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Listen to what Senator Tom Coburn M.D. of Oklahoma a medical doctor has to say about S.510.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYFNrcX796o

A typical congressional do nothing to solve the problem but spend billions of taxpayer money and create mountains of red tape legislation.

If U.S. citizens have no interest in being involved with overseeing their government then we deserve S.510.

Why is it that nobody is projecting the real cost of this bill. What is going to happen when there are 5000 food police running around fining $20,000.00 per day for non-compliant record keeping. Independent family farms, natural organic food products have been driven from the market place, all food production is consolidated into a few mega-corporations, and imports have been blocked due to non-compliance with S.510.

The price of food is going to skyrocket.

A sure cure to prevent contaminated food! You can’t get sick from food you can’t afford to buy! I can hear the news releases already: “FDA reports dramatic drop in contaminated food illnesses as a result of new Food Safety and Modernization Act!” followed by: “Mother of six children arrested in food smuggling sting operation.”

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http://offthegridnews.com/2010/09/27/the-time-is-now-to-sow-your-seeds/

Sep 27th, 2010 | By Andrew | Category: Big Brother, Politics | Print This Article

“There’s something happening here, and what it is, ain’t exactly clear…” Those subtle words of warning from the old Buffalo Springfield song are ringing again in the mind of anyone with the least bit of concern over the government’s steady encroachment of the country’s food supply and production. For years the government has been empowering its agencies and corporate partners to usurp control of food production, culminating in its attempt to codify its authority through the introduction of Senate Bill S501.

Cloaked inside the maze of new regulations and provisions ostensibly targeting food products, is its targeting of seed harvesting and storage. Seeds, as they are now defined by the FDA, are considered food product, and therefore, will fall under the authority of the bill’s regulations.

Working with agriculture conglomerates such as Monsanto, the government has already made significant inroads to creating a seed monopoly that has all but squeezed the small farmers out of seed harvesting and storage. S510 will put the finishing touches on the campaign to control all seed production.

It’s even more disconcerting to witness these developments in light of the government’s current attempts to cast its shadow over the seed industry. We know, for instance, that the government has engaged a systematic process of storing huge quantities of seeds. We also know that Monsanto is continuing to apply government-sanctioned genetic modifications to its seed production that, essentially, neuters the seeds’ capacity to germinate and reproduce themselves.

So, where does this leave the rest of us who seek to increase our own self-sufficiency and protect ourselves against a government-induced inflation of food prices? Certainly, if the world’s governments see the wisdom of creating their own food banks, then it behooves us, as individuals, to do the same.

The critical issue is whether it is even possible to get our hands on enough quantities of open-pollinated seeds since Monsanto has effectively eliminated these from the commercial market place. The second critical issue is having the capability of properly storing the seeds for extended use.

Food survivalists and self-sufficient families need to learn some quick lessons in seed harvesting and storage that will reduce any reliance upon the commercial seed market. The quickest route to getting the upper hand in seed production and storage is by buying quantities of prepackaged, open-pollinated seed strains that can produce future generations of seed harvests. These seeds have been grown and harvested in remote, undetected farms, so their supplies may be limited. The value of these seeds is their ability to reproduce themselves, so a huge supply is not necessary.

Using effective seed-pollination, harvesting and storage methods, it is possible to begin your own seed savings bank that can produce nutrient-dense plant foods in perpetuity.

Pollination is the method by which most crops generate seeds, and self-pollination, as opposed to air-borne or insect, is the most direct and efficient method. The key is to maintain sufficient separation of crop varieties to keep them pure from cross-pollination.

Fruits have always provided their own seeds; however, in order to capture them for storage, it is important to harvest them with deliberate methods for extracting and drying them. Timing is the key, as the seeds should only be removed after the fruit has ripened. The seeds from rotten fruits are of no value.

Many root crops produce their own seeds; however, in order to recover them, it is often necessary to dig up the roots at the end of their season to get to the seeds. If properly stored, the roots can be put back into the ground the next growing season.

Creating a seed bank that will continue to produce, year in and year out, requires proper drying and storage techniques to ensure they remain productive. Dried seeds should be gently rubbed to remove any corrosive material. Seeds that are being stored for replanting the following year can be stored in an envelope, if it is kept in a dry and cool place where it won’t tempt the critters.

While it may not be absolutely clear as to what is happening here, anyone who harbors the desire to grow his own crops for self-sufficiency or survival shouldn’t wait until the perfect storm of government control and corporate monopoly removes all of our capabilities to grow our own food.

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Pay special attention to

* Section 3 which is the definitions portion of the bill-read in it’s entirety.
* section 103, 206 and 207- read in it’s entirety.

Red flags I found and I am sure there are more………..

* Legally binds state agriculture depts to enforcing federal guidelines effectively taking away the states power to do anything other than being food police for the federal dept.
* Effectively criminalizes organic farming but doesn’t actually use the word organic.
* Affects anyone growing food even if they are not selling it but consuming it.
* Affects anyone producing meat of any kind including the processing wild game for personal consumption.
* Legislation is so broad based that every aspect of growing or producing food can be made illegal. There are no specifics which is bizarre considering how long the legislation is.
* Section 103 is almost entirely about the administrative aspect of the legislation. It will allow the appointing of officials from the factory farming corporations and lobbyists and classify them as experts and allow them to determine and interpret the legislation. Who do you think they are going to side with?
* Section 206 defines what will be considered a food production facility and what will be enforced up all food production facilities. The wording is so broad based that a backyard gardener could be fined and more.
* Section 207 requires that the state’s agriculture dept act as the food police and enforce the federal requirements. This takes away the states power and is in violation of the 10th amendment.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-875

