Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[LoveMyChicklets]

Quote: Maybe you can sweet talk them with some eggs

 

[BigHope888]

Here are the proposed changes to the Right to Farm act. The "site" changes are the most concerning and are in red.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdard/2014_DRAFT_SITE_SELECTION_GAAMP_443917_7.pdf

Hi, Michigan (and a few neighbors)!

I've been lurking for a while-not to be rude, but since I don't have any chickens of my own just yet, I don't feel I'd have anything important enough to say. It's great to see all this chatter from such a strong chicken community! (And recipes!)

I agree with Cat...that changes limiting the rights of small farmers would ultimately hurt us all. Does anyone plan on going to this proposed meeting on the 22nd? I'd like to. Would we be speaking to the board listed on page 29? Has anyone ever been to one of these types of meetings before?

Comments/strategy?

 

[perliczki]

hi, I'm from Europe. You can buy eggs from someone hatching and post to Europe? or not sell? or not you send so far?

 

[RaZ]

Hi, Michigan (and a few neighbors)!

I've been lurking for a while-not to be rude, but since I don't have any chickens of my own just yet, I don't feel I'd have anything important enough to say. It's great to see all this chatter from such a strong chicken community! (And recipes!)

I agree with Cat...that changes limiting the rights of small farmers would ultimately hurt us all. Does anyone plan on going to this proposed meeting on the 22nd? I'd like to. Would we be speaking to the board listed on page 29? Has anyone ever been to one of these types of meetings before?

Comments/strategy?

Don't worry that you don't have anything important to say. There are often times when some of us don't have anything important to say. But that never stopped me.

There are several of us planning on going to the public discussion on the 22nd. I not certain how many of the committee members will be present. Wingless and I addressed this same committee last year and they were civil to us. But you can tell by posture and body language who might be willing to listen and discuss and who has already made up their mind.
The same holds true with the Ag Commissioners and their meetings. Wingless and I were at that meeting yesterday (more to follow on that!).

 

[snowflake]

hi, I'm from Europe. You can buy eggs from someone hatching and post to Europe? or not sell? or not you send so far?

don't know if any one sends that far, it would be very risky for the eggs or chicks I would think

Hi, Michigan (and a few neighbors)!

I've been lurking for a while-not to be rude, but since I don't have any chickens of my own just yet, I don't feel I'd have anything important enough to say. It's great to see all this chatter from such a strong chicken community! (And recipes!)

I agree with Cat...that changes limiting the rights of small farmers would ultimately hurt us all. Does anyone plan on going to this proposed meeting on the 22nd? I'd like to. Would we be speaking to the board listed on page 29? Has anyone ever been to one of these types of meetings before?

Comments/strategy?

Raz has been to a lot of the meetings, he would be the one to PM and ask if you don't want to wait for him to read and respond.

 

[snowflake]

I want to thank you people for keeping all the snow were you are, we only got a 1/2inch or so and not much coming down

 

[DavidKerk]

Broody Bonnie?

if she is...

if she isn't

I wish my OEGB would go broody!!!

 

[RaZ]

We have just received confirmation regarding a radio interview/commentary for Monday (20-JAN-2014) at 7:00 pm on Lansing station The LCC studios - WLNZ - 89.7. The topic will be the Site Selection GAAMP proposal.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

Quote:Originally Posted by perliczki I don't think that we can; export rules??? I know europe has the best colors of poultry and we over here can only drool and dream! (lemon, and chocolate, and combinations of them......) So far those colors are extremely limited over here due to export laws; so i'm pretty sure we can't ship OUT either. (same goes for roses, only a limited selection compared to europe)

Quote:Originally Posted by RaZ
Don't worry that you don't have anything important to say. There are often times when some of us don't have anything important to say. But that never stopped me.

ha ha ha, raz. ! Me either....

I went to one, and it was interesting. I have thought about going to this one if work will give me a day off, but i have no idea of strategy. I dressed business casual last time, just so they knew i was serious. (hopefully) Looked like they were trying to dress down from the suits, so i felt more at ease if nothing else.

The issue i'm having coming up with a valid argument this time is that from a bystander's point of view, this all started about having chickens in the city. Then the "right to farm" card got pulled. Then the argument over whether we are "farms" or not........... then they made sure to put us in the law, called us "farms" and put forth the rules for it, and now we are whining.......

NOT my point of view, but i'm sure when the word gets out to the little livestock/ meat/ dairy producers that they can either no longer function or that they now have to file paperwork and get licenses and spend $$$ the state'll dump this square into our laps. They have "railroaded" us AND made us into a scapegoat to boot, no small feat! All for the $$$ they will now get every year in registration and inspection fees if this passes. I am VERY sure that this is the reason it hasn't been more televised, why would they WANT the small producers knowing that the ax was hanging???

Someone poke holes in this logic, PLEASE! I've been stewing for days to find a hole in the argument and i keep thinking myself in circles. All i know is that i want to buy local milk and bacon, eat local eggs, local honey. If i wanted to buy from large corporations, i would! I still think they are unsanitary to say the least.

 

[fuzzybutt love]

I guess long and short of it we have to prove that first of all that there was never any question of the old law applying to us, before the changes were even written it.


Then i still want to know why a few chickens or a goat, behive, or a few sheep are soooo bad that they had to go to these extremes. Why are they changing laws and not just answering the yes-or-no question and giving it back to the local county officials like it's supposed to be?