Well that time has come to pack my bags after a week of packing flurry and last minute mayhem. Not to mention a trek across the great white north to the other side of Lake Erie for a beautiful wedding at the Knox estate (Founder of the Albright Knox) for a very good friend and coincidentally my cousin and his wife Amber, some highly emotional grandma visitations, and an installation at the University of Michigan down in Ann Arbor including the opening. Now its back to the daily grind at the motors of general for about 6 more hours including a trip for my habitual monday burrito then finish packing personal wardrobe and supplies needed for this second week of travel, visitation and most importantly aesthetic happiness that some refer to as art.
Also wanted to give you a lil peek at what i will be bringing that will be available to the masses for consumption and making the walls more lively in whatever venue they choose be it offices, homes or fornification dens. Both colorways or of the limited kind one being more exclusive then the other. The thoery on this is heavily dependent on color and global warmings effects. Its pretty simple the warmer the rarer. Well i ll stop the babble and hopefully see the hordes of beautiful people that populate the left coast at the opening. DH IV
Monday, September 10, 2007
One Day to LA and new Prints available.
Studio + Lab, Universtiy of Michigan, Ann Arbor
opening fri sept 7, 2007
some photos can be seen @ mattshlian.blogspot.com/2007/09/s-l-opening-pictures.html
A ton of awesome artists and art.
Also curated by
Matt Shlian and
Max Stien
any body else find the humor in that.
I have an installation in the show and is a departure from the paintings. Something i ve been working on for about a year.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Monday, June 11, 2007
RIP Charley Harper.
A true inspiration and a large loss to the art world.
news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070611/LIF...
Thursday, May 10, 2007
POSTAL DEATH TO INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS
Saw this on Logan Hicks Blog Workhorse Visuals and Thought it was very worthy to help spread the word. To help click this link http://action.freepress.net//campaign/postal and send an email to Chairman James C. Miller III, Postal Board of Governors and your Congressperson. alright now for the story...---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------HELP STOP THE POSTAL SERVICE'S NEW FAVOR OF CORPORATE PUBLISHERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------There is a MAJOR CRISIS in our media taking place right now; it is getting almost no attention and unless we act very soon the consequences for our society could well be disastrous. And it will only take place because it is being done without any public awareness or participation; it goes directly AGAINST the very foundations of FREEEDOMOF THE PRESS in the entirety of American history.The U.S. Post Office is in the process of implementing a radical reformulation of its rates for magazines, such that smaller periodicals will be hit with a much much larger increase than the largest magazines.Because the Post Office is a MONOPOLY, and because magazines must use it, the postal rates always have been skewed to make it cheaper for smaller publications to get launched and to survive. The whole idea has been to use the postal rates to keep publishing as competitive and wide open as possible. This bedrock principle was put in place by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. They considered it mandatory to create the press system, the Fourth Estate necessary for self-government.It was postal policy that converted the free press clause in the First Amendment from an abstract principle into a living breathing reality for Americans. And it has served that role throughout our history.What the Post Office is now proposing goes directly against 215 years of postal policy. The Post Office is in the process of implementing a radical reformulation of its mailing rates for magazines. Under the plan, smaller periodicals will be hit with a much larger increase than the big magazines, as much as 30 percent. Some of the largest circulation magazines will face hikes of less than 10 percent.The new rates, which go into effect on July 15, were developed with no public involvement or congressional oversight, and the increased costs could DAMAGE HUNDREDS, even