National Ag Day in Kansas

National Ag Day  - whoo hoo!  Across the U.S., thousands of farmers, ranchers, agriculture students and leaders are celebrating the rich heritage that is American Agriculture. Whether it be wearing a green farming t-shirt, handing out beef samples at the local grocery store or promoting agriculture via social media outlets, everyone in ag is doing their part today.

Which leads me to explaining how I'll be spending part of my National Ag Day. I'm very honored to have been invited to sit on a panel of producers, professionals and leaders for a Dialogue on Kansas Agriculture at the State Capitol in Topeka today - and boy am I nervous!

The other panelists:

Dr. Mike Apley, Kansas State University
Doug Hofbauer, President and CEO of Frontier Farm Credit
Bob Petersen, Executive Director of Kansas Agribusiness Council
Jay Garretson, Farmer
Diana Floyd, RD, LD, Kansas Department of Education Child Nutrition Consultant

I'm overwhelmed at the years of knowledge and industry experience that I will be surrounded by but it will very exciting to share ideas and thoughts with the other panelists as well as the audience.

We'll be answering questions regarding animal welfare (I hope I get one of those - that's my thing), food safety, education and technology, environmental stewardship and many other various ag topics.

You can get involved too! Greg Akagi, farm broadcaster for WIBW, will be the moderator and was fielding questions via Twitter yesterday to ask the panelists. It's probably not too late to get your question in - Greg's handle on Twitter is @GregAkagi.

I hope you'll listen/view the panel - it might hit some nerves, it might stir up emotion but it will definitely be promoting agriculture and be informative for all involved! The event will be live streamed on the Kansas Department of Agriculture website -- agriculture.ks.gov/ksagday

Today and everyday, I extremely thankful that I live in a country with an abundant, affordable and safe food supply produced by the best people I know - America's farmers and ranchers. Thank you!

How are you representing agriculture today? Share below! You can follow along in today's agriculture discussions by following #agday13 and #ksagday!

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

The Importance of GMO's and Writing Letters to the Editor

image from here

Usually, I jam out to 106.9 Country Legends on the radio in my truck but in the mornings, on my way to work, I listen to the highly syndicated Kidd Kraddick in the Morning Show. Every week or so they have a segment titled "Consumer Watch" and they talk about a few topics that consumers should be interested in - previous topics include cigarettes, a cell-phone in the car law etc. One morning the topic was GMO's (genetically modified organisms) -- this was around the time of Prop 37 in California -- and I developed a stomach ache listening to the false information they were saying. They were basically giving their opinions but not backing them up with any fact and it was so frustrating.

So I did what any active advocate would do and I wrote them a letter.  I have never heard back from them and if they addressed my concern during another Consumer Watch segment, I missed it. But here is my letter, because I believe that everyone should fully understand the capabilities that GMO provides us with in terms of food production and also the importance they play in the world's hunger problems.

-----

I have been listening to the Kidd Kraddick show for some time now and I am always laughing and truly enjoy the show. I donate to Kidd’s Kids and have signed up for Friends with Benefits – in short, I’m a big fan.

However, every time you guys have a consumer watch I get so frustrated with your analysis of anything to do with food that I have to change the station. The latest incident happened just this morning when you were discussing Prop 37 in California and how, if passed, all genetically modified food (GM) would need to be labeled. You are right, this would be a huge hindrance to food production companies, would increase every family’s grocery bill and would put negative connotation on most food products at the grocery store.

What you failed to do was provide actual facts regarding GMO food.  Genetically modified organisms revolutionized food production and agriculture in the 60’s and 70’s. Norman Borlaug won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his contributions to the “green revolution” which had a tremendous impact on food production in underdeveloped countries in Asia and Latin America. The green revolution (and Mr. Borlaug’s work) was focused on the development of high-yielding varieties of cereal grains like wheat and aiding farmers in better management and use of technological advancements. Without the work of Mr. Borlaug and other scientists of the green revolution, over a billion people would have starved. 

