We are not too few to die; and such is our resolve.

Below is a letter from a Wisconsin farmer who has devoted himself to fighting back against government seizure of land, livestock and food production.  This letter was in reponse to the fake food safety bills intended to end family and independent farming and ranching.  Marti

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To all:

 

You know, as I have told you before, the Myths piece started with Delauro’s office and went out to the Organic groups, who had a sit down with Rosa’s staff to talk to amendments. 

 

Now, I haven’t heard anything come out of that yet, but in light of this fact we need to remember something.  This country hasn’t been able to feed itself for eight years.  Organic is about 5% of total production, and that ain’t enough to get this country by on.  They are only looking to further their own interest, just like the rest of the corporate entities.  

 

In one generation this nation has gone from the breadbasket of the world to third world status by our inability to feed ourselves. 

 

My generation, my people have been farmers for as long as any can remember, my grandfather ,of Sioux decent, was born in a sod house on the Ogallala river in Nebraska, to those who carved the railroad across northern Wisconsin.  We were all farmers.  This thing changed when the government and the corporate interest looked to consolidate production back in the last depression. 

 

My father called last week to wish me a happy anniversary, then he told how things were when he was a boy in the last depression.  He commented how things today are a lot like then, only worse.  Then folks could make their own way, feed themselves.  Today that knowledge is gone, and with every passing year more of my kind no longer walk this earth. 

 

Science contrived by the government/corporate interest have brought us to where we are now, and that don’t speak hope to the future. 

 

There is nothing in these bills to improve food safety, the authority to regulate imports and processors is already in place, the powers that be could have dealt with these problems long ago and chose not to. 

 

There is one appreciable difference; the regulation of farming like we are criminals, bent on contaminating everything with cow manure to wild bird droppings.  Having our crops condemned for the mere passing of a deer, or coyote. 

 

Because of the “science based ” leafy greens order, written by McDonald’s, Disney and Walmart, growers had spinach and lettuce crops condemned in the Salinas Valley, and lost thousands of dollars. Now the USDA wants to implement the order nationwide.  Well,you consumers will be the ones paying now, with sales of lettuce and spinach seed down over 20% there will be less available. 

 

This scenario should be a lesson to all who think government regulation and inspection of farms will lead to anything other than less production and more dependence on foreign imports.  This is what government and big industry wants. 

 

Generations of my forefathers are buried here on the land they settled, fought for, and died for.  Never has an Easter passed that the memory of burying my uncle who died in Viet Nam, there upon that lonely windswept hill outside Litchfield, Nebraska.

We farmers are too few to win this fight alone, but I will not dishonor those who have gone before, my freedom was bought with their blood.  For we are not too few to die, and such is our resolve.

 

Paul M. Griepentrog