Missouri law defines vegetables as "garbage"!

When Eric and Joanna ReuterÂ of Chert Hollow Farm, 12 miles north of Columbia, decided they wanted to raise and sell pigs this spring, they checked out Missouri laws on feeding.

What they discovered surprised them:Â It is illegal to feed vegetables to pigs if the animals are going to be sold to consumers in Missouri.

.Â .Â .

The Reuters didn't want to risk penalties that would hit them hard as owners of a small farm. But they thought feeding their pigs scraps such as organic vegetables grown on their farm and whey â€” a byproduct of cheese-making â€” from their goats or other dairies was something they should be able to do.

.Â .Â .

The Reuters said State Veterinarian Taylor Woods told them they could get a free permit to exempt them from the law and allow them to be a garbage-feeding swine operation. The permit process would include several inspections of the farm each year. The Reuters said Woods told them he would send a government veterinarian to their farm to inspect the property and clear them for the permit.

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/07/21/missouri-law-includes-vegetables-definition-garbage/

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Comments: 16

Peter Joseph Swanson Jul 24, 2011, 5:14pm UTC

I just ate a vegetable salad! I nevah nevah nevah!

Tessa D. Jul 24, 2011, 5:18pm UTC

poor Peter!

Peter Joseph Swanson Jul 24, 2011, 5:21pm UTC

Tomatoes and cucumbers and red onion and all that garbage!!!

Tessa D. Jul 24, 2011, 5:22pm UTC

I had all that and more on my Subway sandwich

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May Xue Jul 24, 2011, 5:17pm UTC

Makes me wonder, what about the other animals that have to live off of corn?

Tessa D. Jul 24, 2011, 5:18pm UTC

hmm . . . I think they send them to feed lots in Omaha

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Tessa D. Jul 24, 2011, 5:19pm UTC

I guess they want to force farmers to buy Purina hog chow

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John S. (arizona) Jul 24, 2011, 5:23pm UTC

I remember when I was in Basic Training in the military and having to do "KP Duty" (kitchen) we had to put all the left-over fruit/vegetable type foods into separate barrels. They said it was for local pig farmers, and I guess they sold it to them.