THOUSANDS, of SMALLER PUBLICATIONS, possibly putting many out of business. This includes nearly every political journal in the nation. These are the magazines that often provide the most original journalism and analysis. These are the magazines that provide much of the content on Common Dreams. We desperately need them.What the Post Office is planning to do now, in the dark of night, is implement a rate structure that gives the best prices to the biggest publishers, hence letting them lock in their market position and lessen the threat of any new competition. The new rates could make it almost impossible to launch a new magazine, unless it is spawned by a huge conglomerate.Not surprisingly, the new scheme was drafted by TIME WARNER, the largest magazine publisher in the nation. All evidence available suggests the bureaucrats responsible have never considered the implications of their draconian reforms for small and independent publishers, or for citizens who depend upon a free press.The corruption and sleaziness of this process is difficult to exaggerate. As one lawyer who works for a large magazine publisher admits, "It takes a publishing company several hundred thousand dollars to even participate in these rate cases. Some large corporations spend millions to influence these rates." Little guys, and the general public who depend upon these magazines, are not at the table when the deal is being made.The genius of the postal rate structure over the past 215 years was that it did not favor a particular viewpoint; it simply made it easier for smaller magazines to be launched and to survive. That is why the publications opposing the secretive Post Office rate hikes cross the political spectrum. This is not a left-wing issue or a right-wing issue, it is a democracy issue. And it is about having competitive media markets that benefit all Americans. This reform will have disastrous effects for all small and mid-sized publications, be they on POLITICS, MUSIC, SPORTS or GARDENING.This process was conducted with such little publicity and pitched only at the dominant players that we only learned about it a few weeks ago and it is very late in the game. But there is something you can do. Please go to www.stoppostalratehikes.com and sign the letter to the Postal Board protesting the new rate system and demanding a congressional hearing before any radical changes are made. The deadline for comments is April 23.I know many of you are connected to publications that go through the mail, or libraries and bookstores that pay for subscriptions to magazines and periodicals. If you fall in these categories, it is imperative you get everyone connected to your magazine or operation to go to www.stoppostalratehikes.com.We do not have a moment to lose. If there is one thing we have learned, it is that if enough people raise hell, we can force politicians to do the right thing. This is a time for serious hell-raising.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
3 Course Meal - Portland
I just wanted to say thank you to everyone that came out to the show last thurs. I had a blast meeting everyone and hearing everyones comments. I will be posting some pics of the show as soon as i get the images ready to go. If you weren t able to make it be sure to check out you can see all the paintings that i had in the show on my flickr account. To access go to my site http://www.dennishayesiv.com/ and click on the flickr link. Thanks again to everyone.
Painting Shown
Keeping Up - Compound Gallery - Portland OR
Latex, acrylic, spray paint, shellac, varnish, India Ink, tar, on reclaimed board
12x 18x 3
Thursday, April 26, 2007
3 Course Meal - Compound Gallery - May 3rd Portland
www.compoundgallery.com
Artists:
Dennis J Hayes IV - www.dennishayesiv.com
Robert Hardgrave - www.farmerbob.com
Kristian Olson - www.kristianolson.com
Opening May 3rd.
Thinking within the box mini series - Boontling Gallery, Oakland CA
Three pieces in the People are everywhere Show at Boontling Gallery, Oakland CA.
contact Gallery for Availability
www.boontlinggallery.com
Pieces from left to right
"Twisted Thoughts"
Latex, acrylic, Spray, India Ink, Shellac, Varnish, Spaulted Maple Plywood.
4.75”x 8.75”x 4.5”
"Pipe Dreams"
Latex, acrylic, Spray, India Ink, Shellac, Varnish, Spaulted Maple Plywood.
6”x 8.75”x 4.5”
"Severed Thoughts"
Latex, acrylic, Spray, India Ink, Shellac, Varnish, Spaulted Maple Plywood.
