Butchershop Talk
January 17th, 2006 by Northern FarmerThe middle of winter can start to wear on a person a little bit, always walking around taking real little steps because of the ice pack everywhere a person walks. Just takes a little longer to get where your going without breaking body parts. That would be fine and dandy, break something and still have to work. But such is life.
Yesterday I drove a few miles away to check out a fairly new butcher shop, a family run place that they built on their farm. I was just checking it out in case I’d ever want to use their place for custom processing for beef customers. Well, I had a few key questions of course and the three family members just stopped everything they were doing so they could answer questions and just generally shoot the breeze. Now these are just some folks trying to make an honest living, doing an honest job out in the countryside. The father of the family has been processing meat since way back and has seen it all through the years. I’ve known him for at least twenty years.
Well, the subject of inspections came up and then they really got going. Now I’ll have to say that their shop is clean, just to give everyone a general idea. They complained about the new younger inspectors that would find violations even if everything was perfect. One even wrote them up for finding a fingerprint on the outside door knob. Then they started talking about animal ID and how in a few years they will have to report to the government every animal that a farmer has processed, even if it’s for the farmer himself. They will only be able to give the farmer boneless meat from an animal over thirty months old, we’re talking beef here, even if the farmer wants it cut up differently it makes no difference. And by the way, that’s effective now. If a person sells a beef to some customers, say for example four people buy four quarters of the critter, the shop will have to report the life history of the animal and all the customer information to the government. They want to know everything.
Now if that’s not bad enough, they were telling me that the inspectors were warning them that soon they wouldn’t be able to hang the beef that they are processing. The packers, oops, I mean the government wants them to process the beef almost immediately after cooling down, plus they want them to give all the sides and quarters a chemical bath, (to kill any germs). Now I know I always figured things are getting a little out of hand lately, but all this heavy handed stuff really got to me. The trick to some of the best eating beef is to hang it for two to three weeks in my opinion. Cornfed or grassfed, makes no difference to me, I want it hung for darn near three weeks. Now the government is telling me that I can’t have our beef hung, they’re telling me how to eat my own animal. Soon, if I want to eat some good farm beef and want it hung I’ll be a criminal. Now if anyone is wondering what the big industrial packers do to tenderize their beef, well let me just say they don’t hang it. They electrocute the heck out of it to break down the cells and make it more tender. But it never gets the great flavor of hung beef, thus a person can buy all the steak sauces to cover the taste. Or just barbecue the heck out of it to mask the unaged beef flavor.
As I was coming home from the processing shop I was pretty thankful that we bought our meat equipment recently. It does bother me somewhat that in a few short years that’ll probably be illegal also, but a person has to do what’s right. I’ve been struggling with this a little lately, how a person just wants to take care of family and friends and it gradually make him a criminal as the laws change. But we keep on keeping on.
January 17th, 2006 at 7:08 pm
I am really shocked at all this. A local called me up and said there is nothing anyone can do, it is already in motion and being implemented. We can sign all the petitions we want, it is useless.
I am assuming that animals are hung in a cool locker not in the heat, right? I know nothing of the process. I can honestly say we had people beating down the doors wanting home grown beef. We found a good processor. We had hoped we could use this to supplement our income. I can’t think of any of those people who are going to want to buy meat chemically treated and bereft of flavor. It looks very much like our dream of having livelihood off the farm is gone.
We can have our own processing equipment but if we can’t make a living selling beef, our options become limited. I am sure the big processors are quite pleased with the ID laws.
January 18th, 2006 at 5:41 am
KSMM,
Yup, hanging is in the cooler, which we are very close to building ourselves.
Don’t toss in the towel yet, I have a feeling that your a survivor, sometimes I forget people’s backrounds and just assume they have the same blood as me. My blood being Polish has seen every kind of dictator, king,wars, barbarians, you name it, and the bloodline survived. Once in this country, both of my bloodlines were moonshiners, and were never caught. Not that I’m saying break the law, just do what’s right.
Tom
January 18th, 2006 at 9:27 am
Amazing how the government has shifted from their proper Biblical role of punishing evildoers. I wonder if now isn’t the time for smaller farmers to build loyal customer bases - and to sell direct. Hopefully these loyal customer bases can be called upon during times of excessive government intrusion.
Jim
January 18th, 2006 at 9:29 am
This is all so frustrating. The Secretary of Ag, Mike Johanns, grew up on a typical, small dairy farm outside of our town. He has to know better, has to know what this is going to do to the small farmer.
January 18th, 2006 at 10:21 am
This kind of stuff really gets me going. If we want to buy raw milk, or buy fresh beef, or buy - fill in the blank - from a farmer, we often can’t. Why? Because the government, in their expansive wisdom, has decreed that we are too stupid to make “safe” decisions about what we should eat. And we should all know how right they are by visiting our neighborhood McDonald’s - a very fine representative establishment of what the government calls good, clean food.
