Niewendorp's Cattle are TB free: OCTOBER 16, 2007

***IMPORTANT NOTE ON TB TESTING***

For those unfamiliar with it, the bovine TB testing process is two separate “tests.” In the first (the caudal fold skin test), a serum is injected under the tail of the cow, then three days later the injection site is checked for a “lump”—determined subjectively by the tester. Lumps are produced by both bovine tuberculosis and AVIAN tuberculosis. A blood test determines bovine or avian. AVIAN tuberculosis is common in starlings, sparrows and pigeons, and is HARMLESS to cattle and people. (It is transmitted through feeding cattle in a grain trough rather than grazing on pasture). In other words, a positive response for AVIAN tuberculosis is scientifically and medically meaningless. However, the “quota” science of the TB testing and eradication program says funding for the program will continue if there is one “lump” of undetermined origin for each 110 animals tested. Not a bovine TB positive reactor, simply a lump. In other words, they are basing the funding of the bovine TB testing program--$10 million to date--on the presence of a harmless condition that is not bovine TB. This has as much scientific meaning as if they said, “The program will be continued if it rains for 10 minutes the day of testing.”

The results of the blood test are the only meaningful data. In other words, the first test is statistically invalid as an indicator of bovine TB and is unnecessary EXCEPT that it is what they use to fill their quota, since the actual positive bovine TB reactor number is hugely lower than the number of “lumps” and would gut the program instantly (less than ½ of 1 percent of cattle tested are positive for bovine TB).The 2 responders claimed initially were 2 head of cattle that should not have even been tested---both were too young..

MDA Clears Niewendorp's cattle

Following is a exercize in quota developemnt at Greg's farm, his cattle were cleared from having Bovine TB. Of course, they are now tagged with RFID tags, against Niewendorp's desire.

For Niewendorp's detailed, personal account of the last day the MDA was at the farm, please click HERE.

To read an excellent article by a local paper that covered this story, go to The Rebel Cow Farmer and have a good read.

PLEASE CALL THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE at 517.373.1077 or 1-800-292-3939 AND EXPRESS YOURSELF TO:

Bridget Patrick, Bovine TB Project Coordinator, (517) 241-2669, patrickb@michigan.gov
Don Koivisto, Director of Agriculture
Steve Halstead, State Vet
Pat Lockwood, Liaison to the Governor’s Office

Niewendorp's state legislators: Sen. Jason Allen 517.373.2413 senjallen@senate.michigan.gov
Rep. Kevin Elsenheimer 517.373.0829 (R-Dist.105) kevinelsenheimer@house.mi.gov

Non-Compliance Relief Fund:

"Terrorism Against Greg Niewendorp" A letter from Joel Salatin to Bridget Patrick of the MDA.
"Establishment of Zones for Bovine Tuberculosis' (Identification, Testing, Permitting, and Movement Requirements" Michigan Department of Agriculture document"
For other information on Nationwide issues vist NICFA

UPDATE OCTOBER 9, 2007

Greg Niewendorp Responds to Forced Testing and Tagging of His Cattle

Following is a statement by Greg Niewendorp on the forced testing and tagging, by the Michigan Department of Agriculture on Monday, October 8, of his carefully raised and managed herd of heritage cattle.
East Jordan, Michigan—Tuesday Oct. 9, 2007, 2:47 a.m.
In reviewing the events of the last 24 hours, several thoughts need to be addressed and considered. The most pertinent, which I woke up to at 1:00 a.m., is the Mark of the Beast. The Amish community, in Michigan and elsewhere, believes the premises ID to be the Mark of the Beast. As a result, several Michigan state senators became incensed with then Director of Agriculture Mitch Irwin. The situation became so heated in Lansing that the Michigan Agricultural Commission, heavily influenced by Farm Bureau [bureau: from the Latin for "fluff"], decided to relieve Irwin and brought in Don Koivisto as replacement. So we, already, have taken out a Director of Agriculture and now we’re going to take out another one over the same issue, because Gregory Lee Niewendorp’s God given divine rights to freedom to express his spiritual beliefs have been violated, again.

Do the Amish have exclusive right to the belief that the RFID and the premises ID is the Mark of the Beast?

