By: John E. Peck
Family Farm Defenders, executive director
Note: An edited version of this letter was printed in the Wisconsin State Farmer (1/27/2006)
The current controversy over national livestock identification is not just of concern to the meat industry, and the recent opinion piece in the Wisconsin State Farmer (Dec. 30, 2005) by NCBA president-elect, Mike John, warrants a response. Contrary to his claim that NCBA critics do not have ideas of their own, there have been dozens of groups, including Family Farm Defenders, testifying at USDA hearings and presenting proposals. read more...
On Aug. 18th, 2005 Public Citizen released the results of Freedom of Information (FOIA) Act request for USDA documents related to Mad Cow. The results are rather disturbing and hint at a coverup to minimize public awareness of the extent of the problem in the United States and the current threat to farmers and consumers.
read more...
In light of news concerning the latest Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease) announcement, the National Family Farm Coalition calls for policies to discourage industrial livestock production practices, which are often unhealthy and inhumane. It is highly probable the latest cow suffering from BSE became infected by eating feed that contained bone, protein, or blood meal from an infected cow of unknown origin. Using the cheapest questionable feed ingredients from all over the world has led to the decline of family farms, animal health, and consumer confidence.read more...
Press Articles
Z Magazine, March 2004
By: John E. Peck
On Dec. 23, 2003, just in time for the holiday season, the first U.S. case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) – better known as “Mad Cow” disease - was reported by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) at the Sunny Dene Ranch near Mabton, WA. The sick cow, originally imported from Canada where Mad Cow was also found last year, was part of a 4,000 head confinement operation, most likely injected with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) – produced by biotech bacteria raised on bovine blood - and fed a total mixed ration (TMR) containing such “high protein” animal byproducts as poultry manure, tallow, gelatin, and plate waste. read more...
