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Post by JustJohn or JJ on Feb 2, 2014 6:04:36 GMT -7
farmwars.infohttp://farmwars.info/?p=12393 Poland’s Small Farmers Stand Up Against Corporate Takeover And For Food Sovereignty polish protestICPPC (International Coalition to Protect the Polish Countryside) Friends! Here in Poland the battle to save Polish farmland from corporate buy-outs continues. But that’s not all the Polish farmers are up against…Watch the video below. Tractors have been blockading government institutions from 14 January… Regulations that the Warsaw government has imposed over the years have made it virtually impossible to sell farm processed foods to local shops, schools or private individuals. The only way farmers can conform with the hygiene and sanitary regulations imposed from above, is by carrying out their simple processing tasks in specially designed and equipped buildings that none can afford to build or to adapt.. except the very large producers supplying the food industry and supermarkets. Yes, that’s right – it’s all about destroying the competition – which in this case is the small and medium sized independent family farms that produce the best foods! There are still one and a half million such farms in Poland! ICPPC is supporting the protesting farmers to highlight this grossly unfair treatment of all who wish to provide fine quality, flavourful and ‘real’ farmhouse-foods in their own localities. You too can be part of this vital protest… Join in – by sending a brief letter in support of the farmers to Prime Minister Tusk urging him to change the regulations so that family farmers can sell their products locally! And send a copy of your letter to us here at ICPPC – biuro@icppc.pl . Thanks! Contact to Prime Minister: Premier Rządu RP Donald Tusk Secretariat of the Prime Minister Aleje Ujazdowskie 1/3, 00-583 Warszawa, Poland fax: +48 (22) 694 70 53 e-mail: sprm@kprm.gov.pl You can donate to our activities here icppc.pl/index.php/en/support-us.htmlProtest rolników |
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Post by pieter on Feb 2, 2014 10:34:37 GMT -7
I have sympathy for small farmers, because they work hard and are connected to the soil; their land, their products, animals and farms. I grew up next to farm land, the smell of farmlands and farms, and with farmers and their kids which were at my primary school and high school.
We have a lot of cooperative farming in the Netherlands. In the sense that milk corporations and other cooperatives work with groups of farmers, which product they buy, manufacture (milk, chees, yoghurt and etc.). Maybe Dutch farms are larger than the average Polish farm, because
I remember that there were a lot of small farms overthere. I don't know how the present situation is?
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Post by karl on Feb 2, 2014 13:00:19 GMT -7
J.J.
Not as a wet blanket upon the news from Poland, but a bit of reality to add. For one, the regulations that are becoming standard in Poland in as much to farm products is very reasonable. For it is in the priority for public health. It matters little of small or large farms, they must conform to health regulations that unfortnantly now must be dectated.
As an instance of farm products vendered for sale for public purchase: Milk must be pasterized. It is an unfornatant fact that raw milk has the potentual for desease transferance to those that drink the milk. The other is in plant desease control. As an instance: Potatoes. These need be inspected for correct weight and measures, then for plant desease for as not to spread but to be contained if found so.
For as common practice with small family farms, some potatoes from the previous crop are saved as seed potatoes for the new crop planting. For to purchase treated seed potatoes for the small family farmers is too expensive.
Whilst on the other side of the Roman coin, the corporate farms have and must conform to these regulations as written and are in a postion of responsiblity. For then and only then will the public be protected from deseased food crops and with this, the confidence once these farm products reach the super market shelves, the purchaser knows with confidence, these food supplies are safe for themselves and their families.
It is apparant by contrast, the small famers as depecterd are smart enough to form a group for such a protest. But, not smarl enough to form a co-op amongst them selves. In this manner, with each as a contributer as a whole, they have the ability as a whole for the individual farmer, to purchase their seed supplies and related required services of milk pasterization. Then as the Co-Op as a corporate enity, then has the resources for distribution to purchasing out lets.
This is not a German telling the Poles what to do, but simply pointing out the reality of today.
It is a fact of life, we no longer live in the old days of self suffiency, but now by virtue of supply and access, we as people must work together, not as individuals.
