NOTE: Updates have been posted below, including the tally.
I need your help, because they need your help. Please read this whole story and consider if you can help. WUWT readers may recall this story: Death of a Feedlot Operator …in which the anal-retentive government of West Australia has “licensed” a family farm out of operation due to some shonky science and arbitrary application of the “sniff test”. Yes that’s right, cattle farms smell, so do pig farms, as does any farm. But now it’s reason to shut one out due to baseless complaints from the local greens. And, it all started when Matt Thompson started doubting global warming and talking about it publicly.
I’ve never made a plea to the WUWT worldwide readership for help, I’m making one now to donate to these people to stave off eviction. If nothing else, do it to spite the government of Western Australia and the greens (Environmental Defender’s Office WA) that have turned farming into a “crime”. The real crime is that government listens to these hotheads. From Jo Nova’s website:
4 days notice! The Thompsons are served notice of eviction.
Will, Abbey, Janet, Luke, Matt and Kate on their farm. April 2010
From Agmates (and many emails), news comes that The National Bank served notice today that the Thompsons have to be off their property in four days.
This is a family with four young children, who ran a profitable business; they filled in every form and ticked every box. They have broken no laws, and there are no outstanding environmental notices, but yet, they came to Western Australia with their life savings and they are losing everything. (Note: Matt and Janet are from the USA, Hugo, Oklahoma – Anthony)
Don’t bring your investment dollars to Western Australia — not while the Department of the Environment effectively controls the state.
The Thompsons waited a full year to get Works Approval for a 15,000 head feedlot. After they had already committed the capital, the rules kept shifting. They discovered they’d need ongoing licenses as well. After several years of ramping up the capacity on these licenses, things changed. Matt spoke out as a skeptic. About that time, the renewals were delayed, then the numbers were cut in half, and new conditions were added that were impossible to meet. To feed and supply water for thousands of cattle the Thompsons had to sign agreements in advance to pay for hundreds of thousands of dollars of goods they could not use, but had no way of knowing that at the time. When they appealed, it took 18 months to get “vindicated” but by then there was only six months left on the “two year” license. Not enough to set up all the contracts and run a business. The new sub-clauses meant that even licenses for a qualified “10,000″ head had vague untestable conditions: the license you have when you don’t have a license.
I am ashamed of what our government has done.
If the media won’t cover this, shame on them too.
I’ve written before in more detail:
Tyranny: How to destroy a business with environmental red tape
Smell that evidence
There is much discussion on Agmates, and a call for donations (see below):
URGENT HELP – Thompson family in trouble
NAB had not long ago told Matt & Janet that they were not going to move on them before December 31st. But it appears that they have changed their mind.
Those familar with previous discussions on Agmates will know that the Thompson family have no funds available to them to face being thrown out on their ear by the bank. Donations are needed ASAP to help provide a roof over the children’s head. Please consider donating what you are able into the following bank account that has been set up so as any donations can’t be seized with all other assets of Matt & Janet including the few dollars left in their own bank account.
Account Name: L&S BallardDescription: Kate/Aby/Will/LukeBSB: 016 770Account Number: 439863697ANZ: Bintamilling Arcade, Egerton Street, Narrogin, Western AustraliaSWIFT Code: ANZBAU3M
=====================================
For International money transfers, or payment by credit cards, Jo Nova has set up a special PayPal donation button (in US dollars). This will go to her bank account, with an ID that means it will be recorded as a donation for Matt and Janet. She will transfer it to their account. I have complete trust here. Please give anything you can, no amount is too small.
I’m confident WUWT readers can turn this around.
LINK TO PAYPAL DONATION HERE
You can also use your credit/debit card if you don’t have a PayPal account.
(note this takes you to an intermediate page, which I have to do since wordpress.com won’t allow me to insert the full code).
Also for those who have other websites, or who frequent other forums, bulletin boards, and blogs, I ask your help in getting the word out.