4.75”x 8.75”x 4.5”
People Are Everywhere - Boontling Gallery, Oakland CA
People Are Everywhere - Boontling Gallery, Oakland CA
May 4th - May 27, 2007
Show curated by James "thesis" Kirkpatrick
www.boontlinggallery.com for more info
Artists:
basco
jeff canham
matt feyld
dennis "7teen" Hayes
jordin isip
rich jacobs
james thesis kirkpatrick
labrona
matt leines
alex lukas
other
luke ramsy
jesse reno
rot gut
jenna rose sands
thomas stavnes
peter thompson
Monday, April 02, 2007
Picks of the Harvest - Thinkspace Gallery, Los Angeles
Here is one of two pieces that are going to be in the Picks of the Harvest at Thinkspace Gallery. Be sure to check it out. Also Limited Addictions Elevation show is still up for a limited time. Be sure to check out the show in person if in LA or Denver or online at
www.thinkspacegallery.com
www.limitedaddictiongallery.com
also be on the look out for a 3 man show at compound gallery in Portland on May 3rd.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Picks of the Harvest 4 - Thinkspace Gallery LA
April 13th - April 27th.
Tons of Artists that rock.
Plus i ll have some work up in there.
Be sure to check it out if your around.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
"ECO " Nichols Gallery, Pitzer College \ Claremont CA.
Conscience of Science DroppIngs - "ECO " Nichols Gallery, Pitzer College \ Claremont CA., originally uploaded by 7teen.
Image of "Conscience of Science DroppIngs " being shown at Nichols Gallery at Pitzer College.
http://www.pitzer.edu/offices/nichols_gallery/index.asp
from the website.
At the most basic level, the Environment can be described as a collection of organic and inorganic systems functioning together to sustain life. Art is a uniquely human representation and expression of the interaction with these systems. The Eco Art Exhibition is a sampling of the many ways in which the natural environment is represented in contemporary artwork. Through a variety of mediums, the natural environment is transformed from a neutral network of external processes into works of beauty, political statement, and intellectual conception.
Artists confirmed for the Exhibition include: Jennifer Bennett, Edward Cao, Nichole Carlton, Julian Duron, Dennis Hayes, Robert P. Hernandez '06, Jeremy Johnson, Doug LaRocca, Alexandra Matus, Morgana Matus '07, Chris Musina, Michael Nikolas, Justin Odaffer, Daryll Peirce and Nelson Trombley.
Additional Information
The artwork featured in the Eco Art Exhibition is for sale as well as reproduction prints and postcards. The show runs from January 16 - February 2 with an opening reception on January 20.
About the Organizer
Morgana Matus '07 is a Senior Environmental Studies Major at Pitzer College. Through a lifelong dual interest in science and the arts, she has pursued studies in biology, sociology and art history. By attending a liberal arts college, she is able to examine the intersections between seemingly separate disciplines and create a more well-rounded and inclusive view of the natural environment.
Friday, January 26, 2007
In the Cards - Limited Addiction Gallery - Denver
New piece for the opening show at Limited Addiction.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Creepy Cows - things to make you go (m) EWWWWW.
Well i ve been slacking on the posts lately. however i ve been quite busy tending to my 9-5 my wife and kids and concentrating on the painting. I wanted to post an email that i just recieved from our local food source and pass it on to you. I have been pretty sick to my stomach about some of the things going on with our food sources for a few years now and haven t really done to much about it besides make sure i try to by a majority of our food from local and known sources. The recent decisions about cloned animals going to the market place creeped me out though and i figured it was time to start doing a lil more about it and try to post more about whats happening with our foods and agriculture in general (which this blog was supposed to concentrate on partially any how). Hope you enjoy the read.
From: "Maple Creek Farm"
To: "Michelle Lutz"
Subject: Food News From The Farm Issue 1
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 09:35:34 -0500
Food News From The Farm Jan 19th, 2007
Issue 1
Maple Creek Farm
Dear Supporters & Consumers Of Organic Food,
We feel a sense of responsibility as your organic farmers to ask for your help when our food choices are being threatened. We know our voice as a csa is heard, so please let's get involved and be a part of positive change. We hope you enjoy our new email segment this year-Food News From The Farm.
There has been a lot of negative reports about our food lately in the news, it seems everywhere we turn we're hearing about cloned animal meat, genetically modified animals, grains, vegetables, fraud & mislabeling of organic products (Wal-Mart). The truth is the only way to really know your food is to know your farmer. We understand it may feel a little unrealistic to have a connection with every aspect of your consumption, but we know there are channels available to us all right here in Michigan where we can make an impact. So we're asking you to get involved. See below for how to take action.
