To: Rodney Stokes, Director of Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Stop Michigan Government and Big Ag from attacking small farmers
The logic used to come upon the decision to "depopulate" small farms of heritage pigs is flawed:
1) Any species of pig can become feral once it has escaped the confines of a farm.
2) Why deprive people of a choice- by killing these farms, the only pork that is left is from Big Ag companies, from which many people refuse to buy meat.
3) Why not simply require that all pigs be uniquely tagged, and when one escapes, the farmer is heavily fined. This preserves choice, keeps the farmer in business, and can also provide funds for DNR.
1) Any species of pig can become feral once it has escaped the confines of a farm.
2) Why deprive people of a choice- by killing these farms, the only pork that is left is from Big Ag companies, from which many people refuse to buy meat.
3) Why not simply require that all pigs be uniquely tagged, and when one escapes, the farmer is heavily fined. This preserves choice, keeps the farmer in business, and can also provide funds for DNR.
Why is this important?
In 2010, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) began a campaign against small farmers who raise heritage pigs. Their claim is that heritage pigs are feral pigs that cause damage to the environment and carry disease. Farmers attempted to stop this action through a senate action, and the senators thought that the decision should be stopped. But when the senators were preparing to vote, they were being lobbied by presumably Big Pork producers, and after that, the decision remained. Beginning on 1 April 2012, the DNR will begin enforcing this decision by "depopulating" these small farms and the farmers will be felons for raising pigs that have be farmed for decades.