As Michael D. Smith writes in comments below:
Let’s show the Aussie Government what “We The People” can do…
Thanks for your consideration – Anthony
================================================
UPDATE1:
Dale Stiller writes in comments: Thank you all who have sent donations for the Thompson family. You can also help by emailing your disgust to Main Stream Media in Western Australia. Below are a few email addresses.
W A Newspaper contacts:
The West
http:au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/contact/
(does not give a Perth email, only phone no (08) 94823111 )
Email for Sydney Rep Office (The West) cdsilva@wansydney.com.au
Western Australian statewide rural newspaper
W A Radio – Perth National:
ABC News Radio – http://www.abc.net.au/newsradio/about/contact.htm
ABC News Rural – wwwabc.net.au/rural/contact/
ABC Midwest & wheatbelt http://www.abc.net.au/contact/contactabc.htm
=====================================================
UPDATE2:
Janet Thompson responds to the issues raised by some saying she said in a public meeting: “there will be no odour”. Given Matt’s and Janet’s extensive involvement in animal agriculture, including feedlots and saleyards, in the States prior to coming to Western Australia, I find it hard to believe that she’d say this. Here is an excerpt of her response:
The myth has been propagated that I stated at our original open public meeting in March 2002 that I made the statement that there would be no odour. In considering any proposition in which animals are to be located in one area, it is ludicrous for anyone to state that there would be no odour. (And, I submit, for anyone to blindly believe such a statement.) I know places that have one horse, and there is odour to manage. Whatever statement that was made that night has been taken out of context, and now many people who were not even in attendance that night are repeating this myth. We spoke about manure smelling when it was wet, and for that reason, found it desirable to be located on the south side of town, when prevailing winds are away from town. We were always open about this, and are gravely disappointed in friends who have not come to us to discuss things, but instead worked actively behind our backs to wreak havoc in our lives, and to attempt to destroy our livelihood, the livelihoods of our employees and contractors, and our life savings.
Here’s the document as PDF. FYI, You’ll see today’s date on it since I made the PDF today from a Word DOC sent to me.
Thompson Response to community members LCCC
========================================================
UPDATE3: HOW TO WRITE A LETTER Reader Mark from Australia writes and provides sample letter ideas for contacting MP’s in Australia and members of the media:
People should reword as they desire and add questions if they have any specialist knowledge or expertise, especially in the feedlot business. They MUST keep it civil. People should send FOUR SEPARATE letters or emails. One to each Minister. That is important. Each MUST be answered so they must put their return addresses on them. I will be sending mine as letters, today.
Be sure to edit this to cover the points you want to include and your own words. Note that simpler hand written letters are likely to carry more weight. It is important to distinguish between EDO Environmental Defenders Office (which is the Non Governmental Organization) and DEC Department of Environment and Conservation (which is the state department of environment and conservation, which is responsible for licensing and the decisions that have been made). In that vein, most of the questions should be about DEC, not EDO (although the funding ones are great to ask).
Premier The Honourable Colin Barnett MEc MLA
Minister for State Development
24th Floor, Governor Stirling Tower,
197 St Georges Terrace,
PERTH Western Australia 6000
Tel: (08) 9222 9888 Fax: (08) 9322 1213
e-Mail: wa-government@dpc.wa.gov.au
The Honourable Brendon Grylls MLA
Minister for Regional Development & Lands; Minister Assisting the Minister for State Development
9th Floor, Dumas House,
2 Havelock Street,
WEST PERTH Western Australia 6005
Tel: (08) 9213 7000 Fax: (08) 9213 7001
e-Mail: Minister.Grylls@dpc.wa.gov.au
The Honourable Terry Redman MLA
Minister for Agriculture and Food
Address: 11th Floor, Dumas House, 2 Havelock Street, WEST PERTH WA 6005
Telephone: (08) 9213 6700 Fax: (08) 9213 6701
e-Mail: Minister.Redman@dpc.wa.gov.au
The Honourable Donna Faragher MEd(Hons) BA(Hons) GradDipEd JP MLC
Minister for Environment
10th Floor, Dumas House,
2 Havelock Street,
WEST PERTH WA 6005
Tel: (08) 9213 7250 Fax: (08) 9213 7255
e-Mail: Minister.Faragher@dpc.wa.gov.au
MINISTERIAL REQUEST – NARROGIN BEEF PRODUCERS
Background Information
Matt and Janet Thompson moved from the USA to establish a feedlot business about 4 km outside Narrogin, WA. The business started operation in 2003 and employed about 20 locals at peak. This represents a success for WA and a success for Australia in attracting foreign investment.
