EPA declares hay to be a pollutant

From R-Calf USA:

“September 1, 2011 Billings, Mont. – During his presentation on the status of the nation’s new country-of-origin labeling (COOL) law, and on behalf of the R-CALF USA COOL Committee, R-CALF USA member and Kansas cattle feeder Mike Callicrate was asked a non-COOL question that set convention goers on their heels during the 12^th Annual R-CALF USA Convention held August 26-27 in Rapid City, S.D.

“Has the Environmental Protection Agency declared hay a pollutant?” an audience member asked.  Callicrate responded affirmatively and explained that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently initiated a formal enforcement action against his Kansas feedlot for, among other things, failure to store his hay in a pollution containment zone. “Now that EPA has declared hay a pollutant, every farmer and rancher that stores hay, or that leaves a broken hay bale in the field is potentially violating EPA rules and subject to an EPA enforcement action,” Callicrate said. “How far are we going to let this agency go before we stand up and do something about it?”  

Farmer Michael Schmidt: “Nine days to go until the raw milk appeal decision”

Musicians rehearsing in the hay barn at Glencolton Farms.

As I was thinking about the countdown and the possible doom and gloom scenario some people anticipate, I am thinking about another 9 significant monuments in the cultural world.

Beethoven composed 9 symphonies and documented unintended his own struggle in life.

These symphonies are musical milestones, they are monuments of a struggling soul cursed with the skills and obsession to turn the world into sounds of hope.

“Heads, the regulators win, Tails, raw milk loses” in recent court decisions

From David E. Gumpert on The Complete Patient blog:

That's Wisconsin raw milk farmer Mark Zinniker, at the right. Click photo for source.

“”Heads I win, tails you lose.”

I couldn’t help but think about that kids’ expression–the kind of everything-going-your-way fantasy all kids dream about at one time or another–as I read through Wisconsin judge Patrick Fiedler’sopinion in two cases challenging the state’s ban on raw milk sales and distribution.

Santa Cruz farmers stage milk-in today

From Brad Kava in the Santa Cruz Patch:

Bring your own goat! Photo via Santa Cruz Patch. Click image to go there.

“Last week Santa Cruz went to the dogs, with its new law giving canines rights to visit the boutique downtown.

This week it’s going to the goats, who will be milked near the downtown farmer’s market by a group of protesting farmers. The milk, unprocessed and untainted by the government, will be shared for free at 3 p.m., after a 2:30 p.m. parade of goats.

The protest stems from attempts by the California Food and Drug Administration to limit consumption of unprocessed milk by dairy collectives, those that share their food among shareholders. The CDFA says all dairies should be licensed to monitor public health issues.