Advocates for Agriculture

Fur and Wool Ban Not Popular

2011-12-05T14:23:00.001-07:00

November 30, 2011

A Cool Reception to a Ban on Fur

By IAN LOVETT - NYTimes.com

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif.

FUR is everywhere on the high fashion row of Melrose Avenue. It lines jackets on the mannequins in John Varvatos, dangles from scarves in the windows of Kitson, and drapes from hangers at Maxfield. Even on a 75-degree day in November, fur remains very much in season here.

And in the last week, these swanky window displays have become something of a political statement, a symbol of resistance to an ordinance that was passed Nov. 21 making this city the first in the country to ban the sale of fur apparel.

While boutiques here prepare for the ban to take effect in September 2013, Melrose Avenue may offer an early reading on the future of fur in the fashion industry: Even as animal rights activists declare victory, designers and storeowners have reiterated their commitment to fur’s place in high fashion, warning that shoppers will simply take their business outside of West Hollywood.

At the boutiques along Melrose Avenue, sales clerks scoffed at the idea that fur was falling out of fashion. One called the ban “ridiculous,” another said it was “super annoying.” Far from beginning to clear fur from their shelves, store owners are instead talking about clearing out of the city. Read More

You'd be hard pressed to find anyone that believes West Hollywood, CA would represent the views of mainstream America. This ban on fur and wool has gone so far though that even many of the people that live and work there feel that it's ridiculous. Livestock and even wild animals provide us with many significant resources. When it comes to the fur from wild animals, it's necessary for us to manage their populations appropriately anyhow so we might as well utilize the resources they provide us rather than waste them.

Interestingly enough, these people even banned the sale of wool in this ordinance. Giving a sheep a haircut once a year hardly matches the cruelty that PETA, HSUS and other anti-agriculture group would like you to believe. -Troy

My November Column

2011-11-30T07:59:00.001-07:00

Every month I write a column for the Dakota Farmer magazine. I've really enjoyed writing it over the last couple years. Last months column was pretty special for me. I've had several people tell me that this has been their favorite article I've written. Take a look and tell me what you think.

Click here to see the magazine article.

The cable news channel CNN ran a story on their website this summer that raised the question “Does 4-H desensitizes kids to killing?”. As a former 4-H member for 13 years and the parent of a first year 4-H member this certainly caught my attention. Over the course of those 13 years I spent countless hours leading, washing, combing and clipping on calves. I did everything I could to make them as comfortable and healthy as possible. So how could anyone ever believe that this somehow desensitizes kids?

According to the story, some believe that 4-H helps desensitize youngsters into having no emotional attachment to animals raised for food. A few of the commenters even tried to claim that this was some grand conspiracy by the meat industry to keep them in business. Apparently by forcing these kids to sell their livestock to be processed somehow turns them into greedy, uncaring people and will lead to a life of mistreating the animals in their care.

The truth of the matter is that it teaches kids about responsibility and how life works and is sustained. We just capped off our 4-H year with a trip to Rapid City, SD for the Western Junior Livestock Show. It’s a tremendous show that our son was very excited to be part of. For his first year in 4-H he decided to show a bred heifer named Morgan. All summer and through the fall he learned how to care for his calf. He probably put a hundred miles on his bike just going back and forth to the barn to check on her. In the end his hard work paid off when he proudly marched his well-behaved heifer into that show ring with a grin on his face.

While we were at the show I tried to figure out how all of the hard work each one of those kids had put in that summer could somehow be a bad thing? I didn’t see any desensitized kids. What I saw were hard working, polite young people, working with their families and their fellow 4-Her’s to learn responsibility and proper livestock care.

I also couldn’t help but think what a better place our world may be if every kid had a “Morgan” in their life for just one summer. Morgan will be in our herd for the next several years but like every cow on the ranch her time will come to an end. However, the lessons she taught our son will last forever and for that I’m grateful.

Food Defense Drill

2011-11-09T09:56:00.004-07:00

TPS holding 'food defense' drill today

by: ANDREA EGER World Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
11/8/2011 10:59:54 AM

Tulsa Public Schools and local emergency responders will be conducting a "food defense" drill Tuesday.

Officials said evaluations of potential terrorist threats revealed that the school district's food production and distribution system could be vulnerable to attack from an individual or group wanting to cause public panic or harm to children and their families through the intentional contamination of food.

In addition to TPS officials, Tuesday's drill will involve the Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency, the Tulsa Health Department, emergency response and law enforcement agencies and local healthcare providers.

"Our job is to evaluate potential threats to our schools, and there is always the possibility that schools could become a target," said Bob Roberts, emergency management coordinator for TPS. "It's important that we act proactively to prevent the tampering of foods that are used in schools. We need to be prepared for emergency situations, to respond quickly and effectively if a crisis occurs and to have recovery plans in place.

The practice exercise will test our battle readiness and ensure that we are in the best possible shape to act should an event occur."

The exercise will be a discussion-based drill based on a Department of Agriculture toolkit that will guide participants through a mock scenario of an intentional food contamination in the schools. Read More

A couple of things crossed my mind when I read this. First was about how things have changed over the years. We've gone from nuclear attack drills now to food defense drills. And the second thought I had was that this should remind everyone how important a home-grown food supply really is. The quickest way that our country could lose it's sovereignty is by relying on other countries to produce the food and fiber we depend on. So when we see anti-agriculture groups trying to regulate farmers and ranchers out of business in this country they are really damaging our country's ability to survive. -Troy

Steaks for Troops Needs Your Help

2011-11-04T16:55:00.000-06:00

It was last January when I had the privilege of meeting Bill Broadie. Bill has spent his entire life in the beef industry except for the years he gave to his country. He's a Vietnam War veteran that, like many of his fellow soldiers, didn't receive the hero's welcome he should have when he came home from the war.

It's hard for me to understand why this would ever happen but Bill wanted to make sure that our current soldiers didn't have to experience the same thing. He combined his passion for the beef industry with his appreciation for our nation's returning heroes when he formed the All-American Beef Battalion. It's a program that feeds our troops and their families the best home-cooked steak dinner imaginable when they return home from the war.

Going out for a nice steak dinner with our families is something that most of us take for granted. But these soldiers haven't seen their families in months or years and during that time they certainly weren't eating at a nice restaurant. Listening to Bill tell the stories of how much our troops appreciate this simple act of appreciation will bring a tear to anyone's eye and make you appreciate everything you have.

We were excited when Bill called us this week to give us an update on the program. They have fed nearly 100,000 steaks to our troops and their families since the program started. This program runs on the generosity of those who donate money and supplies. But lately they have been feeding more steaks than there is cash coming in. Every soldier deserves our thanks for their sacrifice which is why I’m proud to donate so they can enjoy a great steak served by America’s farmers and ranchers.

I would really encourage all of you to support it as well. They are a non-profit that relies on people like you. If they can't get that support then our troops don't get to enjoy one of these meals.

Bill is serving his country for the second time in his life, let's give him the appreciation and support he should have gotten the first time. Please visit the All-American Beef Battalion and make a donation today.

Pet Shelters Suffer from HSUS Campaigns

2011-10-24T12:22:00.000-06:00

Humane Society in the doghouse over budget

Written by

Sergio Bichao | Staff Writer

www.mycentralnewjersey.com

Perhaps you’ve heard of the Humane Society.

No, not the Plainfield Area Humane Society. Or the Associated Humane Societies, which operates at Popcorn Park Zoo in Lacey.

This is the Humane Society of the United States, the national animal-advocacy organization that counts 11 million people as members and rakes in nearly $100 million a year in grants and donations. While it may share part of the name with several local animal shelters, just a fraction of the Humane Society’s coffers trickles down.

In New Jersey, the organization donated $21,178 to 10 shelters and animal groups in 2009 and 2010, according a report released last week slamming the Humane Society for not giving more money to local groups.

Nora Breen, director of Second Chance for Animals, whose volunteers support the Franklin Township Animal Shelter in Somerset County, said it was “disappointing” that more money isn’t going to local groups.

“In a small organization (people who donate) can be guaranteed that the money we raise from them goes directly to help the animals,” she said. “We don’t pay salaries to any volunteers. When you get into these larger organizations, you don’t know where the money is going.”

Second Chance received $2,000 in 2009 from the Humane Society.

But the Associated Humane Societies, which runs shelters in Newark, the Forked River section of Lacey and Tinton Falls, was not as fortunate. Read More

Local shelters that actually do care for unwanted pets continue to be harmed by the HSUS and their intentionally confusing fundraising campaigns. If you really want to help these pets please inform as many people as possible about this. Your local pet shelters will thank you. -Troy

Farmers Union Partners with HSUS in Nebraska

2011-10-21T09:57:00.000-06:00

HSUS tries a new approach in Nebraska

October 18, 2011 By Ken Anderson 6 Comments

Is the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) changing its strategy in regards to state-by-state ballot initiatives?

At a news conference in Lincoln Tuesday, the HSUS joined the Nebraska Farmers Union (NeFU) in announcing the formation of an advisory body called the Nebraska Agriculture Council of The Humane Society of the United States.

Chief among the new council’s goals will be creating market opportunities for farmers and ranchers who want to market “humanely-raised” meat and poultry products. Officials of both groups say the council will also “facilitate a dialogue with individual farmers, ranchers and the organizations that represent them.”

NeFU president John Hansen says that, as part of their agreement to work with HSUS on the project, the animal rights organization has assured him that it will not pursue an animal welfare ballot initiative in the state.

But other Nebraska ag and livestock groups, who have been girding for battle with HSUS, were not impressed with the announcement. Pete McClymont of Nebraska Cattlemen, who is president of the We Support Agriculture coalition, says they are “shocked and disappointed that any Nebraska ag group would align itself with an extreme animal rights organization such as HSUS.

“It is disturbing that somebody would reach out to groups that want to eliminate, if not restrict, animal agriculture like the animal rights groups,” McClymont says. Read More

It's hard to fathom that anyone in agriculture would be willing to trust what HSUS has to say. It's also hard to understand why a group like Farmer's Union would turn against some family farmers by claiming that they don't raise their cattle humanely. HSUS doesn't own the right to declare what is humane and what isn't and for a group like Farmers Union to sell their soul to work with them shows an incredible lack of leadership and backbone. It's an apparent desperate attempt to legitimize themselves at the expense of their neighbors. If they were truly interested in this subject they would have worked with the other ag groups in Nebraska rather than the group that has declared war on all types of animal agriculture.

Baby on Vegan Diet Dies

2011-09-14T06:09:00.001-06:00

Murder convictions upheld against vegans in baby's death

By Bill Rankin

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday unanimously upheld murder convictions against an Atlanta couple who allowed their 6-week-old baby to starve to death.

Jade Sanders and Lamont Thomas, both vegans, were convicted in 2007 by a Fulton County jury. Living in the Darlington Apartments, they chose to have their son, Crown Shakur, born in a bathtub with no medical aid.

When they took the infant to nearby Piedmont Hospital on April 24, 2005, the baby was emaciated, weighing 3 1/2 pounds. He died of extreme malnourishment. Police said his diet consisted of only soy milk and apple juice. Read More

This is certainly a tragic case but hopefully because of the death of this baby more people will realize the importance of a balanced diet.

Let's Advocate for Eating a Balanced Diet

2011-08-23T07:42:00.000-06:00

Katy Perry struggles to stay vegetarian

By Vicky Allison Aug 22, 2011, 12:40 GMT

Pop star Katy Perry is finding it hard to stick to her pledge to stay vegetarian and has been secretly eating chicken and turkey, according to a friend.

The 26-year-old, who is currently on the US leg of her California Dreams tour, has failed her challenge to go vegetarian like husband Russell Brand.

British funnyman Brand, 36, was crowned sexiest vegetarian last year by PETA, but the Teenage Dream hitmaker likes meat too much to stick to his diet.

A source told British newspaper the Daily Mail: 'Russell has been a veggie for 22 years, but Katy adores meat.

'She did give it up for a while for Russell's sake but is finding it a struggle.' Link

I will be excited for the day when we stop seeing celebrities urging people to be on this fad diet or that one. We should all be able to agree that eating a well balanced diet that includes eating meat and dairy products is still the best bet. Especially for children, we should never be advocating they eat an unbalanced diet even for a single day. We continue to see people that struggle with their diet and health. Regular exercise and a balanced diet would eliminate many of the problems that are occurring.

How Animal Rights Activists Harm People

2011-08-16T18:41:00.001-06:00

Slaughtering Indonesia's cattle trust

David Leyonhjelm

Published 1:50 PM, 16 Aug 2011 Last update 1:50 PM, 16 Aug 2011

The government’s decision to halt live cattle exports to Indonesia, without prior warning, deeply disturbed Indonesia. Australian beef accounts for 25 per cent of the country’s meat and is a vital source of protein for millions of Indonesians. There are also thousands employed in feedlots, abattoirs and downstream processing, and Indonesia had considered Australia to be close enough to form part of its own food security.

In addition, the Australian government has long had a policy of supporting neighbouring countries that are members of global animal health organisation OIE as they progressively implement its standards of animal handling and welfare. Indonesia is such a member.

The export ban undermined all that. Many in Indonesia now regard Australia as an unreliable supplier, and there are strong indications the country will seek to diversify its sources by importing cattle and beef from other countries while renewing efforts to become self-sufficient in beef by 2014.

This is a great example of what kind of damage animal rights activists can cause. I don’t want to see livestock being mistreated but I really don’t want to see people suffering from hunger either. These extreme activists weren’t concerned about fixing the problems that occurred, they saw this as an opportunity to do damage to the family farmers and ranchers that raised livestock. Along the way they damaged the families in Indonesia that rely on the beef they raise to feed their families. Livestock play an important role in feeding hungry people. It’s just unfortunate that many animal rights activists fail to realize this.

Revised Guidelines for Livestock Processing

2011-08-16T18:38:00.000-06:00

Meat Inspectors Get Clout to Stop Inhumane Slaughter

BY DAN FLYNN | AUG 16, 2011

Meat inspectors at federally regulated plants that slaughter animals got new instructions for humane treatment of animals.

Announced Monday by USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the instructions come in the form of a new 40-page directive. The rules go into effect on Sept. 15.

The directive on enforcement of humane handling codifies changes made in the last few years to ensure that animals going to slaughter are treated properly. It replaces FSIS policies published in 1998 and 2003.

The new version, which FSIS says is going to require additional training for meat inspectors, includes a definition for "egregious inhumane handling" of animals -- "any act or condition that results in severe harm to animals, which includes the excessive beating or prodding of disabled livestock, stunning animals and allowing them to regain consciousness, or any treatment causing unnecessary pain and suffering."

The directive also provides inspectors with "verification instructions" to ensure that treatment of livestock during handling and slaughter "minimizes the animals' amount of excitement, pain, injury or discomfort."

The goal of everyone in agriculture is to continue improving on our methods. These guidelines are updated on a fairly regular basis because we keep finding better ways to handle issues that arise. It’s vital that we learn from problems that have happened in the past and I think this proves that we do. No one wants to see instances of livestock being mistreated.

Another Reminder of How Great our Agriculture Is

2011-08-16T18:29:00.000-06:00

Food insecurity, a growing problem for Pakistan

Internews/Islamabad

In spite of the significant progress Pakistan has made in food production over the last 60 years, the majority of the population still faces uncertainty in food security on a daily basis.

Over one third of the population suffers from chronic hunger; a significant proportion of the undernourished population has reached a peak of 36%, with 95,000 just children. About 48% of Pakistan’s 165mn people are deemed to be “food insecure”, the figure being much higher in the conflict-ridden Fata (67.7%) and Balochistan (61.2%) - placing Pakistan at NO-11 on the index of food stressed countries, which indicates, “extreme risk”.

The problem of availability of food in Pakistan is mainly due to difficulties in production and productivity of its agriculture industry. Read More

We are so incredibly blessed with the abundance of food in this country. Most places in the world don’t have anything close to what we do. One of the main reasons is because of the technological advancements we have made. Better genetics in our seeds coupled with better fertilizer and farming techniques gives us a near record grain crop year after year. In livestock production its been the same story. We are producing more red meat with fewer inputs than ever before. The best part is that we continue improving every day too. So no matter what kind of food you like, it’s available in this country and that’s something to celebrate!