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Daniel Reply:
September 21st, 2010 at 10:27 pm

@Jeanne,
If S-510 is about food safety, then why are farms the source of all food exempt? Included in the definition of a farm is the CAFO (Centralized Animal Feeding Operation) where thousands of head of beef, chickens are housed in the most inhumane conditions. Watch the video “Food Inc.” and you will see that all chickens and eggs (except free range) come from warehouses the chickens never see daylight during their entire life. It was from this kind of operation that the recent salmonella-egg contamination originated from. The ultra-violet light of regular sunshine kills salmonella. So instead of requiring chicken and egg producers to raise their chickens in FREE sunlight we are going to put out of business all free range chicken ranchers and charge the tax payers $825,000,000 a year to regulate all food production in the US and leave the CAFO animal concentration camp operators who are exempt from S-510 to continue raking in their profits. I’m afraid history is going record that what brought down the United States was not some foreign invader it was our own stupidity, corruption, and apathy.

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Jeanne Reply:
September 22nd, 2010 at 1:26 am

@Daniel,

Food, Inc. is propaganda. I have watched and it yes there are extremely inhumane conditions in factory farms, but there are organic farmers who would be affected by S-510.

The whole point of the bill is to “protect the American Foodchain.” But if you READ the bill in it’s entirety it is trying to force the organic and small farmers to use the same fertilizer, sanitation equipment, etc as the big corporation farms. They cannot afford or compete.

Look at the contributors to the writers of the bills! They are paid for by big corps. Look at all the companies who are PRO-bill. BIG corps. Those who OPPOSE the bill are individuals or localized groups.

We have had to put laws into effect because of big business practices, now those same businesses are realizing they can push out the competition legally!

I do agree with the section regarding imports. China (who is becoming a powerhouse to watch) has exported tainted pet food, baby formula, etc in addition to sheet rock.

America is turning into Ancient Rome. Corruption is rampant. My favorite law is the congress passed that they are exempt from prosecution for almost ANYTHING while in office. That guy from Brooklyn is a prime example; plus he is running for re-election and looks to win! We have Marion Barry and Fenty here in DC. Though Fenty just got voted out! YEAH!

Food corps are becoming monopolies, which I believe Teddy Roosevelt stopped. Ma Bell was broken up for that. People need to wake up.

They are not all concentration camps, it’s an INSULT the those of us who had grandparents who survived them.

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Senate bill 510 should be called “The Corporate Profit Safety and Elimination of all Competition Act.” Or better yet so they don’t have to change the FSMA acronym: “Facist State Mobilization Act.” Since S-510 includes every person and article of food.(Sec. 101)

Senate bill 510 does not have one provision that would make food safer. To make food safer all you need is to decentralize and localize the crops, heards and processing facilities. Or how about a healthy environment for animals used for food where they do not live in their own feces 24/7.
Or how about farming methods that do not include fertilizing with e-coli infected manuer and saturating fruits and vegetables with poisonous insecticides.

Every provision of S-510 gives 1 person, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, sole capricious discretionary authority to seize, detain, block imports, destroy crops and herds,shut down business operations, of any person who manufactures, processes, packs, distributes, receives, holds, or imports food based on “Reasonable Probability” that a pathogen may exist OR incomplete, inaccurate documentation OR being 30 days late paying the $500.00 per year registration fee. S-510 even has a provision to prevent food smuggling (SEC.310) Gee, are they planning food shortages? When has anyone ever thought of smuggling food into the US?

Both bills HR2749 and S510 removed verbiage that required “credible evidence” or “information indicating” and replaced it with “reason to believe” and “reasonable probability” as the basis of the Secretary’s authority.

The 10th Amendment was put in the Consitution to prevent this kind of totalitarian beauracracy.

Abraham Lincoln said: “I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. Corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.”

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Jeanne Reply:
September 21st, 2010 at 2:21 am

@Daniel,

I could not find Section 510. I would like to know more about it. It may also affect those who can and “hoard” food. I survived Katrina. Believe me, food was a major issue. If they can come in and take MY food that I bought and feed those who live off the system, that is something to be against.

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Daniel Reply:
September 21st, 2010 at 10:34 pm

@Jeanne,
Don’t worry about anyone coming into your home and taking your food except the local gang-banger, who has been released from prison early to cut prison costs, who can’t afford to buy food as a result of Senate bill 510.

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Jeanne Reply:
September 22nd, 2010 at 1:29 am

@Daniel,

That will only happen when people stop whinning about paying taxes. They want government to protect them, but they don’t want to pay for it.

I had my boat “comandeered” after Katrina. No, I never got it back. Paperwork was submitted for reimbursement or return of…I’m still waiting.

The 10 worst words in history:

Hello, I’m with the Government and I’m here to help.

Jeanne Reply:
September 21st, 2010 at 2:24 am

@Daniel,

I did find this:

Section 310 -
Requires the Secretary to: (1) develop and implement a strategy to better identify sand prevent entry into the United States of smuggled food; and (2) notify the DHS Secretary not later than ten days after identifying a smuggled food that would cause serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals. Requires a press release to warn consumers and vendors about a potential threat from smuggled food if certain requirements are met.

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Vote AGAINST the Act! What you didn’t say is that it allows gestapo tactics against organic farmers. READ the act. It would push small farmers and organic farmers out of business because they cannot afford the “required” upgrades.

READ the news reports! All these outbreaks are from INDUSTRIAL farms, not organic!!

Read the Act before making blanket statements!

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Kira Reply:
September 20th, 2010 at 3:56 pm

@Jeanne, Can you post the verbiage from the report that pushes out the small farmers? Thanks.

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