[There is a most interesting report. -WJ]
USDA Ignoring Security Rules While Dispensing Advice to Farmers
Washington, DC — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has failed two straight audits over its unsafe handling of highly toxic agents at the same time the agency is distributing a detailed Homeland Security “checklist” to farmers, ranchers and dairy operators, according to agency documents released today by Sinapu and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).
The audits, conducted by the Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General in 2005 and 2006, concern a branch of the agency, ironically* named Wildlife Services, which exterminates wildlife at the request of farmers and ranchers. In 2004, the last year for which figures are available, Wildlife Services killed 2.7 million animals, principally birds, using an array of lethal chemical agents ranging from sodium cyanide to aluminum phosphate, deployed across the country as bait, in fumigants, sprays and gases.
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“The Department of Agriculture itself poses a bigger homeland security threat than any possible infiltration of Iowa by Al Qaeda,” stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, noting that the USDA has not acted to follow many of the Inspector General’s recommendations or to punish the responsible Wildlife Services managers. “USDA ought to stop giving out homeland security advice until it starts following the most basic bio-security precautions.”
In addition to the lack of toxic controls, the groups have raised concerns about aviation accidents stemming from the Wildlife Services aerial gunning program as well as dangers to people, pets and “non-target” wildlife due to the agency’s indiscriminate se of traps, poisoned bait and other eradication techniques.
[*The name and function of “Wildlife Services” is especially ironic since the USDA also has a division called the Farm Service Agency… -WJ]
Hat tip Ann
Wow, That’s huge.
They should also add to that list that the USDA is actually going to aid terror cells by knowing where out food is, how much of it there is and when time for an attack is ripe as it heads for market, with their ridiculous NAIS Database.
On top of that, supporting the industrial food complex at the cost of the small farmers only increases the consolidation of our food system and thereby making it a greater target for attack.
There’s got to be a word for this treasonous activity beyond stupidity. . . .
Comment Podchef — January 30, 2007 @ 8:30 am
Uh Podchef .. I think you got it with the ‘T’ word …
All this would be hilariously funny, if it weren’t the real world ..
Comment Lynn — January 30, 2007 @ 1:21 pm
Thank you, Podchef!!!!
Comment lynndeelou — January 30, 2007 @ 1:24 pm
Podchef….the USDA is the biggest threat to our security in food. The lack of country of origin label where 1580 lb. blocks of meat are dumped on the USA market labeled USDA inspected and sold as if they are USA products leaves our food supply and choice wide open for attack before the food even gets here. No one has to enter the USA to attack our food! USDA has over and over allowed dumping of diseased countries foods on the USA and over and over fought COOL. The J-List is to made to dump food here labeled as USA when it is not. USDA inspected is not only a joke but total lie. Those who inspect are certified by USDA for like organic and maybe 50 or so world wide are actually USDA people, the rest are contract and both are a joke. Those in foreign plants are paid by those that they inspect. Safe foods dumped here…no. We are paying top dollar for bottom dollar foods with no clue of origin. That is fruits, veg, foreign meats but what about live animals. Borders not only let in illegal crossing of people but animals and foods from North and South Borders.
The USDA does not even consider the United States of America a sovereign nation but calls Mexico, USA, Canada the Americas and treats us as one. NAIS CA cover MEXICO. USDA inspects for Canada. So they think of you and me and every consumer as inventory to be controlled to their profits via for profit Government Corporations and their Global Corporation Partners and who is really running USDA as Corporate Government.
Another good example is USDA certifying many BSE tests world wide, even owning one of them and then taking Creekstone Farms to court to block their use at their own expense of using the USDA approved test on the own animals. USDA even threatened to file crimial charges agaisnt Creekstone. Now are the tests no good, the certification false or does USDA have another motive? Creekstone already did to birth trace backs so why not let them test? It has been proven even younger than 30 months the tests work. Why block the tests when the customer wanted it for the exported meat to them and those customers where using the tests in their home country on every animal already and knew the facts already. Creekstone lost billions, had to lay off tax payers and held on but is still in court after the bans were lifted which were caused by processing plants errors other than creekstone.
Comment Sue Karber — January 30, 2007 @ 3:52 pm
As I have said before,the only serious “terrorism” I can see that touchs my life comes from Washington DC and some state capitols.USDA is just a terror cell in this network. Glad to see any news that shines a light on this duplicity and hypocrisy.