Shelter Closing Due to Association with HSUS

2011-08-05T14:18:00.000-06:00

Second Chance Rescue Center Closing Its Doors
Published: July 22, 2011, 6:08 AM
SIOUX FALLS, SD - A Sioux Falls animal shelter that recently fired its executive director and has faced financial troubles is closing.
Second Chance Rescue Center announced Friday morning it could not overcome challenges it was up against and has decided to close its doors Sunday, July 24.
In May, the organization announced it had fired its founder and executive director Rosey Quinn, but wouldn't say why, and that the shelter was going to head in a new direction. The organization's Board of Directors said that would involve a transition from a rescue center to an adoption center and a name change.
The shelter also was involved in controversy over the past several years, including the large dog raid in 2009 where 172 dogs were taken from Turner County dog breeder Dan Christensen. The charges against Christensen were dropped when a judge decided Quinn acted illegally in obtaining a search warrant. Link

Second Chance Rescue in Sioux Falls learned the unfortunate lesson of what happens when you work with a group like the HSUS that is more concerned with ending livestock and pet ownership rather than animal welfare. As is the case in most animal welfare issues that HSUS is associated with, the animals end up suffering worse. The HSUS convinced this shelter to lie to a judge in order to get a warrant to seize a group of dogs. When the truth finally surfaced the judge order the dogs returned and now the Sioux Falls community has one less animal shelter.

Research Proves Pigs Hold the Ability to Grow Human Organs

2011-06-20T11:31:00.001-06:00

Pigs could grow human organs in stem cell breakthrough

Human organs could be grown inside pigs for use in transplant operations following research using stem cells.

By Richard Gray, Science Correspondent

9:15AM BST 19 Jun 2011

Scientists have found they can create chimeric animals that have organs belonging to another species by injecting stem cells into the embryo of another species. The researchers injected stem cells from rats into the embryos of mice that had been genetically altered so they could not produce their own organs, creating mice that had rat organs. The researchers say the technique could allow pigs to grow human organs from patient's stem cells for use as transplants. By using a patient's own stem cells it could help to reduce the risk of the transplanted organ being rejected while also providing a plentiful supply of donor organs. Current organ shortages mean that patients must endure long waiting lists for transplants.

Professor Hiromitsu Nakauchi, director of the centre for stem cell biology and regenerative medicine at the University of Tokyo in Japan and who led the research, said: "Our ultimate goal is to generate human organs from induced pluripotent stem cells. "The technique, called blastocyst complementation, provides us with a novel approach for organ supply. We have successfully tried it between mice and rats. We are now rather confident in generating functional human organs using this approach." Read More

It’s unfortunate that this exciting medical breakthrough will be challenged by animal rights activists that would rather see a pig live than a human being. The idea that livestock are equal to human beings is one that groups like the HSUS and PETA try to sell. This has the potential to save millions of lives and it’s vital that we keep our eye on what’s truly important.

Crop Improvement Methods Ridiculed?

2011-06-20T10:38:00.000-06:00

Hawaii’s One-sided Love Affair with GMOs

Sunday, June 19, 2011

By Molokai Dispatch staff

Community Contributed

Clearly the GMO corn seed companies have cultivated a love affair with Hawaii’s legislators and governing agencies with a crop of alluring promises of tax and employment benefits. Instead, this love affair has birthed unrestricted and unregulated access to our scarce agriculture resources of water and land for Monsanto, Pioneer, Syngenta, Dow and BASF, with no oversight, no inspections and no protections against unintended – but sure to happen - consequences.

The GMO seed companies are the ultimate self-licking ice cream cone; with no consumer demand for the non- food product, the companies created an artificial demand called “crop improvement”, then manipulated genes to create new patented life-forms, then controlled all research, production, sales, distribution and ultimately replanting.

Better to advocate FOR environmental responsibility: GMO science promises that there is absolutely NO environmental risk from their new genetic life-forms; that it will never happen. These promises have nothing to do with prudent and practical safeguards that answer the “what if” question and that legislate environmental clean up of any contamination from GMO research companies. Why does our environment need protection?? Read More

Livestock Antibiotic Use Bill Introduced

2011-06-17T10:51:00.000-06:00

Senators unveil bipartisan bill to restrict use of antibiotics in food animals

By Julian Pecquet - 06/16/11 05:27 PM ET

Four senators - three Democrats and a Republican - have introduced legislation that would restrict the use of antibiotics in animal agriculture.

The bill is a companion measure to legislation introduced earlier in the House by Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.). It would ban farmers from using seven classes of antibiotics critical for human health expect to treat sick animals.

The bill comes as the House on Wednesday repealed a provision of the 2012 agriculture spending bill that aimed to prevent the Food and Drug Administration from similarly restricting antibiotic use in livestock and poultry. The amendment, from Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.), drew concerns from Energy and Commerce Chair Fred Upton (R-Mich.) because of its wide-ranging policy implications.

"Congressman Rehberg has been working with Chairman Upton to highlight his concerns about FDA's burdensome and unscientific regulations on Montana's ag community while avoiding any unintended consequences that could come through the appropriations process," Rehberg spokesman Jed Link told The Hill. Read More

Theres a couple of things that never get talked about when this issue comes up. First is that healthy livestock contribute to a healthy human population. And the other is that by not preventing disease, we will end up treating the disease. This means that we will end up using more antibiotics in the long run. I have always used antibiotics in a very judicious manner because I want them to continue to work as well. The added expense is also a big deterrent for anyone to use them inappropriately.

Along with that, any serious reform must involve discussions about how doctors prescribe, and patients use, antibiotics as well. Livestock use is only part of the total equation.

Animal Rights Group Allowed Abuse to Continue

2011-06-16T16:51:00.000-06:00

Games over Indonesian animal cruelty videos cost animals' lives

EXCLUSIVE by Simon Benson

From: The Daily Telegraph

June 17, 2011

ANIMAL rights groups withheld film evidence of shocking animal cruelty in Indonesian slaughterhouses from the government for three months - before launching a major publicity campaign.

The RSPCA said it had considered the "ethical" dilemma of refusing the government access to the footage until the ABC's Four Corners highlighted the abuse two weeks ago, and admitted its actions meant thousands of animals would continue to be slaughtered between the time it discovered the brutal killings and when the footage was finally made public.

But the RSPCA said it feared the government would have done nothing had it been shown the footage earlier. Read More

As has been the case with so many undercover videos filmed by animal rights activists, their political motivations were more important than actually stopping the abuse. For months they were aware of this cruelty yet refused to inform authorities about it. And now their solution is to end live exports, not how to improve facilities that handle the cattle or better training for those that work in them. This is like ending the production of cars to prevent traffic accidents. Their true motivation is to eliminate animal agriculture which explains their actions. -TH

Farm American's 2011 Debut

2011-03-06T13:17:00.002-07:00

I was very honored when the Furniture Row Racing team asked me to announce the date of the 2011 debut of the Farm American car! But first, here's a rundown of the past weeks activities. And if you haven't heard of the Farm American project you can learn more about it here.

This past week has been a whirlwind of exciting news about Farm American. Earlier in the week it was announced that Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizer has become the first official financial sponsor for the program. This third-generation family business based in Michigan is rooted in the same values and has the same commitment to family farmers and ranchers as the Furniture Row team does. It's going to be a great partnership!

Having the Agro team come on board this week also reminded many of us about why this program is so important. It's been designed to directly connect farmers and ranchers with consumers. It doesn't include some quasi-celebrity delivering a canned message that nobody believes. We are our own best spokespeople and that exactly who consumers want to meet.

Even the team owner Barney Visser was re-inspired by everything that's been happening lately. Because of that he has decided to personally donate another race to the Farm American schedule.

So....the 2011 debut for Farm American will be at Texas Motor Speedway on April 9!!

I want to personally thank Barney and the entire team at Furniture Row for their unwavering dedication to America's farmers and ranchers. I've never witnessed an organization with no ties to agriculture dedicate themselves so fully to helping tell our story.

A Spokesman for Agriculture

2011-02-14T11:47:00.001-07:00

So many people have said we need to have some sort of official spokesman for agriculture. On the surface this sounds like a good idea. That's what most anti-agriculture groups do to distort the truth of food production. They cart out some celebrity who has never given agriculture a second thought and try to convince the public that they are somehow an expert.

We are fortunate enough to get to share our story with other producers quite often and we always emphasize to them that we are the true experts. That's why it's so important that we are out telling the real story as often as we can. And that's also why I don't want some celebrity trying to be a spokesman for me!

We've seen how difficult it can be to get the real story of ag out to consumers. The last thing I want is a paid celebrity trying to tell my story for me. Some people will say that celebrities can reach a broader audience than we can. That's not true. If every farmer and rancher told their story to one new person every day just think how many people we would reach with the truth. Even Mike Rowe said that farmers and ranchers are their own best spokesmen.

It may seem difficult for us to reach a new person every day but through things like social media and programs like Farm American we can do it. Social media lets us talk to people all over the world without ever leaving home. Many conversations about agriculture are taking place on social media so it's important that we are there to be part of them.

The Farm American program is an incredible opportunity for us to use the resources of Furniture Row to spread the message. Between their NASCAR team and their retail locations, we can reach 160 million people a week. The main goal of the Farm American program is to highlight the farmers and ranchers themselves so they can share their story. The folks at Furniture Row don't pretend to be experts in agriculture, they just want to provide platforms for the real experts to talk to consumers.

Family farmers and ranchers don't need a spokesman, we are the spokesman. Nobody will tell our story with the same accuracy and passion as we will. That's one of the main reasons why we continue to give our fellow producers the tools to tell their story. Its also why we are avid supporters of the Farm American program.

All-American Beef Battalion

2011-01-31T12:02:00.000-07:00

While we were in Wichita for the Kansas Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Leadership Conference I had the privilege of meeting Bill Broadie. Bill has spent his entire life in the beef industry except for the years his gave to his county. He's a Vietnam War veteran that, like many of his fellow soldiers, didn't receive the hero's welcome he should have when he came home from the war.

It's hard for me to understand why this would ever happen but Bill wanted to make sure that our current soldiers didn't have to experience the same thing. He combined his passion for the beef industry with his appreciation for our nation's returning heroes when he formed the All-American Beef Battalion. It's a program that feeds our troops and their families the best home-cooked steak dinner imaginable when they return home from the war.

Going out for a nice steak dinner with our families is something that most of us take for granted. But these soldiers haven't seen their families in months or years and during that time they certainly weren't eating at a nice restaurant. Listening to Bill tell the stories of how much our troops appreciate this simple act of appreciation will bring a tear to anyone's eye and make you appreciate everything you have.

It was a privilege for me to donate to this cause and I would really encourage all of you to support it as well. They are a non-profit that relies on donations of money, time and beef to make this happen. If they can't get that then our troops don't get to enjoy one of these meals. Amazingly they have fed over 60,000 steak dinners in the past couple of years but there are more heroes returning home everyday that deserve the same.

Bill is serving his country for the second time in his life, let's give him the appreciation and support he should have gotten the first time.

SDSU Students Study Unwanted Horse Issues

2011-01-31T11:29:00.000-07:00

SDSU students outline unwanted horse problem

Steve Miller Journal correspondent | Posted: Sunday, January 30, 2011 9:00 am | (2) Comments

The number of unwanted horses in the United States is growing by nearly 150,000 a year since the closing of the last U.S. slaughter plants, and no single, easy solution is in sight.

Those were some conclusions of a study conducted by students in South Dakota State University’s animal and range sciences department.

Ten students presented their study Friday to a small audience at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center during the Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo.

In 2006, the year before the last three horse slaughtering plants closed in the United States, about 105,000 horses were killed, said first-year graduate student Kathy Koch of Crofton, Neb.

The plants were forced to close after Congress eliminated funding for federal inspection of horse meat for human consumption.

Since then, thousands of unwanted U.S. horses have been going to slaughter plants in Mexico and Canada.

An outright ban on the sale or transportation of horses for slaughter is pending in Congress.

Koch said there are now about 170,000 unwanted horses each year.

She said that even if all 432 adoption facilities in the country could take 50 horses each, only 21,600 horses could be adopted, leaving a net of 148,400 unwanted horses. Read More

The issue of unwanted horses continues to grow. While many of the animal rights activists think everything is fine and refuse to engage in real discussions of how to handle so many unwanted horses, there plenty of people in agriculture that are looking at a real problem and offering real solutions. There seems to be plenty of people that think we live in a world where nothing ever dies and life is always happy and easy. The real story is this, the only way life can continue to exist on this planet is if something dies every day. The success of life depends on death. We have the ability to use these livestock as a resource that not only assists us in their life but also in their death. There's nothing wrong with using horses to feed people. For thousands of years we have relied on livestock to benefit our lives and that still holds true today. The cruelest thing we can do for these horses, to mother nature and to ourselves is waste this natural resource.

Talking Agriculture with Mike Rowe

2011-01-18T10:14:00.001-07:00

Last weekend Stacy and I had the privilege of meeting with Mike Rowe. If you haven't heard of Mike you've probably been living under a rock for the past six or seven years. He's practically become the face of the Discovery Channel with his hit show Dirty Jobs and along the way he's also become the face of the American worker.

Through his experiences doing Dirty Jobs across the country he's come to realize and appreciate that everything we have is either grown or mined from the earth. Along with that his appreciation for the people that do that work has grown.

Out of that the mikeroweWORKS.com website was born. It's a site dedicated to educating people about the importance of skilled trade workers, including farmers and ranchers. Through that Mike happened to find my youtube video where I dumped a bottle of Yellow Tail wine on the frozen ground to tell people that they had made a donation to the world's wealthiest animal rights group, the Humane Society of the United States.

Our work with the Farm American project also caught Mike's eye and they featured a blog post of mine about the program on their site. When it turned out that we were all going to be in Atlanta at the American Farm Bureau Federation meeting we were able to finally meet in person.

Mike and his team were very interested to hear about our efforts to advocate for agriculture, including our work with the Farm American program. Mike gets a lot of requests to be spokesman. In fact he was the most sought after spokesman in the world in 2010. His name has been thrown around many times in the world of agriculture as someone that would be a great spokesman for our industry. But Mike can wisely see that we don't need a single spokesman, we need lots and lots of advocates for agriculture. Mike isn't an expert in food production, not the way that farmers and ranchers are. So while he is certainly willing to help share the story, ultimately we are the ones that need to be doing it.

Mike also highlighted the efforts of the Farm American program as a great way for farming and ranching families to spread their message. He was impressed by the unselfish efforts of Furniture Row to start the program because it was the right thing to do, not as a way to pay for a race team. When you explain to someone all of the things we could do with Farm American to tell the story of agriculture it starts sounding too good to be true. One look at the race car proves the intentions of Furniture Row though. There's not a single mention of Furniture Row on the car. That really caught the attention of Mike as it has with so many others.

We are really looking forward to a continued partnership with Mike and his team at mikeroweWORKS.com to tell the story of agriculture. Mike is a genuine guy who was a pleasure to meet and visit with. He's certainly a friend of every hard working American and as he put it, a big fan of "chewing and swallowing". It was a real pleasure to spend a few hours "chewing and swallowing" with him last week.

You've heard me telling you to be an advocate for agriculture, now hear it from Mike Rowe.

Free Estate Planning Webinar

2011-01-08T08:43:00.000-07:00

I posted an article a few weeks ago talking about estate planning and the personal responses I got back were great. There's no doubt in my mind that this is one of the most difficult things that farming and ranching families have to deal with. It's also one of those things that an expert must be used to complete. Finding that expert to guide your family along the estate planning path is hard.

Stacy and I have found that expert and have developed a partnership with him to help bring the best estate planning tool to you. Randy McKee, is a nationally recognized expert on guiding farming and ranching families through this difficult process. He's South Dakota born and raised, has a passion for agriculture and mostly, he has a passion for helping families in agriculture.

Because of the interest that so many of you have, including me, on this topic Randy has graciously scheduled a free webinar to talk about some of the sucessful strategies he's developed for families to use. Everything from dealing with family relationships (good and bad) to learning the pieces of an estate plan will be discussed.

Please take advantage of this unique opportunity. All the details on how to register for this free webinar are posted below.

Your friend in ag,

Troy

A quality estate plan can literally save your place (farm) from negatives such as estate taxes, family fights, legal losses and uninsured losses.

During this short, 45-minute seminar you will learn why it is so important to take care of estate planning. We will also introduce the most effective tool available today - specifically designed to educate and motivate farm and ranch families to get that estate planning work completed. This is the national webinar premier for this program and you are sure to learn some valuable strategies and enjoy the content.