First concern among a lot of farmers and consumers is the NAIS program. Basically it's an animal id program. Many people think this is going to over burden the small producer and force them out of the market place. While we are able to understand the concerns facing the conventional food systems i.e. dealing with mad cow, cloned and genetically modified animal products entering out food chains in the near future. The USDA will need a system to track down (ha) the contaminated food source. We wish they could see the answer lies not in id tags, but in sustainable organic farm
practices. Stop feeding animal protein tubs (proteins tubs used in conventional systems contain the carcasses of animals, as a source of "protein"), keep the animals on pasture, stop feeding hormones & antibiotics as part of their regular diet, stop mass confinement of animals. If we could stop feed lots and the practices kept in that mass production system we wouldn't have to worry about mad cow, they wouldn't have to feed hormones and antibiotics as part of their regular diet. Cows
like to eat grasses, it's just that simple.
I was very disappointed to read the other day that some scientists solution to mad cow is not a simple dietary change, but to genetically modified the animal to not produce prions! Deep down I know why these changes are made, because they (big ag business) can make lots of producers dependent on their costly course. Costly in many ways....way beyond just dollars & cents.
Our approach as organic farmers is just far too simple, feed & take care of your animals well. Big business doesn't want to go the organic route because there is far too much money made in the conventional farming arena (not the farmers, just the manufactures of ag related products). From the excessive drugs the animals are fed to the petroleum based fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and the genetic modification of the crops grown to feed them, there's some mighty big hands in those pots. I'm talking about Monsanto, Cargill, ADM-the latest commercials from these companies really scare me, the king of spin, they want you to believe they care about your health and the health of our environment. Nothing could be further from the truth. They just want to control the market place, control the food-right
down to the seed, and take away your food choice.
Maybe we're just one of the lucky ones. Our beef operation is small, and it really works for us. We have a small herd of certified organic registered black angus. We brought the animals to the farm to aid in soil fertilization over 8 years ago. We also use the beef herd as part of our crop rotation program. We are also a breeding operation for another organic farmer in the area (Elmer Slabaugh) he takes all of our steers, and raises them for purchase. We are also blessed to have right here in Yale a family owned organic processor. C Roys. So maybe it's just our situation, but I can track my animals without a special computer tracking chips. Computer chips that cost money, require special software to report, and to be quite
honest we really don't have time to add this into our already busy schedules. What we will spend time on is growing your good food :
We will be contacting the governor asking her not to implement the NAIS program and I hope you will too.
Your Organic Farmers,
Danny & Michelle Lutz
Maple Creek Farm
www.maplecreekfarm.com
HOW TO TAKE ACTION
The following is a full report sent to be by Healthy Traditions Network giving you the full scoop on NAIS: Please pass this email along others that will help.
Immediate Action Needed to Protect Our Food Supply! Fight Cattle ID!
We face a serious threat to our food supply. The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) has pushed through a requirement to add a new electronic tag to all cattle by March 1, 2007, just 6 weeks from now. This is a needless, costly procedure that will saddle small family farms with practical, financial, and ethical burdens. Many may leave the business rather than comply, or be forced out by the costs. While this is being done under the guise of the tuberculosis program, it is also the start of a
federal program, called the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), which will bring all animals (including pets) under massive government surveillance.
MDA's plan will harm both farmers and consumers. Please contact our Governor and ask her to halt the program until reasonable alternatives can be found.
What to do - Contact the Governor:
Between Wednesday, January 17, and Friday, February 9, call, fax, e-mail or write the Governor. Focus on just one or two points in each message. State your name and address and ask the Governor to stop implementation of the Michigan Mandatory Animal Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Program. This is the only way we can stop this with so little time left.