I never cease to be amazed by the blank, deer-in-the-headlights stare I get from fellow office workers when we get into a conversation about government and freedom, and I voice my opinion that the government is all about control of individuals. When I say that any adult should be able to buy any food they want from anyone whosoever without government interference, they gasp and repeat the “we-need-the-government-to-ensure-our-safety” mantra. Whoever is present usually says it in unison. The wide-eyed, hypnotic monotone is the sure sign that the point is lost. There is no convincing most of these folks that they should be able to make their own decisions. People are more concerned about making the cable tv payment and who won last night - than our God-given and constitutional rights and liberties. This is why our liberty hangs from a thread, and our nation is quickly declining.
January 18th, 2006 at 3:52 pm
Thanks for the reminder, Tom, not to give up. I forget sometimes that our government is a little bulky to be effective. God’s people will prevail. Survivor huh? It shows that much. I am almost to much a survivor for my own good. We plan to check out what’s going down at our local butcher as well. Thanks for the heads up. I can see where living as independetly as possible with your own power sources etc would enable a person to set up a counter culture to barter and trade with other like minded individuals. Those who live modestly will be at an advantage to offer good food as a “gift” in exchange for another “gift”. Whacky idea I have.
January 18th, 2006 at 4:06 pm
Tom,
Thanks for keeping it going… Actually the church always grows during times of persecution…
There are positive aspects to this, at least we are all getting stirred up. Its a good thing…
JM
January 18th, 2006 at 4:37 pm
I use to have a common expression regarding my bloodline when it came to earthly relations, “One half made it, the other half drank it.†Problem was nobody could figure out which half was which, truth be told, I think there was a common “shared†responsibility on both sides of the family lines. But I digress.
Now upon the lines of our new ancestry, because of adoption, we have much more than just a strong assurance in regards to our faith in who (He) has purchased us with a price, His own blood. Not with the blood of bulls and goats, or that of a heifer, but a much greater sacrifice was made on our behalf, not of things temporal, so that we may have assurance in the Sovereign who we now serve and owe an oath of allegiance, in who the victory is complete and the battle has been won. I’ll follow my father’s advice and as Tom put it, do what’s right, even if the world calls it evil as they most certainly do about many good things. Let the fools have their folly.
That being said, though there is no guarantee of being free from trials or the storms of life, there is quiet & calm in the midst of the storm. As for the science of things, elements in a reactive state tend to stay excited and at times quite heated, but all chemical reactions slow down as the temperature decreases. What has been set in motion, will be, and has to date produced a lot of ‘heat’ what has yet to be produced is ‘light’. Since many people (including our legislators) are in the dark (so to speak) on this issue the necessity of contacting our respective governance whether for redress or grievance is essential for equilibrium in this state of affairs. (Sound advice from those in the “field†so to speak)
To the crux of the issue ~ What to say? ~ With so much to and fro on the issue (from what I’ve read to date) I am ‘utterly’ confused regarding the specifics or talking points, as these are the language of politics & policy. I’ve tried to form my thoughts on the issue and keep it brief and specific as to be heard and not confuse the reader or listener in legislature. I’ve not done well, so as to have done nothing. Any help ‘setting my sights’ to ‘target’ this issue would be much appreciated from any and all in this camp who are more knowledgeable on the subject. Many thanks.
Ps. If things go ‘south’ regarding this issue, I’m heading north. I think I know where to get a good steak! ;^)
January 18th, 2006 at 8:32 pm
I encourage everyone to email the USDA. They say they like input. Let’s speak in numbers. I’ve already sent them a detailed response to their 6 questions on the 2007 Farm Bill.
Go to http://www.usda.gov and click on Contact Us at the top of the page, or try the link below.
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?edeployment_action=changenav&navid=FEEDBACK_FORM
January 18th, 2006 at 10:53 pm
Tom,
I feel your pain brother, I feel your pain!
This keeps getting more interesting every day. The “government” is coming at this from every angle aren’t they?
It would seem that a tight knit local community would be one good way for us to get through this if this all comes to pass. One example, around our area, if you use a burn barrel you are supposed to buy a permit. And there are people who want to outright ban burning but, I’d say most people don’t bother getting a permit they just do it anyway. The local fire marshal who issues the permits is also an area business man. Everyone is on first name basis with him. I’ve never heard of anyone getting busted for not having a burn permit. It’s a close local community.
Nevertheless, I’m still determined to fight this nonsense and try to make my voice heard as best I can.
Still keeping on!
Russ
January 18th, 2006 at 11:06 pm
I have been wondering about class action law suits. What about the Christian Legal experts? Is there any way they could be convinced this is a bad deal for Christian farmers? Maybe it is a stretch. Some how someone needs to get this into court. I am just not keen on how. American Center for Law and Justice is that it? Surely it violates constitutional rights abound. Grasping for straws I guess.
January 19th, 2006 at 1:31 pm
American Center for Law and Justice
I don’t know. I’m awful nervous about them now. They seem to be in the hip pocket of the Republican party.