For as a noten of situation that can and will become out of hand ,is the case of Romania. For there, lacking proper controls in the meat industry, horse meat as a cheaper alternative to beef, was introduced into the meat supply chain. This then was labled as Beef. The various whole sale purchasing offices were presented with the meat quailty information as being: Beef. And so through this supply chain, the meat was introduced into the Western markets as beef, but in reality was horse meat.
Withen the confines of such large marketing fields to meet the supply demands of our vastly increased purchasing population. It is absolutly imparative to control the quality of our food supplies through strict enforcement of rules placed as a requirement to suppliers.
Karl
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Post by Nictoshek on Feb 4, 2014 7:07:30 GMT -7
 --Captain William Bligh |
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Post by Jaga on Feb 4, 2014 23:31:24 GMT -7
Thanks for posting. Private small farming supported Poland through difficult times of communism, we will see whether they will survive a change in time...
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Post by Nictoshek on Feb 5, 2014 18:35:50 GMT -7
Private small farming supported Poland through difficult times of communism, Yeah....tell me about it. |
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Post by JustJohn or JJ on Feb 6, 2014 8:47:29 GMT -7
Private small farming supported Poland through difficult times of communism, Yeah....tell me about it. cynicism doesn't suit you. You're too creative. |
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Post by JustJohn or JJ on Feb 6, 2014 8:52:34 GMT -7
J.J. Not as a wet blanket upon the news from Poland, but a bit of reality to add. For one, the regulations that are becoming standard in Poland in as much to farm products is very reasonable. For it is in the priority for public health. It matters little of small or large farms, they must conform to health regulations that unfortnantly now must be dectated. As an instance of farm products vendered for sale for public purchase: Milk must be pasterized. It is an unfornatant fact that raw milk has the potentual for desease transferance to those that drink the milk. The other is in plant desease control. As an instance: Potatoes. These need be inspected for correct weight and measures, then for plant desease for as not to spread but to be contained if found so. For as common practice with small family farms, some potatoes from the previous crop are saved as seed potatoes for the new crop planting. For to purchase treated seed potatoes for the small family farmers is too expensive. Whilst on the other side of the Roman coin, the corporate farms have and must conform to these regulations as written and are in a postion of responsiblity. For then and only then will the public be protected from deseased food crops and with this, the confidence once these farm products reach the super market shelves, the purchaser knows with confidence, these food supplies are safe for themselves and their families. It is apparant by contrast, the small famers as depecterd are smart enough to form a group for such a protest. But, not smarl enough to form a co-op amongst them selves. In this manner, with each as a contributer as a whole, they have the ability as a whole for the individual farmer, to purchase their seed supplies and related required services of milk pasterization. Then as the Co-Op as a corporate enity, then has the resources for distribution to purchasing out lets. This is not a German telling the Poles what to do, but simply pointing out the reality of today. It is a fact of life, we no longer live in the old days of self suffiency, but now by virtue of supply and access, we as people must work together, not as individuals. For as a noten of situation that can and will become out of hand ,is the case of Romania. For there, lacking proper controls in the meat industry, horse meat as a cheaper alternative to beef, was introduced into the meat supply chain. This then was labled as Beef. The various whole sale purchasing offices were presented with the meat quailty information as being: Beef. And so through this supply chain, the meat was introduced into the Western markets as beef, but in reality was horse meat. Withen the confines of such large marketing fields to meet the supply demands of our vastly increased purchasing population. It is absolutly imparative to control the quality of our food supplies through strict enforcement of rules placed as a requirement to suppliers. Karl What you are saying is true Karl. Here in New Hampshire, during the summer and winter, we have food cooperatives and farmers markets that offer local farm produce and products. Our dairy farmers are the ones suffering the most from corp dairy farms. With their lobbying money the have legislated regulations and pricing that is not beneficial to the small farmer. Corruption in the process is very evident. |
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Post by karl on Feb 6, 2014 10:14:26 GMT -7
J.J.
In your area with the dairy farmers, do they mix their dairy feed with processed formular feed from the animal feed mills? Or do they rely upon silo {chopped and blown corn into a standing silo or covered seal on ground structure}? It is understandable of summer pasture use as a supplement to sileage or premixed dairy feed {costly}, what of bailed hay as the primary winter feed?
