Mike Callicrate | No-Bull Food News

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The Worst

vs.

Excerpts from Obama’s “REAL LEADERSHIP FOR RURAL AMERICA” document:

“Rural communities in America are at a critical point in history. For the past decade, rural America has not been well-served by federal policies, and if Republicans and Democrats in Washington continue these misguided policies, rural families will see their economic fortunes fall further behind those of other Americans. But we have the power to choose a different course. Innovative rural Americans have demonstrated they can compete in the 21st century. But local initiative must be matched by federal policies that empower rural Americans and family farmers.

“In 1785, Thomas Jefferson said, “Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. They are the most vigorous, the most independent, the most virtuous, and they are tied to their country and wedded to its liberty and interests by the most lasting bands.” Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe that more than two centuries later, family farmers are still the cornerstone of American democracy. They will stand with family farmers and helps them thrive for generations to come.

PROMISE: “Prevent Anti-competitive Behavior Against Family Farms: In an era of market consolidation, Barack Obama and Joe Biden will fight to ensure family and independent farmers have fair access to markets, control over their production decisions, and transparency in prices. Obama is a strong supporter of Senator Tom Harkin’s (D-IA) legislation that protects independent producers by banning the ownership of livestock by meat packers, and he will fight for passage of the law as president. Today meatpackers produce more than 20 percent of the nation’s hogs, and their share is growing. When meatpackers own livestock, they bid less aggressively for the hogs and cattle produced by independent farmers. When supplies are short and prices are rising, they are able to stop buying livestock, which disrupts the market.

“The 1921 Packers and Stockyards Act prohibits price discrimination by meatpackers against small and mid-size farmers, but the law has not been enforced. Obama will issue regulations for what constitutes undue price discrimination and his administration will enforce the law. He will also strengthen anti-monopoly laws; change federal agriculture policy to strengthen producer protection from fraud, abuse, and market manipulation; and make sure that farm programs are helping family farmers, as opposed to large, vertically integrated corporate agribusiness.

RESULT: ZERO

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PROMISE: “Regulate CAFOs: Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), which raise more than 40 percent of U.S. livestock, comprise a larger share of the livestock industry every year. Barack Obama has worked for tougher environmental regulations on CAFOs. He has supported legislation to set tough air and water pollution limits for livestock operations, including limits on nitrogen, phosphorus, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and other pollutants. In the Obama Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency will strictly monitor and regulate pollution from large CAFOs, with fines for those who violate tough air and water quality standards. Obama strongly supports efforts to ensure meaningful local control.

RESULT: THE OPPOSITE HAS OCCURRED

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PROMISE: “Encourage Organic and Sustainable Agriculture: Organic food is the fastest growing sector of the American food marketplace. Demand for sustainable, locally grown, grass-finished and heritage foods is also growing quickly. These niche markets present new opportunities for beginning farmers because specialty operations often require more management and labor than capital. To support the continued growth of sustainable alternative agriculture, Barack Obama and Joe Biden will increase funding for the National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program to help farmers afford the costs of compliance with national organic certification standards. They will also reform the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency’s crop insurance rates so that they do not penalize organic farmers.

RESULT: ZERO

Obama’s campaign promises vs. results – Full Campaign Promise

Callicrate Cattle Company receives orders from agency

By Karen Krien | karen.k@nwkansas.com

Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 on Monday issued administrative compliance orders to six concentrated animal feeding operations in Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, directing those operations to correct a range of violations of the federal Clean Water Act. Among those listed was Callicrate Feeding Company, St. Francis.

The enforcement activity, is aimed at encouraging producers’ compliance with the Clean Water Act and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting program.

According to the report, an inspection in February identified failure to maintain adequate waste water storage capacity, failure to meet nutrient management plan requires, failure to conduct operations within areas that are controlled to prevent pollution and failure to maintain adequate records.

A.J. Jones, manager of the feed yard, was mad when talked to on Tuesday. We were following the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s instructions, he said, noting that the only violation might have been in keeping exact records.
Callicrate Cattle Company has been operating without issue under the rules of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for over 20 years, said Mike Callicrate, owner.

“I don’t understand why the Environmental Protection Agency is involved or why the Kansas Department of Health and Environment has appeared to cede their authority to the Feds,” Mr. Callicrate said. “The department of health and environment has authorized us to operate as we currently are.

“We run the cleanest cattle feeding operation I know of. We have never discharged even one drop of water outside our facility – never!”

Mr. Callicrate was also outraged that hay was being classified as a pollutant, requiring to be stored in a controlled discharge area.

“This really smells!” he said.

The order requires the operation to comply with all terms of the Clean Water Act and its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, and to coordinate with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on its compliance. The order requires that the feed yard comply with the terms of its nutrient management plan, including sampling and record keeping requirements. The feedlot has a permitted capacity of 12,000 cattle and was confining approximately 3,219 cattle at the time of the inspection.

Mr. Jones said anyone can visit the feed yard anytime and he will be glad to show them where the charges are coming from.

EPA complaint“We have nothing to hide. We run a clean yard and I will be glad to have people come,” Mr. Jones concluded.

Schedule your visit today by going to CallicrateCattleCo.com and clicking on Contact Us!

Related Information:

EPA’s ‘LETHAL’ ACTION THREATENS ALL FAMILY FARM AGRICULTURE — $37,500 per day per violation!