We need 3,000 messages to get her attention enough to act. We can do this!
(1) contact the Governor yourself and
(2) forward the alert to 10 friends.We need to reach farmers and consumers throughout the state with this
request!
Contact information:
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, P.O. Box 30113, Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: (517) 373-3400
Fax: (517) 335-6863
Email form:
http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-21992_21995-65331--,00.html
What to Say & How:
Call, fax, and email are best if you can do it. Below are talking points
that you may use in your messages. Be sure to personalize your call, email
or letter - tell her a bit about who you are and why you think this is
important. Show you care, but stay polite.
Messages Due to Governor by February 9th -
We will then ask the Governor for an in-person meeting to present the issues. If you must use mail, for religious reasons, just send the letters as soon as you can.
For more information, go to www.libertyark.net or contact Lisa Imerman at
lrimerman@comcast.net or 248-618-9266.
Talking points
Economic Damage. NAIS and the Michigan's Mandatory RFID Cattle tagging program will drive farmers and ranchers out of business and hurt Michigan's economy.
There has been no cost analysis by USDA or MDA. Costs of the program = the cost of the tags, hardware, software, and labor.
Small farmer and ranchers will pay these costs, and many cannot afford it.
Service providers (veterinarians, feed stores, auction houses, meat processors, etc.) will be harmed whenthe farmers and ranchers go out of business.
Remaining farmers will pass the costs on to consumers, lowering demand for local foods.
The Governor's Michigan Food Policy Council recommended increasing the purchasing of Michigan-grown food products, supporting local farmers, to stimulate Michigan's
economy. MDA's program undermines goals. Exporting isn't the answer for Michigan's local farmers. They should not have to tag if they're not exporting. No Scientific Basis. Neither the USDA nor the MDA has scientific proof show that this will improve disease control.
It does not address the cause, treatment, or transmission of disease, in domestic or wild animals.
It does not significantly improve on current methods for identification
and tracking of disease. Even with
the RFID program in place, MDA recommends farmers still keep
written field records. So, farmers must now use two systems.
Not for Food Safety The program will not improve food safety. USDA itself has stated that this is not a food safety program. Contamination of food with e. coli and other bacteria occurs at the slaughterhouse or afterwards.
Not About Terrorism. The program will not protect against terrorism. The microchips chosen by the state can be cloned, destroyed, or infected with computer
viruses, and reprogrammed. Any terrorist or thief can use this.
The database of information will be created by Michigan but available to USDA. Government databases can be hacked into.
Unconstitutional. The NAIS and Michigan's mandatory Cattle RFID tagging program infringes on people's constitutional rights, including due process, privacy,
and religious freedom. MDA's proposal to address religious concerns isn't fully defined.
Voluntary Federal NAIS USDA states that NAIS is voluntary at the federal
level, so there is no "federal mandate requiring MDA to move forward with this program.
The MDA has signed a Cooperative Agreement with USDA, however, and is
also getting federal funds for implementing the cattle tagging program.
MDA is following funding, not the will of the citizens of the state.
MDA also has a conflict of interest because one of the main officials
implementing this program, Kevin Kirk, is the Treasurer for an industry organization (NIAA) that is advocating for NAIS.
No Legal Basis. MDA is implementing this new program via policy change, with no new legislation or the normal regulatory process
Without any pre-notification, the MDA simply assigned a USDA premises
number to all people who had herds tested in the TB Eradication program, which may lead to expensive litigation over misuse of people's information.
CONCLUSION: Many legislators are prepared to address the issue, but they need more time. We implore the Governor to stop this program before March
From: "Maple Creek Farm"
To: "Michelle Lutz"
Subject: Food News From The Farm Issue 1
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 09:35:34 -0500
Food News From The Farm Jan 19th, 2007
Issue 1
Maple Creek Farm
Dear Supporters & Consumers Of Organic Food,
We feel a sense of responsibility as your organic farmers to ask for your help when our food choices are being threatened. We know our voice as a csa is heard, so please let's get involved and be a part of positive change. We hope you enjoy our new email segment this year-Food News From The Farm.