Genetically modified doesn’t necessarily mean that the product was radiated or anything like that, it could be as simple as cross breeding or using a gene mutation in a strain of corn to make the plant more productive. For example, some variations of papayas have been genetically modified to resist the ringspot virus – this was done by developing a breed that is resistant to them. Hawaii, a big producer of papaya, almost had their industry devastated by the virus however, since the new genetics were discovered, their industry is successful. It’s important to point out that there is still no method of production other than the genetically engineered papayas that is resistant to the virus. Organic papayas (which are ridiculously expensive, like every other kind of organic food), are not resistant to the virus. Other GM foods are soybeans, corn, cotton, canola, sugar beets and squash. GMO versions of tomatoes, potatoes and rice have been created and approved by the government but aren’t commercially available yet. 

Modifying plants allows farmers to be more productive which is essential with a population that is growing exponentially. If we don’t accept and employ technology like GMO’s, it’s going to be pretty dang impossible to feed 9 billion people in 2050.

Regarding obesity – I can’t believe that you guys just blamed the obesity epidemic on genetically modified food. Americans are overwhelmingly overweight because we have become increasingly lazy and restaurants have increased their portion sizes dramatically. The fast food industry is booming – it’s easier (and often, cheaper) to buy a meal off the dollar menu than it is to buy fresh food or whole grains. America is one of the few countries in the world where it is more expensive to buy fresh food than it is to buy processed food. Add into the mix that low-income families can buy more food if they buy Cheetos and Pepsi than they can if they buy juice and apples and you can see why so many Americans are overweight. 

Hundreds of thousands of folks listen to your show every day – you have the opportunity to set the record straight on controversial issues like this and hopefully you will be more responsible with the facts you are representing. It would be nice if as much research went into Consumer Watch and food issues as does the Showbiz Top 5.

Thank you for reading and please keep up the hilarious antics.

Respectfully,

Brandi

---

So that's my letter. Again, I've never gotten a reply but hopefully they are aware of the influence they have and will take steps to make sure that future broadcasts are more fact filled rather than flashy and entertaining. Fear sells but isn't always the truth.

Have any of you ever written a similar letter to the editor? Did you get a reply? My only other experience has been this and it's been a rollercoaster ride since then.

Until next time,

~ Buzzard ~

Consumer is a word

That I really don't like.

To me, it carries the same connotation as 'educate'. We don't need to 'educate' consumers, we need to engage, interact, talk to - anything but educate. And now I feel 'consumer' has joined the group of words that make me cringe when I hear them used during agvocate-speak. I don't even like to hear myself say it because I'm sure it inadvertently comes out as demeaning or degrading.

"I am a producer and you are a consumer - allow me to impress you with my agriculture knowledge." Bleh. If I was a 'consumer', I'd smack me.

Do I have a solution? No. I don't get paid to find solutions. Actually, I don't get paid at all. Anyhow, I'm not the only ag blogger/speaker/representative who feels this way. I've spoken with a few others who recognize the problem, but like me don't really have a solution.

What do you think aggies? Anyone else feel this way? What are your thoughts? I feel we could eventually alienate our employers i.e. 'consumers', to the point that they don't want to hear what we have to say. At that point, they'll turn to other sources for ag and food info - Mark Bittman, Oprah, Kathy Freston, Wayne Pacelle, Ingrid Newkirk; folks who will likely not represent ag truthfully or positively.

For those of you reading this who aren't agvocates, producers etc - what do you think? Am I just imagining that using the word 'consumer' in this setting comes across as hoity-toity? Maybe so - actually, I hope so.

Would love to hear some feedback on this. And since Google images didn't have an overly impressive selection of photos for this topic here is a picture of the wheat fields near my house that are nearly completely turned.

Amber waves of grain

Picture from my Instagram feed (@brandibuzzard)

Until next time,

~Buzzard~

Keep Families Farming

We all know that 4-H and FFA are fantastic outlets to get involved with agriculture at a young age, develop skills and find our passions. But most of us developed our interests for 4-H and FFA long before we memorized the creed or participated at our first state fair.