Title: "Persuading The In-Charge Generation To Do Estate Planning"

Date: Thursday, January 13, 2011

The webinar will be offered at: 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM EST and 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM MST

Register now by clicking the link below:

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/983080825

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Summit of the Horse

2011-01-05T11:41:00.000-07:00

U.S. NEWS
JANUARY 5, 2011

Horse Slaughter Is Reconsidered
Animal-Welfare Groups Are Joining Ranchers in a Push to Revive an Industry That Died in 2007
By STEPHANIE SIMON

Less than four years after the last equine slaughterhouses in the U.S. closed down, an unlikely coalition of ranchers, horse owners and animal-welfare groups is trying to bring them back.

The group, gathering in Las Vegas this week for a conference called Summit of the Horse, aims to map out a strategy for reviving an industry that slaughtered as many as 100,000 horses a year in the U.S. before it was effectively shut down by congressional action in 2007.

Advocates say the slaughterhouses could bring an economic boost to rural areas and give owners who no longer have the means or inclination to care for the horses an economical and humane way to dispose of them.

"We believe that humane processing is absolutely a moral and an ethical choice," said Sue Wallis, a Wyoming state lawmaker who organized the event.

Animal-rights supporters have been lobbying Congress for a ban on exporting horses for slaughter. They've had no success—but even if a ban did pass, some activists say, it would do little to ease suffering, as owners desperate to shed responsibility for their animals might simply abandon them to starve. Hiring a veterinarian to euthanize and dispose of a horse can cost hundreds of dollars. Horse-rescue groups take in some unwanted animals, but they don't have the resources to care for them all.

"Every day, I'm turning horses away. I feel like I'm playing God, because I have to pick and choose," said Whitney Wright, director of Hope for Horses, a rescue group in Asheville, N.C. She worked to shut down slaughterhouses but now would like to see a few reopen under strict guidelines for humane handling.

Read More

There is no doubt that there is an over-abundance of horses in this country. The availability of a domestic harvest facility would greatly reduce the suffering that is currently taking place. The Summit of the Horse is currently taking place where discussions about this very thing are taking place. While animal rights activists like to spend their time mocking those of us who raise livestock and provide food for this country, we are having the serious discussions that need to take place.

Food Safety

2011-01-05T11:33:00.000-07:00

California organic beef producer recalls meat over E. coli concerns

January 3, 2011
10:47 am

There’s nothing that dampens your New Year's appetite like a food-safety recall, particularly one for an organic ground-beef product.

Federal officials announced Monday that First Class Foods Inc., an organic beef producer based in Hawthorne, has recalled 34,373 pounds of organic ground beef and hamburger patties due to concern that they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, kidney failure or, in the most severe cases, death.

There have been no reports of illness connected to these products, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service and the company. The bacterium was found during a routine company test of its facilities, according to the FSIS. Read More

There have been plenty of misconceptions about different types of food production methods. Specifically in beef production there are some that have tried to convince consumers that organic production makes for safer beef. Regardless of how beef cattle are raised there are going to be E. Coli that live in the digestive tract of the cattle. When we harvest cattle, regardless of the production method used to raise them, precautions must be taken to ensure no contamination takes place. This is true for all types of food coming from all types of production methods.

Farm American Update

2011-01-03T11:48:00.001-07:00

There's No Such Thing As Hormone Free

2010-12-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

Hormone meat pulled off shelves

• Wendy Hargreaves
• From: Sunday Herald Sun, Austrailia
• December 26, 2010 12:00AM

It is an Australian first that has sent shock waves through the meat industry.

Industry experts predict higher beef prices as more customers demand hormone-free meat, which makes up about half of all beef sold in Australia.

Farmers have used hormone growth promotants (HGPs) to speed up muscle growth in cattle for more than 30 years, backed by rigorous safety approval from health authorities.

But in a survey of 1000 people by Meat and Livestock Australia, leaked to the Sunday Herald Sun, almost half said they would consume less meat if it had added hormones, while 16 per cent would "never touch it again" and 15 per cent would "actively warn others".

Without the HGPs, industry experts said another two million head of cattle would be needed to make up a shortfall in meat, creating environmental problems. Read More

The most common question we get as we talk to consumers is about hormones. Most media stories, like this one, fail to give readers all of the information they need in order to make a sound decision. All food has hormones in it. Both animal and plant-based foods contain hormones. Hormones are the chemical messengers that life depends on. Many plants actually contain higher levels of hormones than meat does. There is no such thing as hormone free food.

The difference in hormone levels from a 3 ounce piece of beef treated with a growth hormone versus one that wasn’t is one-half of a nanogram. That’s one-half of one-billionth of a gram. Compare that to the amount of estrogen in a birth control pill, which is in the neighborhood of 34,000 nanograms. You would have to eat nearly 5 million pounds of beef to equal the amount of hormones in a year’s supply of birth control pill.

It’s essential that we put things in context when we are having discussions like these.

Fallout From Pacelle's Comments Continue

2010-12-28T10:20:00.000-07:00

Michael Vick wants a dog? Try Cujo

Tamara Dietrich
December 26, 2010
dailypress.com

I love dogs. They improve our lives, and lengthen them. They make us happier people.

Who doesn't deserve that?

As one animal lover/activist told me recently, "Nobody should be denied the companionship of a loyal pet."

But that same animal lover/activist also has this bumper sticker on his vehicle: "Help stop dog fighting. Neuter Michael Vick."

Harsh? Only if you forget the deeper, sordid picture of Vick's Bad Newz dog fighting ring in Surry County, which wasn't just some gentleman's sporting club where wagering was committed as well-muscled, athletic pit bulls tussled in a ring together, and may the better dog win.

This was a blood sport — emphasis on "blood" — in which dogs were maimed, crippled and ripped apart.

A judge ordered him not to own a dog while he's on probation, but apparently Vick has begun to reflect on how wonderful a family pet can be.

"I think just to have a pet in my household," said Vick in an interview with NBC News and The Grio.com, "and to show people that I genuinely care, and my love and my passion for animals, I think it would be outstanding."

His advocate, Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States, thinks so, too.

"I have been around him a lot," Pacelle told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "and feel confident that he would do a good job as a pet owner."

Unless Pacelle is willing to give Vick his own personal family pet with no conditions, oversight or reservations — then forget it. Read More

Wayne Pacelle and the HSUS continue to show how out of touch they really are with their endorsement of pet ownership for convicted felon Michael Vick. This isn’t sitting well with anyone and Pacelle is hearing about it. This probably one of the biggest blunders Pacelle has ever made for his factory fundraising machine. It shows where their priorities are when they still don’t want livestock used for food but they think Vick should own a dog again.

Local Humane Society Talks About Damage Caused by HSUS

2010-12-21T06:57:00.000-07:00

Hear the words straight from the director of a pet shelter in South Dakota that the intentional confusion caused by the HSUS is hurting local shelters. You will also hear her say that they give 97% of their budget towards the animals they care for. Why can't the HSUS do that?

Estate Planner in a Box

2010-12-17T11:48:00.000-07:00

Randy McKee: Estate planning in a box

By Amanda Radke, TSLN

“It used to be what separated people was between have and have nots; but today, it's more split between who is informed and who is ignorant,” said Randy McKee, of McKee Companies, at the South Dakota Cattlemen's Association (SDCA) 62nd Annual Trade Show and Convention in Aberdeen, SD on Dec. 1, 2010.

McKee is a nationally-recognized estate planner, who developed “Estate Planner In A Box,” an easy-to-understand course designed to teach families how to put together an estate plan for an agriculture business. At the convention, he offered his advice on what farm and ranch families should think about as they prepare for the uncertainties of tomorrow.

“Estate planning can't wait,” said McKee. “There are three solid ways to eliminate federal estate taxes; if you pay even one penny for your estate, it's voluntary now. We can help you eliminate or reduce the costs for your heirs.”

McKee noted that while there are so many factors in the agriculture sector that can't be controlled, such as prices and the weather, there is one thing producers can have control on – the future of their family business.

“Our product teaches you how to gain control,” said McKee. “You don't want a judge determining the outcome of your operation. We can help you get on track to making those big decisions in your estate plan.”

Read More

Most of the time you hear me focusing on issues like animal rights and food production. There's no doubt that retaining the social license to produce food in this country is one of our biggest challenges. But the other one that I see as a threat is the complicated process of passing a farm or ranch to the next generation. Too many times this process doesn't seem to work out like everyone had hoped or else the task seemed so daunting that no estate plan was ever put in place. Estate Planner in a Box is by the far the best program I have ever found for dealing with this difficult subject. Many times the hardest part of estate planning is just getting started. That's exactly what this helps you do. Randy is a nationally respected expert on estate planning, but maybe even more importantly, he's a ranch kid from South Dakota. Agriculture is something that is near and dear to him and he has helped many families plan for their future.

Pacelle, HSUS Says Vick Should Have Dogs Again

2010-12-17T10:41:00.000-07:00

Humane Society president open to Michael Vick owning dogs again

By the CNN Wire Staff

(CNN) -- The head of one of America's biggest animal protection organizations said Thursday that Michael Vick, who served prison time for his role in a deadly dogfighting operation, should have the opportunity to bring a dog home -- in due time.

Humane Society President Wayne Pacelle told HLN's Jane Velez-Mitchell that the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback shouldn't get a pet immediately and should have to meet certain milestones whenever he does. But Pacelle, whose group has worked with Vick in public outreach efforts, said that it would be wrong to close the door to his ever having a dog again.

"He's been going through counseling, he's been speaking to kids twice a month, and he needs to interact with animals," said Pacelle. "If he continues to hit these markers, then if his daughter wants a dog two or three years down the line,... I'm saying that we should be open to that possibility." Read More

So Pacelle and the HSUS continue to try driving animal agriculture out of this country yet he has no problem letting Vick own dogs again? Vick forced dogs to kill each other and farmers and ranchers are using livestock to help feed the world and Pacelle thinks the farmers and ranchers are a bigger threat? The reality bus left HSUS long ago but things like this continue to remind us how out of touch they really are.

Biotech Helping Feed Africa

2010-12-17T10:37:00.000-07:00

Farmers benefit from biotech crops production

SPECIAL REPORT BY XINHUA CORRESPONDENT PETER MUTAI

NAIROBI (Xinhua) -- Continued progress on commercialization of biotech crops was witnessed in all three countries in Africa during the 2009 period.

According to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Application (ISAAA), South Africa has increased its hectarage by 17 percent while Burkina Faso increased by 14 percent.

The three countries broader coverage is of strategic importance because it allows more African countries to become practitioners of biotech crops and be able to benefit directly from learning by doing, a practice which has been proved to be very important.

This is a remarkable achievement given that Africa is the continent with the greatest challenge on food production compared to other continents.

As South Africa continue to export their biotech agricultural products such as maize, researchers now say that Kenya too could be on the beneficiary list once it adopts the technology.

With the food insecurity already ravaging most parts of sub Saharan Africa hence forcing countries to import food mainly maize and beans, the application of biotechnology could be of a solution to pest and diseases that wipe out millions of crops yearly. Read More

You certainly get a different perspective about biotechnology in countries where so many people are starving. There are no Michael Pollan’s in Africa and the reason is that many people over there wonder where their next meal is coming from. Having the luxury to choose food that was raised in a certain way is a very foreign concept to people in Africa. Our country has the ability to help feed these people yet we have full-stomached protesters and activists that are trying to stop that from happening. This is why Pollan’s line of thinking is so out of touch with reality, a reality that too many people live with every day.

NE Gov Tells HSUS To Stay Out

2010-12-13T11:20:00.000-07:00

Nebraska governor on HSUS: ‘We’re going to beat them’

December 9, 2010 by Ken Anderson
BrownfieldAgNews.com

The governor of Nebraska is sending a strong message to the Humane Society of the United States—if the animal rights group goes after the state’s livestock industry, it’s in for a fight.

“The Humane Society of the United States is anti-agriculture and they’re out to destroy animal agriculture—and if they want to come to Nebraska, we’re going to fight them and we’re going to beat them,” Heineman says. “Agriculture is the number one industry in this state. It’s what makes our economy so strong. I’m going to stand tall and this is a fight we won’t shy away from.”

In an interview with Brownfield after his speech to the Nebraska Cattlemen’s group in Kearney, Heineman made it clear that compromise is not an option.

“In Nebraska, no deal, no compromise—we’re going to stand up, we’re going to beat them,” he says. “They’d be better off going somewhere else because they’re going to lose if they stay in Nebraska.”

HSUS has recently become more active in Nebraska, hiring a state director and holding a town hall meeting in Lincoln. Link

It’s great to see our elected leaders stand up for their constituents against the lying bully that is the HSUS. Their efforts to eliminate animal agriculture are more apparent than ever and it’s being noticed. I would think it must be getting tougher for Pacelle to continue trying to sell his group as just an animal welfare group. You don’t see politicians coming out against worthy charities, just the fraudulent ones.

Beat Stress, Eat a Steak!

2010-12-13T11:17:00.000-07:00

Feeling stressed? Grill a steak, study suggests

BY PHILIP BRASHER & DAN PILLER • BUSINESS@DMREG.COM • DECEMBER 12, 2010
Des Moines Register

Red meat's image has tended to emphasize stereotypically aggressive male behavior, ranging from ancient barbarians to modern tailgaters.

But McGill University in Canada says its studies suggest otherwise: Meat has a calming effect on men.

Maybe men know what is best for them when they gravitate to the backyard grill.

"It wouldn't be advantageous to be aggressive anymore, because you would've already used your aggression to acquire the meat, and furthermore, you'd be surrounded by people who share ... your DNA," lead researcher Frank Kachanoff told the Montreal Gazette. "One of the basic principles in evolution is to want to preserve not only your DNA but also that of your next of kin."

How well the beef-is-calming notion takes hold remains to be seen. U.S. per capita consumption has dropped by about 25 percent in the last half-century. Link

It’s hard to be stressed when you are about to enjoy a great steak! Meat is an essential part of the balanced diet that we should all have. Eliminating food groups from your diet is never a good idea and the science continues to suggest it.

Ag is the Foundation of our Society

2010-12-07T15:27:00.000-07:00

Ag aiding economy

By: Jerry Hagstrom, Special to Agweek

WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, in a Dec. 1 news conference, highlighted recently released trade and income statistics showing agriculture leading the country out of the recession.

Vilsack said USDA forecasts that U.S. farm exports in fiscal year 2011 will set a record high $126.5 billion, exceeding the fiscal year 2008, formerly the highest level on record at $114.9 billion.

Agriculture continues to be one of the only major sectors of the American economy with a trade surplus — which is expected to be $41 billion in this fiscal year, Vilsack noted. He said the forecast “demonstrates that the demand for U.S. food and agriculture around the world is stronger than ever,” with sales surging in China, Southeast Asia, North America and the Middle East. Read More

Agriculture truly is the foundation for our society, and that includes our economy. All wealth comes from the ground which is why a domestically raised food supply is so critical. The instant we start relying on someone else to grow our food our country will be in grave danger.

Truth About HSUS Revealed Again

2010-12-07T15:03:00.000-07:00

The Humane Society of the United States is not what you think

By: Ron Arnold 12/02/10 8:05 PM
Wahington Examiner
OpEd Contributor

If you donate to the Humane Society of the United States for supporting the homeless doggies and kitties in your local animal shelter, you've likely been suckered by one of Big Green's most notorious propaganda mills.

HSUS is a radical no-meat, anti-hunting, anti-gun octopus that spends millions swallowing other animal groups whole, but habitually gives less than 1 percent of its annual revenue to a few selected local shelters. It's not that they can't afford it -- they raked in $101.6 million last year alone.

HSUS got so big because of CEO Wayne Pacelle's takeovers of the extremist Fund for Animals and the respectable Doris Day Animal League, in what he calls "corporate combinations."

That, and his ability to create high-profile projects like disaster relief crews that swoop stranded cats and dogs from flooded housetops while the TV cameras watch -- then quietly dump them on nearby shelters without so much as a dime's worth of support.

Pacelle gets the credit, the grunts get the critters. Read More

There are more people every day that are learning the truth about the HSUS. While they continue to claim that they aren’t anti-meat or anti-ag, one only has to look at their suggested recipes to see what their true goals are. That’s where the rubber meats the road. But while we have made great strides in exposing this group we must continue to do more. There are still too many people that think this group actually cares for pets. Nothing could be further from the truth.

