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Traditional Family Farming in a Corporate Farming World
Amish farmers grow some of the best food in the world, and extremely conscientious. Their free range animal husbandry, organic foods, and careful management and processing of their products are second to none. At the same time, the challenges for these and other small farmers are increasing year by year, driving more and more of them out of the business altogether.
Here we bring you information about Amish farming, Amish food, and the challenges that faces these people.
This lense is being built with additional information as time progresses. Please mark us with 'favorites' so you can keep up with the issues facing Amish farmers.
Simple Living Helps Survival
- NYT
- Amish farming practices help them survive drought
- A Modern Day Paradox
- Amish Farming: A Modern Day Paradox
Craig Kolodge, Farm Advisor, Santa Clara County
Cooperative Extension
"Amish society emphasizes informal learning- through doing, a life of
goodness, rather than a life of intellect; wisdom, rather than technical
knowledge; community welfare, rather than competition; and separation, rather than integration with contemporary worldly society."
-Chief Justice Warren Burger. - Africans 'Brothers' to the Amish Farmers
- The Masai of Kenya and Tanzania are struggling with poor education, inadequate health services, shrinking land, and a lack of water. During a rare U.S. visit, 15 Masai tribespeople learned that many indigenous groups face similar challenges.
Important Food Links
We've been duped all along by ambition...
Publish or perish, in science an absolute. So, how to do that? Scare people about the wholesome foods they eat and you're sure to get noticed...
- Bad Foods NOT Bad After All
- NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Avoid eggs. Drink 8 glasses of water a day. Eating carbs will make you fat. Nutritional advice such as this has been touted for years -- but is it accurate? Not necessarily, according to Wendy Repov
Hand Made Amish Quilts
Special Auction
Amish Farmers and Stewardship
Living like the earth means something
The Amish are, of course, known for their pastoral way of life. Up until now, they have been somewhat better off than their "English" farming brethren, as their beliefs and practices have enabled them to avoid the crushing debt and experimental farming practices that have driven so many out of business. Stewards of the LandThe Amish seek no loans, as interest on those loans is considered 'usury' and therefore sinful.
They have not taken on the debt required to purchase, maintain and operate modern farming equipment since they use as little of that as possible, and still use draft animals for plowing and reaping.
Yet they are still subject to market prices and governmental regulation of food, which imposes a great deal of burden from the outside.
While the Amish small farmer may be the last one standing, in the face of huge corporate warehouse management, they won't be able to stand forever in an environment like this one.
Farming Problems & the Law
- ABC News: Amish Farmer Says Milk Law Opposes Beliefs
- Amish Farmer Says Milk Law Opposes Beliefs
- ABC News: Judge Rules Against Farmer in Raw Milk Case
- Judge Rules Against Farmer in Raw Milk Case
Amish Bishop's Upcoming Meeting
Rare opportunity to ask your questions!
Amish Bishops are having a special meeting about the state of farming, the effects of NAIS on Amish farms, the Amish position on this program, and what they anticipate the effects will be on their community. I have been invited to be part of this meeting and to bring questions. I am also inviting you! Don't miss the opportunity to submit your questions!
submit
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- esbee esbee Nov 8, 2009 @ 7:10 pm
- http://www.cattlenetwork.com/R-CALF--Editorial---It-Appears-NAIS-Enforcement-Gets-Underway-In-Wisconsin/2009-10-14/Article.aspx?oid=847634&fid=CN-LATEST_NEWS_
Sept. 23, 09, an Amish gentleman Emanuel J. Miller, Jr., was taken to Clark County Court in Neillsville, Wis., for an evidentiary hearing on complex civil forfeiture for failing to register his premises. The case immediately moved to the first stage of trial. Miller and his father, as well as their church deacon, testified as to their objections to being forced to use the NAIS premises identification number (PIN). As USDA has proudly proclaimed in many glossy brochures, premises registration is the "first step" in the NAIS, and the Wisconsin Amish have become quite aware of this.