Following his publicly expressing doubt as to the effect of the cattle industry on ‘global warming’ in June 2008, the West Australian Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) took an interest in complaints by Narrogin greens against the Thompson’s business.
In 2008, the Thompson’s applied to the West Australian Department of Environment and Conservation for an increase in their licence capacity from 10,000 to 15,000 head. Instead, the DEC cut their licence conditions back to 6,000 head, effectively closing the business by removing its economies of scale. The feedlot remains closed. This closure also played a role in the suicide of one of the employees, Mr Lindley Boseley.
The reasoning given by EDO on use of regulation to destroy this business is not available but seems subjective, indeed, specious (Reference page 2 of EDO newsletter at http://www.edowa.org.au/newsletters/200803Newsletter.pdf).
The EDO newsletter is itself disturbing. It displays the hallmarks of both a ‘captured bureaucracy’ and an issue-motivated NGO. It is positively triumphs the ‘Green cause’.
Questions
1.The Environmental Defenders Office is jointly funded by the West Australian State Government and the Federal Government. Why is WA funding this organisation when it seems to be little more than an arm of ‘The Greens’?
2.On what scientific grounds was the Thompson’s licence capacity reduced from 10,000 head to 6,000 head?
3.Was the viability of the Thompson’s business considered by the EDO in making this determination?
4.What are the scientific or other relevant qualifications of those who made this decision within the EDO?
5.Was this decision subject to review by anyone with skills in determining its impact on the viability of the Thompson’s business?
a.If so, who, and what are their business qualifications and experience?
b.If the EDO decision was not subject to review to determine the impact of the decision on the Thompson’s business by a person with appropriate business qualifications and skills, why not?
c.If the EDO decision included no business impact review from a person qualified to determine its impact on their business, were ‘the rules constantly changed’ in respect of the Thompsons applications?
i.If so, why and on what grounds?
ii.If so what were the qualifications of the person(s) making these ‘rule changes’?
d.Was ‘natural justice’ denied to the Thompsons in their application?
e.What appeals processes were available to the Thompsons?
f.Were they made aware of these in time to make effective use of them?
6.Why are the Thompsons being evicted from their property on 21 September 2010 instead of in December?
7.Are the WA Ministers for State Development, Agriculture, and State Development and Lands aware of the ability of the EDO to close any WA agricultural business on apparently subjective and/or ideological grounds?
8.Are the appropriate WA Ministers (State Development, Agriculture, and State Development and Lands) aware that this case is now attracting very adverse international attention to WA, due to the Thompsons being international investors in WA?
9.Are the appropriate WA Ministers (State Development, Agriculture, and State Development and Lands) aware that this case is causing damage to WA’s ‘brand’ as a safe place for international investment in agriculture?
10.Is there a link between Mr Thompson’s ‘offence’ against a Green ideological belief in ‘global warming’ and the EDO’s patently apparent belief in that same ideology?
11.Was Mr Thomson’s business targeted by the EDO on the basis of this ideology?
12.Did the ‘Green ideology’ so apparent in the EDO’s publications play any role in their determination?
a.If so, why is ‘Green ideology’ permitted to destroy a business and 20 jobs?
b.If not, what was the scientific basis for their decision to deny their application for an increase in license numbers from 10,000 head to 15,000 head?
13.Will the WA Government review the funding and operations of the EDO to prevent further damage to WA’s ‘brand’ as an investment destination?
