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If you enjoy your local farmers markets it's time to be aware of what is coming our way. These provisions are going to blindside many here in Hawaii, the fines for violations are extreme, and will impact all of us who enjoy our local produce.
[url]
http://hartkeisonline.com/2009/07/17/far...on-hr2749/[/url]
Discussion here:
http://sensiblesimplicity.lefora.com/200...-up/page1/
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Read it, digest it, and report back.
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This bill will change our entire way of life, if it is passed. God help us all.
Here are some links from "Farm Wars" that will keep you informed on all the latest Farm Bills, that are being proposed to Congress. Here is the link
http://farmwars.info/?p=257
You will also see the article about, how they are trying to "Criminalize Seeds". Also, look for S-787, "Federal Water Theft". These bills, if passed, will create a lot of hardship for us all.
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome Here is a link for information, on how to overcome "Consumerism" this site has a lot of great idea's
http://www.verdant.net/index.htm
http://www.ftcldf.org/petitions_new.htm "Take actions" sign petitions
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I think Glen asked this already, but could someone in the know actually summarize the situation in a few sentences using clear and plain English?
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I went to the gov website and the way I read the bill is that it only applies to interstate commerce which would not affect the local farmers markets.
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The new bill specifically regulates "intrastate" farm commerce. Or it did as of last week, as it's being amended a bit as it goes through process.
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Here is the entire bill as it stands now:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext...=h111-2749
I did a search for the word intrastate and it does not show up anywhere in the bill.
Must have been amended out.
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A couple of changes had been made. There has been an effort to exclude farms specifically and fortunately. The key term is "processing." If you do any processing at all, you'll be answering to the secretary. People that this would impact locally might especially be coffee and tea producers, who do drying(processing, specifically), herb growers(the edible kind), fishermen(if they clean the fish, especially smoked meats or anything else.) The letter of the law is very precise--any processing at all requires a permit and process paperwork.
Scope of the law and who it applies to under a different subheading. This should clear up the in-state, out of state commerce dispute.
[url]
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/u...d000-.html[/url]
I read it to mean "all." Perhaps someone can inform the debate on all that.
Annual fees now 1000 dollars for registration.
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This bill, written by those on the Monsanto payroll(do your research) has passed the house with undisclosed(amendments) favoring small operations. I guess (we the people) will get to see what those are.
Two other bill ride in tow on this one if this one fails in it's agenda. Again, written by Monsanto employees, and distributed by "spouses" in the House of Reps.