More Farm American Coverage

2010-12-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

I have really appreciated all of the media coverage of the Farm American project. A big thank you to Vicki Myers from Progressive Farmer/DTN for this article.

Ag Warrior

Cowboys, Farmers, Furniture and NASCAR

Victoria G. Myers Progressive Farmer Senior Editor

Mon Nov 29, 2010 08:31 AM CST

Troy Hadrick is looking for $22 million. That's what it will cost to build a campaign to promote America's farmers and ranchers on NASCAR's pit row. And when you hear Hadrick talk about the program, $22 million begins to sound like a deal.

The no-nonsense rancher from Faulkton, S.D., has a face you might remember. He countered a contribution Yellow Tail wine made to The Humane Society with a YouTube video that went viral. It was a simple, straightforward image of the young rancher pouring a bottle of the wine out on the ground, with cattle in the background. The reaction had Yellow Tail backpedaling on its donation soon after the video was posted.

Since then, Hadrick and his wife, Stacy, have become well-known advocates of the American farmer and rancher. They travel and speak across the country with one goal: letting average consumers get to know a real rancher. It's a rewarding pursuit.

"It's amazing to watch it happen, when consumers meet a farmer or rancher. It's like the lightbulb goes on and they see we are human and that we do care," says Hadrick.

The rancher says for too long media and organizations he considers anti-agriculture have worked to fear monger and dehumanize people who produce America's food. He points to terms like "factory farm" or "big ag," which he says have a goal of "making us faceless and cold." Read More

A Film About Beef

2010-12-01T08:43:00.000-07:00

Here's another great video by a student filmmaker talking about the beef industry and sharing what she learned.

A Film by Katie Griffith from ExploreBeef on Vimeo.

SD Cattlemen's Association

2010-12-01T08:37:00.000-07:00

Today we are at the South Dakota Cattlemen's Association annual meeting in Aberdeen. There are lots of great speakers here including Gregg Doud, chief economist from NCBA, Randy McKee, one of the best estate planners in the country, and Amanda Nolz who will be talking about social media.

Being involved in your industry organizations is extremely important and it's why we are involved in several.

Have a great day!

The Care Package: Cattle Welfare in the West

2010-11-27T08:54:00.000-07:00

Three student filmmakers were recently given full access to makes short documentaries about the beef industry. As we travel across the country speaking about agriculture I continue to tell people they shouldn't ask Google about where their food comes from. They should ask the farmers and ranchers that grow it. These films offer an opportunity for everyone to learn about beef industry directly from the people involved.

Here's the first of three films I will be posting.

The Care Package: Cattle Welfare in the West from ExploreBeef on Vimeo.

Will HSUS/Ohio Deal Continue?

2010-11-23T05:17:00.000-07:00

New Ohio ag director will review animal care deal

By JOHN SEEWER
TOLEDO, Ohio

Ohio's next agriculture director plans to take a closer a look at a deal arranged by the outgoing governor and animal rights activists that would bring tougher laws governing farm animals.

The agreement calls for a ban of certain crates and cages and prohibiting strangulation as a form of euthanasia for sick or injured animals.

"There are a lot more unanswered questions," James Zehringer, a former poultry farmer who's been a state lawmaker the past three years, said during an interview with The Associated Press.

His biggest concern is that the proposed regulations could make it too costly for new farm owners who want to get into the business by forcing them to make changes to existing farms.

"We want to grow agriculture," he said. "Ohio is losing 700 farms a year." Read More

This could get interesting. Now Ohio may have the political leadership to stand up to the falsehoods and threats coming from HSUS. The question will be whether or not anyone will follow their efforts. In order for the OLCSB to operate properly, they can’t be constantly under threat of a ballot issue from the HSUS. While the HSUS will never b e worried about what’s best for livestock, farmers and ranchers have no choice. It’s our duty to properly care for them, regardless of politics.

HSUS Tries Fooling Nebraska Livestock Producers

2010-11-23T05:07:00.001-07:00

Humane Society: Not ‘anti-ag'

By Leslie Reed
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

LINCOLN — The Humane Society of the U.S. has no plans to conduct a petition drive in Nebraska aimed at treatment of farm animals, the group's president and chief executive officer said here Sunday.

But Wayne Pacelle said his group still will continue to work to eliminate tight confinement practices on farms and ranches.

“We are not anti-agriculture,” Pacelle said. “We want animals to be able to stand up, lie down and turn around. That is not a sweeping agenda.”

Some of the agriculture representatives said they remain wary of Pacelle's group, despite his conciliatory tone.

Mark McHargue, a Central City, Neb., pork producer and a director of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation, said he remains skeptical of the HSUS's motives. McHargue said he uses gestation crates to house pregnant sows on his hog farm. He said he believes the crates are a humane way to handle animals that would fight and harm one another if they weren't restrained. Working without the crates also would increase his cost of production.

“You heard a lot of frustration and anxiety tonight about what's happened in other states,” McHargue said. “There's no reason to think that what happened in other states won't happen in Nebraska.” Read More

These farmers and ranchers that believe the HSUS is a friend to them really struggle with reality. One look at the recipe section on their website shows you what their true goals are. Never once does it say anything about eating meat, milk and eggs grown in certain conditions. It states that using animals as a source of food is cruel. I’m not sure how Pacelle can say that he isn’t anti-ag with a straight face. The only way he can keep his professional fundraising organization afloat is to keep creating one crisis after another directed at agriculture.

Blaming Cows For Global Warming Not Accurate

2010-11-22T05:07:00.001-07:00

A new beef with role of cows in global warming

November 20, 2010
Alex Horkay
TheStar.com
Statistics have been giving us a bum steer when they state how much cattle methane emissions contribute to global warming, a new study shows.

That's because mathematical equations used to predict cows' methane emissions are inaccurate and don't take into account factors such as dietary changes, said Jennifer Ellis, lead author of the study and a PhD student at the University of Guelph.

When cattle burp up their cud, they discharge methane with it, due to microbial fermentation occurring in their complex stomachs.

“Diet can change CH4 (methane) emissions quite a lot. For example, between two and 12 per cent of the energy a cow consumes will be lost as CH4,” she said.

When an equation calculates the quantity of methane emissions on one farm, it can't be used to accurately determine how much greenhouse gas is created worldwide because there is so much difference in cattle diet around the world and from farm to farm. Read More

While most of the anti-ag groups are quick to try blaming cows for global warming, common sense scientists have shown that it’s not that simple. There are so many factors that determine the amount of methane produced by a cow so it’s nearly impossible to determine any impact based on current models. It’s unfortunate that these anti-ag groups have to try tricking people with false information to gain support and turn them against farming and ranching families.

Help Your Neighbor, Not a Turkey

2010-11-21T20:04:00.000-07:00

Turkey adoption program keeps flocks off dinner tables

By Alyson Cunningham The (Salisbury, Md.) Daily Times

DEWEY BEACH, Del. — For the last five years, Marissa Filderman has adopted a turkey for Thanksgiving.

But she's never interested in raising the feathered fellow.

The 24-year-old vegetarian is focused on saving that turkey from its inevitable holiday fate.

So each year, she adopts a foul from Farm Sanctuary, an organization which rescues abused farm animals and works to stop and expose cruel farming practices with shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif.

Around Thanksgiving, the sanctuary has a special turkey fundraiser that allows people to sponsor a turkey for $30 or a flock for $180.

According to the Farm Sanctuary's website, the organization has saved more than 1,000 turkeys in 24 years.

Read More

As we approach Thanksgiving we think about all the things we are thankful for. Our family is thankful for the food we have to eat. But for too many families there isn’t much food to be had for the holidays. It makes it even harder to accept when we have people in our society giving money to animal rights groups to feed turkeys when that money could be used to feed their neighbors. Please support your local food banks so those less fortunate than you can enjoy Thanksgiving rather than a turkey.

2010 Trailblazer Award Winners

2010-11-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

When Joe Roybal called me late this summer to say that Stacy and I had been selected at BEEF Magazine's 2010 Trailblazer Award honorees I was pretty much speechless (which doesn't happen very often). My first thought was that we probably weren't old enough to be a trailblazer in the beef industry! Never had the thought crossed my mind that we would be considered for an award like this. We didn't set out to win any awards when we started telling our story but we truly appreciate it.

So a big thank you to Joe and everyone at BEEF Magazine for thinking of us!

Here's a link to the 2010 BEEF Magazine Trailblazer Award article.

Pickens Plans to Overstock Horse Ranch

2010-11-10T09:38:00.000-07:00

Pickens named Horsewoman of the Year

Herald-Leader Staff Report

Anti-horse slaughter activist Madeleine Pickens was named "Horsewoman of the Year" by the Humane Society of the United States at the annual Sound Horse Conference in Louisville on Friday.

Pickens, who also raced Thoroughbreds with her late husband, Allen Paulson, was given the honor for her efforts to establish a sanctuary for wild horses.

Pickens, who is married to oil billionaire T. Boone Pickens, last month bought a 14,000-acre ranch in Nevada to take in thousands of wild horses that have been removed from public lands by the Bureau of Land Management. The BLM is reviewing the proposal for the Mustang Monument preserve.

Madeleine Pickens "is one of those rare individuals who puts her passion, time and money where her heart is," Wayne Pacelle, Humane Society president and CEO, said in announcing the honor Link

If Pickens is truly planning on putting thousands of horses on her newly acquired ranch then she and Wayne Pacelle both have a few things to learn about range management. Doing that would put a quick end to her ranch and it’s ability to be grazed. This ranch could probably support a few hundred horses but certainly not “thousands”. These are generally the types of things that people who are unfamiliar with livestock overlook. It will be interesting to see how many she does put out there and if she’s really willing to buy never-ending supplies of hay to feed that many. Hopefully the ignorance of Pickens and the HSUS won't result in the destruction of this rangeland.

Repeal Prop B?

2010-11-10T09:33:00.000-07:00

Lawmakers Support Repeal of Prop B

'Puppy Mill' Prevention Act's narrow 51.5% passage has Missouri lawmakers examining a repeal.

MissouriRuralist.com
Published: Nov 8, 2010

Missouri lawmakers, in both the House and Senate, said they would support efforts by dog breeders and agricultural groups to repeal or dilute Proposition B, the so-called "Puppy Mill Prevention Act," passed by voters Nov. 2.

"We will start working on that issue immediately," said Senator-elect Mike Parson, whose district includes more than 150 licensed breeding operations. The next legislative session begins Jan. 5.

Proposition B, which will put new restrictions on state dog breeders, passed by substantial margins in urban areas, but failed in 100 of the state's 114 counties. Overall, it got 51.6% of the vote. However, licensed breeders and virtually all of the state's agricultural groups strongly opposed it saying it will force legitimate breeders out of business while doing nothing about unlicensed breeders.

Ag groups also argued passage of the measure – strongly backed by the Humane Society of the United States and other animal rights groups --- was just the first step as these groups move on to try and regulate animal agriculture out of business. Read More

This was way closer than Wayne and Co. would like to think about. He regularly goes into states and tells ag groups that they can win any vote by a healthy margin. It’s more apparent than ever that he’s blowing smoke yet again. There’s no doubt that the HSUS will come uncorked if there’s any attempt to modify the law. HSUS is losing their credibility piece by piece every single day and this vote confirms it.

It's Time To Do Something Different

2010-11-04T12:17:00.000-06:00

I’ve been talking a lot lately about the Farm American Project. One of the reasons that I’m so excited about it is because the goal is to promote the Farmers and Ranchers that grow the food we eat. For years we’ve had commodity specific programs with a very narrow focus of emphasis. These programs certainly have their place and I am a big supporter of them. However, I truly believe that we need to embrace this program because it will promote the individuals in our industry.

We’ve seen the need to humanize farmers and ranchers for quite some time now yet it seems that very few have implemented strategies to accomplish it. Farm American is in a unique position to get it done. This project would allow 160 million consumers to meet the farmers and ranchers that grow all of their food.

No matter what we raise or how we raise it, consumers want to meet us and learn more about us. We all win when consumers get that chance.

Some people and ag companies have looked at this project and thought it’s not worth the effort. Here’s what I know for sure, the past strategy of thinking that there are groups of people that don’t need to hear our story has put us in this troublesome position. That means we have to think in new ways and move in new directions to have our voices heard. We can’t be scared, we have to be confident. The ag companies that step up and help make this a reality will prove themselves to be the true leaders in ag business because they will recognize this as an opportunity. It will be clear that they intend to be partners with Farmers and Ranchers for generations to come.

I want my children to have the same opportunities that I had to be involved in agriculture. In order for that to happen we need to let consumers know who we are and why it’s important that we are here. The opportunity is being given to all of us to get that done. It only remains to be seen who will take advantage of it.

It’s time to work together.

Ag Mag

2010-11-04T11:03:00.000-06:00

Published November 02 2010

Ag Mag redesigned, now available to N.D. teachers

Jamestown Sun

North Dakota Ag Mag, a teaching tool that provides information about agriculture to thousands of North Dakota students, has a new look.

“Corn is the subject of the first full-color issue of Ag Mag,” said Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. “Corn is an increasingly important crop in our state, and this new magazine will help young people better understand the history of corn, how it is produced and the many uses we have for corn.”

Goehring said he hopes more teachers in grades 3, 4 and 5 will take advantage of the free subscriptions to Ag Mag.

“Ag Mag reinforces what teachers are already doing in the classroom,” he said. “It helps teachers integrate information about North Dakota agriculture across curriculum in science, math, language arts, social studies, and other classes.” Read More

Having some type of “Ag Mag” available for school teachers is vitally important. I’ve had friends whose kids have brought home material from the HSUS from school. When these parents have questioned the teachers about why, the answer is usually the same. It was free for them to use and they didn’t know that the HSUS is the world’s wealthiest animal rights group. The next thing the teacher asks is if there’s something they can use that correctly teaches about farming and ranching. That’s when we need to be able to provide them with something like the Ag Mag

AgriTalk and Farm American

2010-11-02T09:59:00.000-06:00

I want to thank the crew at AgriTalk for having Pat Driscoll and myself on the air this morning. The Farm American Project is an unprecedented opportunity for farmers and ranchers to share their story with the American public.

In order for it to become a reality next year we need everyone's help. We need the help of individual producers to spread the message of the project AND we also need them to encourage agri-businesses to support us with their funding.

You can read the entire story of the project by clicking here.

Balanced Diets Best

2010-10-29T09:33:00.000-06:00

Vegetarians at risk of brain disorders

IANS, Oct 28, 2010, 02.36pm IST
TimesOfIndia.com

Vegetarians are at an early risk of mental disorder such as dementia and alzheimer's as they develop a Vitamin B-12 deficiency, doctors said here Wednesday.

Fish, shellfish, meat, eggs, milk and their by-products are some of the biggest sources of Vitamin B-12.

"Deficiency of Vitamin B-12 can reduce working capacity of the brain and result in progressive memory loss that has an impact on day to day activities," Praveen Gupta, consultant neurologist at Artemis Health Institute in Gurgaon, said in an Interview.

"Since majority of the Indian population is vegetarian and milk consumption has reduced considerably, they are more prone to early onset of dementia. Those who suffer from lactose intolerance are also at risk," Gupta explained.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), India had nearly 3.5 million alzheimer's and dementia patients in the year 2000.

"We see at least 30 patients under the age of 40 every month -- suffering from memory loss and other manifestations due to deficiency of vitamin B-12. Once diagnosed, these patients respond very well to vitamin B-12 supplements," Gupta added. Read More

Eating a balanced diet that includes meat and dairy products has been proven time and again to be the best diet for people. But diet alone doesn’t determine your health. There’s a little thing called exercise that also plays an important factor. Many critics of our food supply conveniently seem to forget that.

Missouri's Prop B Affects Real People

2010-10-29T09:24:00.000-06:00

Breeders fearful of tighter rules under Prop B

By Melanie Loth

October 28, 2010
6:42 p.m. CDT
Columbia Missourian

COLUMBIA – Peaches rolls in the grass by the feet of his breeder, Hubert Lavy. The French bulldog casually sniffs Lavy’s shoes and jeans, finding the scent of the other dogs at the kennel.

“If you ever want a pet, this is what you get,” he said. “They are the most loving, comical pets.”

Lavy and his wife, Sharon Lavy, own Tenderheart Kennel in Silex, which is in Lincoln County. They have been breeding dogs to sell as pets for the past 10 years.

“We sell love, we sell friendship, but we also sell a reason to get out of bed in the morning,” Hubert Lavy said.

