Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["Claudia & Linda" <dragonhill2@netzero.net>]

One of the big dangers right now to small farmers who are finding ways of
surviving against corporate agriculture is that agribusiness has begun to
perceive these small farmers as a threat to their strangle hold on the
economy.  They will stop at nothing to gain control over these small farmers
or drive them out of business. NAIS, the National Animal Identification
System, is just one way they are trying to do this.  Here in Oklahoma where
we have an efficient food cooperative, Tyson was so threatened by small
farmer's poultry sales, that they lobbied legislature thru overnight to
prevent third party sales.  This meant farmers couldn't have the co-op
deliver their dressed poultry.  All efforts to get this silly law revoked
have been blocked because Tyson has money to make sure it doesn't get
changed.  I've talked to several owners of feed stores or seed suppliers who
have had Monsanto agents in their store, demanding their records so they can
know who has bought Monsanto seed--without a court order they don't get it.
This, of course is so they can make sure they aren't saving any of their
seed.  And in Oklahoma it's already illegal to save seed from any type of
wheat.  The big companies absolutely want to control agriculture from top to
bottom.  NAIS will destroy us.  We can save and pass heirloom seeds among
us.  Even if it were made illegal--it would go on.  But you can't hide a
piece of land and a Premise ID is nothing more than a license to farm.  If
you live far enough back in the wilds you may be able to hide some animals
for your own use, but it's a damn poor way to have to live.

Claudia