From Chelsey @ Chew with Your Mouth Open on Wed, May 04, 2011

Great post!  This is SUCH an important cause.  It baffles me even to think that they are trying to pass these laws when just the opposite should be happening.  I hope everyone does their part in supporting the “Farmarazzi”!

From Robert Voss on Wed, May 04, 2011

Will the government step up to protect the people…..NO!

From Ann Williams on Wed, May 04, 2011

Great post, but you didn’t provide a link to the petition. Ann

From Robert Voss on Wed, May 04, 2011

Click abouve, where it says “1-Sign the petition.

From Owen Masterson on Wed, May 04, 2011

Photography is not a crime.

From Mara Barr on Thu, May 05, 2011

I am tired of our government passing laws to protect “big business” instead of the rest of us.

From Gail Hutchison on Thu, May 05, 2011

Any farmer who is operating a healthy, well-run operation is proud and happy to show people what they do. I know of what I speak—I grew up on a farm and still have family in honest/clean farming. Just like any other situation, if people are doing something wrong or bad, they are ashamed and want to ‘fly under the radar’.  Laws like this one are criminal.  Thank you, Slow Food, for continuing to promote good food and best farming practices!

From David Becker on Thu, May 05, 2011

The farmers I meet - mostly small and midsize farms in the NE - are proud to show off what they do and to discuss their production methods. Not one has denied me access to take pictures of their farm or animals. But then again they run a very different type of operation from what this legislation is designed to protect.

From Ann Clarkson on Thu, May 05, 2011

To make photography illegal is unreasonable.  Breaking in and entering is a different story.  The set a precident along these lines is absurd and not in the best interest of the public, private and corporate sectors.  It can only protect those who shouldn’t be protected.  Current laws are in place for inappropriate behavior.

From Wendy Casey on Thu, May 05, 2011

To whom will the petition be submitted? At what level of state or national government? I signed it, I think it’s important, but I don’t have a handle on how this will be used.

From Katharine on Fri, May 06, 2011

Reposted with permission from Walter Jeffries of Sugar Mountain Farms -
First, realize I have no desire to defend the practices of Big Ag, in fact I’m vehemently against them. However both sides of this argument are the slippery slope of a razor blade you do not want to slide down. Think: Banning photos is a ba…d idea and claiming people should be able to go in anywhere they want to take photos is an equally bad violation of privacy.

Let us turn the chess board around and ask people how they feel about strangers taking photos in their backyard or bedroom. We’re not just talking trade secrets here - we’re talking about how you talk to your kids, your spouse, your dog, what you look like with your gut hanging out, or other private parts for that matter. This is not pretty and it is going to be very embarrassing when your shower time is on YouTube.

Some people will say, “Pictures don’t lie” but the problem is people can lie using pictures. Some people will miss-interpret things they see, accidentally or purposefully. Even without selective editing photos can distort reality. Instead of asking a polite question to learn more people can miss-understand things make a big scene in the media thinking they’re doing a needed exposé when in reality they’re just confused and know less than they think.

A simple example, we raise pigs on pasture. The pigs love to play in the mud. A woman came to our farm and was going on and on about how awful it was to see a pig covered in mud. Her husband rolled his eyes and suggested the pig might like the mud. Nice to have a sane person along for the ride. She on the other hand had a hard time with the idea. People all too often and incorrectly transfer their emotions and desires onto other animals. Fact: pigs use mud as a sunscreen, insect protection, coolant and skin moisturizer. Taking mud away from pigs would be cruel and inhumane. Don’t put your sense of fashion and beauty on a pig’s lips.

Another example, we have livestock guardian dogs who sleep outdoors all winter. They like sleeping in a snowbank. They have other options but that is their preference. Some people look at them and say, “Oh, they must be so cold!” There have actually been attempts by legislators to form laws requiring that dogs must be kept in heated houses. Fact: Our dogs don’t want to be indoors for extended periods. They like the cold. They are healthier in the cold. They evolved for the cold. They have a double thick fur coat and high metabolism to go with it. They know how to deal with even the worst weather and don’t need or want legislators forcing them indoors. Don’t force your desires on a dog.

Many people have become all too divorced from nature. What we really need is people getting back in contact with the land, with growing things, with animals, with reality. People need to garden, even it is just starting with some potted herbs in the window. Have some livestock, even just chickens for eggs. Work up from there and get a grip on where food really comes from before throwing rocks. Otherwise you may find you live in a glass house and before you know it the government might want to put a camera in your bedroom.

I won’t sign this petition and I also don’t want government or private invasion of my home either. We’re already losing too many of our freedoms. A bit of privacy and respect would be most appreciated

From Seana Parker-Dalton on Sat, May 07, 2011

Katherine: existing trespassing laws would prevent people from taking pictures of his family in their home.  If a lady sees his pig in the mud, tales a picture of the muddy pig (from the side of the road) and says, “look at this poor pig!” What will happen? nothing. there’s nothing wrong with a muddy pig.  If his pigs are dead and rotting in the field, say, next to a stream,  and this lady takes a picture what will happen?  well, if she does this today, she could go to the authorities and say,” this guy isn’t taking care of his animals, plus it looks like this stream could be getting polluted as a result.”. animal control, and whoever could look at the picture, say, “hmmm…maybe we should check this out.”.  if she does this under the new law, she will go to jail for the rest of her life.  Does that seem reasonable, by any stretch?

From Haven on Sun, May 08, 2011

Thank you for share this blog….....

From Elana Willard Royer on Mon, May 09, 2011

Thank you for sharing such important information & for
providing the links.

From Dori Fritzinger on Mon, May 09, 2011

We love your site !!!!

From Gayla Feeney on Tue, May 10, 2011

This is crazy…pls rethink this!!

From Charlie Pie on Tue, May 10, 2011

Man, first you can’t take pics of Police officers and now farms, I live in FL and I am appalled!

From Amy Keating on Wed, May 11, 2011

Please reconsider any legislation which will hinder freedom of information gathering regarding food production practices. I believe full disclosure is imperative to the public health of this nation and the world. Stop your incestuous love affair with big agriculture and it’s money. I have two children and I tell them, “If your are not proud to share what your doing with others, than you shouldn’t be doing it.” This holds up amazingly well in the context of big factor farms, GMO development and production across the globe. Please move toward transparency in all aspects of food production and away from corporate control due to lobbyist pressure.

From Dave Grudem on Fri, May 13, 2011

The laws these cowards should really be considering would REQUIRE public viewing via window or webcam of all food processing facilities. Wonder whose sales would plummet? Not the local folks I buy beef and chicken from. Let’s put the heat on from consumers tired of hidden bad practice CAFOs and the like!