Tenderheart Kennel is one of many large-scale dog breeding operations in Missouri that would be affected if voters statewide approve Proposition B on Tuesday.

Proposition B would add new regulations to current laws governing dog breeders in Missouri. The regulations are limited to dog breeders with 10 or more breeding females. Tenderheart Kennel has 37 breeding females, but only breeds about 20 of them; the rest are too young or too old.

The Lavys oppose Proposition B because they fear it would be cost-prohibitive to meet all of the proposed standards.

“It’s the only thing I want to do for the rest of my life,” Hubert Lavy said. “It’s my hobby, it’s what I love to do and, dammit, they are going to take it away from me.”

Hubert Lavy estimated renovations to meet the standards in Proposition B would cost $50,000. He put his yearly earnings at $15,000 to $20,000. Read More

This article is the first one that I’ve seen about Prop B in Missouri that has attempted to put a face on the people this will affect. HSUS has been able to make a fortune by trying to make criminals out of honest, hard working people that raise animals. The widely used HSUS talking point is to say that they only want to stop the worst cases of abuse. Yet spending just a minute on their website will tell a completely different story. They don’t want people using animals for any purpose whatsoever. Prop B, like many other pieces of legislation they have forced on states, is just a step in the direction of their ultimate goals. Please vote NO on Prop B in Missouri.

Another Local Shelter Has To Set The Record Straight

2010-10-29T09:08:00.000-06:00

Michigan Humane Society: not part of political campaign, Peters ads

Published: Thursday, October 28, 2010
By Charles Crumm
For the Daily Tribune

The Michigan Humane Society is distancing itself from a political action committee called the Humane Society Legislative Fund, which is running ads on behalf of U.S. Rep. Gary Peters.

The Bingham Farms-based nonprofit said in a statement Wednesday that it is not connected with the Humane Society Legislative Fund or its parent organization, The Humane Society of the United States.

It is prohibited as a nonprofit from promoting or endorsing political candidates, Humane Society spokeswoman Nancy Gunnigle said.

“Our focus is on caring for dogs and animals each year in metropolitan Detroit,” she said.

Read More

Here’s one thing you will never hear anyone from the HSUS be able to say with a straight face, “Our focus is on caring for dogs and animals”. And if they do they are lying. That’s probably the best way for local shelters to differentiate themselves from the HSUS. It’s just a shame that local shelters have to spend precious time and resources trying to straighten out the confusion intentionally caused by the HSUS to feed their fundraising machine.

mikeroweWORKS.com Helping Share Our Story

2010-10-27T11:31:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to say a quick thank you to the team over at http://www.mikeroweworks.com/ for volunteering to help us share the story of the American Farmer and Rancher. Mike Rowe and the entire team are certainly big supporters of the hard working men and women that make this country what it is.

I really appreciate them posting my blog article on the Farm American project. If you haven't seen it yet you need to check it out. http://www.mikeroweworks.com/2010/10/farm-american/

Farm American

2010-10-25T09:54:00.000-06:00

We’ve been saying it for a long time in agriculture, we need to be proactive in our efforts to educate the consumer about domestic food production and the farmers and ranchers that grow it rather than being reactive to the latest inaccurate accusations from an anti-ag group. There’s not a better way to do this than to tell our story one person at a time and let consumers get to know us, let them meet a real farmer or rancher. But we’ve also talked about how great it would be to tell our story on a bigger stage to a bigger audience. With limited resources and opportunities it hasn’t happened yet, however, that is about to change.

I truly believe that the opportunity we have been looking for has just landed in our lap. Even more amazing than that is it’s coming from someone with no ties to agriculture at all yet he realizes the important job that farmers and ranchers have and wants to help tell the story of the 21st century agriculturalist. His name is Barney Visser and he owns the Furniture Row chain of furniture stores. Like most farmers and ranchers, Visser is a self-made man and a great example of what you can achieve with hard work. He started with a single store in Denver selling an invention of his called the bean bag chair. That single store turned into the fastest growing furniture chain today which includes brands like Denver Mattress and Oak Express.

Visser recently formed the Furniture Row Racing NASCAR team but unlike most teams he wanted to use his to promote worthwhile causes when possible. When he was presented with the idea of promoting the American farmer and rancher he knew it was the right thing to do. At one time he had 800 employees in Colorado making furniture for him. Unfortunately he had to eventually close it down though because he couldn’t compete with less expensive imports. Reflecting back on that experience Visser stated that it was bad enough he now has to get his furniture from overseas, the last thing he wanted is his food coming from there. So over the past year he has spent millions of his own money developing the Farm American project.

The Farm American project has several facets to it. Visser has generously offered to turn the Furniture Row Racing team into the Farm American team. The Farm American car ran at three Sprint Cup races this year and we were fortunate enough to be at the final running a few weeks ago in Fontana, CA where we got to meet Visser and his family and the entire race crew. The paint scheme is beautiful on the car and really stands out among the rest of the field because it’s not cluttered with advertisements. Along with this, we want to develop a traveling interactive display that would be set up in the Fan Zone at every race. It would include having local farmers and ranchers there to share with consumers what they do, a real farmers market, farm machinery simulators and other great teaching tools. Research has shown that this segment of the project can reach 33% of the American public every week.

The next phase of the plan also highlights the commitment and generosity of Barney Visser. He is going to allow us to use all of his retail locations across the country to promote farmers and ranchers as well. This will include in-store displays featuring local farmers and ranchers as well as promotional material included in their advertisements. Visser has even offered to re-paint all of his delivery trucks to match the paint scheme on the Farm American car. This would reach another 30% of the American public.

Finally, the Farm American car and traveling educational exhibit could be available for various other functions, including fairs and shows.

When you add it all up, this project could reach nearly 200 million people. That’s an astonishing number! Unfortunately, it will take some money to bring this project to it’s full potential. As I mentioned earlier, Mr. Visser has already put a couple million dollars of his own money into it to get it off the ground. Now it’s time for agri-business to step up and help the farmers and ranchers they depend on to tell their story.

The Farm American project will need to raise $22 million in order to implement all of the components and operate for a full year. Now I know that seems like a big mountain to climb but in reality it’s not. When you think about the economic impact that agriculture has on this country and the importance of this issue, that’s a small price to pay to educate our consumers. It would be tough for individual farmers and ranchers to raise that kind of money so that’s why we need ag businesses to step up.

We need agri-business to realize that they need to become partners in our efforts to tell the real story of modern agriculture. It’s been great to see some companies realize this and trying to do what they can to help. For those, it’s their opportunity to become part of something even bigger than themselves. If there are companies out there that feel it’s not their responsibility to help tell this story, then they have a shockingly short-sighted view of what needs to be done. I plan on asking all of these companies, both privately and publicly, to help with this project. Their survival depends on our survival.

So what do we need from you? We need your voices. We need your passion. We need you to help share the story of the Farm American project so we can share the story of the American Farmer and Rancher with 200 million consumers. These ag businesses will need to hear from each and every one of you about why this is important. I am going to commit to giving my business to the companies that support this project and will encourage all of you to do the same. It's also important for me to stress that neither Visser or Furniture Row Racing will be profiting from this project. They are doing it because it's the right thing to do.

Above all else, we want this effort to stay very positive! The anti-ag groups like to stoop to that level on a regular basis. We don’t have to, our message speaks for itself. So thank you in advance for keeping all of your comments very positive and helping us make this incredible project a reality.

Let me know if you have any ideas, comments or questions and stay tuned for more updates!

Animal Friends Advocate Violent Death For Deer

2010-10-20T07:10:00.000-06:00

Group: Use coyotes, not hunters to cut deer population

Published: Tuesday, October 19, 2010
DailyLocal.com

VALLEY FORGE — An animal-rights group that opposes the use of hunters to cut the deer population in Valley Forge National Historical Park wants officials to consider using coyotes instead.

The Pennsylvania chapter of Friends of Animals opposes a plan to use sharpshooters to eliminate more than 80 percent of the park's deer in the next four years. Last year, the group filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the hunts.

Now, the group has started a campaign called the Coyote Coexistence Initiative. The group wants park officials to consider encouraging natural predators rather than shooting the deer.

Park officials say the proposal wouldn't work.

Friends of Animals says it will seek an injunction to stop a hunt planned for next month. According the Friends of Animals' Web site, attempts to control coyote populations through trapping and killing have been futile and "an ethically and scientifically sound strategy that focuses on empowering people to respect coyotes" is preferable.

"Education and outreach designed to inform the public about the role of feeding in coyote attacks is an integral part of coexistence programs already in place and those currently being developed," the group's Web site says. "Coyote education campaigns can demonstrate practical ways to avoid unwanted incidents — by, for example, making coyote deterrents using household items." Read More

Let’s see if I can get this straight. The Friends of Animals group would rather have predators chasing and harassing a deer until it finally dies a very slow and painful death than have sharpshooters quickly harvest the deer and use the meat to feed the homeless. With friends like that who needs enemies?? Not only would this be a tremendous waste of resources, but it would also lead to an eventual problem with coyotes as well. With their plan, what happens to the coyotes if and when they would lower the deer population? They either start starving to death or die off from disease. It’s another great example of people with no knowledge or experience dealing with managing natural resources trying to make recommendations that cause more harm than good.

Activists Threaten Food Supply

2010-10-20T07:02:00.000-06:00

Ruling Imperils Sugar Production

By BILL TOMSON

Wall Street Journal

U.S. sugar production will be cut by about 20% if farmers are banned from planting genetically modified beets next year, according to data prepared for the U.S. Department of Agriculture as part of a court case over whether to continue allowing the practice.

Genetically modified beets have come to account for 95% of the U.S. sugar-beet crop in the five years since they were approved by the Agriculture Department. But in August, a judge threw out the USDA's initial approval for the use of genetically modified seeds, saying it hadn't done enough research into the environmental impact. The department says the studies the judge required will take about two years.

That triggered concerns there wouldn't be enough traditional sugar-beet seeds for next spring's planting season, as many seed producers had switched to genetically modified varieties. It takes about two years to produce seeds.

Sugar beets, from which sugar is processed, will account for about 60% of domestic U.S. production this year.

If farmers can't plant genetically modified seeds next spring, a shortage of traditional seeds would likely cut 1.6 million tons from next year's sugar-beet crop, according to a declaration by the USDA prepared by Daniel Colacicco, director of the department's dairy and sweetener analysis group. The government has forecast next year's crop at 8.1 million tons. Read More

This falls in line with the typical “shoot first, ask questions later” approach by anti-ag groups in their efforts to force agriculture to change without looking at the consequences. Many of these groups have a similar philosophy to roll ag back 100 years in it’s technology use. What they don’t realize is that these types of things reduce our ability to grow food at the exact time we need to be increasing our output. All of these efforts come from people that live very comfortably and don’t worry about being able to afford food. Those that live on a budget or don’t know where their next meal is coming from would certainly disagree with these elitist attacks on our food production system.

Vote No on Missouri's Prop B

2010-10-20T06:52:00.000-06:00

Ballot issue breeds contempt between dog breeders, animal-rights activists

KansasCity.com

By JASON NOBLE

JEFFERSON CITY
The forces for and against Missouri’s Proposition B are making their cases with cute and cuddly puppies.

But make no mistake, the contest to convince voters is a down and dirty dogfight.

Prop B on the Nov. 2 statewide ballot will ask voters whether to enact the “Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act,” a set of laws that would substantially sharpen regulations on dog breeders.

Proponents, led by national animal-rights groups, contend new laws are critical to ensure humane treatment within Missouri’s vast dog-breeding industry.

“The regulations on the books now … ensure that dogs in these facilities survive, but don’t do much more than that,” said Barbara Schmitz, campaign manager for Missourians for the Protection of Dogs. “We’re trying to insert animal-welfare provisions into the large-scale breeding equation.”

Breeders and animal-agriculture trade groups counter that the laws will devastate reputable family businesses and raise the price of puppies at pet stores, but do nothing to stop bad breeders.

“What this does is make regulation so strict on breeders that it will basically put them out of business,” said Anita Andrews, director of the Alliance for Truth, a campaign opposing the ballot measure. Read More

The HSUS doesn’t want people using animals for any reason, not as pets or as sources of food. If this bill passes it helps them on both fronts. They know this will hurt people who raise dogs in turn making it harder for people to have dogs for pets. It will also get their foot in the door on the livestock front and further their argument that eating meat is wrong. HSUS is nothing but a fundraising machine and in order to keep that machine running they must continually push onerous regulations on people who use animals by distorting the truth. Please let your friends and family in Missouri know they should vote NO on Prop B.

Background on the PETA Rally

2010-10-14T09:12:00.000-06:00

Some parents question PETA protest at Pa. school

- The Associated Press
October 13, 2010 9:32am EDT

• PITTSBURGH — Some parents are questioning a protest by People for the Ethical Treatment for Animals outside a Pittsburgh public school.

A person in an elephant costume with a bloody forehead bandage handed out coloring books as students left Colfax Elementary School on Tuesday. The protest targets the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus coming to town next month.

Parent Sabrina Weihrauch says she generally supports PETA, but doesn't believe in demonstrating outside a school.

PETA spokeswoman Virginia Fort says the stunt "gently let children know" how circus animals are treated. The circus says its animals aren't mistreated.

Seventy-two-year-old Anne Myrick tried to shoo students away from the protest, telling the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "They're hustling little kids." Link

This is pretty standard fare for PETA but I thought I’d let all of you know a little more about Virginia Fort. She is PETA’s full time paid protester. She travels across the country setting up these demonstrations. I was able to visit with her when they were in Rapid City last November. At that protest they were trying to convince people that all dairy cows are abused by the farmers that own them. In part of our discussions with Ms. Fort we asked her what should be done with all of the pasture land that cows are grazing on since they want animal agriculture eliminated. Her response was that we should farm it. Another rancher standing nearby asked if she really thought ripping up native prairie in a semi-arid climate was a good idea. She said we might as well since the cows are out there pooping on it anyhow. WHAT?? I asked her if I could video her saying that response again and she refused. Obviously this wouldn’t be the best use of the land but her idea is that if anything is “pooping” on the land it is being destroyed. That’s PETA mentality for you.

The other main point to take home from this is that there aren’t protests from local people taking place. PETA has to hire employees to do this for them. For the most part it’s the same few people at every PETA protest.

NASCAR Team Promotes Ag

2010-10-08T13:07:00.000-06:00

This weekend, Stacy and I have the incredible opportunity to attend the NASCAR race in Fontana, CA as guests of the #78 Furniture Row Racing Team. This past year the team created a car that pays tribute to agriculture and the American farmer and rancher. This weekend will be the last time this year that the car will be run.

We are really excited to see the Farm American car run and learn more about the incredible opportunities we have to teach consumers about agriculture through this amazing program. Over the weekend we will be updating our followers through our blog, our Advocates for Ag facebook page and twitter account.

Please take a look at some of the great things this race team is already doing to promote agriculture and stay tuned!!

OH Livestock Board Drafts First Proposal

2010-10-07T07:51:00.000-06:00

Wednesday, October 6, 2010, 1:21pm EDT

Ohio's Livestock Care board drafts 1st set of rules
http://www.bizjournals.com/

The voter-approved Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board is taking its first steps in drafting new rules to govern the treatment of animals in the state.

The board this week voted to create new standards on livestock euthanasia, marking the first time such guidelines have been established in Ohio. Specifics of the new euthanasia rules must be OK’d by a committee before going into effect and are posted here for a two-week public comment period.

The proposed euthanasia rules not only define the term itself but establish acceptable methods for horses, chickens, pigs, cattle and other farm animals based on weight and other conditions. Violators are subject to civil penalties, according to the approved draft.

The issue of more humane methods of euthanasia for animals in the state was a key sticking point in a standoff between state officials and the Humane Society of the U.S., which earlier this year was planning a ballot issue that would have bound the Livestock Care Standards Board to implement specific rules if passed. The activist group and state officials brokered a compromise in June that kept the issue from heading to the ballot and ensured the board, created with voter approval last year, would hand down regulations on dog breeding kennels, cockfighting and exotic animals. The state also has agreed to phase out so-called gestation crates used by the pork industry.

