickens simply because of time. Don’t be alarmed the birds will be just as juicy and tasty as always. We will also be offering Ducks and Geese for the Holiday season along with our Heritage Turkey.
CSA
We have reached the halfway point for the CSA membership we will stop at 100 this year. We learned a valuable lesson from last year we will stop at 100 and plant for twice that many.
Join Now if your concerned about cost we will work with you we offer payment plans that work with your budget, plus other member benefits like the members only Farm Store being added this spring , details will be sent to all members soon.
IN THE NEWS
Stand with U.S. farmers against Syngenta
Supreme Court to Hear First Genetically Engineered Crop Case
Have a Safe and Enjoyable Weekend
Mike, Terri and Kassie
Rise and Shine Farms