Ontario, CA, Aug. 6, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On August 2 2012 the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) raided the farms of Ontario farmer Michael Schmidt and Montana Jones in connection with the disappearance of Jones' herd of genetically rare Shropshire sheep. CFIA brought 20 officers and multiple police cars to conduct the 7:00am raid on the Schmidt's farm. During the 8-hour raid, officers confiscated all electronic recording devices from the home and farm, including computers, cell phones and cameras. Schmidt and Jones both faces possible conspiracy charges that could result in up to 14 years in prison.
In March of this year, a group calling themselves the "Farmers Peace Corps" claimed responsibility for the disappearance of the sheep that were destined for slaughter due to a connection with the disease Scrapie. While Scrapie is not transmissible to humans and causes no threat to people, it is seen by the CFIA as a threat to other sheep. In June, the Shropshire sheep were found and immediately destroyed by CFIA. They all tested negative for the disease. CFIA is refusing Jones the appropriate compensation for her sheep.
The raid on Schmidt's Glencolton Farm and Jones' farm, and possible charges against them both, come in conjunction with an announcement Schmidt made on behalf of Farmers Peace Corp. In the statement, Schmidt stated, "The actions of the CFIA remind me of the history of my native Germany, where genetic cleansing became a tragic and horrible national policy."
During a follow-up meeting with CFIA investigators, Schmidt asked them to examine their current policy of mass eradication. "I told them we need to find an exemption to the killing program, like they have in England," says Schmidt. "However, rather than constructive dialogue we get this response: police with guns, a raid and these potential criminal charges. The destruction of these rare healthy sheep and this raid are not about Scrapie. They want to show who calls the shots here."
Information about farm raids: FarmFoodFreedom.org Further information about Glencolton Farm thebovine.wordpress.com
News Release issued jointly by FarmFoodFreedom.org and WestonAPrice.org
The Weston A. Price Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nutrition education foundation with the mission of disseminating accurate, science-based information on diet and health. Named after nutrition pioneer Weston A. Price, DDS, author of Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, the Washington, DC-based Foundation publishes a quarterly journal for its 14,000 members, supports 572 local chapters worldwide and hosts a yearly international conference. The Foundation phone number is (202) 363-4394, www.westonaprice.org, info@westonaprice.org.
Farm Food Freedom Coalition wants to ensure that America's treasures, our independent farms and ranches, are able to thrive. We aim to preserve our agricultural heritage and the future availability of traditional, farm fresh foods. Americans want and deserve the freedom to choose natural, unprocessed foods for generations to come.
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