The Boar War: Independent Farmers Hogtied by Lansing and Big Pig

[XLFD]

"A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government."

 --Thomas Jefferson

 

Over two hundred thirty years ago, a ragtag army conscripted of mostly farmers and representing less than 30% of the population, sent the most powerful nation in the world a wake up call and eventually fought for and won their freedom from that corrupted nation's government.  A much smaller ragtag army is forming in Michigan to push back against the most recent power grab of our government. 

 

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is a state agency “responsible for the stewardship of Michigan's natural resources and for the provision of outdoor recreational opportunities.” As part of that responsibility, the agency recently issued new guidelines regulating the types of pigs that are permitted within the Wolverine State so as to “stop the spread of feral swine and the disease risk they pose to humans, domestic pigs, and wildlife."

 

Whether a pig is prohibited or not depends on eight physical characteristics, including the coloration of its bristles, coat coloration, underfur coloration, skeletal appearance, ear structure and “other characteristics not currently known to the MI DNR that are identified by the scientific community.” Rather than clarify the scope of this order, the MI DNR has told individual farmers to bring in pictures of their pigs so the MI DNR can decide, on a case-by-case basis, whether a pig must be destroyed. And any farmer found to possess a prohibited pig is subject to a felony conviction, two years in jail, and $20,000 in fines. 

 

Can you imagine such an order applied to our own people?  This experiment in pig eugenics brings one to mind of the genetic purification envisioned by the German leadership back in the 1940's and the past evils of slavery in this country which Michigan fought 150 years ago to end.  The arbitrary decimation of a race of any species by the government, should have the population up in arms with torches and pitchforks.  Environmentalists and farmers should be fighting it side by side.

 

Mark Baker, an air force veteran and the owner of Bakers Green Acres Farm, filed a lawsuit challenging the Department’s order. Baker raises specific heritage breeds of hogs which he has chosen because they can withstand Michigan’s cold winters and because they are prized for their reddish-meat and high fat content by chefs and other gourmet food consumers. Now, because those breeds exhibit characteristics on the MI DNR's  list, his entire operation is likely illegal under Michigan law; he expects the MI DNR to show up at his farm any moment to destroy his animals and his livelihood. 

 

 

Unsurprisingly, the Michigan Pork Producers Association—an organization whose members do not grow heritage pigs—supports the Department, which has allegedly assured the Association that its members’ operations will be exempt. It must be nice for large-scale producers who command enough political clout to simply outlaw their competition. Meanwhile, Mark Baker and other smaller-scale farmers must wait to see where the bureaucratic winds will blow.

 

It has been a holocaust for some heritage pig farmers.  Dave Tuxbury of Deer Track's Ranch (Fife Lake) related this story to Mark Baker: 

I was served a search warrant yesterday at 7: 45am.

After 8 guys 3 four wheelers, and 4 hours, DNR decided I was correct. I have killed all my hogs. They gave me papers that say I do not have any hogs on my property. All they saw were dead hogs laying around from my mass slaughtering. It took 12 guys 4 times in there to kill all of them, sows with young, Pregnant sows, dozens of piglets, and old mature boars. It has been a sad few weeks.

Does anyone know what it feels like to open fire on 20 baby piglets in one group which weigh between 5lbs and 15 lbs. They are so adorable and cute.

They commented to everyone that they never saw a fence built so tough and no way would a hog get out of this area. I trenched 2′ then installed chain link fencing, then a 10′ high tightlock fence on top of that. ( 200 acre area ) They never saw a fence like that.

 

Read more, view more videos, and send any support you can muster for Farmer Baker's efforts:  http://www.bakersgreenacres.com/

 

As for myself, I've still yet to see a feral pig or the carcass of one, and I go through rural Mason County frequently.  Yet, we have had feral pigs reported in Mason County as reported in the LDN on 9-18-2008 and 2-25-2009-- and on 3-2-2010 they alerted us to the fact that feral pigs were the focus of three bills in Lansing.   It looks as if those bills have been passed into law and have overreached that objective, and are harassing responsible farmers.  Definitely, pork for BIG Pork.

[Robert]

I have followed this topic from time to time and can only say, shame on the DNR. With a claimed population (DNR) of 5,000, why haven’t I/others seen one? Why no pictures?

These experts continue to deny the presence of wolves/cougars in the Lower Peninsula, yet sign cougar warnings in in the Sleeping Bear Dunes area. The DNR? I sighted a gray wolf on my property, absolutely no doubt. I couldn’t get to my camera and change lenses quick enough but did photograph tracks. 2 ½ x 4 1/2, good quality photos, tape measure reference and emailed to the DNR. No interest. Clearly not coyote tracks by any stretch. Plenty of cougar sightings by the locals but always crossing the road. Chances of an encounter in the woods are slim and none. They are afraid of and avoid human contact.

