Reclaiming Our Rights!

Colonel’s Blog, Earthdate 28 June 2024…

Hey Y’all!

Good evening and happy Fast-Jet Friday from Air2Ground Farms! The fast jets today are the Mighty-Mighty F-15E Strike Eagle. The first pic is my favorite aviation photographer’s favorite pic, taken a couple of years ago. Shelley says it looks a bit like fury being unleashed! The second one was taken this week in Wales. The last one was also taken this week as a 2-ship is approaching the runway for a formation landing. Formation landings barely edged out aerial refueling as the most stressful event I did as a fighter pilot. The wingman flies close formation off of the flight lead, concentrating only on the other jet. You are permitted one glance at the runway immediately prior to touching down but other than that glance, the entire thing is flown watching flight lead. If flown perfectly, both jets touch down at the same time, each in the middle of their half of the runway. The wingman then executes a more aggressive aerobrake and slows faster than the flight lead, ensuring separation. I think training to things like a formation landing explain the absolute trust military folks are able to extend…to those they trust, LOL. We got a quarter of an inch of rain a couple of days ago, which was much needed! The temps are in the 90s and as long as we get some occasional rain, the grass will continue to grow well. The top pics are the current batch of feeder pigs. There are 15 and there is about 6 weeks age difference between the oldest and youngest. We are scheduled to get 6 more in a few weeks and we will probably take the 4 smallest from this batch and put them with the new ones and run two batches, one with 11 and one with 10. The final pic is our newest blend of A2G coffee, JP-5 Ground Pounder. Lots of people were asking for a dark roast so we decided to dedicate this one to our Army and Marine friends. We processed Beef Chicken batch number 4 this week. This batch was significantly smaller than the first 3. They have been getting smaller each batch and this one was a significant change. We think it is because the weather is so hot they are not eating as much. We may have to delay processing by a week or two for the next few batches in the heat of the summer, which throws a bit of a wrench in the scheduling process but I think we can make it happen. If you watch our YouTube videos, you know we’ve been on a bit of a food-freedom kick the past couple of weeks, focusing on raw milk for our last 3 videos. There were a couple of freedom wins recently I’d like to highlight.

This week, the Supreme Court made a monumental decision to overturn the Chevron Doctrine, and in March, Rep. Thomas Massie proposed a Constitutional Amendment to protect our food freedoms. These two events signal a significant shift in the regulatory environment, and here's why they matter. For decades, the Chevron Doctrine has allowed federal agencies to interpret ambiguous laws, often resulting in what many perceive as regulatory overreach. With the Supreme Court's decision to overturn this doctrine, there's a shift towards more accountability and less arbitrary rule-making. Agencies will now need clearer mandates from Congress to impose regulations, which could lead to a fairer and more predictable environment for all of us. Why is this a big deal? Imagine fewer unexpected regulations popping up, making our farming practices easier and more straightforward. For us, Missouri regenerative farmers, this could mean fewer bureaucratic hurdles and more opportunities to thrive without the constant worry of sudden regulatory changes. In a related development, Rep. Thomas Massie proposed a Constitutional Amendment that states “the right of the people to grow food and to purchase food from the source of their choice shall not be infringed, and Congress shall make no law regulating the production and distribution of food products which do not move across state lines.” This amendment aims to limit Congress's power to regulate the production and distribution of food products that do not cross state lines. Inspired by the struggles of farmers like Amos Miller, who faced legal battles over his raw milk and other unpasteurized products, this amendment seeks to prevent federal overreach and promote local food sovereignty. Massie's proposal comes at a time when the agricultural sector is increasingly dominated by a few large corporations. By protecting the rights of individuals and small-scale farmers to grow and sell food locally, this amendment could decentralize food production and give more power back to the people. It’s about ensuring that our food choices are not dictated by a handful of corporate giants (which Massie describes as "corporatocracy" where a few large companies dominate the food industry, thereby limiting individual freedoms and small-scale farming operations) but are instead driven by local farmers and consumers. For farmers in Missouri and across the country, these changes could bring about significant benefits. With the end of Chevron deference, we can expect more transparent and predictable regulatory practices. This clarity can help us focus on what we do best: growing and raising quality food sustainably. Moreover, Massie's amendment could empower us to operate more freely and independently. Imagine being able to sell our GMO-free Berkshire pork, Grass Only Beef, Pasture Raised Chicken, and Free Range Eggs directly to our neighbors without worrying about cumbersome federal regulations. This could foster stronger community ties and support local economies, making it easier for families to access fresh, locally-produced food. You might wonder why these legal and legislative changes matter to us as farmers and consumers. It’s simple: these decisions are about Reclaiming Our Rights and ensuring our voices are heard.

Sunday's video was a look at the basics of raw milk as Shelley and I discuss what you can expect when you make the decision to "go raw." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN_R9jqYIT4&list=UULFNqaipbTwMJVyld1tmsaCkA&index=2&pp=gAQBiAQB

Thursday's Dust'er Mud podcast was about raw milk where we look at the history, regulations, and some benefits you may not hear in other places. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxFwcJ1qjRo&list=UULFNqaipbTwMJVyld1tmsaCkA&index=1&pp=gAQBiAQB

Cheers!

Psycho & Shelley