Sorry for any inconvenience resulting from my being co concerned about the confusion circulating regarding this HR 875 (I like to eat ;-) ... this follow-up should 'do-it' unless/untill some major 'revelation' arises: ;-)
==== excerpts: thudson said: "Please point out what text prohibits backyard gardening. Also, you should divulge any consulting contracts you have with interested parties." The bill does not explicitly prohibit backyard gardening. What is does is include backyard gardens in the definition of Food Production Facilities. Here's the definition (section 3-14) -------------------------------------- (14) FOOD PRODUCTION FACILITY- The term 'food production facility' means any farm, ranch, orchard, vineyard, aquaculture facility, or confined animal-feeding operation. --------------------------------------- This is a broad definition that could include backyard gardens, a backyard chicken pen with 2 or 3 hens, a backyard bee hive, etc. One might hope that regulations and courts would clarify the law in such a way as to exempt food produced for one's own use. But don't forget U.S. Supreme Court decisions, such as the New Deal era opinion which held that a farmer growing corn to feed his own pigs was engaged in interstate commerce, because growing his own corn meant that he did not purchase as much corn, thus having an effect on the interstate market for corn. Having laws on the books that could conceivably be construed in such as way as to regulate backyard or homestead food production is awfully risky. In addition to this, the law could very well put small farmers out of business, as it is generally far more burdensome for them to comply with regulations than it is for large companies -- plus small farmers do not have the wherewithal to bribe regulators, whereas large corporations do (I use the term bribe somewhat broadly to include such things as free trips, pretty women, and cases of expensive whiskey). ########## From: Elizabeth Walter regarding: 'Because the language is so broad, it could arguably include backyard urban farmers, and the regulations may be overly burdensome on small farmers'. That is a big difference from what some have said about the bill, i.e. that it "outlaws organic farming,", or saying this bill is drafted by Monsanto and that Monsanto will be calling the shots etc. As I mentioned in a previous post, Congressman Jim McDermott's office suggested that if there are concerns, then farmers' market organizations and small farmers cooperatives band together and lobby the co-sponsors to add limiting language excluding backyard farmers, small farms, and farmers markets. I believe I saw language in the bill allowing for a variance to some of the regs if the food production facility can show that its policies/procedures will accomplish the same end. This could be used by small farmers if the regs are overly burdensome. However, it would benefit such farmers if they could get explicit language limiting or excluding them from the regs if they feel they are overly burdensome. more here: Re: HR 875 Food Police: Criminalizing Organic Farming & Backyard Gardners http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Self-Contained/message/197 ----- Original Message ----- From: smacko To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 7:29 AM Subject: Lose Your Property for Growing Food? Fines up to $1 Million WND Exclusive GROUND CONTROL Lose your property for growing food? Big Brother legislation could mean prosecution, fines up to $1 million March 16, 2009 Chelsea Schilling © 2009 WorldNetDaily http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=92002 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "ShadowGovernment" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/ShadowGovernment -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