Yours Sincerely
NAME
ADDRESS
DATE
===============================================
UPDATE4:
Jo Nova reports that WUWT readers have given generously! Over $27,000 was raised in two days from 670 donations. My humble and sincerest thanks to you all for coming to their aid when asked. Jo Nova reports that the fund will go into the Thompson children’s names.
Of course the alarmist community has been silent, there’s not been one word of support that I’m aware of.
See the latest from Jo Nova of how the DEC defines ditches at farms, and you’ll understand the sort of green tyranny the Thompsons face.
People should reword as they desire and add questions if they have any specialist knowledge or expertise, especially in the feedlot business. They MUST keep it civil.
People should send FOUR SEPARATE letters or emails. One to each Minister. That is important.
Each MUST be answered so they must put their return addresses on them. I will be sending mine as letters, today.
Hope this helps.
If you must refer to me, then please just keep it as ‘Reader Mark from Australia’
Huth says:
Virveli, you are not alone. Anyone who can’t run a feedlot economically with 6000 head of cattle is doing something wrong.
And yet the DEC is still insisting on the Thompsons building waste facilities for the original 15,000 head of catlle despite all indications that they will never be allowed to achieve this amount due to shifting goalposts!
Also, there have been less than 500 complaints in the 5 years of operation with only 21 of these being substantiated.
Between January and July 2009 there were more than 200 complaints with only 2 substantiated. 2 substantiated complaints in 6 months?
http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/1826/thompsons.jpg
Points directed at me above are taken on board. I sympathise with the Thompsons’ predicament in so far as a business enterprise of theirs has failed/been targetted for the wrong reasons/whatever. If wrongs have been done then I deplore the wrongs and would have them righted.
Justice and fair treatment for people.
BUT, and it’s a big but, I happen to think that the feedlot approach to farming is wrong too, and that that should be righted.
Justice and fair treatment for animals. We are animals too, don’t forget.
Huth
I understand where you’re coming from but is it really better for the cows to be able to move where they want to and to graze on pasture or is that just our interpretation of the situation?
Do we really understand what cows do and don’t want?
Can we equate their desires to the human notion of freedom?
To be honest, most people I know are more than happy to do as little as possible in the way of moving from A to B and for food purchase and preparation. We coop ourselves up in smallish boxes in close proximity to others, preferably close to food sources and employment!
Maybe cows don’t like having to wander all over a field in search of relatively tasteless grass when they can be waited on by humans and served a scrumptious diet of grain.
🙂
Huth
What do you think goes on in the piggery next door to the Thompsons?I am sure there are a lot of feedlots in WA.I would like to see animals treated fairly,but it’s not going to happen.
Because I don’t like the way they farm is no reason to believe that these people should be treated so disgracefully.
I am happy to see the amount raised for them,if they are forced out at least they will have something to fall back on.
http://www.feedlots.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67&Itemid=111
The Australian beef industry is the largest agricultural industry in Australia with the feedlot sector now playing a major role within it. The feedlot industry has a value of production of approximately $2.7billion while employing some 2000 people directly and almost 7000 more indirectly. There are approximately 700 accredited feedlots throughout Australia with the majority located in areas that are in close proximity to cattle and grain supplies namely south east QLD; the northern tablelands of NSW and the Riverina area of NSW with expanding numbers in Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
“Anyone who can’t run a feedlot economically with 6000 head of cattle is doing something wrong. Cattle shouldn’t be that crowded anyway, unless they are free to move on to fresh pasture when THEY want to. Farms in Britian manage with far fewer animals (fewer than 100 quite often).”
Huth, either you haven’t read what has been posted or you are intentionally ignoring it. Yes a FARM can be run with less than 6000 head of cattle; of course they are trying to run a feedlot not quite the same thing. And if you were expecting to have 15,000 head of cattle and bought land and equipment to handle 15,000 head and signed long term contracts for feed and water for 15,000 head, then had to cut back to 6000 head but still were paying for food, water and equipment to handle 15,000 head I believe you would find that it is unprofitable.
“BUT, and it’s a big but, I happen to think that the feedlot approach to farming is wrong too, and that that should be righted.