I, along with several hundreds of thousands of young people in the U.S., grew up helping my family on the ranch. Feeding horses, filling water troughs, grooming animals - these tasks were all a daily aspect of my life and through those chores I learned responsibility, discipline and developed my love of the land and animals.

As many of you are aware, the U.S. Department of Labor is trying to pass a law that would prevent children under 18 from participating in or completing the following activities on a farm:

• Paid workers age 15 and younger would be barred from operating tractors, combines, ATVs and almost all power-driven equipment, unless they obtain special certification.
• Youths under the age of 18 would not be allowed to work at grain elevators, silos, feed lots, livestock auctions or in the transporting of raw farm materials.
• Tobacco fields would be off-limits to workers under age 16 due to concerns about a problem called green-tobacco sickness, caused by the exposure to nicotine.
• Children in both agricultural and non-farm work would be restricted from using personal electronic devices, including walkie-talkies, while operating equipment.

Anyone who has ever been on a farm knows that parents' #1 priority is safety for their children around livestock and machinery. This law would not only cripple the ability of children to get involved in agriculture at an early age but would also cause difficulty to those families who depend on teenagers to help haul hay, run the combines etc to get their work done on time.

There was a comment period for this legislation but unfortunately, it expired on Dec 31, 2011. However, Kansas Senator Jerry Moran (R), is collecting comments to continue to capture the ag community's concern with this issue. Voice and opinion is critical if we are going to stop this action.

Want to share your story? Head on over to http://moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/keep-families-farming and help keep our traditions of hard work and family in place on the farm.

Additionally, a YouTube video has been produced to help spread the message about Keeping Families Farming.


 If you'd like to read the Kansas City Star article about this topic click here.

Help get the word out and share your comments and stories and hopefully we can Keep Families Farming! Tweet, blog and Facebook about it - this is a rather important issue!

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

101 Update

Ok, first off -- I've decided that this blog needs more personal info. So while most Australian/marriage/random posts will end up on my other blog, this one will start having more posts like this, this and this.

Now that I've scared you away from the blog for all eternity, it's time to get down to business. I started my 101 in 1001 on April 11, and since that was almost 3 months ago I've decided it's time to update you all on my progress. This also doubles as motivation for me to get my butt in gear on some of this stuff.

 Items Completed:
23. Don’t chew on fingernails for 1 whole month -- Actually, on July 1st it will be two whole months. See?

34. Publish an agriculture article in HPJ, KLA or publication/newspaper of similar demographic -- I am currently authoring a twice-monthly column in both Grass and Grain (Manhattan, KS) and Farm Talk (Parsons, KS).

I'm very excited and very blessed to have this opportunity -- look for me in your next issue!

37. Join learnersdictionary.com Word of the Day to broaden my  vocabulary - DONE.

39. Post 3x/week for 1 month on Buzzard’s Beat -- I completed this one in April and May 2011. There was a lot going in agriculture in the states and luckily I was able to document a lot of it. Thanks to all my readers who commented posts.

92. Go see a sporting event that I've never watched before -- Completed on Easter Day when Ninja and I went to an AFL (Australian Footy League) game with our friends Dean, Maree and their daughters.

Items in progress:

12. Watch 5 movies that Ninja loves that don't interest me (Apocalypse Now)

25. Eat 5 exotic/uncommon foods (Thai seafood 4/12/2011, Tofu Steak 5/2011)

27.  Call my grandparents once/month for 12 months (2/12)

79. Donate 25,000 grains of free rice through Freerice.com (4010)

82. Start/keep journal for 12 months (1/12)

85. Say 'I love you' EVERY day for entirety of 1001 days

88. Attend church once/month for 12 months (3/12)

90. Read the books from this list

So what do you think? Do I need to step up my game and accomplish some more stuff? I think so - tapping into motivation pool. Now.

Do you have a 101 in 1001? What are some of your favorite goals? I want to hear your ideas!