Oct. 21, 2009, in Polk County, Wis., R-CALF USA Members Pat and Melissa Monchilovich are going to trial for the same charges of complex civil forfeiture. Pat and his wife raise cattle in Cumberland, Wis., and have failed to register their property as a premises with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection
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- esbee esbee Nov 5, 2009 @ 6:54 pm
- Some Amish in Wisconsin have been arrested for refusing to participate in NAIS.
Under NAIS (National animal Identification System) they will have to register their premises with the govt, microchip all their animals and file reports every birth, death and where they go with them. If animal disease suspected, the USDA can kill all animals in 6 mi radius (140sq mi) All those owning even one animal livestock or pet will be required to do this. The reason for this insanity is so corporate ag can say the meat they sell to japan is safe. but they get only one lot number per groups of animals raised on factory farms! Yes it's that goofy a program! And the poor Amish are being prosecuted and persecuted for resisting. See no nais dot org for more info on the program that will affect all who eat!
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- Sheryl Sheryl Jul 8, 2009 @ 10:14 pm
- Are the Amish open to becoming part of local coops. My husband and I are considering starting a coop to provide our community with organic food and wondered how we might we connect with local Amish farmers.
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- clouda9 clouda9 Jun 4, 2009 @ 5:17 pm
- Interesting lens, appreciated the read and the comments.
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- badireleng mpebe badireleng mpebe Feb 27, 2009 @ 7:20 am
- Since you are the best farmers in world can you come to my country and do farming together
- Load More
Belgian Draft Horses
Beloved by Amish Farmers
The same medieval 'heavy horse' that was so powerful in war time, and such an asset on farms and trade. Belgian Draft Horse Information " The Belgian, as the name implies, is native to the country of Belgium. This little country is blessed with fertile soil and abundant rainfall providing the thrifty farmers of Belgium with the excellent pastures and the hay and grain necessary to develop a heavy, powerful breed of horse.Belgium lies in the very center of that area of western Europe that gave rise to the large black horses known as Flemish horses and referred to as the "Great Horses" by medieval writers. They are the horses that carried armored knights into battle. Such horses known to exist in that part of Europe in the time of Caesar. They provided the genetic material from which nearly all the modern draft breeds are fashioned."
Percheron
The breed derives its name from the place that served as its cradle. Le Perche is an old province about 53 by 66 miles located some 50 miles southwest of Paris. It bordered Normandy on the northeast and the Beauce country, known as the granary of France, on the east. It is a gently rolling, well-watered and fertile place with a benign climate, pre-eminently suited to the raising of livestock. It was, thus, ideally situated to capitalize on trade opportunities as they arose following the middle ages and well into the modern era.From the earliest known times the people of Le Perche have been producers of horses, not often buyers, always free sellers to the adjacent areas and, ultimately, the world. In the matter of breeding horses they were a world unto themselves.
This is how Alvin Sanders, author of A History of the Percheron Horse (©1917) describes the race of men who developed this race of horse: "Their horses are a part of their inheritance, particularly prized and accustomed to the affectionate attention of the entire household. Their docility, growing out of their intimate human relationship, is therefore an inborn trait".
Traditionally it has been a race with a preponderance of greys. Old paintings and crude drawings from the middle ages affirm this. The French Knight is almost always portrayed on a grey or white charger. Their mounts are depicted as horses with considerable substance for that time, but without coarseness.
Horses
- Teaming Up With Charlie's Horses
- Teaming Up With Charlie's Horses
Farm Aid Rehearsals
curated content from YouTube
Genetically Modified Food
There is much controversy over genetically modified crops. Some Amish farmers, believing it to be a way of saving their small farms, have taken the chance and are trying it.
- BBC - Press Office - Bitter Harvest
- Amish tobacco farming, using genetically modified nicotine-free tobacco. Discussion by Jeremy Rifkin
- Organicness of farms
- Survey about the organicness of farms
- Council for Biotechnology Information
- Amish grow genetically modified tobacco and potatoes.
- RaidersNewsNetwork.com Breaking News, U.S., World, Science, and Mystery
- Raiders News Network and RaidersNewsUpdate.com delivers the latest breaking news and information on cutting edge stories, science, mystery, conspiracy, politics, religion, entertainment, in-depth coverage and more. It's the news you need 24/7.