Plus, they argue their Christmas (carols, nativities, etc.) and Ten Commandments cases along the line of “this has no real religious meaning, it is a secular thing, so if it is placed along side other secular things, then it’s constitutional.” But the time they are finished, they win the court case by proving that Jesus is the same as Santa Claus and a menorah, and the Ten Commandments are no more than a secular historical document.
I’d rather lose, and declare the truth, than to lie and win.
January 19th, 2006 at 6:14 pm
Tom,
I don’t know if this would work where you’re at, but around here, ranchers often sell the critter live and then let the customer arrange for butchering. It seems there’s no law against a non-rancher shooting his own steer and then cutting it up in his garage. And ranchers around here shoot and butcher their own animals, too. It might be illegal, I don’t know, but I don’t know anyone who gives a crap either.
The last time I bought a bison, I drove to the ranch, the rancher pointed me towards the pasture and told me which critter to shoot. He was culling young cows who failed to throw a calf that spring, and he knew every animal by ear tag. I shot the one with the right tag. He winched her onto a flat-bed trailer and helped me skin and gut her. Then I drove the carcass to a processor of my choice.
Before the former soviet union broke apart, there were swarms of government do-gooders in that country too. Yet, there were also many places in the hinterlands where they simply would not go. I think it had something to do with inspectors, bureaucrats and other revenooers disapearing without a trace. Now, I’m not advocating murder, but I do think civil disobedience might be in order. After all, you are doing nothing evil, nothing immoral. The civil magistrate, Paul says, is a check on evil.. not a nanny nose-wiper.
Our main problem is we’ve been conditioned to accept regulation, high taxes and bureaucracy at levels the country’s founders would have considered unacceptable. But we bend over and take it anyway because we think we have too much to lose. We value ’stuff’ and personal peace over liberty; not realizing that when liberty is lost, life is no longer a blessing, but a curse.
“But is life so dear and peace so sweet that it should be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” —
Patrick Henry, christian, American patriot, anti-federalist and statesman.
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” St. Paul
Just my two cents.
January 19th, 2006 at 7:20 pm
Well folks, some pretty good comments here. One thing that I want everyone to know, that is that I’m not writing this from the point of hopelessness and the like. We just keep on keeping on. Country folk have more tricks up their sleeve than any beurocrat could ever imagine. I’ve said it before, farmers can be a slippery bunch. That’s why our founding fathers stated that this country would always be in good hands as long as the farmers had any say so. I’m just dropping in quick to write this comment, because, boy, am I busy, but will be back on track very soon. I hope you folks understand. I’ll catch up maybe tomorrow, or hopefully the next day. That goes for e-mails too. Tonight is being devoted to the Word of God.(As all days should be.)
Tom
January 19th, 2006 at 11:05 pm
JFC:
Truthfully, I haven’t kept up with the American Center For Law and Justice in a long while. I knew they supported Christian causes but, to what degree…I wasn’t sure.
I am with Tom, though, it takes me a bit,but I can see there will be all kinds of opportunities for farmers in this. One thing for sure, Greater is HE that is in me than he that is in the world.
I was thinking tonight that this could actually push people to go back to the old bartering that used to be done. Those who live debt free will be able to help serve those who would like wholesome food through bartering because they dont’ have huge debt over their heads. It really could turn out to be an awesome thing.
January 20th, 2006 at 8:10 pm
Jim V,
I can’t see anything other than gradually selling direct off the farm in the near future. There’ll be trials to come because big ag does want total control but there’ll always be a way around it.
SCF,
Funny what politics does to a country boy sometimes.
Steve,
Yes, yes, yes, I know that deer in the headlights look! Every once in a while a person meets up with someone out here even that has total faith in the food system today. Total dependancy on the government to make all their decisions. And the government loves it.
JM,
It does get me all stirred up, but in a good way. Not doom and gloom. Hey, I listened to your Plain Talk CD, pretty darn good there!
KSMM,
Your getting the idea! Never fear, there’s nothing dumber than the government. After listening to your Plain Talk CD, I figure they’d never catch up to you
Scott,
Excellent points! And if your ever out this way the steaks are on me.
Clint,
Thanks for the link, but I do think that the Dept of Industrial Agriculture does have their mind made up. But it’s worth a shot.
Russ,
Case closed on that.
We burn garbage on foggy nights, or foggy days for that matter
JFC,
I agree, the early Christians didn’t go half way. Jesus is Lord, period. Not something that we can slip into society. And I’m pretty disinchanted with the Republican Party as of late.
Balestacker,
Basically that’s how we sell, the customer buys the critter and pays the processing. They own it live, or own half of it live. But even that will be changed in the near future. The “new” owner(s) will be reported to the feds. I do get so frustrated with how people are letting our freedoms slip away, so, so, frustrated. I guess that’s one of the reasons I blog, at least if a person can change the mind if one person, we did something good. But I will admit, I’m running into more and more folks that are slowly changing and realizing what is happening. We just gotta keep on keeping on.
Tom