Justice and fair treatment for animals. We are animals too, don’t forget.”
Finally Huth comes clean. He has a problem with feedlots. He believes in free range cattle. Now his posts make a little more sense. Maybe if he had been upfront from the start people could have addressed his real issue.
So using bureaucratic interpretations of environmental regulations to shut down feedlots because you don’t think feedlots should exist is OK. And when the same tactics are used by vegetarians to shut down free range farms that will be OK with you also right?
ozspeaksup says:September 19, 2010 at 9:47 am
I’ve no doubt you’re right Ozspeaksup – in the immediate present. I’ve seen stuff too. I think the future bodes better, at least in the Congo, on the grounds that it’s so bad it can only get better… but on the premise that we’ve got to start from where we are to get to where we want to go, an article on Africa along the lines of your comments, but giving as balanced an overall view as possible, would be helpful.
I sent a C note by PayPal last night. Then this morning read the letters mentioned in this post: Virveli says:
September 18, 2010 at 11:21 am
Perhaps someone would like to see what the actual neighbours wrote about the facility in their own words?
http://narroginlibrary.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/neighbour-presentations.pdf
I have some misgivings now. I lived in Ft Worth Tx in the 1950’s approx 2 miles from the stock yards and Armour and Swifts plant. When the wind was out of the south east the odour was gagging. There was no a/c in our house and the summers were 100 degrees F with that odor. I’m nowhere close to being a left wing whack job. Sorry, I’m beginning to side with the letter writers. Been there…smelled that. A truly gagging odor.
REPLY: Might help when you realize that the central instigator, a neighbor, Karen Gow, is trying to get her property subdivided for sale.
– Anthony
@ur momisugly ROLAND S HAILE
Please dont second guess your donation. There are 4 children here that need help – and a mum and dad.
Yes i too have read the letters – BUT – no where have they been asked to back up their claims – they are unsubstantiated – and other neighbors – closer no complaints!
What has happened to Matt and Janet is just wrong full stop. In general dont we all love the way that accountability is always shifted to easy targets – a dad, mum and 4 kids is a pretty easy target….enough said.
Donation Sent!
For my part, as an Australian (although not West Australian) I am ashamed of this type of approach by government. Arbitrary controls on business where those in power get to decide which projects proceed or not is absolutely against the Australian ideal of a “fair go”.
I have seen a similar issue in Victoria where I live where a property development was rejected because the property line would be less than 80cm above water levels, as the Victorian government is so sure that the sea level will rise to swamp this land within a 90 year period –
I am seriously considering whether or not Australia will be the right place for myself and my family to live in the future should officials exhibit such power over free enterprise – particularly the power to bankrupt families with rules based on no real evidence.
ddpalmer. No, I find vegetarian nonsense as maddening as most people.
Noelene. People used to be treated badly too. Think slave boats and working conditions on plantations. It DID change when enough other people objected. I don’t see why we shouldn’t try on behalf of other animals.
Elise. It has been observed that cattle in feedlots seem more ‘bad-tempered’ than free-ranging cattle. Meat and eggs from free-ranging animals taste better than otherwise. Also, if you’ve been close to farm animals for years, I think you can tell to some extent what they ‘like’ and what they ‘don’t like’ because they make choices that can be observed and noted. For example, my free range chickens won’t eat proprietary soy and fish-meal based chicken food pellets and, what is more, neither will the wild rabbits and squirrels around here. That says a lot to me.
In evolutionary terms, a concentrated diet of grain is not natural food for cattle
ddpalmer, one fact remains, which is noted by Mr Thomson himself at the Shire meeting and written down in the minutes, the fact being that there never was a written permission granted to increase the cattle from 6,000 head. The Thompsons chose to understand differently, and therefore would find themselves in the situation they are now in.
Is it not strange that no such document has ever been produced by anyone?
Australia’s population is 22,468 400 and that count includes children. We are highly urbanised on the east coast. Go to http://www.abs.gov.au/ and left hand side choose ‘census data’ and then choose ‘map stats’.