Or, how do the farmers cope with some cost cutting measures in dairy feed?
I realize perhaps this may be bearing hard on your patience, but another question..
Do the primary large private owned dairies own their bulk tanker haulers for delievery to the milk processer or even though not belonging, but to any of the co-op intake locations?
It matters little of big or small, farming is a buisness and if operated properly,{of course not withstanding crop failure due to weather and insects} will provide a good income. But, it is expenesive business in the manner of equipment and machinery that must be purchased and maintained properly. At this moment, I am not sure of the expected service life of say a tractor or combine,at one time the expected service life of a combine was three years with the tractor at eight to ten years {rubber tyre tractor not crawler}.
To then prorate in terms of purchase price, all cost in maintenance, over the life time of use, to then deduct the trade in value upon new purchase of replacement, is a good indicator of cost/productive use/residual value at end use.
It is understandable of the different hats todays farmer must wear in the business of agriculture.
Karl
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Post by JustJohn or JJ on Feb 6, 2014 12:02:33 GMT -7
J.J. In your area with the dairy farmers, do they mix their dairy feed with processed formular feed from the animal feed mills? Or do they rely upon silo {chopped and blown corn into a standing silo or covered seal on ground structure}? It is understandable of summer pasture use as a supplement to sileage or premixed dairy feed {costly}, what of bailed hay as the primary winter feed? Or, how do the farmers cope with some cost cutting measures in dairy feed? I realize perhaps this may be bearing hard on your patience, but another question.. Do the primary large private owned dairies own their bulk tanker haulers for delievery to the milk processer or even though not belonging, but to any of the co-op intake locations? It matters little of big or small, farming is a buisness and if operated properly,{of course not withstanding crop failure due to weather and insects} will provide a good income. But, it is expenesive business in the manner of equipment and machinery that must be purchased and maintained properly. At this moment, I am not sure of the expected service life of say a tractor or combine,at one time the expected service life of a combine was three years with the tractor at eight to ten years {rubber tyre tractor not crawler}. To then prorate in terms of purchase price, all cost in maintenance, over the life time of use, to then deduct the trade in value upon new purchase of replacement, is a good indicator of cost/productive use/residual value at end use. It is understandable of the different hats todays farmer must wear in the business of agriculture. Karl At our cousins farm, they use silage, cut corn, baled hay and rolled hay and some feed primarily of grass nature. The cows are mostly grass fed. Yes, the co-ops own bulk haulers and off load farm milk on a weekly basis to be hauled to the processing plant. Now for the newer venture of bottling their own pasteurized and raw milk it is different. Our cousins have their own smaller tank hauler that takes the milk to a bottling processor in Maine and they bottle the milk and we haul it back to the farm. This is the way we get our raw milk and our milk for butter and cheese. The equipment costs are pretty significant and they must replace it on an ongoing basis. I am not sure what the expected life or mean-time-between-failures is as I am not involved on a day to day basis running the farm. Todays farmer must wear many hats. |
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Post by karl on Feb 6, 2014 12:29:51 GMT -7
J.J.
Thank you kindly, I was curios and you have answered very well. But, what is rolled hay? I know of rolled oats with or with out the husks removed. For some horse breeders feed their horses with a mix of malasses and rolled oats.
Karl
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Post by JustJohn or JJ on Feb 6, 2014 18:21:47 GMT -7
J.J. Thank you kindly, I was curios and you have answered very well. But, what is rolled hay? I know of rolled oats with or with out the husks removed. For some horse breeders feed their horses with a mix of malasses and rolled oats. Karl   Plastic-covered rolls of cut hay  |
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Post by karl on Feb 6, 2014 18:42:40 GMT -7
J.J.
Once again thank you kindly for your very descriptive photos with explanation.. I think perhaps I must have had a brain short, for I have seen this in past in Canada and had forgotten. What I understand is the roll menthod is much superier to bailing. For in this manner, less damage to the cured hay with leaf loss due to the violence from the bailer plunger action whilst in motion in compressing the hay material.
Thank you J.J. for your efferts, patience and consideration..
Karl
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