So now the question is, do I have my cattle available for them when they come to read the results of the caudal fold skin test on Thursday—by subjectively feeling for the bump under the tail? And this is supposed to be objective science we are dealing with here. I will be on my property free-grazing my cattle on horseback, and they can come and find me. Do I herd the cattle to the holding pen that they left on my property? Do I willingly cooperate? We’re coming into the end of our grazing season and I have to free graze on the unfenced portions of my property which are brushy woodland. Government is forcing us to do business on their terms, where they are claiming control of our cattle. They attempted to force me to sign a compliance statement last February, which I refused. Is this action that they have taken a consummation of the contract of the conveyance of my property, where I am now a tenant and they control the property?

What we saw in the last 24-hours were people who wanted to break out of our old system of a culture of individualism in to a new system where human politicalness is no longer relegated to private relationships where it is distorted into narrow, private, ego-driven struggles. Private life is too small a stage for developing our political capacity. Being political means being confrontational. Change only comes and goes the direction we want if we demand it. We are not going to power for a decision, we are going to power with a decision.

***ACTION*** PLEASE CALL THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE at 517.373.1077 or 1-800-292-3939 AND EXPRESS YOURSELF TO:

Bridget Patrick, Bovine TB Project Coordinator, (517) 241-2669, patrickb@michigan.gov
Don Koivisto, Director of Agriculture
Steve Halstead, State Vet
Pat Lockwood, Liaison to the Governor’s Office

Non-Compliance Relief Fund:
Taking a stand of non-compliance puts a tremendous toll on one’s resources. The National Organization for Raw Materials (NORM) established the Non-Compliance Relief Fund to provide specific support for those like Greg NIewendorp who take such a courageous position. To support Greg and others like him, please donate here (single donation or monthly pledge) or send a check made out to NORM to:

Non-Compliance Relief Fund
c/o NORM
680 E 5 Point Highway
Charlotte, MI 48813

UPDATE OCTOBER 8, 2007

Greg Niewendorp Served Warrant, Cattle Tested and Tagged Against Niewendorp’s Will

East Jordan, Michigan--Monday October 8, 2007 This morning, agents of the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) used a warrant to get on the property of cattle farmer Greg Niewendorp for the purpose of TB testing and ear-tagging his cattle with National Animal Identification System (NAIS) compliant Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) ear-tags against Niewendorp’s will. Niewendorp has refused to participate in the dangerous experimental herd testing program and refused the application of the RFID ear tags which force him, against his will, to have his cattle be part of the NAIS.

Charlevoix County Sheriff George Lassiter, who has worked closely with Niewendorp in the events leading up to today’s trespass, served the warrant at 9:00 and soon after MDA agents arrived and began to herd the cattle into pens for testing and tagging. Sheriff Lassiter did not allow the Michigan State Police to participate, contrary to what TB program coordinator Bridget Patrick insisted would be the case when I interviewed her two weeks ago.

Patrick showed up early to be interviewed by the numerous media present (local NBC and CBS affiliates among others). A woman physician among Niewendorp’s local supporters asked Patrick extensive, pointed questions about the nature of TB and the TB eradication program, as did Niewendorp. Independent filmmaker Mark Nixon taped the day’s events including the Patrick interviews.

MDA agents took from 9:00 to 3:00 to pen the cattle they could catch, leaving them panting and without water in near-90 degree weather while they tested and tagged. Though the warrant said “tag” it did not specify RFID tags. When Niewendorp said. “I’m protesting the fact that RIFD tags are being used on my cattle. It’s what puts you into the USDA system,” his formal protest was entered in the day’s report. Unsure how to proceed, the agents called their superiors for orders, were told to use the RFID tags, and proceeded to do so.

NOTE: Mark Nixon will be providing a raw footage DVD of the day which we hope to post on the VICFA and NICFA websites. Please check regularly for non-compliance updates at http://www.vicfa.net and http://www.nicfa.org .

Charlevoix means strong manly voice.

Greg Niewendorp is putting everything on the line for the freedom and rights of all of us. Let us not fail him.