Comment LEE — January 30, 2007 @ 5:10 pm
I forgot to add check out on http://www.r-calfusa.com how many countries the USDA is opening to dump on us and R-Calf has had to take USDA to court to try and block it. Every country can dump here and ruin our growers ability to compete because the food is processed over there by USDA approved facilities so looks like USA food. Our processing standards what there are of them, and jobs are also a major area that USDA is working to destroy by certifying and ruling these countries can dump on us but we are blocked from selling there in many cases. Makes my blood boil, might also look and see where our service people clothes, safety wear, bullets etc. come from…seldom the USA company. I have kids in Iraq wearing China made boots. NOT HAPPY and it all makes my blood boil.
Comment Sue Karber — January 30, 2007 @ 5:50 pm
Sue– I agree with you 100%. I went into much of that on my last two shows– here and here.
Comment Podchef — January 30, 2007 @ 6:41 pm
Podchef,I was just at your site reading,the article about korea rejecting our beef again and this from a country where dogs are a delicacy,made me laugh,very good,ya know I don’t care too much for korea but if they make usda mad,thats good,I hope they all tell usda to stick it,at least till we can get a govt in here that will go by the constitution and then we can shut them all out,I mean why in the heck are we worried about selling US beef to korea when all we can buy here is uncertified imported roadkill (at least 40%) anyhow,any how good article.
Comment LEE — January 30, 2007 @ 9:30 pm
Folks, click on Podchef site it is great.
Comment Sue Karber — January 31, 2007 @ 1:50 am
sue you are rite on about the dumping of foreign beef into the USA. if those of you reading this dont believe it you might call campbell soup and ask them where the meat in their soup comes from,you might ask mcdonals where they get the bulk of their beef, in fact call all of the canned meat companies and ask them ,they will tell you it is USDA inspected but they wont tell what country it comes from. SUE is rite on about http://www.r-calf.com they are our friend ,they fight hard to stop these imports.their dues are inexpensive ,checkem out
Comment nick lecompte — January 31, 2007 @ 7:44 am
Thanks for the very kind words. I heard of NAIS after the county fair in August of ‘05. Since then, and with the help of NoNais I have tried to spread the message as far and wide as I can.
My weekly show has a broad, global reach and occasionally it gets results. I am currently trying to get people in other walks of life, mainly the Restaurant/food and Real Estate industry to wake up and listen.
The statistics about where our food comes from are scary enough with out NAIS–with it its a nightmare. Consumers will be the last to wake up on this I’m sure–hopefully it won’t be too late.
Here’s much of what I have written and said about NAIS. Most of the links should still work, many of them point back to NoNais. The press is waking up to the issue and momentum is building. We will overcome.
This blog and the people participating in it have been a great inspiration to me to get out and speak out. Thanks and God Bless.
Comment Podchef — January 31, 2007 @ 10:14 am
Hey,have any of you read the link to the right called NAISSUCKS.COM ? There is a article in there (new) that says the USDA has backed down an is making a way for folks to “OPT OUT”,this is the first I have heard of it,I know alot of us have contacted them and the reps and told them they must do this,could it be we were heard??if so,YEEEEEHHHHAWWWW!!!!Any body else know anything about this???Walter?
[Yes. More progress. They are feeling the pressure and realizing they are not a law unto themselves. -WJ]
Comment LEE — January 31, 2007 @ 11:58 am
Read this on FSIS Regulations Comments page 72 to the end.
Its on BSE/Rabies
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/Comments/2006-0011/2006-0011-1.pdf
Comment Gisela — January 31, 2007 @ 8:05 pm
Lee, #12, I called the man at the USDA who was mentioned in the Opts Out story. It isn’t quite as good as it would seem, alas. In order to opt-out the USDA says you are supposed to call your state’s ag agency and make a request to them in writing. They will decide on a “case by case” basis, but he didn’t seem to know the criteria.
I wouldn’t count on it, myself.
Sharon
Comment Henwhisperer — February 1, 2007 @ 6:29 am
Henwhisperer,thanks for the info.I realize that usda is a den of deception,no question there,and I know that they are going to try to keep this opt out door as small and controlled as they can,but in light of the fact that until just the other day they were firm in saying that there would be no opt out method I encourage y’all to have faith,we have come a fair piece from where we were,a year or so ago,its a small crack but it is a crack and with enough pressure any crack can be widened.
Comment LEE — February 1, 2007 @ 8:24 am