-
“The money and political power of Wall Street has stolen America’s food system, bankrupted our farmers and ranchers, mined our soils, polluted our environment, wasted our precious water, and left us with expensive industrially produced food that makes us sick.” – Occupy Wall Street Food Day, December 2011 -
Industrial Agriculture and Urban Sprawl – A model of growth that’s made to fail. -
Ranching Reboot Episode 4, Mike Callicrate “It’s time for a third revolution against monopolies”
Above: Ranching Reboot – Episode 4 – Mike Callicrate, owner of Ranch Foods Direct, sat down with us to talk about all manner of things from cattle markets, to public food spaces, the Bander, his feedlot and the pathway he built to market.
He shares valuable lessons learned from fighting against the commodity production system and how he’s built his own pathway to the consumer.
We talk about small community slaughter plants and public meat spaces and what that could look like going in to the future. We discuss environmental challenges, the food police and what it means when a Dollar General comes to town.
-
- This Cattleman's Got A Beef
Photo: Sean Cayton - 2003People producing good food from happy animals, while improving the environment, shouldn’t have to fear the government.
Photo above featured in a 2003 article: This cattleman's got a beef, Mike Callicrate and Ranch Foods Direct take on the big meat packersby Kathryn Eastburn
Category Archives: General Advocacy
Are Corporations Too Big to Control?
The Farmers Advocate May 25, 1905 We think the farmer is altogether too slow to recognize his interests, and especially attacks on his interests by other classes; that he is too slow to fight for his rights; that he is … Continue reading
Farming as a Fine Art
Farming is one of the fine arts. “The material out of which art is made is everywhere; but the artist appears only at intervals.” The idea is prevalent among farmers that life must be a grind, a dull monotonous routine, … Continue reading
Is the Harvest Moon Setting on Family Farming?
A new kind of merchant, far more powerful, pillages and plunders in today’s world. As harvest progresses across farm and ranch country, the markets have never been more unfair or abusive. What the farmer and rancher receives for their toil … Continue reading
Mega Mergers Focus for Organization for Competitive Markets
The Organization for Competitive Markets recently wrapped up their annual convention. One of their primary concerns is the increasing consolidation in U.S. agriculture. OCM President Mike Callicrate says they’re closely watching proposed mega-mergers between ChemChina and Syngenta, Dow and DuPont … Continue reading
Area dairy farms shut down as milk prices slide
By Joe Mahoney CNHI State Reporter FileA cow is seen at Hemlock Valley Farm in Milford in this June 2014 photo ALBANY — Tim Tucek, a Chenango County dairy farmer, said it was a decision he couldn’t avoid given his … Continue reading