LOCATION Greg Niewendorp
4185 Beishlag Road
East Jordan, MI 49735
231.536.7956

Non-Compliance Relief Fund:

Taking a stand of non-compliance puts a tremendous toll on one’s resources. The National Organization for Raw Materials (NORM) established the Non-Compliance Relief Fund to provide specific support for those like Greg NIewendorp who take such a courageous position. To support Greg and others like him, please donate here (one-time donation or monthly pledge) or send a check made out to NORM to:

Non-Compliance Relief Fund
c/o NORM
680 E 5 Point Highway
Charlotte, MI 48813


www.normeconomics.com/

Many thanks,
Deborah Stockton, Editor
VICFA Voice
http://www.vicfa.net
editor@vicfa.net

The Virginia Independent Consumers and Farmers Association (VICFA)
Our purpose is to promote and preserve unregulated direct farmer-to-consumer trade that fosters availability of locally grown or home-produced food products. VICFA opposes any government funded or managed National Animal Identification System.

ALERT~CIVIL ACTION~

PLEASE BROADCAST FAR AND WIDE --- ESPECIALLY TO FOLKS IN MICHIGANALERT~CIVIL ACTION~
East Jordan, Michigan On Tuesday, September 18, Sheriff George Lassiter informed Michigan cattle farmer Greg Niewendorp that the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) has secured a warrant to go on Niewendorp’s property to TB test his herd and apply NAIS compliant radio frequency identification ear tags to the cattle. Since February, when he submitted a letter to the MDA stating that he would not participate in the MDA’s dangerous experimental TB herd testing program, Niewendorp has refused to let MDA on his property. On August 21, state police and an MDA representative came illegally onto Niewendorp’s property attempting to coerce him into having his herd tested, and Niewendorp politely escorted them off.

Sheriff Lassiter told Niewendorp and the MDA that, as the server of the warrant, he will give Niewendorp 72-hour notice before serving him the warrant. The 3 day notice will allow time to notify supporters to assemble at Niewendorp’s.

It is important that as many people as possible assemble at Niewendorp’s farm the day the MDA plans to trespass to test and tag the cattle. Niewendorp’s intent is that the cattle NOT be tested or tagged. Niewendorp wants as many people as possible to come. Please be ready to assemble once the 72-hour notice has been given. Niewendorp plans to “open the freezer” and have an all-day cookout for everyone who joins with him in standing up for his God-given divine rights and preventing the barbaric behavior of the MDA.

The MDA will have an undisclosed number of police "to assist." In my conversation with Bridget Patrick, coordinator of the TB herd eradication program, she insisted the police were just coming "to assist." Though she went through a number of verbal gyrations to try and eliminate any concerns I might have, she was quite evasive in answering my pointed questions concerning the nature of that "assistance." The bottom line is, the more people who show up, the better off everyone will be. There IS safety in numbers.

Please bring video recording equipment and cameras.

We will send updates (and directions) with any new information.

Greg Niewendorp is putting everything on the line for the freedom and rights of all of us. Let us not fail him.

LOCATION
Greg Niewendorp
4185 Beishag Road
East Jordan, MI 49735
231.536.7956

Greg Niewendorp, an independent Michigan cattle farmer, and Mark Nolt, a Mennonite Pennsylvania dairyman, have each taken a position of noncompliance with the unjust and unjustifiable demands their respective states are making about their farms and farming practices. Each has strong legal, as well as moral, foundations for his position.

Greg Niewendorp, East Jordan, Michigan

Last February Greg submitted a carefully written letter to the Michigan Department of Agriculture stating his position and informing them that he would not allow them onto his property to experiment on his carefully raised and managed herd of heritage breed cattle as part of their USDA overseen TB herd eradication program. Greg has escorted off his property state police and a representative of the Michigan Department of Agriculture who had come to coerce Greg into having his herd experimented on. After this program was instigated and the experimental nature of the testing procedure made clear, Greg refused to subject his herd to the experimental testing protocols. .

Greg will not comply with Michigan's invasive, illegal experimentation on his herd of cattle.

Mark Nolt, New Line, Pennsylvania

This past May Mark Nolt was accused by the Pennsylvania Health Dept. of having sold tainted milk alleged to have caused illness in three families and one child. The Department has yet to produce a single piece of evidence backing their claim. They have been trying, unsuccessfully, to shut Mark down, and last Saturday committed a multi-jurisdictional raid on his property, taking milk, milk products, and equipment worth $25,000 and taking Mark's customer lists as well.

Mark will not comply with Pennsylvania's unjust demands or respond to unproven accusations.