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CALIFORNIA: Vote YES on Prop 2!
The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, an initiative that will appear on California's November 2008 ballot.
It is cruel and inhumane to confine animals in cages so small they can’t turn around or stretch their limbs. All animals deserve humane treatment, including those raised for food.
This has already been passed in various other states.
Vote YES on Prop #2 to protect animals from unacceptable abuse.
I worked very hard along with hundreds of other hard working volunteers to get enough signatures to get this on the ballot (over 800,000 signers!) so please help get this passed.
It's NOT about taking your meat away, it IS about humane treatment while they are alive.
I know not all of you are in California, but you probably know someone that is, so PLEASE forward this information!
VOTE YES ON PROP 2!
Thank you-
The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, an initiative that will appear on California's November 2008 ballot. ... more -
Show Your Support for rBGH-Free Milk and Dairy Products
Every day we get a little bit closer to an rBGH-free milk supply as more and more major retailers are responding to the growing consumer demand for healthier milk. Chipotle, Kroger, and Wal-Mart are the most recent stores to join the trend. We’re collecting 10,000 petition signatures to thank companies that have gone rBGH-free and to encourage more companies to do it in the future.
In January, Chipotle began serving only rBGH-free sour cream and cheese in its restaurants, and Kroger and Wal-Mart both announced that they will only source rBGH-free milk for their store brands. Though we might not agree with some of these companies’ other practices, their rBGH-free switch is commendable as it means a dramatic increase in the amount of artificial growth hormone-free dairy products available to consumers nationwide. Our petition will also help encourage these companies to label these products as 'rBGH-free.'
Sign the petition thanking these companies for making the switch to healthier milk and dairy products and ask your friends to do the same!
I show my support for this by boycotting dairy until all is clear.
Please sign this and PASS IT ON! Every day we get a little bit closer to an rBGH-free milk supply as more and more major retailers are responding to the growing consum... more -
Dairy farm tour reveals pampered cows
Pampered moocows at Teabow Farms. You nust be nice to your moocows. An excerpt:
Herdsman Larry Jarvis loves the cows he tends to — and it shows.
Jarvis calls Teabow Farms' 1,000 cows "sweeties." He gives them the best treatment a cow could possibly get. They are treated with tender loving care, Jarvis said.
"We don't yell at them, we don't beat them or smack them," Jarvis said. Pampered moocows at Teabow Farms. You nust be nice to your moocows. An excerpt: ... more -
Monsanto lobbied FDA to change rules regarding disclosure of Posilac use
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) today filed a legal complaint against Ohio's Department of Agriculture, challenging as unconstitutional an "emergency" rule seeking to prevent labeling that tells a consumer whether the cows were treated with rBST, the synthetic growth hormone manufactured and sold by Monsanto under the brand Posilac(R). The lawsuit represents a determined effort not only to protect the consumer's rights to receive truthful information about how organic milk and dairy products are produced, but also to protect the rights of organic dairy farmers and processors to communicate truthfully with consumers.
"The Organic Trade Association firmly believes that consumers have a right to know, and want to know, about the products they purchase, and organic farmers and processors have a right to communicate with their consumers regarding federally regulated organic production practices," stated Caren Wilcox, executive director for the OTA. Attorney Randall J. Sunshine, a partner at Liner Yankelevitz Sunshine & Regenstreif LLP, is representing the OTA in this matter.
The federally mandated USDA National Organic Standards prohibit the use of hormones to promote growth or increase production, genetically engineered organisms (GMOS), antibiotics and toxic, persistent pesticides and have a rigorous system for inspection, certification and verification which protects consumers from false claims. In issuing its rule prohibiting organic products from being labeled "produced with milk from cows that have not been treated with synthetic growth hormones", the State of Ohio, however, has essentially chosen not to recognize the federal Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA).
In a time of unprecedented food and fuel costs, and following a year in which over 3000 of the nation's dairy farms shut their doors, the State of Ohio has stepped in to further exacerbate small dairy farmers' problems. For those farmers who have chosen to not use rBST on their cows, and who were finding new and growing markets by marketing their milk as no-rBST or organic, Ohio has passed an "emergency" rule which will hurt the farmers' ability to convey to consumers how they produce their milk.
Monsanto was the driving force behind getting FDA approval for rBST and then turned its substantial resources towards lobbying the Ohio Department of Agriculture for this new "emergency" rule.
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Monsanto is even stronger than the Federal government. They can put their lobbying weight behind a government agency to get a rule changed that clearly puts the consumer's right to disclosure and their health at risk. This isn't only unconstitutional, this is criminal. However, all Monsanto cares about is profit.
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) today filed a legal complaint against Ohio's Department of Agriculture, challenging as unconstitut... more -
YouTube - Kid Harpoon - Milkmaid
One of the most awesome songs ever at YouTube if you like milkmaids. Of course I like milkmaids!
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Advanced Comfort Technology, Inc. - Dual Chamber Cow Waterbeds
The latest thing in the dairy industry. Happy Cows give more milk. Waterbeds for cows is the latest trend.
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Want a little milking with your fair
San Diego County Fair, believe it or not, is highly agri-centric experience
By Dan Weisman
DEL MAR -- One of the top five county fairs in terms of attendance in the nation, the San Diego County Fair started as an agricultural exposition in 1880, organized to bring together county farmers hoping to share ideas and top products.
Agriculture continues to be a major component at the Del Mar Fairgrounds during the fair that runs through July 4 and is expected to top last year's record attendance of 1.265 visitors. Indeed, the fairgrounds hosting the extravaganza is operated by the appropriately named 22nd District Agricultural Association of California.