Until next time,

~ Buzzard~

Oprah's Big Goodbye, Farewell, Adieu

Will agriculture benefit from her departure?

Oprah is by no doubt one of the most influential women, nay, people of the 20th and 21st centuries. Over the past 25 years, she has affected America's lives by suggesting books, lifestyle choices and health advice. Additionally, one cannot ignore the countless people she has helped through her Angel Network efforts -- the woman is truly amazing and daytime television is never going to be the same.

I'm not going to miss her.

For all the good Oprah has done for the mind, body and spirit of millions of Americans over the past 25 years, there is one group that was overlooked by her good deeds and words. America's farmers and ranchers. Now, in her defense, I cannot find an episode where Oprah said, "Farmers and ranchers are bad people" however, with episodes like this, this, this and this she's not exactly waving the 'I Love Ag' banner.


There is absolutely nothing wrong with society wanting to know where their food comes from; I highly encourage informed food choices (hence the purpose of Buzzard's Beat and this blog, too). However, the people telling that story need to be the farmers and ranchers themselves. Michael Pollan may be a food expert but he is most certainly not a health, agriculture or farming expert. Neither are Kathy Freston or Alicia Silverstone -- all celebrities who have been guests on Oprah during one of her 'go-green, eat veggies and save the earth' shows.

I have read many books from Oprah's book lists and have several times cried while watching her reveal a new home to an underprivileged family. I most recently let tears flow when she had five women on the show who shared how they helped deliver a lifelong jail sentence to the man that knowlingly infected them with HIV. Will I be crying when she says her final goodbye tomorrow?

Not a chance. Oprah's absence will no doubt leave viewers searching for a new source of health and food information, that I for one will be thrilled at the opportunity to fill. Are you going to step up and be that resource?

Where do you weigh in? Do you think agriculture will benefit from Oprah's departure? What are the chances that a pro-ag celebrity will take the spotlight on daytime television? Any ideas for who will be the next talk show queen (or king)?

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

Headlines...

Ok - I read a lot of online newspapers and newsletters every day -- more than the average person if I had to guess. I get my updates from MeatingPlace.com, FeedStuffs Foodlink, Animal Ag Alliance, Drovers CattleNetwork.com, the Dairy Herd Network, the Humane Society of the United States (keeping a watchful eye on the enemy), Pork Network, BEEF Daily, the Phil Reid Beef Blog, Ohio Ag Net, Science Digital and a few others. Add in the NY Times, Washington Post, Huffington Post, Yahoo! and Yahoo!7 (Australia's Yahoo) and MSN and MSN7 and I've got quite a bit of reading on a daily basis. As I'm reading I'm constantly thinking, 'Oh, I should blog about that' but I can't possibly blog about everything like I'd like to, so instead I have listed below sofe of the most interesting agriculture articles I have read over the past few days. Some are about policy, food and health, education, animal agriculture - you name it. I hope you enjoy!

Farmed or Wild? What is the best salmon to buy?

Tennessee Establishes a Farm Animal Care Coalition (FAACT)

Is Skim Milk Making You Fat?

Curriculum Should Focus on Readin', Ritin' and Ranchin'

$2 Million Michigan Lottery Winner Defends Use of Food Stamps

What do you guys think? Is this something you'd like to see more of in the future or would you rather I continue to create my sarcastic, opinionated and fact filled posts on a regular basis?

Let me know what you're thinking!

Until next time
~ Buzzard ~

Agvocacy Down Under - Sheep, Swine and Poultry

There are way more sheep here than people - 3.5X as many sheep. In June 2008, the sheep population was 80 million while the current population of Australians is 22.5 million people. Australians eat a lot of sheepmeat - there is far more sheepmeat in the supermarket than either pork or chicken. Beef still reigns supreme, at least on the shelves :) Anyway, in my last post I said that Hyatt and I had been to the biggest livestock in Australia, the Royal Easter Show in Sydney. That was the beef edition; this is the sheep, swine, poultry and consumer information edition.
As with beef, there many posters explaining animal care procedures, nutrition information and details about how hard farmers and ranchers work.