Robert Boggs, director of the state Agriculture Department, said in a release that the proposed euthanasia rules are designed to be “clear and practical for Ohio’s livestock producers.” Link

These are the first regulations to come out of the newly formed Livestock Care Board. Regardless of how beneficial they are for farmers and ranchers, what remains to be seen is if the HSUS will approve of them. From here on out, any regulations the board approves will also have to be approved by the HSUS or they will start reminding everyone how they have enough signatures to go back to the ballot and force whatever they see fit. There are certainly differing opinions about the compromise that was made in June but we do know one thing for sure, HSUS will hold the state hostage until they get everything they want. Like a gun to Ohio’s head, those ill-gotten signatures will have more affect on the outcome of Ohio’s livestock industry than this board will.

EPA Targeting Chesapeake Bay Farmers

2010-10-05T05:27:00.001-06:00

Bay cleanup could cost farmers

Act would step up protections for bay, cause stricter regulations

By AMY TRENT

Published: October 04, 2010

Cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay could cost local farmers more than just money.

“If you’re a farmer now, and you’re barely making it, and this regulation comes along, you’ll have to get out,” said Bill Nance, a farmer in Bedford. “There’s a good number of (local) farmers who may have to get out of farming because of this legislation.”

U.S Senate Bill 1816, The Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act of 2010, steps up the protections for the bay by applying new, stricter regulations and extending the regulatory power of the Environmental Protection Agency. The bill will go to the full Senate in the coming days.

The entire Chesapeake Bay watershed is overburdened

by nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment. The nitrogen and phosphorous kill the grasses below the surface and suck oxygen from the water, creating dead zones. Oysters and other wildlife that used to thrive now struggle to survive.

This pollution comes from agriculture as well as air pollution, storm-water runoff, sewage and other factors.

Last week, the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation delivered 18,000 letters from farmers protesting the bill to Sens. Mark Warner and Jim Webb.

“Even without the letters, your Farm Bureau leadership has been crystal clear on how you feel about the bill,” Warner told farmers in a Senate conference room Thursday, according to a news release about the event.

Read More

I’ve recently been highlighting some of the things that the EPA is doing that will severely impact the ability of family farmers and ranchers to grow food. Their only goal seems to be increased regulations regardless of what it does to the people in this country. In order for our country to remain great, an abundant, reliable food supply must be grown right here. Unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be a concern of this federal agency.

Proposed GIPSA Rule Could Reduce Welfare

2010-10-05T05:17:00.002-06:00

NCBA Echoes Temple Grandin’s Animal Welfare Concerns
10/04/2010 03:40PM
CattleNetwork.com

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration’s (GIPSA) proposed rule on livestock marketing poses concerns to animal welfare, according to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). The Obama Administration's proposed rule would ban packer-to-packers sales of livestock causing many to question the impact to the welfare of livestock. Colin Woodall, NCBA vice president of government affairs, said eliminating packer-to-packer sales would have several unintended consequences such as animal welfare.

“Let’s say that there is a beef packer located in the Pacific Northwest that also owns a feedlot in Southwest Kansas. Under this proposal, that company would be required to ship all of its Kansas feedlot cattle to Washington State for processing, which subjects those cattle to an additional 1,600 miles of travel,” said Woodall

Woodall also said the packer-to-packer ban would especially hurt smaller producers, dealers and packers. He said the ban would encourage consolidation and displace producer livestock.

“In addition, those cattle that traveled from Kansas to Washington State would displace the local cattle that typically supply that plant,” said Woodall. “The proposal would add inefficiencies for the feedlot through added transportation costs, which could result in the sale or liquidation of that feedlot, thereby driving consolidation and less competition.”

Colorado State University professor and world renowned animal welfare expert, Temple Grandin, wrote USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack offering her concerns about the well-being of livestock if the proposed rule requires packers to market and sell livestock through dealers is implemented. Beyond stress to livestock that would occur if this rule is implemented, Grandin is also concerned that the proposed rule would complicate and compromise the effectiveness of many established animal welfare-certification programs by requiring another level of paperwork and recordkeeping to track the additional transactions.

“As a scientist who has dedicated her life to improving livestock welfare, I am extremely alarmed that although this rule is concerned with marketing and competition, the department ultimately responsible for it – USDA – is also charged with enforcing the Humane Slaughter Act and apparently has paid so little attention to the animal welfare implications of this proposal,” Grandin stated in the letter. Link

The GIPSA rule proposal has certainly been cussed and discussed throughout the beef industry. The unintended consequences of this proposal seem to be mounting though. Temple Grandin has now added her welfare concerns to the mix. The last thing we need in animal agriculture is the federal government forcing new regulations on us that actually limit our ability to properly handle cattle.

HSUS Doesn't Help Us

2010-10-05T05:07:00.002-06:00

"Woofstock" a big hit
Middlebury, Vermont - October 2, 2010
WCAX.com

The Addison County Humane Society says the number of animals in their care has doubled in recent years, and they are struggling financially to keep up. Officials say the economy is to blame, but a big fundraiser "Woofstock" was a big hit!

Tails were wagging at Woofstock today. About 75 dogs and their owners came out to support the Addison County Humane Society, and have a little fun. Many of the canines on hand were alumni of the ACHS donning bandanas as they roamed the recreation field. But many more critters remain at the shelter.

"When I got here three years ago we had about 85 animals. Right now we have 140 at our shelter and another 50 in foster care," said Vicki VanDenBurg of ACHS.

But while their numbers doubled, their budget did not.

"We do not receive any state or federal dollars. We do not receive any funding from any national organizations like The Humane Society of the United States or the ASPCA. We adopt an animal out for $100 and it costs us about $400 to care for that animal," said VanDenBurg. Read More

I thought this article was interesting because this local shelter made sure to mention that they receive no financial help from the HSUS. Here’s another shelter that struggles to make ends meet day after day while the HSUS continues to raise hundred’s of millions of dollars from people confused about what they do.

A Great Weekend

2010-10-04T11:37:00.000-06:00

Being involved with the National Beef Ambassador Contest this past weekend was a great time! Eighteen of the most talented young leaders in the beef industry were in Rapid City to show off their knowledge and passion for this great segment of agriculture. While every one of them would have done a fantastic job representing beef producers, the field was whittled down to five.

Your 2011 National Beef Ambassadors are Kelli Fulkerson from Michigan, Maddy Ruble from Minnesota, Jessica Sweet from Callifornia, Austin Joyce from Texas, and Kristen Stufft from Pennsylvania. I'm looking forward to following these great young leaders as they travel around the country telling the great story of agriculture and the beef industry.

It was an honor to help judge this competition and to speak at the awards breakfast. Hopefully we inspired the contestants as much as they inspired us over the weekend. The future of our industry is in great hands.

National Beef Ambassadors Contest

2010-10-01T09:47:00.000-06:00

This weekend have the distinct honor of being judges for the National Beef Ambassador contest being in Rapid City, SD. If you are in the beef industry and aren't familiar with the Beef Ambassador program, you should be. These young adults have always impressed us with their passion for agriculture and especially beef production.

There is no doubt in my mind that the Beef Checkoff money (or lack thereof) for this program is returned to our industry ten-fold. You can't buy the enthusiasm and dedication that we have seen year after year from these young leaders.

Along with judging the competition, we will also get to share our story with everyone coming to the contest at the Sunday morning breakfast. This generation of young producers will spend their entire ag careers knowing that educating consumers and telling their story are very important. That's why I know our future is in good hands.

For more information check out the National Beef Ambassador website.

EPA's Anti-Ag Agenda

2010-10-01T09:19:00.000-06:00

NCBA Blasts EPA for Anti-Agriculture Agenda

09/30/2010

by Gary Truitt

The National Cattleman’s Beef Association has launched a series of blistering allegations against the Environmental Protection Agency. Last week EPA administrator Lisa Jackson testified before the Senate Ag Committee that her agency is not out to get American agriculture. But, this week National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Chief Environmental Counsel Tamara Thies accused the agency of trying to put the cattle industry out of business, “It is ironic that as we strive to become less dependent on imported oil the policies of the Obama administration are likely to make us more dependent on imported beef.” She accused the EPA of waging a war to bring an end to production agriculture, “EPA exhibits reckless indifference to scientific fact, and instead imposes stringent regulations based on nothing more than its biased, anti-animal agriculture agenda that will leave many cattle operations with no recourse but to shut down.”

Speaking on Wednesday at a forum focused on the impact of EPA regulations on job creation and economic growth in the nation’s rural communities, Thies told members of the Rural America Solutions Group that EPA’s regulations will result in a loss of jobs, just the opposite of what the White House says they want to do. She said EPA regulations are causing economic uncertainty in the cattle industry and throughout rural American because they are “vague, overreaching, costly, unnecessarily burdensome, ludicrous, and sometimes illegal.” Read More

The mentality at the EPA is that everything humans do is inherently damaging to the environment and that their job is to continually come up with more “solutions” to these problems. It’s beginning to look like the EPA is more of a threat to the people of this country than people are to the environment. This has never been more apparent that it is now with their goals of regulating dust.

How Pig Parts Make the World Turn

2010-10-01T09:16:00.000-06:00

How Pig Parts Make the World Turn

September 30, 2010 in Agriculture, Business
EatDrinkBetter.com

Christien Meindertsma wondered what happened to the pig parts that don’t make it into the grocer’s freezer as pork. Long ago, people used all the parts of the animals they raised for food. She asked herself, “Do they still use all the parts?” And then she tracked one pig from the farm to the processor and through all the products he ended up in.

She wrote a book about her research, called Pig 05049, and divided the chapters by skin, bones, meat, internal organs, blood, fat, and miscellaneous. She lists the products derived from each body part.

It surprised me how many of these are in everyday products. Before the day even starts, she says, we use shampoo, conditioner, soap, face cream, lotion, toothpaste. Read More

Most of the critics of animal agriculture have no idea as to how important livestock are in our daily lives. Besides the obvious of providing us with physical nutrition, we use the co-products in everything from crayons to jet fuel. If we want to continue supporting our growing population on this planet then livestock will a pivotal role. There are those that think we should all become vegans. This is at best foolish and at worst dangerous to suggest.

Lean Beef Good For Diet

2010-10-01T09:07:00.000-06:00

Have a Cow: Heart Association Lines Up With Producers to Support Healthy Beef-Eating

By Hanna Raskin, Thu., Sep. 30 2010 @ 1:02PM

Animal rights activists may disagree, but beef is delicious. It's primal and earthy and packed with protein, which is probably why many Americans eat more red meat than they should.

But the Texas Beef Council's aggressively pushing another rationale for red meat consumption: It's good for you.

The organization is again sponsoring a Firehouse Grill-Off at the State Fair, featuring "big burly firefighters grilling heart-healthy recipes."

The council is so intent on demonstrating beef's cardiovascular benefits that it's partnering with the American Heart Association to present the event, which Alex Roberts, a publicist e-mailing on behalf of the Texas Beef Council, characterizes as an important step "to lower the risk of developing heart disease."

"We definitely support the promotion of portion-controlled, lean beef choices as a part of a heart healthy lifestyle," e-mails Claire Kinzy, communications director for the American Heart Association's South Central Affiliate. Read More

With so many lean, healthy cuts of beef to choose from, it can be part of any diet. Eating a balanced diet that includes meat and dairy products continues to be the only diet plan that has stood the test of time. If the diet you are on doesn’t provide your body with all of the nutrients and vitamins it requires then you need to make a change. Nutrition and dieting is 95% common sense but that seems to be in short supply these days.

Americans Don't Want Farm Jobs

2010-09-29T07:07:00.000-06:00

Few Americans take farm jobs

Most in Calif. go to immigrants, data show

BY GARANCE BURKE

ASSOCIATED PRESS

•

VISALIA, Calif. -- It's a question rekindled by the recession: Are immigrants taking jobs from American citizens? In the heart of the nation's biggest farming state, the answer is a resounding no.

Government data analyzed by the Associated Press show most Americans simply don't apply to harvest fruits and vegetables.

And the few Americans who do usually don't stay in the fields.

"It's just not something that most Americans are going to pack up their bags and move here to do," said farmer Steve Fortin, who pays $10.25 an hour to foreign workers to trim strawberry plants at his nursery near the Nevada border.

The AP analysis showed that, from January to June, California farmers posted ads for 1,160 farm worker positions open to U.S. citizens and legal residents.

But only 233 people in those categories applied after learning of the jobs through unemployment offices in California , Texas, Nevada and Arizona.

One grower brought on 36. No one else hired any. Read More

Regardless of your position on immigration, the bigger story here is that many people don’t want to work even when jobs are available. Unfortunately, many people don’t develop a work ethic and would rather rely on the government for an unemployment check. It’s a rather sad commentary on our society.

Farm Aid No Friend To Farmers

2010-09-29T07:04:00.000-06:00

Farm Aid and fresh food

JSOnline.com
Sept. 26, 2010
(0) COMMENTS

Come for the music and for the farmers. Farm Aid 25 takes over Miller Park on Saturday with a daylong lineup of iconic stars from Willie Nelson to Neil Young.

The event's mission is to help the American family farmer, so there will be plenty of information on the plight of those farmers and on farming in the 21st century. Locally grown food will be brought in to let you sample the best Wisconsin farm produce right next door. Read More

It’s really frustrating to see Farm Aid claim to help the American family farmer. The truth is that they only support some types of farming and they try to demonize the family farms that don’t like. Honestly, their website reads more like an anti-agriculture group than anything that supports farmers and ranchers. For instance, they actively use the term “factory farm” in an attempt to confuse consumers about the truth of modern technology used in agriculture. They have even been supporting efforts to ban the use of antibiotics in livestock. In some twisted way they think these kinds of things help farmers and ranchers. With friends like this, who needs enemies?

Livestock Board to Release Standards

2010-09-27T07:29:00.000-06:00

Livestock board to approve standards in October

September 26, 2010
by Marc Kovac
Capital Bureau Chief

Columbus -- A statewide board created by voters last year to establish rules for livestock care hopes to sign off on its first standards in the next month.

The Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board is reviewing rules on animal euthanasia, with plans to sign off on a final draft during one of the two scheduled sessions in October.

"The board is meeting on Oct. 5 and again on Oct. 19, hopefully the board will finalize its deliberations at one of those two meetings," said Michael D. Bailey, the board's executive director.

Bailey joined board members Sept. 21 during a listening session at the Farm Science Review, a large-scale agricultural research and trade show conducted annually about 20 minutes west of Columbus. Read More

This board is certainly being watched very closely, especially now that their independence to make sound decisions was basically taken from them by the deal made in Ohio with the HSUS. Science was thrown out the window in that deal and now the livestock of the state will pay the ultimate price. All of us should be interested in making the best decisions for our livestock, not political ones.

Dairy Cow Abuser Gets Jail

2010-09-27T07:25:00.000-06:00

Dairy farm worker pleads guilty to gut-wrenching abuse of cows, calves

Posted: Sep 24, 2010 9:50 AM CDT Updated: Sep 24, 2010 2:58 PM CDT
Fox19.com

MARYSVILLE MUNI COURT, OH (WOIO) - A guilty plea from the man accused of abusing cows at a dairy farm in Plain City.

Undercover video taken by animal rights activists at the Conklin Dairy Farm show Billy Joe Gregg, Jr. hitting, stabbing and even dropping the cows.

Friday morning, Billy Joe Gregg, Jr. pleaded guilty to six counts of animal cruelty and six additional counts of animal cruelty were dismissed.

The judge sentenced him to 8 months in jail and ruled he can't have any contact with any animal and must enroll in counseling on how to treat animals. Gregg has already served about half of his sentence.

19 Action News is told that the Minerva Cheese Factory has stopped using Conklin Dairy. Link

Why this guy took pleasure in abusing these cows is beyond me. What we do know is that this isn’t normal behavior. In order for our food animals to be productive they need to be as healthy and stress-free as possible. That can’t be achieved with abuse like we saw in that video. As a fifth generation rancher and someone who takes animal husbandry very seriously, I’m relived to know that this guy is getting some help.

EPA's Dust Regulation Proposal

2010-09-21T05:17:00.000-06:00

Farmers fear dust rules won't reflect rural life

By RICK CALLAHAN (AP) – 19 hours ago
AP
INDIANAPOLIS — As they begin the fall harvest, wary farmers are watching a federal debate over whether to clamp down on one of rural life's constant companions — the dust clouds that farm machinery kick up in fields and along unpaved roads.

Farming groups have urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to retain its current standards for dust, soot and other microscopic particles, arguing that tighter restrictions would be unworkable and that dust isn't a real pollutant.

