Farmer Hit With $700,000 Fine For Raising Hogs
In a battle that’s been going on for at least a year, a Michigan pig farmer is facing $700,000 for refusing to buckle against an odd and overreaching law. In that state, in an effort to control what they say are feral hogs running amok, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has banned all “heritage hogs”. Basically, this means that if you aren’t running a large-scale hog farm and raising cookie-cutter pigs like the big boys of the pork industry, you risk fines and eventual shut-down.
According to a report last year from State Senator Darwin L. Booher, heritage pigs are niche animals that have grown in popularity among small farm operations. Mark Baker, a farmer and retired Air Force, raises two types of heritage hogs—Mangalitsa and Russian swine—at his small farm.
Despite what the DNR’s law would have people think, these pigs are penned and reportedly well taken care of; they are not running all over Michigan like wild boars or impregnating mainstream swine on traditional pig farms.
The DNR issued something called an Invasive Species Order (ISO) in December 2010, saying that certain types of pigs are invasive and can’t be raised on Michigan farms. Whether it’s their lack of knowledge regarding swine or a desire to take out the little guys, the ISO included all breeds of heritage pigs, including even potbellied pigs which many people keep as pets.
Two years later, in December 2012, the DNR clarified their ISO, describing the physical characteristics that deemed certain pigs as being feral. While they say their ISO is designed to control the state’s feral pig problem, their ISO listed nearly all characteristics that make certain heritage breeds look different, which has nothing to do with them being “feral” (wild or undomesticated).
Heritage pig farmer Baker was given a certain amount of time to get rid of his swine. He refused. Now, he faces $700,000 in fines for “harboring” 70 heritage pigs. He is fighting the DNR’s rule in court, arguing his pigs are not invasive, nor feral, and the over-reaching rule is poorly written. In the meantime, he’s holding on to his pigs.
food tyranny
Crikey, in UK we are encouraged to breed heritage or rare breed pigs and other farm animals. Helps with the gene pool too. Maybe he should move over here.
I love pigs, but I've never seen any like the one in the picture. Does anybody know what type of pig that is???
Mangalista and or Russian pigs, per the article.
The photo on the michigan state web page is that of a true wild pig [female]. and they can be definitely problematic unless culled . I raise rare breed pigs free range here in Co Tipperary Ireland ,I fully support Mr Bakers efforts to raise and maintain heritage pigs.
I would seriously question the reasoning of not allowing him to do so.. http://www.oldfarm.ie
It reminds me of a young Chester White variety. At one time I trucked 1,500 to 1,800 hogs from the Heinold Mkts to the meat packers per week. but oddly it could be a European/Asian bred critter I've never trucked! The new pig virus from the Far East will have us eating more turkey! Sad to say….
Sounds like someone wants to maintain their monopoly and put a few thousand towards bribing government officials!
Keep the pigs!
Corporations have succeeded in stacking our government against "we the people". Our food, our education system and land ownership are all being eroded away, by the time enough people take notice, it will be too late.
I'm thinking it's a muslim thing.
Its a way to take food out of access from REAL Americans like this family and the people that will be fighting against the NWO in couple months? Years? Minutes? The definition of the feral pig that they give is enuf, these men and women have a bigger plan in mind.
I have spoken to the family in this article..They are real salt of the earth kind of people. It's been a real battle for them and so shameful.. This is all real..
The State of Mitchigan should leave Mark Baker and his earth raised hogs alone. That would save them money for fighting giant hogweed. That toxic interloper from Europe will own Mitchigan one day! Among owning other Mid-west states where it and Palmers Amaranth shed their seeds from Hell! This attack on his farm is PS! And few know that General Anthony Macauliffe said BS before they settled on 'Nuts!' at Bastogne in December of 1944. I say this is typically state government interloping BS! or PS! We loose our liberties one liberty at a time!
When I was a Child in Montana, My Family raised Hogs and I found them to be the most interesting Animals to care for. The Cattle and Sheep were a pain in the rear because they were so dense. The Swine were troublesome for being too Smart. They were also the only animals which earned a Profit. I am very sad about the huge Pig Factories. It is time to promote Family Farms and Outlaw In Humane food production for profit.
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I f government wanted to solve the “Feral” hog problem they would simply put a bounty on their heads.When a bounty was put on wolves,they became extinct. The fact they don’t do that tells me they just want to put small farmer out of business to lessen competition to the FACTORY FARMS
This has to be the very best explanation given for Michigan's unconstitutional behaviour.
The unconstitutional behavior displayed by Michigan and its state actors against this citizen farmer should be declared by any legitimate jurist and any competent attorney. What does your Governor and attorney general say about this? Why has not the legislature come to the aid of this citizen?
This is such a disgrace. There really is NO purpose to this law, except to eliminate small, sound operators who compete with BigAg.
This is a gift to special interests on two fronts – not only are the small, diverse farmers being persecuted, if not decimated, but it's a win for the AR activists, too. A veritable freebie, which would serve to eliminate the livestock agriculture that many consumers support over CAFO operations.
The only people who lose in this are the farmers, the consumers, and the hogs themselves. It's despicable.
Just a thought…. Could this attack on the hog growers have anything to do with Michigan's rapidly growing Muslim population? Maybe some sharp investigative reporter should look into the affiliations and associations of those who are behind the destruction of Michigan's hog industry. Hellooooo? Are there any real reporters left out there? I'm so SICK of this garbage! I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!
Monsanto's way of wanting to develop a 'Frankenpig' to go along with their 'Frankenfish' program, etc.
Seems to me that Michigan should be more concerned with the problem of invasive fish in their lake than to worry about 70 pigs.
Let the man raise his pigs!
This beuracracy is way out of control and "We the People" need to take back our freedoms. We pay taxes. This is just getting worse and worse in the US.
Keep your pigs and let me know when the bacon is ready!!!
I wish the government would leave our farmers alone. These folks ain't rich and they're hard working good people who deserve our respect and they deserve to make a decent living. I hope this farmer and the farmer suing Monsanto for finding GM wheat in his field win. God bless them. By the way, that's a really cute pig. Makes me feel guilty for loving bacon.
I am a little confused…does not "feral pigs" include our Government…and would that not be a good control???