I really like this one that explains that chickens aren't dual purpose - certain breeds are for meat and others for laying eggs.

When we ventured into the swine barn we had a few reactions: 1) there are hardly any hogs here 2)  there are a lot of people here learning about hogs!

This little dude was trying to pet a pig - shame on his father for denying him that

 simple pleasure of life.

Back in the Food Farm building, children were running amuck learning about different aspects of food production. There was a 'collect your own hen eggs' station (sorry, no picture), a cooking station where people were making sausage and then there was this fun interactive learning station.

Some kids having fun on the "Livestock Learning Wall"

Is our red meat industry important to all Australians? --> YES!

I would have taken many more pictures of the Food Farm but unfortunately I haven't yet learned how to pack a camera charger for a roadtrip - so both cameras (yes, I have two and yes, I forgot both chargers) died. So sad.  Didn't get any pictures of the Opera House either.

Better in Texas

Image courtesy of Texas Department of Agriculture

While I don't necessarily believe the adage that "Everything's bigger and better in Texas" they are doing some great things in terms of agvocacy and consumer education.

While perusing the Texas Department of Agriculture website for jobs (I will eventually have to get a real job and might as well start looking) I came across this cool campaign the TDA is promoting, "Agriculture is YOUR culture."

The campaign is aimed at informing and educating the public through videos about Texas agriculturalists and farmers, agriculture quizzes, fact sheets and recipes. There are also significant efforts aimed at making clear the connection between producers and consumers. Animal care, environmental stewardship and food safety are heavily highlighted and there is even a page where you can submit your story about agriculture.

Head on over to http://www.texasagriculture.gov/culture/index.html and check out the 'culture'.  I applaud Texas for reaching out and making an effort to narrow the gap between producer and consumer.

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

So, you're going to be a vet, right?

Photo courtesy of America's Horse Daily

If you've ever told anyone that you're an animal science major, graduate or in the animal agriculture industry - chances are you've been asked this question "So, you're going to be a vet." And more than likely you've said, "No, I'm not pursuing a veterinary degree" (not because there's anything wrong with being a vet but because there are far fewer veterinarians than other animal agriculture career options - and vet school is REALLY HARD).

Well, if you're not going to be a vet what are you doing in animal science? Let me explain. On the way back to the ML yesterday on the train (click here to find out exactly what the ML is) I was reading the newspaper and ran across these atrocious gems in the 'Overheard on the Train' column:

Girl 1: I really can't eat anything vegetarian.
Girl 2: Why? They're made of vegetables.
Girl 1: Really?
Girl at Red Rooster: Can I please have a Rooster Roll, but instead of rooster can I have chicken?

The aforementioned examples exemplify exactly why I am an animal science student passionate about advocating for all of agriculture and educating an increasingly 'disconnected from ag' public about the farmers and ranchers who feed the world. While I would never eat a vegetarian dish, I think it is abominable that some people do not understand what they are eating or are not making educated dining choices.

It is my duty as an agriculturalist and animal scientist to strive to preserve agriculture's timeless traditions and inform people where their food comes from. That's why I'm an animal science student.

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

Marshmallows = Meat

I was perusing Yahoo! the other day and came across this article, "10 Foods that Vegans Can't Eat" and my interest sharpened.  I knew that vegans can't eat meat, dairy or fish but did you know that things like red food coloring, which is derived from certain insects, is also on the no-no list?  I didn't -- I have pasted the highlights of the article in this post or you can click on the link and read its entirety for yourself.

1. Meat - duh.
2. Fish and shellfish - duh, again.
3. Dairy products - because they're made with milk which comes from cows.
4. Eggs -- eggs are produced by chickens, which are animals, and are therefore taboo.

Here is where it gets interestiiiiiiiiiiiiing.