- 'Frankenstein farming' fears | Sunday Herald Sun
- CONSUMER groups have warned of
- Seeds designed to die from Monsanto
- Seeds designed to die from Monsanto What you need to know about terminator technology
The United States Government and GE companies have developed a patented technology "to create sterile seeds by selectively programming the plants DNA to kill its own embryos" - The Man Behind the Cloning Movement
- Why is Scott Simplot pushing so hard to clone animals for supermarket shelves? He's following in his father's footsteps.
- Could genetically modified crops be killing bees?
- Could genetically modified crops be killing bees? John McDonald, Special to The Chronicle Saturday, March 10, 2007
- Are GM Crops Killing Bees?
- Colorado Beekeepers Stung by Mysteriously Vanishing Colonies
- When Bees Disappear, Man Soon Follows- Global Problem with GM Crops?
- European Bees Also Taking a Nosedive - Perhaps GM Crops?
Government & Small Farms
- Rural Information Center: Small Farm Funding Resources
- The official site of the Rural Information Center
- Agriculture/Farmers
- Internal Revenue Service & Small Farming Operations
- National Animal Identification System
- NAIS Main Page
- Farming, quietly flourishing
- PDF File by Steven Stoll. "Agribusiness managers and their advocates at the United States Department of Agriculture represent the counterfactual point of view: Nothing could be more irrelevant than Amish farming."
- China's goods prompt U.S. farmers' cry for help - Business - International Herald Tribune
- China's goods prompt U.S. farmers cry for help
NAIS Timetable
July, 2006-The target date for USDA to issue a proposed rule setting forth the requirements for NAIS premises registration, animal identification, and animal tracking. A limited public comment period will follow publication of the rule.Fall, 2007-The USDA will publish a final rule to establish the requirements of the mandatory NAIS.
January, 2008-Premises registration and animal identification becomes mandatory.
January, 2009-At some unspecified time after this date animal tracking becomes mandatory, including enforcement of the reporting of all animal movements.
NAIS
Farmer's Concerns and Responses to NAIS
- Food control is people control
- Mr. Grant Hagan says: "When the Communists took over the Ukraine, the bread basket of Europe, about 70 years ago, they destroyed or stole all food and animals, starving to death 7 million people. Today Zimbabwe, the bread basket of Africa, has had its farms destroyed and is on the verge of starvation. Is our country next?"
- What about the horses?
- Karen Bergener says "If NAIS is a three-legged stool, the stool now has two or maybe two and a half legs. The only missing leg is requiring horse owners to report movements. If NAIS is implemented for all other species, and all other animals are tracked, and horses are livestock, how long will it be before USDA and state authorities decide horses should not be exempt? Even if horse movements are not tracked, premises registration allows authorities to find and slaughter animals with greater ease, and being required to microchip animals with useless microchips is an affront to the intelligence of farmers and ranchers.
As horse owners, we may have received a short reprieve with the 2006 recommendations, but we are not yet free from NAIS. The only good NAIS for horse owners is no NAIS at all." - Three myths about NAIS
- Karen Bergener writes: "You might be interested to learn that a national system with a unique animal ID, unique national ID, premises ID, and computerized databases that all speak to each other, including pulling information from private databases, was designed by the architects of NAIS during the early 1990s-long before the mad cow and bird flu panics."
- Assault on small farmers
- Justin Sanders writes: "For those of us with horses, mules, and/or oxen the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) means we will lose our right to own animals. After NAIS becomes mandatory your right to raise livestock will leave the category of "God-given right" and move over to the category of "privilege." You will need a federal license to exercise the privilege to farm, granted to you by the United States government. That's not the only license you'll need, because along with losing your right to farm, you'll lose your right to freely sell whatever you raise on your farm."
- Untitled Document
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One Farmer's Nightmare- Compliance
Nathan Griffin
The horror is already beginning, with THREE stories about progressive oppression of farmers by the government. ComplianceMr. Griffin states: " Consider this: The National Animal Identification System (NAIS) was proposed by the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA), which is heavily backed by big meat industry businesses and ID tag makers. Isn't it safe to assume that such hasty insistence on the NAIS may have some hidden motive?"