Update 3 How to write a letter Mark
Thank you so much for the prepared letter, very much appreciated
Steve Johnson (September 20 5.13pm )
Your hyperlink took me to a naturopathic site.
Naturopathy in developing countries and radical green anti-vaccines = death in large, large numbers in developing countries. And in some areas of Australia we are seeing a resurgence of whooping cough (diphtheria), many of the 19thC cemeteries are filled with mothers and their children, dead, from this awful disease. Those countries that haven’t cemeteries and head-stones or human records, well you can visit but not count, other excuses are used. Anti-science greenies lower herd immunity status. Imagine the effect of anti-science types that work in larger populations!
Agenda 21 has been codified into many global treaties and local government Council initiatives and thus funding. Not funding for transport and services. Agenda 21 was being used as a policy and process manual (through Canadians I thought) because of the absence of real knowledge and statistical data on regional Australia and in the remote communities of top end of Australia in the late 90s. This ‘policy’ manual informed the beginning of the Indigenous Protected Areas (financed by the federal environmental agency) ………..the funding ensued. Spatial mapping is a cause celebre, but the metadata is not clear. ICLEI is another organisation globally aggregating ‘local’ level governance…….and offering policy solutions……. that’s biased survey results and extracting Council data that is informing their domination.
Meemoe_uk (September 20 6.06am)
True, banks, nowadays with our cashless society and $ transfers have required most people to use internet. Any amounts over Aus$10,000 apparently are tracked. For eg http://www.bankwest.com.au/zerotran/ (footer: issued by Bank Western Australia)
Fees and charges for each transaction benefit the banks? Australian Taxation Office of non-monetary transactions, declared or not?
See Australian Bureau of Census for how the census and their surveys report [self-declared] income per person and household! What a way to plan for policy and expenditure. Might as well live in Mexico. Or stick with the ‘oops you’re too wealthy, you need some re-distribution’ Marxist model when the government plebs do their planning exercises. Or is that ….oops, you are too poor?
ZD Net evaluated the ?$465 million Networking the Nation (NTN) project for regional Australia. However other reports of this grant funding range from $70 -$320 million. This federal government project called for tenders in the national newspaper in 1999, and tenders went out to?dept. The dept named Dept of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts is no more. There has been no public discussion on the actual outcomes of such expenditure, though Australia is now ‘debating’ a National Broadband Network (NBN) to the tune of $43 billion.
During the time of the NTN there were various government inquiries into e-banking and regulation. The Australian Bankers Association may be interested http://www.bankers.asn.au/
The dept later is now labelled Dept of Broadbands, Communication and the Digital Technology under Senator Stephen Conroy. http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/senators/homepages/senators.asp?id=3L6 First speech ?
By the by – doing cattle work today – one hell of a cranky Brahman cow – sheesh – could that mumma move! Had us all up the rails – pms perhaps? Because she did come out of a paddock – free ranging female! (tic of course mate 🙂
Seen the photos of Matt and Janets cattle in the feedlot – happy contented – AND their children were patting them! Hmmm wouldn’t put those little kiddies in with my free range cow….:)
Hello, Anthony and Co…
It’s been a long and tiring day. Administrators appointed by the bank contacted us this morning, and were onsite by mid-day. They did not tell us to vacate yet, but given the fact that they gave us 4 days to repay, and two of those days were a weekend, we’re not very hopeful of them “working” with us.
I took a part-time job earlier this year to help put food on the table and keep the lights on while we continued our battle — to try to restore common sense and a reasonable licence. As part of that job, I had meetings in Perth today, so poor Matt had to face these three goons alone. He’s worn out and has gone to bed.
This whole business is exhausting, but because of your kindness, generosity and moral support, we are more determined than ever to fight in whatever way we can.
I think we are in a unique position. We did not have deep enough pockets to pay the piper. And we are not the usual small people that just “go away.” Maybe, just maybe, we are in this position at this point in time for a reason.
Assuming we lose everything, are unable to pay back the millions that we owe, and have to move and start over….surely we can use our horrendous story to make a positive difference for others (including our children). We are heartbroken that Lindley is gone, and we know we can never bring him back. But maybe we can honour him.