5. Honey -- comes from bees and insects count as animals... I guess.
6. White sugar -- didn't know this but according to PETA some sugar is processed using bone char.  Bone char is used to give sugar it's white color. Guess ya learn something every day.
7. Most BEER! - due to the fact that most beers are filtered using gelatin from fish bladders, egg whites or seashells.
8. Some breads - because they may contain milk or eggs.
9. Marshmallows - no s'mores for the vegan community, bummer. Why? Because marshmallows contain gelatin made from some parts of animals like skin or bones.  Fun fact? Most junk food is vegan even though it is extremely unhealthy.
10. Mayonnaise and other salad dressings - they contain egg yolks.

I imagine it would be very tedious work to shop for a vegan and probably very expensive. Good think the husby and I are carnivorous!

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

Leaky Mouth Syndrome - Educate Yourself First

(graphic courtesy of http://www.wesoldbooks.com)

Props to Natalie Morales of The Today Show who told Suzanne Somers that she didn't have 'doctors as experts' to back up Somers' claim of antibiotics in meat causing 'leaky gut syndrome, lupus and MS'. Morales also pointed out that there is very little scientific proof backing up Somers' claims. Morales is 100% correct and Somers' should educate herself before she tries to educate the American public.

I won't repost the video here but if you click the link you can view it for yourself. Antibiotics in animal agriculture are constantly misunderstood and unrightfully get a bad rap. These are the FACTS about antibiotics in animal agriculture:

 - Veterinarians are involved in decisions regarding when to administer antibiotics.
 - Antibiotics have a withdrawal period that, depending on the antibiotic, can range from 20-60 days. The antibiotic is not administered within the 20-40 days prior to slaughter; this means that the antibiotic has been out of the animals system and in no way affects the consumer.  Meat and food products are tested for residues and if found the meat is removed from the food supply chain.
 - The FDA approves antibiotics only if they meet the following criteria:
    - The antibiotic is safe for the animal and environment
    - Edible products produced from the treated animal is safe for consumers
    - FDA 'Guidance 152' specifically addresses human health concerns due to antibiotic resistance from use in food animals.

Farmers and ranchers care about the food produced from their animals because it's the food they feed their families. They wouldn't do anything to their animals that could potentially harm the food supply. Now that you know the facts, you can share them with your friends, families, readers and colleagues.

Suzanne Somers needs to consult real doctors and read up on her literature and scientific sources before writing her next 'best'-seller.

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

post script -- decided to include video. It's appalling but everyone needs to see it in order to realize the level of intelligence that is influencing the nation's food decisions.

In Honor of Pigs and Pork

Photo courtesy of Magnum Photo Agency

I keep reminding readers that October is National Pork Month and for good reason. I love pork - it's delicious, nutritious and is so versatile!  The Pork Checkoff provides a wealth of great pork information on their website.  Check it out -- especially the kids section  :)  Check out these facts that make learning about food safety and pork fun for kids.

• Did you know that pork is now 16% leaner than it was 15 years ago?
• Look for the word “loin” in the name for the leanest cuts of pork.
• Pork is a great source of important nutrients, such as B-vitamins and protein.
• Pork tenderloin is just as lean as a skinless chicken breast.
• Pork’s mild flavor goes well with many ethnic seasonings, spice rubs and marinades.
• It takes about eight minutes to broil, grill or sauté a pork chop.
• Pork chops are America’s favorite cut of pork, and because they come from the pork loin, they are also a healthy choice.
• Because pork is so lean, it is important not to overcook it.

The Checkoff also makes it easy to access information about animal well-being (that's right up my alley), animal science (that, too), the environment, swine health and pork safety.  Skim over these sheets and you're sure to learn a thing or two about the process of getting pork from the farm to the fork :)

PUT SOME PORK ON YOUR FORK!

p.s. is that picture up there not adorable?  I love it!

