April 30, 2008

Jim Demski has given up his tomato and cucumber operation in Berrien County this year, partly because of economics and partly because government regulations are impossible to bear.

Battling the bear

The terms on which Demski is leaving his Berrien County tomato and cucumber operation are his own, mostly. But what forced his hand after years of bear wrestling was not the farm. It was the increasing number of dull arrows fired into it that made it impossible for Demski to live with. The slow, painful death Demski sees coming is one thing he won't watch anymore. Click here for full story.

DEQ slams Michigan farms in comments to EPA

Following is the entire text of the public comment submitted by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding a rule proposal from EPA that would allow farms to self-certify that the farm has not discharged and has no potential to discharge. Click here for full story.

A history of anti-farming statements?

In 2005, the American Farm Bureau Federation and the Waterkeeper Alliance both challenged a rule about concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Click here for full story.

Tourism declines, some ag may gain

Mike Beck, owner of Uncle John's Cider Mill in St. Johns, hopes Michigan families, shocked out of their long-range travel plans by gas prices and general inflation, will take shorter trips. Click here for full story.

Farm Bureau: DEQ shows 'apparent hostility' to production ag

Following is the letter sent by Michigan Farm Bureau in response to the DEQ's comments to the EPA about its proposed new CAFO rule. Click here for full story.

Why biofuels are better for the environment

Recent popular press articles have blamed U.S. agricultural ethanol production on causing global warming, primarily due to the indirect effect of causing deforestation of tropical rain forests. This type of narrowly focused, indirect analysis is fraught with error, lacking in science, and ultimately leads to poor policy. Click here for full story.