"We're striving to highlight agriculture in San Diego County," said Jaime Mendoza, fair livestock coordinator, surveying the frenzied scene near the new museum-qualtiy exhibit, "Farm Life: A Century of Change" at the huge Agrifair building.
"We have 550 head of sheep in our barn today, 151 pygmy goats, 65 head of dairy cattle," Mendoza continued. "We have exhibitors and junior exhibitors from all over the country. We offer competitive exhibitions, milking demonstrations in hopes of educating people about agriculture and where food comes from."
Many of the fair''s 1.3 million visitors this year trek through the agriculture exhibits spanning the southeast quarter of the giant fairgrounds. More than 100 classroom groups daily tromp through the barns and farm demonstrations, according to Mendoza.
The fair, its agricultural programs and the visitors tell much about the unique place of farming in San Diego County, whose 2.6 million residents rank the place as the sixth highest urban population among counties in the nation.
Many people don't realize the county has more than 6,500 small farms with nine or fewer acres, ranking it as tops in the nation in that category. The county ranks eighth in California and 20th in the nation in size of agricultural production.
County agricultural production leads the state and the nation in value of nursery, floriculture, sod and avocados, according to the San
Diego Agriculture Department. Statewide, the county is in the top five in the production of chickens, fresh market tomatoes, eggs, mushrooms, grapefruit, tangerines and honey, the department adds.
San Diego's $1.5 billion ag industry on 315,296 ares even ranks fifth in the county economy, following such well-known components as tourism, manufacturing, defense.
But it isn't dollar signs attracting the kids and groups to the ag exhibits and related features such as Swift Swine's racing pigs, petting zoos, pony and elephant rides. It's the fun.
Gazing in seeming amazement at a sheep shearing demonstration, Nelda Allan's second grade class from Dewey Elementary School in the highly urban Point Loma section of San Diego, managed to contain its enthusiasm.
Not.
"I feel like I'm in a farm" said an excited Lucas Canellas as classmate Isiah Williams quickly added, "I really enjoy learning about farming."
Said teacher Allan: "We've been bringing the kids here for 15 years. The world is changing so fast, this gives them an idea of where their food comes from. We also grew radishes at school and entered them into a contest."
Exhibitors, too, keep returning with renewed enthusiasm. Dave and Barbara Davies again brought their pack of alpacas from El Cajon in San Diego's East County to the Del Mar fair.
"This is the llama and alpaca booth," Dave Davies said. "It's part of the educational theme of the fair. We get hundreds of people here with all sorts of questions."
Each year, the fair has a theme. This year's theme is Summer of Sports. But the concept and timeless theme remains agriculture, farmers and fellow travelers say. It never gets old.
"I love it when the kids come in and, for example, have no idea the majority of poinsettia flowers come out of this place," Mendoza, the livestock coordinator said. "They're surprised."
San Diego County Fair, believe it or not, is highly agri-centric experience By Dan Weisman ... more -
Do food miles matter?
Excerpt:
"it's how food is produced, not how far it is transported, that matters most for global warming, according to new research published in ES&T. In fact, eating less red meat and dairy can be a more effective way to lower an average U.S. household's food-related climate footprint than buying local food, says lead author Christopher Weber of Carnegie Mellon University."
I say go local and organic, but this article reinforces to me that it is worth the extra cost to support organic agriculture. Excerpt: ... more -
Even Cows Hate Springing Forward!
Cows can't deal with the Daylight Savings Time switch. They're accustomed to getting milked every 12 hours, and the switch means they don't have more time to make that milk. Less milk means less for farmers to sell, so it's bad for farmers. Now, WHY do we still do this?! Arizona, Hawai'i, Guam, and Samoa have the right idea on this one. Cows can't deal with the Daylight Savings Time switch. They're accustomed to getting milked every 12 hours, and the switch means they... more
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Organic Rap
TV show host meets organic rapper at a sustainability festival. Only to the surprise of all the host is quite talented himself, being a human beat box cranking out the beat. Organic Rap is a song so organic there is no background music, and is in the spirit of community brotherhood as these two people met for the first time one sunny day in Scottsdale Arizona while shooting a pilot for a TV show about sustainability, eco-design, permaculture and changes around the planet which are quickly heading our way.Brought to you by Dharma Dog Pictures - serving the visual dharma. More to come.......uniting technologies of Internet, TV, gaming and cinema. TV show host meets organic rapper at a sustainability festival. Only to the surprise of all the host is quite talented himself, being ... more
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What's My Issue Video Journal - 'The Dairy's Gone Dry'
Geoffrey Hug's video journal describing his issue (scarcity of water in the SouthEast) and his pod, 'The Dairy's Gone Dry'.
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'Got Pus?' Campaign Gets PETA Sued
Got a problem with milk? Better not rip off the industry's well-known marketing slogan to express it. Milk processors are demanding that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals end a publicity campaign that asks "Got pus? Milk does."
I don't know. I think it's pretty clever. And I agree with PETA's lawyers in that no reasonable person will honestly confuse this message as something coming directly from the milk industry. That is udder-ly ridiculous. Got a problem with milk? Better not rip off the industry's well-known marketing slogan to express it. Milk processors are demanding th... more -
"The Dairy's Gone Dry."
This piece addresses one farmer's struggle through what Alabamians call "the 100 year drought" and its affects on his life, his faith, and his dairy farm. This piece addresses one farmer's struggle through what Alabamians call "the 100 year drought" and its affects on his life, his faith,... more
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got the facts on milk teaser
teaser for feature documentary exposng the dairy industry
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got the facts on milk trailer
feature documentary exposng the dairy industry
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