Grain farmer Charles Schmitt, who farms about 2,000 acres of corn and soybeans near the southwestern Indiana town of Haubstadt, called the possibility of tougher rules on dust "ridiculous."

The 59-year-old, who's farmed for more than four decades, said there's little farmers can do to reduce dust, especially after a dry summer like this year's that left his fields parched.

"Mother Nature has more to do with it than we do — there's going to be dust and dirt no matter what," Schmitt said.

The EPA is reviewing its airborne pollutant standards, as required every five years under the Clean Air Act. It's looking both at its standards for tiny particles of industrial pollution, and slightly larger particles called "coarse particulate matter" that include dust. Read More

This is a really frustrating thing for many of us in agriculture. We certainly do as much as we can to reduce dust but there is no possible way to completely prevent it. Dust comes from the dirt just like our crops do. Some days it seems that it won’t be long until someone will want to ban dirt as a way to eliminate dust. That’s how out of touch some of these folks are. They claim that this new regulation could prevent some respiratory problems but it’s not an overall improvement if it causes a food prices to increase.

Misguided Woman Walks For Livestock

2010-09-21T05:07:00.001-06:00

Woman to protest the treatment of farm animals with march

September 19, 2010 6:41 PM

Kari C. Barlow

Daily News

FORT WALTON BEACH — When Gina Lane drives by a fast-food joint, she doesn’t enjoy the aroma of crispy fried chicken or grilled hamburgers.

She’s too busy thinking about the chickens and cattle that were factory-farmed for the meat.

“I see these pictures of these animals right before they are slaughtered,” said Lane, a bus driver for Okaloosa Academy. “It’s horrible how they are treated.”

Passionate about animal rights and an advocate of the vegetarian and vegan lifestyles, Lane keeps a shoebox full of pamphlets, buttons and stickers in her car that sport slogans such as “Pigs are friends, not food,” “Boycott veal!” and “Respect all life.”

She will take her cause to the street to celebrate World Farm Animals Day on Saturday, Oct. 2. Read More

For many years, livestock producers thought no one would believe all the inaccurate stories and pictures taken out of context. We’ve found out that ignoring it was a really bad idea and this story proves it. This woman admits that she is doing this because she has seen pictures. Not only that but she thinks that cows are put in crates! These examples of the ignorance of animal rights activists are all too common today. When we hesitate to tell our story this is what happens.

Genetically Engineered Salmon

2010-09-20T05:00:00.001-06:00

FDA advisors to vote on genetically engineered salmon

It grows faster, eats less and has sparked intense debate about modifying animals for our food supply.

By Andrew Zajac, Tribune Washington Bureau
7:28 PM PDT, September 18, 2010
latimes.com

In a step that may move genetically engineered meat and fish closer to the American dinner table, an FDA advisory committee will vote Monday on whether to approve preliminary findings that a modified salmon is as safe as an ordinary salmon.

The vote is not binding on the FDA, but approval would lend powerful support for a final decision by the agency charged with protecting the nation's food and drug supplies. The fish, a North Atlantic salmon developed by AquaBounty Technologies Inc. would be the country's first genetically engineered food animal.

It grows to market size in half the time of other salmon and consumes 25 percent less feed in the process, according to the company, which is based in Waltham, Mass.

The FDA will hold a separate hearing on what, if any, labeling should be required if the fish is approved. The FDA says it does not have the power to mandate labeling that describes how a food was made, only the content variation that results from a different production process. Read More

This will be an interesting test to watch. But rather than a strictly scientific and rational discussion, I’m guessing that plenty of misinformation and irrational fear will be used by some. There’s nothing wrong with being skeptical of new products and processes for growing our food. The ultimate goal of everyone involved should be to have more and better food but unfortunately that doesn’t always seem to be the case. I’ll keep you updated on how this turns out.

PCRM Attack McDonalds

2010-09-14T21:20:00.000-06:00

New Ad Targets McDonald's

Physicians' Group Seeks to Link Fast Food Consumption to Heart-Disease Rate

By JULIE JARGON

McDonald's Corp. is the target of a new television commercial set to air in Washington, D.C., Thursday that blames the burger giant for heart disease.

In the commercial, produced by the nonprofit Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a woman weeps over a dead man lying in a morgue. In his hand is a hamburger. At the end, the golden arches appear over his feet, followed by the words, "I was lovin' it," a play on McDonald's longtime ad slogan, "I'm lovin' it." A voiceover says, "High cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart attacks. Tonight, make it vegetarian."

PCRM's president, Neal Barnard, was once on the board of the Foundation to Support Animal Protection, now known as the PETA Foundation, which provides accounting, legal and other services to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and other animal-protection groups. A PCRM spokeswoman says the organization has no link to PETA.

"McDonald's is committed to providing balanced menu choices and a variety of options to meet our customers' needs and preferences," said Cindy Goody, director of nutrition for McDonald's.

Read More

The only association that PCRM has with physicians is that they use the word in their name. This is not some national group of doctors, it’s a group of people that want to change the way we grow and consume food in this country. Those plans don’t include meat. They have a biased agenda for the beginning and like most radical groups, they rely on name confusion to garner respect.

Ruby Pipeline Update

2010-09-14T21:18:00.000-06:00

Environmental Groups Push For Halt Of Ruby Gas Pipeline Construction

David Nogueras
September 14, 2010
Bend, OR

Three environmental groups have asked the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to halt construction of a natural gas pipeline that’s being built in Oregon, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming.

The latest challenge to the 680-mile Ruby Pipeline project comes from three environmental groups: the Defenders of Wildlife, the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter and the Great Basin Resource Watch.

The lawsuit, filed late last week, alleges federal agencies conducted incomplete and inadequate environmental reviews during the permitting phase of the project.

David Von Segern is with the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter.

David Von Segern: “They’ve chosen a route that should pretty much shoot it though pristine northern Nevada, a high desert steppe that is supporting wildlife especially the sage grouse and we’re very concerned about fragmentation of habitat.”

As spokesman for the El Paso Corporation, the company behind the project defended the permitting process, arguing it adequately protects wildlife along the route.

The 9th Circuit is still reviewing a separate request by the Center For Biological Diversity to halt the project.

Link

Here is an update on the Ruby Pipeline. You may remember that El Paso Corp. tried to buy off the opposition by giving the Western Watersheds Project and Oregon Natural Desert Association $20 million dollars. But when the rest of these environmental groups saw what was happening, they came to the trough hoping for a handout as well. El Paso has found out what happens when you make deals with the devil.

Supporting Right-to-Hunt Laws

2010-09-13T07:38:00.000-06:00

Hodge: Right to hunt, fish amendment needed

By Bob Hodge
Knoxnews.com
Sunday, September 12, 2010

It's an interesting tactic anti-hunting groups are taking when it comes to states considering right-to-hunt-and-fish amendments to their constitutions: they are trying to kill them with disinterest.

When Tennesseans go to the polls Nov. 2 the state's right-to-hunt-and-fish amendment will be on the ballot. For the amendment to become part of the state constitution it will need 50 percent of the total number of votes in the gubernatorial race plus one. Three other states - Arkansas, Arizona and South Carolina - have similar referendums this year.

Animal rights groups are out and about saying "What's the point?"

"It's a solution in search of a problem," said Michael Markarian, CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. "These measures don't accomplish anything."

The better-known and more rabid People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals also had a take on Tennessee's amendment.

"All these amendments are a solution in search of a problem," Ashley Byrne of PETA told the Tennessean. "If people have a right to hunt, why not a right to shop or golf?"

Of course, while Markarian says there's no problem, the president of the Humane Society of the United States, Wayne Pacelle, has his group actively fighting Arizona's amendment, called Proposition 109. In Arizona, HSUA has joined up with the Sierra Club and the Animal Defense League to try and defeat the amendment. Read More

Animal rights groups most certainly have hunting and fishing restrictions or outright elimination as their goals. We’ve learned it’s important to get ahead of them with common sense legislation that will hopefully protect these honored and necessary traditions.

Miracle of Birth Center

2010-09-13T07:27:00.000-06:00

Ten years of Miracle of Birth Center celebrated at State Fair

By Heather Thorstensen
hthorstensen@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 09/09/2010 8:38 AM

FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn.— The 2010 Minnesota State Fair marked the 10th year of the enormously popular Miracle of Birth Center.

People come to the center to see farm animals giving live birth or to see the young stock. In the process, they learn about animal agriculture from FFA members, veterinarians and University of Minnesota veterinary students who work in the center.

Organizers say this may be the only time of year some people have a chance to learn about animal agriculture.

From 2001 until the start of the 2010 fair, there had been 1,573 births of sheep, pigs and cattle. Anywhere from 150 to 200 animals are born each year. The center has also rabbits, goats, turkeys, chickens and ducks.

Several hundred thousand people visit every year.

State Fair Board of Managers member Jim Foss thinks it's the most popular fair exhibit, saying it's second only to the fairgrounds' front gate. Read More

We were lucky enough to be presenting our story to several hundred 4-H exhibitors this year at the Minnesota State Fair. While we were there we got to check out the birthing center. People were lined up five or six deep to see all the action taking place. It was a fantastic opportunity for agriculture to share with consumers. These are the types of things that everyone in agriculture should be able to support yet many times get overlooked for their impact.

HSUS Faces $5 Millon Lawsuit

2010-09-09T20:29:00.000-06:00

HSUS Faces $5 Million Lawsuit

09/09/2010 10:19AM
CattleNetwork.com
The Humane Society of the United States is among the defendants in a $5 million federal lawsuit filed by Dan Christensen, a South Dakota dog breeder, according to HumaneWatch.org. Christensen claims his dogs and puppies were illegally seized during a raid last fall.

The lawsuit filed last week names as defendants Second Chance Rescue Center, Second Chance executive director Rosey Quinn, several national animal groups and Turner County's sheriff, commission members and state's attorney.

HSUS, with former employee Scotlund Haisley, assisted the Second Chance Rescue in raiding Christensen’s property last September, seizing 173 dogs that they alleged were being mistreated.

Christensen had been charged with more than 170 misdemeanor counts of inhumane treatment of animals after the raid. Authorities alleged the farm had filthy water, kennels containing feces and that some of the 172 dogs seized had coats in poor condition.

All of the charges against Christensen were dropped and a judge ordered dogs illegally seized by HSUS and Second Chance to be returned to Christensen, their rightful owner. Link

It will certainly be interesting to see how this lawsuit goes. These dogs were illegally seized due to an overzealous HSUS using an overzealous local animal control officer. The motivation for this seizure had little to do with the welfare of the dogs and more to do with publicity and money.

More Fake Water Statistics About Beef

2010-09-09T20:26:00.000-06:00

More water lies from a 'nutty vegan chef'

Commentary by Greg Henderson
Thursday, September 09, 2010

For more than a quarter of a century PETA has been campaigning to end animal use in America. They’ve utilized some aggressive and controversial tactics to convince people to become vegetarians. Yet, consumer research suggests only about four percent of Americans are practicing vegetarians, and that number has not changed much over the decades.

But PETA is not about to give up, and they’ve embarked on a relatively new strategy to tie vegetarianism to the growing Green Movement. Their recent campaigns target beef production as an environmental evil, a claim they make based on some outrageous propaganda. (I guess expecting the truth in their campaigns is asking too much.)

Specifically, PETA is working to convince Americans that “meat’s not green.” On street corners in major cities they orchestrate publicity stunts with naked girls showering behind short curtains emblazoned with the claim “1 lb. of meat equals 2,463 gallons of water.” Such stunts make for good photo opportunities for newspapers and local television stations.

The stunts also provide fodder for the journalist wanna-bes known as bloggers. Take the vegetarian chef for an online Houston magazine called culturemap Houston. Joel Luks is a Canadian-born chef who describes himself as an “intellectually curious arts advocate. Design junkie & blogger. Nutty vegan chef loving ethnic foods. Classical flutist.” Read More

Using fake statistics about the amount of water it takes to raise cattle has become a favorite past time for animal rights groups that are trying to eliminate animal agriculture in this country. Like Mr. Henderson’s comments imply, we have groups with the mentality that if lies further their agenda then that justifies their use. To make matter worse, even institutions that most people respect as unbiased have fallen for these lies. If you remember, last July I was in Chicago when I saw an exhibit about water. A portion of the exhibit stated many things about raising cattle that weren’t true. After working with that museum as well as the American Museum of Natural History in New York, I was able to get it changed. Unfortunately there are many places where we see these claims. Every time one of us does, we need to have the courage to do something about it.

SHAC Supporter Face Jail Time

2010-09-09T20:23:00.000-06:00

Animal rights campaigners admit blackmail

Published Date:
08 September 2010
By Clare Semke
Crime reporter
Portsmouth, UK

A GROUP of animal rights campaigners face jail after admitting blackmailing firms and suppliers in a bid to bring down a controversial testing laboratory.

Thomas Harris, 27, from Clarence Road, Gosport, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to blackmail companies and suppliers linked to Huntington Life Sciences between 2001 and 2008.

His partner Nicola Tapping, 29, of the same address, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to harm the Cambridge-based firm from 2005 to 2008 under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 by interfering with firms supplying them.

Jason Mullan, 32, from Holloway Road, London, and Alfie Fitzpatrick, 20, from Knowle Road, Solihull, West Midlands, pleaded guilty to the same charge as Tapping at Winchester Crown Court.

The four, who were members of Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty, admitted the charges on the eve of their trial.

The six campaigners for animal rights waged an international campaign of intimidation against a host of companies in an attempt to force the closure of Huntington Life Sciences.

Staff working for the supply firms were targeted with abusive telephone calls and criminal damage to their homes. Read More

All over the world, there seems to be nothing animal rights activists won’t stoop to in order to further their vegan agenda. We’ve seen it here in the US when they firebomb the houses of medical researchers and other violent crimes. Hopefully these criminals are dealt with appropriately.

Maine Reporter Spread Ag Misinformation

2010-09-02T08:37:00.000-06:00

Natural Foodie: The real cost of the food we eat

By Avery Yale Kamila akamila@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

The massive recent egg recall reveals how much our food actually costs. As Americans, our food is abundant and the price at the checkout is remarkably cheap. But the costs don't end there.

We pay the full price for our food in doctor visits, environmental clean-ups, antibiotic resistance, loss of farmland to sprawl, dead zones in the ocean and property damaged by global warming-fueled storms.

And some of us pay for it with our lives after consuming tainted food.

The recall of 500 million eggs due to salmonella contamination makes it difficult to ignore the stark realities of our industrial agriculture system, where filthy factory farms, toxic petro-chemicals, adulterated animal feed, massive feces lagoons, chronic soil degradation and fragile monocultures have become the norm. Read More

The amount of almost pure hatred of agriculture in this article is amazing. The author appears to have swallowed every misconception of ag as the truth and feels compelled to share it. What’s really interesting is that she says that all the food grown in Maine is fine but the rest of the food comes from the faceless world of agribusiness. Apparently she thinks there aren’t any family farmers and ranchers in other parts of this country. This is the perfect example of what we are up against in our efforts to educate people about where their food comes from.

MFA Veal Video

2010-09-02T08:33:00.000-06:00

Animal group wants all veal farms banned

September 1, 2010

By MARC KOVAC

Dix Capital Bureau

COLUMBUS -- The animal welfare group that released a hidden video of an Apple Creek farm said it would like to see all veal operations banned, not just those using the crate systems currently allowed in Ohio.

"We're calling on consumers to make more compassionate choices, and one of those choices is to adopt a healthy vegan diet," Corey Roscoe, a spokeswoman for Mercy for Animals, said during a press conference near the Statehouse on Tuesday. "The veal industry is inherently cruel."

The comments came in response to questions about Buckeye Veal, the Wayne County farm placed in the spotlight by Mercy for Animals for using so-called crate systems to raise its calves.

But the farm said late Monday, in a released statement, it was in the process of phasing out the crates in favor of group housing -- an alternative that would be allowed under revamped standards Mercy for Animals wants to see implemented.

"Veal production represents one of the cruelest industries on the face of the planet," Roscoe said. "And its abusive treatment of baby calves should not be tolerated."

She added, "Even executed with the highest standards, raising veal is inherently cruel." Read More

The problem that Mercy for Animals has is their main goal is to force a vegan diet on everyone. So no matter what type of system is used to raise livestock, they are going to claim that it is cruel. Much like the HSUS, they will never be happy and will be continually creating a crisis to drive their fundraising machine. It does no good to make deals with either of these groups because they aren’t on a time schedule and there is no middle ground with these people. All in all, this “shocking” video was a pretty weak attempt on their part and shows their desperation to stay in the news. It’s been widely advertised that veal farmers are changing to group housing systems without any government agencies forcing them to do so.

