NY Dairy Farmer Andrea Elliott update on Mystery Visit

Over the last two weeks, Andrea Elliott has been writing emails to farm associations, her Congressman, and members of the U.S. House and Senate agriculture committees-- -all urging that the upcoming farm bill not include funding for the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). She and her husband, Jim, own a dairy farm in the Catskill Mountains of New York, and she made it plain in her notes that she is adamantly opposed to registering the farm's 80 cows under the federal program.
Recently she received a call from an inspector with the New York Department of Food and Markets in Albany that he planned to come by the farm for a special inspection, based on "a complaint" made to the department's Division of Milk Control and Dairy Services.

Andrea couldn't imagine who might have complained, and what the complaint might have been about. Her farm, Crystal Brook Farms, sells nearly all its milk to a local creamery for pasteurization. She sells a few gallons of raw milk occasionally to individuals who stop in with their own containers, under New York rules that allow sale of 25
gallons a month without a permit.

Today (Tuesday), the inspector, Bradley Lyle Houck, arrived from Albany, two hours away, together with her regular local dairy inspector, and Andrea was prepared. As soon as they arrived, "I turned on my video camera. I think that made them a little uncomfortable. "

Then, she says, "I asked the state inspector to fill out my form." Her form is a three-page "public service questionnaire" that asks for the inspector's identity, his principal reason for doing the inspection, how the information he gathers will be used, and other such data. "He shook his head and refused," says Andrea. "He said, 'I have to be authorized by Albany.'" He tried to make a call on his cell phone, but couldn't complete the call because the farm area has no cell reception.

Andrea persisted. "I said, This is our property and I can require you to fill it out.'" He offered his state ID and badge.

Andrea moved on. "I asked him why he was here and he said a complaint was received in Albany."

What was the complaint? "He said he couldn't tell me."

Who filed the complaint? "He wouldn't tell me. He just wouldn't go any further. He said all complaints that come into Albany are treated as confidential. "

"I asked him what statute allows a complaint to be treated as confidential. He said he couldn't quote a statute."

At that point, the inspector asked if they could talk off-camera. Andrea declined.

"He said, 'I guess the best thing would be for us to come back another time." The two got back into their car and took off.
Andrea adds, "At no time did I deny him the inspection. I didn't ask him to leave. All I did was ask him for specific reasons for the inspection.. .I have a right to know who my accuser is."

Andrea seems to have added an entirely new dimension to the agricultural inspection. Especially one with such an intriguing coincidence connecting it to NAIS.
 

By request of Good Neighbor, Andrea Elliott's personal update, 12/5/07 
 
This visit occurred Oct.30 , 2007. To date we have not recieved any contact from  NY Ag & Mkts.

We posted the property , turned away customers we didn't know well , and cancelled our participation in a historical documentation project since we did not know exactly where this complaint originated from. Then we told everyone we met about this . It was odd that this popped up so soon after my  anti NAIS letter writing campaign.

The PUBLIC SERVANT QUESTIONNAIRE is always nearby as is the video camera - everyone should be familiar with both .
The more we thought about it the angrier we became - and decided that NY needs a grassroots organization to work legislatively to protect farmers and consumers. With the help of Deb Stockton of NICFA ,and other concerned individuals, the NY Independent Consumer and Farmers Association was formed.

It is our wish that as many farmers as possible learn from this experience and stand ready to defend their properties and way of life , and not be afraid to speak out .We're here to help and you're not alone. Consumers need to become very educated in the tactics of the regulators and join with us to preserve their right to choose their food source.  By Andrea Elliott  December 5, 2007
 
 
TO HELP YOU PROTECT YOUR PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS, GO TO WWW.GOODNEIGHBORLAW.COM 
 
You'll find the  "Public Servant Questionnaire," "Property Admittance Agreement" and more. 
We encourage you to  print, adapt, and use the form you believe suits your situation.
These are not intended as legal forms, but instead to serve notice to anyone who requests access to your property, that you will exercise your rights to protect your property. 

If you can't find what you need, please let us know GoodNeighborLaw@msn.com

Here's a copy of the Public Servant Questionnaire similar to the one Andrea Elliott used.
http://goodneighborlaw.com/pdf_GNL/PublicServantQuestionnaire.pdf 
 

Andrea's story just goes to prove once again, what you and I and others have been saying all along, fight back.  Don't lay down and play dead for these folks.  If you do, you're lost. 

We have found on numerous occasions that if you confront them, they will back off.  The problem is, these blood-sucking government types aren't confronted on a large enough scale and thus they become empowered, until someone fights back as did Andrea.  But that is finally changing.

Thanks for the forward.  I'll probably use it in the NARLO newsletter.

Ron Ewart

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This is a very good sign that people are beginning to wake up.

Lawrence Kogan

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Tamar,
Evidently, one of your fellow New Yorkers isn't going to play nice with Spitzer's government...
Randy S

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Randy,
classic. she was awesome!
Tamar

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Tamar,
I totally agree!
Randy S

Good Neighbor Committee
P.O. Box 155 - La Salle, CO  80645
info@goodneighborlaw.com

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