* Why haven't they reacted to a warning from three major advocacy organizations that filed a citizen's petition with FDA seeking the withdrawal of approval for Posilac, Monsanto's trademark for Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone, or rBGH?
* Why hasn't DATCP reacted to the citizens' petition that says there are increased levels of IGF-1 and other abnormalities in milk from rGBH-treated cows, and that these abnormalities put consumers at an increased risk of cancer, particularly breast, colon and prostate cancer?
16. Why isn't DATCP concerned about the government warnings that by law must accompany Monsanto's BGH: "Use of [BGH] is associated with increased frequency of use of medication in cows... Use of [BGH] in cows in which injection site swellings repeatedly open and drain should be discontinued. The number of cows affected with clinical mastitis and the number of cases per cow may increase...Use of [BGH] has been associated with increases in cystic ovaries and disorders of the uterus...Cows may have...increased twinning rates. Also, the incidence of retained placenta may be higher in cows injected with [BGH] had increased numbers of enlarged hocks and lesions (e.g. lacerations, enlargements, calluses) of the knee (carpal region), and disorders of the foot region?"
17. Why is DATCP not responding to consumer concern about rBGH when companies such as Starbucks and Dean are saying no to milk that contains genetically-engineered Bovine Growth Hormone (rGBH)?
18. Does the NAIS prioritize exports over local food production?
19. Is the Premises ID a contractual "no ability to negotiate, unequal bargaining position" agreement? [The terms and conditions are subject to change (by the Federal government) at any time]
20. Why did Wisconsin hide that the state was promised to receive Federal funds in exchange for signing up farmers, and for implementing the NAIS?
21. Who owns the information collected?
22. Who controls the database?
23. Does the Premises ID subject a farm, ranch, or non-production premises to Federal laws and regulations including but not limited to inspections, quarantines, record keeping, animal tagging and movement reporting?
24. Are animals/livestock personal property? What jurisdiction are they subject to?
25. Does a signature on the Premises ID registration form federalize a farmer's land? If so, why has this information not been included either verbally or in writing?
26. Why will large factory farms not be required to ID animals with RFID chips?
27. Why are small farmers required to ID animals with RFID chips?
28. If a small farmer loses a chicken to a predator such as a raccoon or a coyote, will he/she have to catch and note each of his/her other chickens' identification numbers so that he/she can report which chicken is missing? How much time will a small farmer that pastures chickens need to spend counting chickens? Is the NAIS really what Lynn Miller, author and publisher of Small Farmer's Journal says it is? "the most destructive and misguided farm regulation in the entire history of farming?"
Chapter leaders have my permission to forward my questions to any other relevant e-group.