RFID
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byGreat Stuff on Amazon
Successful Small-Scale Farming: An Organic Approach (Down-To-Earth Book)
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Fields of Plenty: A Farmer's Journey in Search of Real Food and the People Who Grow It
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Fatal Harvest: The Tragedy Of Industrial Agriculture
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The Fatal Harvest Reader
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The Pesticide Detox: Towards a More Sustainable Agriculture
Amazon Price: $48.95 (as of 12/09/2009)
List Price: $48.95
How do we save our Farms?
- NAIS will push us off our farms
- PDF editorial by Lynn Miller: USDA poised to push us off our farms with NAIS
- Draft horse, mule, and oxen power - Rural Heritage online
- Rural Heritage is a wonderful resource for those interested in small farming and everything to do with it. An excellent journal.
- that was then.
- January/February 1993
Amish Farming
A Modern Day ParadoxCraig Kolodge, Farm Advisor, Santa Clara County
Cooperative Extension
"Amish society emphasizes informal learning- through
doin - Amish worry food rules will hurt family businesses
Farm Aid
curated content from YouTube
Forward Thinking
- Amish Futurists
- Blog discusses the Amish adoption of some genetically modified crops.
Mainstream Organic?
- As 'organic' goes mainstream, will standards suffer? | csmonitor.com
- Organic foods are popping up everywhere, but confusing labels and corporate influence may spoil the deal.
- ABC News: Pet Food Maker to Take Financial Responsibility for Pet Deaths From Poisoning
- After Chinese organic milk poisons children, NOW Chineses wheat poisons our pets?
Saving Small Farms
- Saving Small Farmers
- Give small farmers and ranchers help to compete with global
agricultural giants; enact farmer-friendly solutions to existing
destructive trade policies. - Living on Earth: December 2, 1994
- Amish / Community-Supported Farms / Enviro CD-ROMs
Organic Food News
Growing and raising organic foods has become far more complicated in recent history. Many Amish farmers have turned to organic farming as a way of receiving a more just income for their work.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byAgricultural News
Stresses, problems and issues are coming at the small farmers at an unbelievable rate.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byUSDA News
The USDA is flexing its muscle in ways never before seen. Here's all the news about it.
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Fetching RSS feed... please stand byOrganic Dairy Farming
Another of the challenges the Amish community faces
- First organic milk producer to launch
- Although its primary function is to make milk, Huoshaoying village in Northwest Beijing's Yanqing County is not your average dairy farm.
Amish Farming Game
Made by educators to teach sustainable farming.
- Let's get started!
- Welcome to the Amish Farming Game! The goal of this game is
"sustainability" as we observe it in the lives of Amish farm.
Your goal is to grow old, prosper, pass your farm on to the
next generation, and keep Holmes County and the Killbuck Watershed beautiful! Can you do it?
Income Streams for an Amish Farm
Keeping the Farm Together
The traditional farming lifestyle of many Amish families is becoming a losing battle. Additional sources are critical for the Amish to continue their lifestyle.
Community Interest
Looking for solutions, the Amish appear to be a good resource
- Unknown
- [permaculture] Amish farm in Tennessee needs transplant community to buy and enjoy it (or part of it) Treesa Jane Rogerson permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org Thu, 9 Jan 2003 22:32:53 -0800 Previous message: [permaculture] Apricot trees Next message: [permaculture] Farmers demand GE crop poll Messages
- that was then.
- January/February 1993
Amish Farming
A Modern Day ParadoxCraig Kolodge, Farm Advisor, Santa Clara County
Cooperative Extension
"Amish society emphasizes informal learning- through
doin - The ethics of sustainable agricultural intensification
- Agriculture will need to be further intensified in order to meet a growing world populations demands for food and agricultural products. Yet intensification in itself, if not properly managed, carries the risk of degrading natural resources and leading to decreased food security. It can also have i
- Our food is killing us, Catholic farmer, rural life conference speaker says - Catholic Online
- Corporate Food production is exploitative, harms the environment, and generates unhealthy food.
Antique Farming Things
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Heirloom Seeds
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byby Margaret_Schaut
It was informing people about the Amish in the modern world, and assisting small, independent craftsmen to get the word out about their work that i... (more)
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