Until next time,
~Buzzard~

Possibility of Impending Doom (PID)

I'm all for sensational journalism (see title), in regards to getting readers' attention.  That's the whole point right?  Reel them in with an outrageous title and maybe a picture.  I think it's even more interesting when that particular comment or picture doesn't accurately describe what the piece is about.  For example - look at this picture on the front cover of the KSU Collegian:

This picture would spark thoughts that cows are a biohazard - obviously that is a FALSE OBSERVATION.  However, it definitely grabbed my attention (especially since it was on the front page) and got me to read the whole story, "Vet Students Prepare for Outbreaks", which was another misrepresentation of the story.  The story was actually about 4 KSU vet students (one of which was my old roommate, Michelle Colgan) that spent their summers learning about and preparing for "emergency management and public health, including proper use of protective gear, setting up decontamination sites for mock crime scenes, doing blood draws and performing necropsies, or post-mortem examinations."  These practices would be necessary if bioterrorism were ever to occur in Kansas or if a disease like foot-and-mouth were ever to break.  The headline implies that there is a biohazardous outbreak looming on the horizon and that vet students are scampering around in havoc preparing for the possibility of impending doom aka PID (that title had a point), when in all acuality the students are just learning precautionary measures.

I commend the author of that article for successfully demanding the attention of anyone who picked up a Collegian today.  Well done - however, I sincerely hope that non-ag types took the time to read more than just the headline....

Until next time,

~Buzzard~   



Falsehoods Can Cause Loss of Credibility

Remember those "Real Milk/Cheese comes from Happy Cows" commercials from California?  They were memorable, funny and made consumers pay attention.  Here is a funny one about 'French' bulls:



At the time, I thought they were a great idea.  Have you wondered why you haven't seen them around lately?  Maybe it's because they made consumers think that all dairy cows are raised on huge, green grassy pastures (which is the case in some dairy's but not all).  Bernard Rollin, University Distinguished Professor and  professor of philosophy, biomedical sciences and animal sciences at Colorado State University (and very, very cool guy), gives his opinion on the commercials: "recall the California "happy cows on pasture" ads. Being caught in falsehoods is a sure way to lose credibility."

It looks like California dairy farmers paid attention to Bernie's well educated opinion.  If you go to the Real California Milk website this is what their homepage looks like:

I think this is an exceptional change to their marketing scheme, especially with the hullabaloo about 'factory' vs. family farming.  It allows non-producers to know the facts immediately upon arrival at the site. 

They also have improved their commerical advertising and this is an example of a current California dairy farmer YouTube video:



Congrats to California on a successful transition to a new and improved marketing plan that is sure to give non-producers a real example of the California dairy industry.

Until next time,
~Buzzard~

Temple takes the Emmy's by storm!

Temple Grandin, the movie, won 7 EMMY AWARDS! Last night, the woman who many people don't even know about made a huge impact at the Emmy's.  However, when I googled "Temple Grandin + Emmy's" this morning the first 3 hits were "Temple Grandin wins big, who is she?" 

She is an advocate for autism, diagnosed at the age of 2, and has written several books and journal articles about animal behavior, animal welfare and how being autistic has enabled her to think like an animal.  She has designed over 50% of the slaughter facilities in the United States and travels to all over the world teaching her safe and low stress animal handling methods.

Temple will be visiting K-State on November 9th and 10th to lecture about how austism has influenced her life and career.  Temple's visit is being sponsored and organized by Kansas State University's Food For Thought.  Below is a red carpet interview with Dr. Grandin and five of the seven Emmy's that Temple Grandin, the movie, earned:




TV MOVIE Temple Grandin

(HBO)OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A TV MOVIE, MINISERIES OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Claire Danes (Temple Grandin)

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION IN A TV MOVIE, MINISERIES OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Mick Jackson (Temple Grandin)

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A TV MOVIE, MINISERIES OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
David Strathairn (Temple Grandin)

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A TV MOVIE, MINISERIES OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Julia Ormond (Temple Grandin)
I have a feeling that a lot more people are going to learn who Temple Grandin is. Congratulationst to the cast and crew! If you haven't seen the movie, do it - it will change your life.  You can buy it here. Or you can read any one of here numerous books - visit her website for a full list of resources about animal handling and autism.
Until next time,
~Buzzard~

Getting to know your BEEF

Did you know that ground beef and hamburger aren't the same product? I didn't either until recently, while on Twitter, social media friend iTweetMeat brought up that point.  Upon further investigation I discovered the main difference between the two similar products.