The tale of this farmer is outrageous. Stick to checking hunting/fishing licenses, a low common sense activity. If indeed this was a big issue, you can bet Michigan hunters would be on the trail.        

[XLFD]

Good point, Robert.  When black bears and cougars are photographed and seen in the Mason County area, the LDN runs with a story on it.  The two stories with the feral pig problem, to my recollection, had no proof other than anecdotes from non-feral pig farmers.  Is this all that's needed to change policy and law?

The Torch will continue to follow this story and the heroic efforts of Farmer Baker.

[Robert]

Wow, XL....

http://creekbed.org/venture_outdoors/mason%20cougar.htm

Not one of my big crusades but why so hard to find these pics?

[XLFD]

Robert,

Did you notice that the cougar was in Mason County, Washington? 

I think Picture This! had some photos of local cougars.

[masonco]

I've seen bobcat, coyote, cougar all in my driveway here in East Mason county in the past year. Bear calling cards have been left too.

[Willy]

I'm no expert but haven't wild pigs been around forever and aren't domestic pigs descendents of wild pigs? Stupid government intrusion.

[XLFD]

That is correct.  It should be noted that in Michigan it is always open hunting season on wild pigs. 

These facts were compiled just last year about pig attacks:  between 1825 and 2010 there have been 330 wild pig attacks on humans documented throughout the world (most in the US) around 1/3 of such encounters were labelled unprovoked, and 1/3 involved no injuries to the attacked person.  Around 50 people have been killed worldwide by wild pig attacks in nearly 200 years or reporting.   http://urbanwildlife2011.tpwd.state.tx.us/media/mayer2.pdf

Meanwhile, in the US, there were 30 and 32 fatal dog attacks in the USA alone in the years 2009 and 2010.  Pit Bulls alone accounted for 55 fatal dog attacks in the four year period of 2007-2010. 

But would Americans sit still for the DNR coming to their home to kill their pit bulls and Rottweilers because of their genetical 'violent proclivities'?  I think not.

[Sweater Cows!]

First the war on drugs then the war on 'terrorism', now regulation to the point of insanity. Just wait for the roadside checkpoints and wish you had moved to a less gestapo like state, hmm..Mexico sounds less dangerous than the USA in the near future, there at least all you have to do is bribe your way out of things!

Notice now days how nearly every crime is a felony? Know what that means? disarming the populace, easily, the more felonies the less who should have guns. Plus add that the the terror and drug wars and we have given up our constitution to the Marxist, fascist, socialist, communist or whatever 'ist' you want to call our evolving gov't.

Of course now that Monsanto has cornered the market and paid the courts with their PAC money they will outlaw anything that the pAC funders can't put a patent on.

[XLFD]

I missed this earlier post of yours, When, but I would definitely have to agree with you on your perceptions.  Government and business partnerships lead to partnerships in tyranny and monopoly, and eventually, socialism.  This story here reminds me of George Orwell's Animal Farm, where their lead pig Napoleon represents the Big Pig farmers and the motto is:  "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." 

 Here is some of the latest in the Boar War, some graphic photos surfacing of the aftermath of the MI DNR:   http://www.naturalnews.com/035758_feral_pigs_Michigan_photos.html

[XLFD]

I've been loosely following this story through their Facebook site, it's finally coming to a head this upcoming Monday in a Marquette court.  This Marion farmer is searching not only to protect his own farm, but the right to farm, the right to due process, and to restrain the power of a state agency who should have nothing other than regulatory powers making their own laws.  Here are some of his thoughts before trial, check out some of his other posts on the road to get there, continue to follow this crazy ordeal, and lend your spiritual or financial support to his cause if you can.

[Willy]

Instead of messing with farmers there should be open season 12 months a year on wild pigs. If that were the case the pig population would be down to 0 in no time. In my entire life I have never seen a wild pig, heard one or seen signs of them in the wilds of Michigan. I have seen bear, bobcats, wolves, coyotes, moose, elk and Big Foot [just kidding]. 

[Willy]

I did a little checking and  found out that there are an "estimated" 5000 wild pigs in Michigan. Mind you now, that is an estimate. I myself have never seen a wild pig or even seen signs of one and noone else I have talked to has ever seen one, even the hunters. Michigan has around 57,000 square miles of land, so, doing a little math it is "estimated" that there are around .08 pigs per square mile or 1 pig for every 12.5 square miles. Hardly a nuisance population. The DNR claims crop damage is one of the main problems with wild pigs. As we all know deer are also involved in crop damage. I've read some estimates of deer population to be as high as 1.7 to 2 million. If we use the smaller number we end up with  29 deer for every square mile or 362 deer in the same 12.5 square miles that 1 pig occupies. So who does the DNR think they're fooling when they claim pigs are a crop damage nuisance?  I think my numbers are correct. Are there any math majors out there who would check them for me?