New information added on July 22, 2008

Liberty Ark Coalition against NAIS - April 20, 2006 The broad-based Liberty Ark Coalition has formed to stop the universal National Animal Identification System (NAIS). Karin Bergener, Contact: (330) 298-0065 February 2001: “Corps of Engineers is Abandoning and Breaching Missouri River Dikes”   See Also Essential Books & Publications Ron Arnold, Undue Influence (Free Enterprise Press, Bellevue, Washington, 1999). Arnold reveals how the wealthy foundations, grant-driven environmental groups, and zealous bureaucrats are working to dismantle roads, dams, logging, mining, ranching, farming, and fishing. Publication Order Form Additional Resources Michigan Model Conservation Easement (March 2003) This model document, which was provided by Rachel Thomas as a form used by the State of Michigan, contains typical clauses demonstrating the danger of conservation easements. Websites Liberty Ark Coalition Against NAIS Karen Bergener, Contact web site: http://libertyark.net e-mail: Bergener@config.com

In-Depth Information “Farmers Fight Back in the New Jersey Highlands” - By Devlen Mackey, Owner, Mackey Orchards, Belvidere, New Jersey; Eleventh Annual National Conference on Private Property Rights (PRFA, Albany, N.Y., October 13, 2007) Farmers, local government, and developers are opposing the state regional zoning law, the New Jersey Highlands Regional Planning and Water Protection Act, which imposes 88-acre zoning and exploits endangered species rules in Hunterdon, Warren, and other northwestern New Jersey counties to stop the use of land. The law is said to be intended to protect the watershed for drinking water, but sewers to keep flow from Lake Hopatcong are prohibited by the Department of Environmental Protection. “Who’s Gonna Pay?” - By Madeleine Fortin (PRFA, December 14, 2005) The Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District keep a massive drainage structure closed, flooding neighborhoods and farmland during Hurricane Katrina and other storms, which damages or destroys houses, motor vehicles and farmland, and kills farm animals. “Farm Bureau seeks limits for conservation easements” - by Steve Miller, West River Editor, Rapid City Journal, August 26, 2003 (Reprinted by permission of the Rapid City Journal) The South Dakota Farm Bureau began a petition drive to limit perpetual conservation easements. “Unseen changes in the future can place unintended hardships on future property owners,” said Dick Kjerstad, president. “Washington State ‘Wetlands’ Ruling Prevents Man from Farming” — By Peyton Knight, Contributing Writer (PRFA, April 24, 2003) The wetlands condition that the Corps of Engineers is using to prohibit Jim Starr from farming results from the failure of Pacific County to maintain drainage ditches. “Private Property Rights of Farmers: Updates in Takings and Related Case Law” - By Jeff Williams and Leah Hurtgen, New York State Farm Bureau (Sixth Annual Conference on Private Property Rights, PRFA - November 16, 2002) A broad overview of significant recent cased that have occurred in New York State and in other parts of this country, which affect agriculture and other land-intensive business such as logging and will touch individual property owners: Tahoe-Sierra Preservation Council, Inc. v. Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (122 S. Ct. 1465 (2002); the victorious Palazzolo v. Rhode Island and related historic cases; Town of Lysander v. Hafner (New York State Court of Appeals, October 18, 2001); the disappointing Long Island Pine Barrens v. Town of Riverhead; the California case Pronsolino v. EPA; and another Ninth Circuit case Borden Ranch v. Army Corps of Engineers. “Farmer Fights Back with $200 Million Lawsuit—Claim filed after DEC officers entered on farm without a warrant and stopped earth moving operations” - by Carol W. LaGrasse (PRFA, July 2001) Richard Senter in 1940 with “Spotty,” a red and white Holstein calf. The halcyon days... before DEC. Photo by Frances O. Senter. Used by permission of Richard G. Senter. “Klamath Basin farmers fall victim to the Endangered Species Act”-Reprinted by permission from Wyoming Agriculture, June 2001, published by the Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation. Using the Endangered Species Act this year, the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau have turned off the water to protect the shortnose and Lost River suckers, although they are neither endangered nor harmed by the farmers’ water use. “Conservation Easements—Their unexpected legacy” - by Carol W. LaGrasse (PRFA, January 2001) Reflects on the tragedy of a Pennsylvania farmer who lost a court battle with a local land trust over his new farmhouse. “Unjustified Privileges of Environmental Non-Profits” - by Carol W. LaGrasse, reprinted by permission from The Rhodes Real Estate Review (Mt. Desert, Maine, January 1999) “Preservation Group Straps Massachusetts Farm Couple” — By Carol W. LaGrasse (Reprinted from the New York Property Rights Clearinghouse, Vol. 4, No. 2 (Spring-Summer 1997, PRFA) Bankruptcy court appeal may be the final chapter for Marie and Joseph Hill, an elderly couple who are being evicted from their scenic dairy farm in South Dartmouth on Buzzard’s Bay, after losing a battle with a local preservation group, FORM. Hill Farm Photo Gallery “Principles of Humility, Self-Sufficiency and Kindness in Lapp Family—But the tax-man and labor law enforcers have other rules” - By Carol W. LaGrasse (Reprinted from the New York Property Rights Clearinghouse, Vol. 4, No. 2, Spring-Summer 1997) This article describes how the Mennonite property rights activist, Nathan Lapp, and his sisters and parents have helped many, but, although they paid taxes faithfully, could not satisfy the government’s requirements for accounting, labor law compliance, and tax payments. Letter to Honorable Pat Roberts, Chairman, House Agriculture Committee, from W. L. Harris, Holcomb, Mississippi, September 22, 1995. This letter describes how rice farmer W. L. Harris, after recovering from severe financial problems common during the 1980’s, tried to exert his lease back-buyback rights, but the Farmer’s Home Administration (now the Farm Services Agency) placed wetlands easements on the 1004 best acres, prohibiting him from doing anything but paying taxes on the land. “Unrepentant Congress—Congressional Legislation and Farmers Home Administration Destroy Family Farms” — By Carol W. LaGrasse (Reprinted from Positions on Property, Vol. 2, No., 3, PRFA July, 1995) The 130-year old family farm owned by Bart Dye near the Hoosier National Forest in southwestern Indiana was illegally seized by the Farmers Home Administration (now the Farm Services Agency), then encumbered with wetlands and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conservation easements to block “buyback.” “Farmers Home Administration — Conservation Easements & Transfers of Seized Farm Land” — Reprinted from Positions on Property, Vol. 2, No. 3, (PRFA, July 1995) This chart summarizes the total as of October 1, 1994 of transfers to U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service and state governments for wetlands & habitat preservation. Once PRFA published these figures, no further figures were made available.

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