As we’ve said before, “Thank You” is not enough, but it’s all we’ve got right now.
Thank You.
Janet
On Anthony’s previous posting of David Archibald’s take on our story, I posted the following. Apologies to those of you who have already read this, but our enemies seem to use repetetive posts quite effectively, so I guess I need to learn from them. 🙂
*****
There is much talk of whether feedlotting is a safe and responsible production practice. I believe that this is not an appropriate tack within the context of this discussion or our over-all problem, but since detractors will continually bring it up, I’d like to respond.
First, feedlotting is not an illegal practice, and any animal welfare or food safety issues should be dealt with separately from environmental issues. Animal rights activists make up a good portion of the movement against us.
We welcome genuine people interested in the truth. The animals in our facility were treated very well, fed freshly-produced feed every day, and had an unlimited supply of clean, fresh water. They were happy, content, and always treated humanely.
When one of our enemies reported us to the RSPCA, I proudly gave the inspector a 1.5 hour tour of our place. She was highly complimentary, and said farmers should get their story out more, because ours was a very good story.
We’ve actually given many tours to the Ag School classes, we’ve spoken to the classes at the school (as late as late 2009!), and we’ve had many students work with us. Our relationship with the students and staff of the college has been wonderfully positive. Not so with the few administrative people who are philosophically opposed to progressive agriculture, and the top guy who is an adamant global warming advocate and attacked us at one liaison group meeting for our greenhouse gas emissions.
Second, the feeding of grain is commonplace, whether animals are in the paddock or in a feedlot. We would not have the necessary year-round supply of cattle to keep abattoirs in operation were it not for this practice. The feeding of grain to cattle is proven safe and effective, and it has allowed us to greatly improve efficiency, which is great for the environment and for continuing to feed the world. I’m very proud to be an environmentalist and one of the true “greenies,” who understands that the better we get at producing efficiently, the more land and resources are available for environment.
Food Inc has been mentioned. It is an atrocity of mis-information. We use antibiotics to treat sick or injured animals that have bacterial infections. We probably use antibiotics more responsibly than humans do, because we recognise that they will not be effective against viral infections, and would waste money were we to treat all with antibiotics. Our wonderful employees (and us, too) walked each pen every day to check for sick or injured animals. We taught animal handling techniques based on Temple Grandin’s “flight zone” concepts, and animals were calmly and quietly pulled out of the pen for treatment. A high tech and sophisticated regime for every possible health problem was in place, and a “hospital” was available for those animals that needed additional care or treatment and who could not go “home” immediately.
And, we’d like to point out, our well-designed and well-run feedlot is not the exception. We’ve been to many feedlots the world over, and have worked extensively in feedlots and saleyards. The overwhelming majority of producers care deeply for the animals in their care, and spend significant resources training employees in how to properly care for these creatures. Cattle in feedlots are happy and content. If that were not the case, they would not perform well, and everyone involved would lose money. So, just as getting better at production is good for the environment, taking better care of our animals and employees is good for the bottom line. It truly is a win-win situation. How exciting is that!?
Cheers, All….
Janet
Janet H. Thompson says:
September 21, 2010 at 6:44 am
Hello, Anthony and Co…
It’s been a long and tiring day.
======
Janet,
Please see goldie’s comment.
goldie says:
September 20, 2010 at 10:57 pm
Sorry to have missed this earlier. If its not too late, I may be able to help arbitrate this issue as I have a long track record in odour assessment in WA and a good working relationship with DEC. Let me know if I can help – would be happy to look over the issues and meet with DEC gratis.
REPLY: I’ve got them in touch already, the gears are turning. Thanks -Anthony
Matt Thompson responded to my prior post related to the Town’s comments in the DEC waste management and landfills report on JoNova’s blog. I was off base when I said “The people of Narrogin should be ashamed of what they’ve done” and I apologize to the good people of the Town and Narrogin Shire for the comment.
