Frustrated Farmer

We have a small organic farm in the Fraser Valley. I am trying to get the best info I can about what is happening, but the more I look into it, the more I realize there is something very wrong. The disease has revealed serious problems in our food system, and also in our bureaucracy. The avian flu seems to have factory farmers and their supporters the CFIA panicking, and running in all the wrong directions. Some experienced farmers believe that we will not be allowed to have chickens or ducks or geese in the future. This will be devastating to many farms where animals are integrated into the farm procedures. They are not just a source of meat and eggs; they can also be very valuable labor. If we lose our birds we are in trouble. Some people, probably believing the media, act as if the patriotic thing to do is to kill all chickens. They may fink on me while think they are doing me a favor. I asked a Veterinary Doctor to get a voluntary test done, and was told that it is impossible.

Listening to Dr Kiley speak only causes me more concern about how much damage he'll be allowed to cause. I know the World Health Organization has rules about outbreaks like this, but it seems to me that the issue about killing all poultry in the Fraser Valley is possibly more to do with inspiring trust because of export, and creating a safer environment for the factories. In the name of making money for a few people they may destroy many independent farmers and family farms. (Everyone, including professional, experienced farmers, who are not a part of the factory system, are labeled as a "backyard flock") The information releases by the CFIA range from insulting and condescending, to outright falsehood. It is obvious that they are so disconnected from reality that they believe their own propaganda. Now they seem to be trying to use intimidation and threats. How can anyone who is not associated with the factory farm system trust their motives and methods?

There seems to be nowhere to get reliable facts, most people I know are dealing with it by trying to hide, and wait it out. It seems that if you speak out you will call attention to yourself, and that is the last thing we want to do while we are trying to defend our farm from this short sighted insanity.

As organic farmers, we are working toward long term sustainability and global health. No environmental group that I know of has come to give us a hand. I have been told by organizations that defend the environment and are opposed to factory farming that our local organic association has to deal with this. I find the silence of COABC as a complete betrayal. Every local environmental protection group I contacted said that this is not an environmental issue, or that they cannot take a personal cause, such as that of a group of farmers. Some recognized that organic farmers are working on the front lines of environmental defense, were very supportive and sympathetic, but could do nothing. I never realized how many specialized organizations there are. I received a lot of good information, and realized that the Fraser Valley farmers are on their own.

I hear from some farmers they are having difficulty getting feed and other supplies. Our chickens are over three years old, and doing a good job laying and weeding. They are very gentle and peaceful, so we were going to breed them and work toward having one of the first Biodynamic flocks. To be Biodynamic they are not de-beaked at all, so they have to be good tempered. If we loose these hens, and are able to get more, we will probably have to get commercial factory bred birds. If we let some hatch now, will I be able to go a farm supplier to get what I need, or will they fink on me. Media conditioned people say "you will be compensated".

As long as there are so many factory farms in our area the only thing I am certain of, is that next time this happens, it will be worse. Even if they have vaccine for their chickens.

These concerns, and others have caused my wife and me to start shutting the farm down.

Frustrated farmer.