There has been a lot of negative reports about our food lately in the news, it seems everywhere we turn we're hearing about cloned animal meat, genetically modified animals, grains, vegetables, fraud & mislabeling of organic products (Wal-Mart). The truth is the only way to really know your food is to know your farmer. We understand it may feel a little unrealistic to have a connection with every aspect of your consumption, but we know there are channels available to us all right here in Michigan where we can make an impact. So we're asking you to get involved. See below for how to take action.
First concern among a lot of farmers and consumers is the NAIS program. Basically it's an animal id program. Many people think this is going to over burden the small producer and force them out of the market place. While we are able to understand the concerns facing the conventional food systems i.e. dealing with mad cow, cloned and genetically modified animal products entering out food chains in the near future. The USDA will need a system to track down (ha) the contaminated food source. We wish they could see the answer lies not in id tags, but in sustainable organic farm
practices. Stop feeding animal protein tubs (proteins tubs used in conventional systems contain the carcasses of animals, as a source of "protein"), keep the animals on pasture, stop feeding hormones & antibiotics as part of their regular diet, stop mass confinement of animals. If we could stop feed lots and the practices kept in that mass production system we wouldn't have to worry about mad cow, they wouldn't have to feed hormones and antibiotics as part of their regular diet. Cows
like to eat grasses, it's just that simple.
I was very disappointed to read the other day that some scientists solution to mad cow is not a simple dietary change, but to genetically modified the animal to not produce prions! Deep down I know why these changes are made, because they (big ag business) can make lots of producers dependent on their costly course. Costly in many ways....way beyond just dollars & cents.
Our approach as organic farmers is just far too simple, feed & take care of your animals well. Big business doesn't want to go the organic route because there is far too much money made in the conventional farming arena (not the farmers, just the manufactures of ag related products). From the excessive drugs the animals are fed to the petroleum based fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and the genetic modification of the crops grown to feed them, there's some mighty big hands in those pots. I'm talking about Monsanto, Cargill, ADM-the latest commercials from these companies really scare me, the king of spin, they want you to believe they care about your health and the health of our environment. Nothing could be further from the truth. They just want to control the market place, control the food-right
down to the seed, and take away your food choice.
Maybe we're just one of the lucky ones. Our beef operation is small, and it really works for us. We have a small herd of certified organic registered black angus. We brought the animals to the farm to aid in soil fertilization over 8 years ago. We also use the beef herd as part of our crop rotation program. We are also a breeding operation for another organic farmer in the area (Elmer Slabaugh) he takes all of our steers, and raises them for purchase. We are also blessed to have right here in Yale a family owned organic processor. C Roys. So maybe it's just our situation, but I can track my animals without a special computer tracking chips. Computer chips that cost money, require special software to report, and to be quite
honest we really don't have time to add this into our already busy schedules. What we will spend time on is growing your good food :
We will be contacting the governor asking her not to implement the NAIS program and I hope you will too.
Your Organic Farmers,
Danny & Michelle Lutz
Maple Creek Farm
www.maplecreekfarm.com
HOW TO TAKE ACTION
The following is a full report sent to be by Healthy Traditions Network giving you the full scoop on NAIS: Please pass this email along others that will help.
Immediate Action Needed to Protect Our Food Supply! Fight Cattle ID!
We face a serious threat to our food supply. The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) has pushed through a requirement to add a new electronic tag to all cattle by March 1, 2007, just 6 weeks from now. This is a needless, costly procedure that will saddle small family farms with practical, financial, and ethical burdens. Many may leave the business rather than comply, or be forced out by the costs. While this is being done under the guise of the tuberculosis program, it is also the start of a
federal program, called the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), which will bring all animals (including pets) under massive government surveillance.
MDA's plan will harm both farmers and consumers. Please contact our Governor and ask her to halt the program until reasonable alternatives can be found.
