Proof of Big Government Excess: Michigan Forces Small Farmers to Shoot Their Baby Pigs (+Video)

Impact

You may not have heard about Bakers Green Acres family farm before, but their story is as tragic as it is common. Farms like the Bakers' are being assaulted by armed commandos in state-issued costumes for the heinous crime of raising pigs humanely. If that doesn't make any sense to you, allow me to explain.

The Bakers raise a particular type of hog that can withstand the tough Michigan winters outdoors. This outdoor type of pig farming is humane and cost effective. The pigs get plenty of fresh air and sunshine, while eating as much as they like. Meanwhile, the large corporate pig farms raise a different breed of hogs indoors, under extremely inhumane conditions. The corporate pigs actually must have their tails docked to prevent them from cannibalizing themselves under the stressful conditions.

Because the Bakers are able to raise hogs so efficiently, they pose a competitive threat to corporate indoor pig farms. Thus, the pork lobby in Michigan successfully passed a bill that labels the type of hogs being raised by the Baker family as "feral," in order to drive the outdoor pig farmers out of business. It is now a felony in Michigan to raise pigs that have the specific characteristics of the Bakers' hogs that allow them to withstand the cold climate outdoors.

One farmer describes what happened at his farm:

"I was served a search warrant yesterday at 7: 45 a.m."

"After 8 guys, 3 four wheelers, and 4 hours, DNR decided I was correct. I have killed all my hogs. They gave me papers that say I do not have any hogs on my property. All they saw were dead hogs laying around from my mass slaughtering. It took 12 guys 4 times in there to kill all of them, sows with young, pregnant sows, dozens of piglets, and old mature boars. It has been a sad few weeks."

"Does anyone know what it feels like to open fire on 20 baby piglets in one group which weigh between 5 lbs and 15 lbs. They are so adorable and cute."

The Bakers have published a thoughtful video that describes the state-sanctioned violence that is being directed against them and other small farms:

More info on this story can be found here. Meanwhile, the FDA is busy conducting stings against Amish farmers for selling raw milk, local police departments are conducting armed raids against retailers who sell raw milk, and federal agents are targeting farmers who sell their food directly to the public without going through retailers.

Celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay did a short segment on corporate pig farming that you can watch here. Warning, the content is extremely graphic.

Your tax money hard at work.