===
John,
The local government authority which is the Shire (like a county) has supported us and appealed our license on our behalf on numerous occassions. Individuals have appealed on our behalf and signed petetions in large numbers. DEC does not consider positive comments or submissions. People in town have offered us their homes, their cars, and brought us food. Walking through the streets of town people have handed me fifty dollar notes and told me to keep fighting.
We do have our opponents locally but they are a very small group, and we have many many friends who have bent over backwards to help us in our time of distress.”
[Matt Thompson]
ROLAND S HAILE says:
September 21, 2010 at 5:03 am
I sent a C note by PayPal last night. Then this morning read the letters mentioned in this post: Virveli says:
September 18, 2010 at 11:21 am
Perhaps someone would like to see what the actual neighbours wrote about the facility in their own words?
http://narroginlibrary.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/neighbour-presentations.pdf
I have some misgivings now. I lived in Ft Worth Tx in the 1950′s approx 2 miles from the stock yards and Armour and Swifts plant. When the wind was out of the south east the odour was gagging. There was no a/c in our house and the summers were 100 degrees F with that odor. I’m nowhere close to being a left wing whack job. Sorry, I’m beginning to side with the letter writers. Been there…smelled that. A truly gagging odor.
Roland, I made this mistake initially as well. Go to Jo Nova’s site links at the top of the article and spend some time reading through the material. There is LOT more backstory to this then what appears on the surface. Yup, feedlots can truly stink, but the Thompson issue isn’t about that, even though they would have the continuing responsibility as an operator to mitigate that issue with good husbandry. This is truly about rogue bureaucrats, not cattle.
Don;t have the funds I’ve had in recent years, but made a modest donation. I come from a farming community, and the Thompsons are the sort of people I grew up with. Best of luck to them.
Sure, there is more to it than is presented here, but that doesn’t justify what they’re doing to this family.
“Huth says:
September 21, 2010 at 5:44 am
ddpalmer. No, I find vegetarian nonsense as maddening as most people.”
So you are going to ignore my point entirely. Is that because you don’t understand the simple point I was making or because you don’t have a good answer?
The radical vegetarians are like the gun control fanatics. Today they are just pushing for the poor animals to be treated better before we make them into hamburger. Once they get that concession they will push for some other reasonable sounding regulation, like maybe a limit on the number of cattle per acre. And each little push is just one step toward eliminating the raising of animals for food. If they are allowed to take the first steps without people opposing them each succeeding step will be that much easier, and soon your free range cattle and chickens will be a thing of the past.
Are you aware of any scientific testing that shows free range tastes better than non-free range? I did find one small report of a food writer and a group of tasters which seemed to show no difference when it comes to eggs, that any reported difference seemed to be from expectation not from an actual difference. http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/08/what-are-the-best-eggs-cage-free-organic-omega-3s-grocery-store-brand-the-food-lab.html
ddpalmer says:
Are you aware of any scientific testing that shows free range tastes better than non-free range? I did find one small report of a food writer and a group of tasters which seemed to show no difference when it comes to eggs, that any reported difference seemed to be from expectation not from an actual difference.
Taste is relative. But since you mentioned eggs, those of free-range chicken are claimed to be nutritionally superior to those of non-free-range chicken.
Nutrition – Free-Range vs. Battery-Cage Eggs
ddpalmer. It depends what you would count as a good answer. I doubt if anything I could or would say would qualify.
That said, my answer consists of two points: (1) I think you are being alarmist, and (2) you need to taste the eggs my chickens produce. 😉
So no proof, just anecdotal evidence. And sorry but I don’t eat eggs.
And you hide you head in the sand even though the animal rights people have made no bones about wanting to do away with all animal ‘slavery’ from testing to farms to pets. And as the Thompson’s situation shows many of these decisions are being made by unelected mid-level bureaucrats and their own personal interpretation of the regulations.
I am currently on welfare. I know what it’s like to have your business & home pulled out from under you.
I will try to donate £10 on Thursday. I will use the bank details if They are accepted here.
DaveE.