What to do - Contact the Governor:
Between Wednesday, January 17, and Friday, February 9, call, fax, e-mail or write the Governor. Focus on just one or two points in each message. State your name and address and ask the Governor to stop implementation of the Michigan Mandatory Animal Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Program. This is the only way we can stop this with so little time left.
We need 3,000 messages to get her attention enough to act. We can do this!
(1) contact the Governor yourself and
(2) forward the alert to 10 friends.We need to reach farmers and consumers throughout the state with this
request!
Contact information:
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, P.O. Box 30113, Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: (517) 373-3400
Fax: (517) 335-6863
Email form:
http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-21992_21995-65331--,00.html
What to Say & How:
Call, fax, and email are best if you can do it. Below are talking points
that you may use in your messages. Be sure to personalize your call, email
or letter - tell her a bit about who you are and why you think this is
important. Show you care, but stay polite.
Messages Due to Governor by February 9th -
We will then ask the Governor for an in-person meeting to present the issues. If you must use mail, for religious reasons, just send the letters as soon as you can.
For more information, go to www.libertyark.net or contact Lisa Imerman at
lrimerman@comcast.net or 248-618-9266.
Talking points
Economic Damage. NAIS and the Michigan's Mandatory RFID Cattle tagging program will drive farmers and ranchers out of business and hurt Michigan's economy.
There has been no cost analysis by USDA or MDA. Costs of the program = the cost of the tags, hardware, software, and labor.
Small farmer and ranchers will pay these costs, and many cannot afford it.
Service providers (veterinarians, feed stores, auction houses, meat processors, etc.) will be harmed whenthe farmers and ranchers go out of business.
Remaining farmers will pass the costs on to consumers, lowering demand for local foods.
The Governor's Michigan Food Policy Council recommended increasing the purchasing of Michigan-grown food products, supporting local farmers, to stimulate Michigan's
economy. MDA's program undermines goals. Exporting isn't the answer for Michigan's local farmers. They should not have to tag if they're not exporting. No Scientific Basis. Neither the USDA nor the MDA has scientific proof show that this will improve disease control.
It does not address the cause, treatment, or transmission of disease, in domestic or wild animals.
It does not significantly improve on current methods for identification
and tracking of disease. Even with
the RFID program in place, MDA recommends farmers still keep
written field records. So, farmers must now use two systems.
Not for Food Safety The program will not improve food safety. USDA itself has stated that this is not a food safety program. Contamination of food with e. coli and other bacteria occurs at the slaughterhouse or afterwards.
Not About Terrorism. The program will not protect against terrorism. The microchips chosen by the state can be cloned, destroyed, or infected with computer
viruses, and reprogrammed. Any terrorist or thief can use this.
The database of information will be created by Michigan but available to USDA. Government databases can be hacked into.
Unconstitutional. The NAIS and Michigan's mandatory Cattle RFID tagging program infringes on people's constitutional rights, including due process, privacy,
and religious freedom. MDA's proposal to address religious concerns isn't fully defined.
Voluntary Federal NAIS USDA states that NAIS is voluntary at the federal
level, so there is no "federal mandate requiring MDA to move forward with this program.
The MDA has signed a Cooperative Agreement with USDA, however, and is
also getting federal funds for implementing the cattle tagging program.
MDA is following funding, not the will of the citizens of the state.
MDA also has a conflict of interest because one of the main officials
implementing this program, Kevin Kirk, is the Treasurer for an industry organization (NIAA) that is advocating for NAIS.
No Legal Basis. MDA is implementing this new program via policy change, with no new legislation or the normal regulatory process
Without any pre-notification, the MDA simply assigned a USDA premises
number to all people who had herds tested in the TB Eradication program, which may lead to expensive litigation over misuse of people's information.
CONCLUSION: Many legislators are prepared to address the issue, but they need more time. We implore the Governor to stop this program before March
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