R-CALF Joins with Meatless Monday, Meatrix Creators

2010-09-02T08:30:00.000-06:00

NCBA questions R-CALF's partnership with animal rights group

By Drovers news source
Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Representatives of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association questions the affiliation of the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund (R-CALF) with the animal rights and environmental activist group Food and Water Watch.

According to separate news releases issued by the two groups, R-CALF and Food and Water Watch are joining forces on the campaign to support the USDA Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration’s (GIPSA) proposed rule on livestock marketing. NCBA President Steve Foglesong said well-funded activist groups, like Food and Water Watch, are working to obstruct the success of U.S. agriculture and its efforts to feed a growing global population. He said Food and Water Watch, a lobbyist group full of “career activists,” has a longstanding history of lobbying for stringed agricultural regulations that are devoid of science.

Food and Water Watch on its Web site defines factory farms as an agribusiness-controlled operation where “tens of thousands of animals are raised in crowded facilities.” In an attempt to portray the livestock industry as factories, Food and Water Watch sponsored an animated video called The Meatrix, which Foglesong calls a “strong manipulation of reality preying on consumers removed from production agriculture.” The Monday Campaigns, Inc. (Meatless Monday) is also associated with the film, according to the Web site for the video. Read More

Normally I don’t dive into inter-industry politics on my blog but this needs to be brought to light. Why on earth would any group in the beef industry team up with the people who created the anti-meat movie “Meatrix”. I don’t care how desperate you are for money or to push your causes, there is no excuse for sleeping with the enemy. Frankly it’s embarrassing for them and damaging to everyone in the beef business. (For the record, I called R-Calf to get their side of the story. No one was in their office on Thursday morning when I called so I left a message. I look forward to hearing their side of the story.)

Move In Day Is Getting Close

2010-09-01T09:48:00.000-06:00

Moving wouldn't make it on my list of fun things to do, but the good news is that our family is getting close to being able to move in to our new home. All of our things are packed and sitting in stock trailers or a garage just waiting for this long weekend to get here. It looks like we will be able to unloading finally. It's been a very busy couple of weeks and as you've probably noticed, the blog and facebook page have suffered from my lack of time recently. We are certainly looking forward to getting things back to normal very soon, whatever normal is for a farming/ranching family of five. Someday's I think chaos is the norm, but I wouldn't change it for the world. Have a great upcoming Labor Day weekend!

Antibiotics Prevent Livestock Losses

2010-08-23T12:58:00.000-06:00

Cutting back on antibiotics use poses hurdles for hog farmers
BY PHILIP BRASHER • PBRASHER@DMREG.COM • AUGUST 22, 2010

State Center, Ia. - The Obama administration would like to see more hog farmers raising hogs the way the Hilleman brothers do - using fewer antibiotics.

But raising hogs with fewer antibiotics has its challenges, the brothers say. One big one: Some of the black Berkshire hogs grunting and rooting around the Hillemans' barns are likely to get sick and die before they're ready for market. That's because it's sometimes impractical to treat them, the brothers say.

Randy, Mark and Tom Hilleman raise the hogs for a local cooperative, Eden Farms, that markets Berkshire pork to high-end restaurants.

Farmers who raise Eden Farms pork earn a premium price for the pigs, because the Berkshires are valued by chefs at high-end restaurants because of the hogs' fatter, darker meat.

But farmers who supply Eden Farms cannot use antibiotics for growth promotion, a common practice on conventional farms, and they cannot use the drugs at all if the hogs are within 100 days - more than three months - of going to slaughter.

If a sick pig doesn't get better on its own, it's likely to get a shot of an antibiotic, unless the animal is under the 100-day drug ban. If the hogs are given antibiotics then, they can only be sold as conventional hogs, and that means keeping a treated animal in a separate pen or marking it in some way to make sure it wasn't mixed with the hogs that will be marketed under the Eden Farms label. But the Hillemans say it's impractical for them to treat the pigs and handle them separately. For every 100 hogs they raise, the brothers figure that two or three die of pneumonia or some other illness. The Hillemans send about 100 to 150 hogs to market each week. Read More

When we hear people outside of ag demanding antibiotics be limited or banned for use in livestock, they rarely seem aware of the consequences of those demands. The bottom line is more livestock will suffer through disease or die as a result. Regardless of production method, all livestock will be more prone to disease, suffer more because of it, and put more pressure on our food production system. There will always be ways we can improve our use of these tools, but making demands of livestock producers without changes in other antibiotic uses will only contribute to the unnecessary suffering of livestock.

Heading East!

2010-08-18T11:21:00.000-06:00

We are on the road today headed for the East Coast. Tomorrow we will get to share our story with a groups of hog producers. It should be a great time and we are looking forward to getting more people to advocate for agriculture!

Famine in Niger

2010-08-15T20:50:00.000-06:00

Niger hunger 'worse than 2005'

BBC
Aug 14, 2010
Niger is now facing the worst hunger crisis in its history, the UN's World Food Programme says, with almost half the population - or 7.3 million people - in desperate need of food.

A WFP spokesman said villagers in Niger described the situation as worse than 2005, when thousands died of hunger.

After a prolonged drought, heavy rains have now hit parts of the country, killing at least six people.

The WFP says 17% of children, or one in five, are acutely malnourished. Read More

I think it’s worth noting that Niger has very few modern ag techniques being used. You don’t seem to find hunger situations like these in countries that have adopted modern production practices. For those that claim we should get rid of the last one hundred year’s worth of food production technology and grow stuff the way they did back in the good old days, I would suggest moving to Niger and see how well it works.

San Fran Wants Pet Sale Ban

2010-08-15T20:46:00.000-06:00

Debate Rages Over Proposed SF Pet Sale Ban

Posted: 9:49 pm PDT August 12, 2010
KTVU.com

SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco officials considered a history-making ban on the sale of pets Thursday night that sparked a heated debate at a meeting of the Animal Control and Welfare Commission.

It was standing room only at San Francisco’s City Hall as dozens of people crowded into the meeting to express their opinions. The proposed ban has pitted animal rights activists against pet store owners.

Advocates of the ban argued the first in the nation ban on pet sales within the city would prevent unwanted pets from being euthanized

The proposed ordinance would ban retailers from not only selling dogs and cats, but also hamsters, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and other small animals including birds. Read More

The same city that has officially endorsed meatless Monday’s is now trying to ban the sale of pets. It’s another step on the animal rights agenda. The people that are trying to get this passed are the same ones that refer to pets as “non-human animals.”

Spreading the Misinformation of Food Inc.

2010-08-13T10:42:00.000-06:00

Dave Stockdale
Sustainability Honcho
Cattle call
SFGate.com
I was enjoying a meat-centric meal at a local restaurant a few days ago with some friends when someone brought up the film Food, Inc. So we ended up discussing the dark side of meat production while...

I was enjoying a meat-centric meal at a local restaurant a few days ago with some friends when someone brought up the film Food, Inc. So we ended up discussing the dark side of meat production while enjoying our nicely prepared pastured beef short ribs. If you also saw this film, then what follows will not be new. And yet, it never hurts to remind ourselves of some of the issues and concerns.

As the aforementioned movie revealed for many previously unaware folks, the idyllic vision we have of cows grazing on open fields under blue skies is not a very realistic picture of cattle production today. While many cattle in the United States do begin their lives on relatively small, family-owned ranches with ample amounts of pasture or rangeland, the vast majority of cattle end their lives in large, overcrowded feedlots. In many feedlots, their diet switches to grains and other products such as flesh, bones, hooves, and feathers of other animals, chicken or cattle manure, stale pastry, ground cardboard, and even plastic hay.

Cattle are a ruminant (or cud-chewing) species, as are goats, sheep, and bison. Their specialized digestive system has evolved over millennia to digest the biodiversity of grasses found on pastureland. When ruminant animals such as cattle are fed a grain-based diet, it can cause them a range of health problems, so they are often administered antibiotics to fend off the diseases they might contract under these conditions. The cattle are also often given growth hormones to make them grow bigger faster.

Not all grain-fed cattle are subject to the worst feedlot conditions. Some feedlots are less crowded and are managed without the use of antibiotics or hormones. Some facilities feed their cattle only grain and other foodstuffs (a typical diet might include barley, corn, wheat, soy meal, sugar beet pulp, cane molasses and hay) without all the fillers and questionable by-products. Feedlots producing certified organic dairy products or beef must follow guidelines that include feeding the animals certified organic grain, avoiding antibiotics and hormones, and providing some access to pasture.

In addition to the effects on animal health, the feedlot system also has some serious environmental impacts. Overcrowding of animals produces excessive amounts of manure that cannot be recycled on site. Runoff from this manure creates an excess of nitrogen in watersheds. Methane gas produced by cattle contributes to global warming. The large-scale industrial production of grain to feed the animals includes high usage of pesticides and herbicides and the widespread use of genetically engineered seed.

The feedlot system also has social consequences. As commodity prices for beef and dairy products are driven down, small family-owned ranches are often driven out of business. Those that do manage to stay afloat generally work on contract with a few large corporations, greatly limiting their autonomy, financial security, and opportunities for growth. Feedlots themselves can be toxic environments for the workers who operate them and smelly eyesores for the communities that house them. Slaughterhouses can be dangerous for workers when speed and production are considered more important than safety.

Keeping cattle on open rangeland or pasture from birth until death is an alternative to the feedlot system. Because cattle eat the diet that is biologically appropriate for them and their digestive systems, the health problems outlined above are eliminated. The negative environmental and social consequences are lessened too. Research is also showing that there are also significant health advantages to eating dairy products or beef from pasture-raised animals.

I don't eat animal protein every day, but when I do, I buy ingredients or seek out menu items that feature pastured animals whenever possible. It's my way of supporting a production system that I believe is better for me, the animals, and the planet. That fact that these products also taste better and have a more interesting texture to me is an added bonus!

This blogger from San Francisco learned everything about modern livestock production from watching the movie Food Inc. and is eager to share it. Line by line you can go through this article and see how this mockery of a film has misinformed consumers. For example, according to this guy every feedlot is overcrowded. On more than one occassion he refers to overcrowded feedlots. He also mentions that most family farmers and ranchers that raise beef are doing it for a large corporation. Nothing could be further from the truth. The next time you don't feel like sharing your story consider the idea that this guy is eager to share your story for you and it's apparent that he's not concerned about the truth.

El Paso Creates Endowment Supporting Grazing

2010-08-12T11:47:00.000-06:00

New endowment aims to protect public-lands grazing

By Drovers news source
Wednesday, August 11, 2010

After many long conversations between representatives of the Public Lands Council (PLC), the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Ruby Pipeline, an agreement has been reached, in principle, which seeks to ensure that the nearly 100-year relationship between the livestock industry and El Paso Corp. continues far into the future. While details of the agreement are still being finalized, it establishes a significant endowment with the mission to “protect, enhance and preserve the public lands grazing industry.” The concept was formally adopted earlier today after a unanimous vote by the board of directors of the Public Lands Council, whose board members represent 13 western states, NCBA, the American Sheep Industry Association, and the Association of National Grasslands.

“While we are concerned about the potential impacts of Ruby’s recent settlement agreement with the Western Watersheds Project and the Oregon Natural Desert Association, we are satisfied that this endowment provides us a tool with which to mitigate many of our concerns,” said Skye Krebs, president of the Public Lands Council. “As the organization which has represented public lands ranchers in the West for over four decades, we are confident that our industry will benefit from this endowment for many years to come.”

The $15 million endowment, $7.5 million to be contributed later this year and $750,000 to be added into the endowment annually for the following 10 years, will be governed by one representative from the PLC and one representative from El Paso Corp. While the principal amount will not be used, the endowment’s earnings will go toward meeting PLC’s mission to serve the public lands livestock industry. Specific projects may include scientific research, education, range monitoring, fire restoration, media, and community outreach for the benefit of the public lands grazing industry. It is important to note that funds from the endowment will not be used for litigation. Read More

It’s fantastic to see El Paso Corporation realize the importance of agriculture and public lands grazing. You will remember that they donated over $20 million to a couple of radical environmental groups that were going to use the money to force ranchers off their land. When the news broke about this, many of us in ag contacted El Paso to voice our disappointment in their decision. Like many other corporations that we’ve seen mistakenly give money to radical anti-ag groups, they’ve seemingly realized their error. So I say thank you to El Paso for taking the time to study this issue more closely and supporting hard working ranching families who rely on public lands to help feed this nation.

It's Moving Time

2010-08-09T08:39:00.000-06:00

Some people have heard and some probably haven't yet but our family is making a move. After Stacy and I graduated from South Dakota State (Go Jacks!) we moved out to the western part of the state and we have been living there ever since. But 12 years and 3 kids later, it's time to start a new chapter in our lives. We will be moving to north central South Dakota where I grew up by the end of summer.

While moving is certainly a big challenge and a lot of work, we are excited about it. I'm going to be back working on my family's diversified farming and ranching operation and Stacy will be able to continue on in her job as well from here.

Since we are making other changes in our lives, I've also been thinking about new ideas for this blog as well as with our other social media outlets. I've been fortunate to hear that many people have really enjoyed following us online so I don't want to move to far away from what people have come to expect from us but a little change is usually good. So stay tuned, I'm looking forward to sharing more and different information on my blog. And if anyone enjoys doing some heavy lifting, I've got just the project for you!

Michael Pollan's $8 Eggs

2010-08-09T08:05:00.000-06:00

Michael Pollan Thinks $8 For a Dozen Eggs Is a Bargain

• 8/5/10 at 11:40 AM

Sustainable food guru Michael Pollan continues his quest to convince us today that spending twice as much for stuff at the farmers' market should really be the new norm. He tells the Journal, "My little rule, 'Pay more, eat less,' is followed by a lot of people in the Bay Area," even though for most everyone we know it's still pretty much "pay more, eat more." He also argues, "Eight dollars for a dozen eggs sounds outrageous, but when you think that you can make a delicious meal from two eggs, that's $1.50." OK, sure, and we'll admit those Frog Hollow peaches are damn delicious, even at $3.90 apiece, but we still choke up as we hand over the cash. Link

Only Michael Pollan would think that paying $8 for a dozen eggs is a good thing for families in this country. While paying $1.50 for a meal of two eggs sounds reasonable for one person, think about what a family would have to pay just for eggs. Our family has five people in it. That would add up to $7.50 for a family meal of just two eggs per person. Anyone with growing children knows that a meal of just two eggs isn’t going to keep them full for long. Nor is it a complete meal. The problem is that if you base food costs off $8/dozen eggs, a complete meal could easily cost $10 per person. That would make our family’s daily meals cost around $150 per day. I suppose that sounds reasonable to Pollan as well and with the salary he makes going around the country scaring people about their food he can probably afford that. But most working families in this country cannot. Safe, affordable, nutritious food is something this country has done better than any other in the history of the world. Advocating for $8 eggs show exactly how out of touch with reality Michael Pollan is. ~Troy

McDonalds Rejects HSUS

2010-08-09T08:00:00.000-06:00

McDonald's shareholders vote down 'cage free' proposal

AVMA.org

Aug 4, 2010

Shareholders for McDonald's voted against a proposal this spring to buy at least 5 percent of the restaurant chain's eggs from cage-free facilities.

The Humane Society of the United States, which owns 101 shares in the company and sponsored the resolution, similarly proposed at the 2009 annual shareholders meeting that McDonald's start transitioning to purchasing eggs produced in cage-free facilities.

In the recent proposal, the HSUS argued that cages provide for inadequate animal welfare and that McDonald's Corp.'s U.S. operations had fallen behind competitors and the company's own European operations in transitioning toward purchases of eggs from cage-free hens.

McDonald's board of directors recommended that shareholders vote against the proposal. The board argued that there is no agreement in the scientific community on how to balance advantages and disadvantages of hen housing systems and noted that the company is part of a coalition involved in an ongoing study of hen housing. Link

This has to be really infuriating for the HSUS. They are used to marching in to the meet with heads of restaurants and having their demands met, regardless of whether or not it actually makes sense. McDonalds has decided to actually investigate this issue and use science to determine the best methods. Of course this becomes a problem for the HSUS because they rely on emotion rather than science to force their agenda’s on people.