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Don’t Be Fooled. Science Is Always Politicized

This is an interesting perspective on science and politics.  There are lots of parallels between the misconceptions and debates around climate change and those around animal welfare – OFAC.

By Ronald L. Doering

In spite of the media treatment of them, there is nothing that is surprising about the now famous Climategate emails. Surprise could only come from a misunderstanding of the relationship between science, policy and politics. Of course the emails reveal that the climate scientists were affected by policy and political considerations. They had to be. Science, policy and politics are inextricably intertwined. What is surprising is how much our public discourse is still dominated by the quaint utopian view that science and policy can be strictly separated.


Posted by OFAC on January 22nd, 2010 :: Filed under Activism, Regulations, Research
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The Realities of Rural Life

There’s a lot to think about when moving to the country. Sometimes the reality is very different than the dream although most farmers work hard to get to know their non-farm neighbours and explain to them the processes that must happen for a farm to run smoothly. We like the way this writer from the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder explores this conundrum.

The realities of rural life
The Cornwall Standard-Freeholder
Wed Oct 28 2009
Page: 3
Section: News
Byline: ANGELA DORIE;
Column: Over The Farm Gate
Over the years, the balance of those dwelling and working in rural Ontario has changed… and not necessarily for the better. Presently less than 1 per cent of the rural population are actual farmers as defined by the “Farming and Food Production Protection Act” ( FFPPA) and many conflicts arise between them and the non-farmers.


Posted by OFAC on December 24th, 2009 :: Filed under Farm life, Innovation and technology, Regulations, Uncategorized

Horse owners concerned about proposed transportation legislation

08Dec19 By SHANNON RUCKMAN, The Prairie Star editor

BILLINGS, Mont. – With close to 10 million horses in the nation, Montana horse owners and enthusiasts are concerned about the welfare of the equine industry if legislation is passed banning the transport of horses to slaughter facilities.


Posted by Admin on July 21st, 2009 :: Filed under Horses, Meat/slaughter plants, Regulations, Transportation
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Certification soon needed for livestock transport

Fairview Post
Posted By Chris Zwick
November 12, 2008

Livestock haulers and handlers across the country will soon require certification to transport livestock, but luckily enough the Fairview college campus is offering a one-day Certified Livestock Transport training program on Nov. 15.


Posted by Admin on July 21st, 2009 :: Filed under Regulations, Transportation
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NMA, AMI seek to overturn California slaughter law

Feedstuffs, (12/25/2008) ,
Rod Smith

The National Meat Assn. (NMA) has filed a lawsuit in a federal court in California seeking to overturn part of a California law passed this summer that bans the slaughter of non-ambulatory livestock for meat for human consumption, and the American Meat Institute (AMI) has moved to intervene in and broaden the action, according to an announcement yesterday.


Posted by Admin on July 21st, 2009 :: Filed under Meat/slaughter plants, Regulations
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US: FDA obtains injunction to stop production of illegally medicated animal feed

Source: FDA, 22.dec.08

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that the District Court for the Western District of Missouri entered a Consent Decree on Dec. 15, 2008, prohibiting Milbank Mills, an animal feed mill in Chillicothe, Mo., from manufacturing, processing, or distributing medicated animal feed. Milbank Mills and its officers Edward P. Milbank and Darrell L. Allen, face these restrictions until they comply with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) requirements for medicated animal feeds.


Posted by Admin on July 21st, 2009 :: Filed under Animal health, Food safety, Regulations
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US: FDA calls off ban on animal antibiotics

10.dec.08, Wall Street Journal
Alicia Mundy and Jared Favole

The Food and Drug Administration said it would continue allowing the widespread use of a class of powerful antibiotics in food-producing animals, making a last-minute reversal after calling the practice a public-health risk in July.


Posted by Admin on July 21st, 2009 :: Filed under Animal health, Regulations
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HOG WILD

BY TOBI COHEN, OTTAWA SUN, 2003.06.22

Pulling up to Luc and Louise Secours’ Bainsville farm one would never guess it was home to as many as 6,000 piglets at any given time.
It’s located on a large chunk of property a kilometre or so east of their
family farm home which stands perched atop a small hill next door to their chicken coop along Concession 2 in tiny South Glengarry town.


Posted by Admin on July 21st, 2009 :: Filed under Animal health, Consumers, Family vs factory farming, Housing, Innovation and technology, Pork, Regulations
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California Prop 2 Passes

New rules will close down the state’s egg industry, observers report.

Source: Feedstuffs (11/5/2008)

The California ballot initiative on farm animal housing has passed by a fairly large margin with 63% for to 37% against as of 5:30 a.m. Central with 87% of the vote in.


Posted by Admin on July 21st, 2009 :: Filed under Family vs factory farming, Housing, Regulations
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EU to debate cloning for food, wary of trade impact

By: Jeremy Smith, Reuters, 30.jan.09

BRUSSELS — EU regulators will discuss again in a few months whether to allow meat and milk products from cloned animals into the food chain, despite local consumer opposition and inconclusive data, officials said on Friday.

Animal cloning has been around for years. Dolly the cloned sheep was born in 1996, for example. Now, scientists estimate the EU has 100 cattle clones and fewer pig clones alive. Race horses have also been cloned.


Posted by Admin on July 19th, 2009 :: Filed under Consumers, Education and public awareness, Food safety, Innovation and technology, Regulations
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