 Beef fat may be added to hamburger, but not ground beef.  Regardless of this addition, neither hamburger or ground beef may contain more than 30% fat.  So, when shopping for a lean product just check the label - for example 80/20 indicates 80% lean-20% fat and 93/7 indicates 93% lean-7% fat.

Additional facts about ground beef and hamburger that you may not have known:

1.  All meat transported and sold in interstate commerce is federally inspected according to the Federal Meat Inspection Act.
2.  Ground beef and hamburger are made from the less tender cuts of meat on the animal - grinding tenderizes the meat and the fat reduces the dryness and adds flavor.
3.  When cooking ground beef or hamburger - always remember "Safe and Savory at 160" - cook these products to 160 degrees to ensure a meal that is free of harmful bacteria.
4.  When choosing a product at the store, select a package that feels cold and is not torn.  Once you have the product at home, store it at 40 degrees or below or freeze it.

For more information of wholesome, safe and nutritious beef visit the USDA Meat Prep site or Beef: It's What's for Dinner . Happy eating!

Until next time,
~Buzzard~

Proud to be a Redneck

I'm from the backhills of southeast Kansas - and damn proud of it. I grew up going mudding, wearing camo, attending bonfire parties in pastures, swimming in the horse tank and watching tractor pulls & demo derbys (and loving them). In addition to those 'ignorant' activities, I helped my family raise and train horses and care for the small 'herds' of show string livestock.  Calling me a redneck isn't an insult but saying that you're better than I am is.

Bryan Monell, animal activist who specializes in undercover efforts, proclaimed that "Those people are rednecks," in reference to all people work with animals AND "we are superior." Wow, if you want to fire up a bunch of agriculturalists who already despise you and your efforts, no better way to do it than saying that you're better than the people who raise and produce our nation's foodsupply.  Now, I already told you that I don't mind being called a redneck and that I'm proud of it.  But I looked up 'redneck', and Google's definition reads:

An uneducated, unsophisticated, or poor person, typically used to describe residents (of either gender) of the rural US.

Now, I'm definitely of 'either gender' and am from the rural U.S. and am sure as hell poor - but by God, I'm not unsophisticated or uneducated.  Good thing Mr. Monell wasn't in rural Kansas at a farmer-laden coffee shop when he said that, he might have wound up in the hospital instead of jail (where he currently resides until his court date in September regarding an 'incident' in California at a circus). 

Why is it that activists continually insult our nation's farmers and ranchers and then continually eat the food those same farmers and ranchers produce?  Major slap in the face to our producers.  We should all be thanking our farmers every day for providing us with a very safe and healthy (not to mention affordable) food supply that we can count on year round.  Mr. Monell may be winning the name-calling battle, but all he has really achieved is ticking off farmers, ranchers and agvocates around the nation. Especially since his slander was written in a recent http://www.cattlenetwork.com/ article.

In closing, I've included some words of wisdom for agvocates and producers: 

1. Be the bigger person -- don't resort to name calling.

2. Use insults to fuel your agvocacy passion - I'm so ticked off right now that I can't wait to get to the grocery store and spill my agriculture guts to some unsuspecting shopper.

3. Tell your story -- utilize twitter, facebook, blogs, snail mail, telephone, word of mouth, the coffee shop - let consumers in on how you care about the land and animals that contribute to our food supply.

4. THANK A FARMER! 

Until next time,

~Buzzard~

p.s. - that link to Bryan Monell's court case is not my opinion of how the incident occurred but it gives you a more detailed description of what happened than I can provide.  I'm sure he wasn't 'innocently and peacefully' protesting a circus.

Cutting ag programs leads to cutting career preparation

I started my agriculture education at the tender age of 7 when I joined the Colony Hi-Point 4-H club.  I was very involved with my animals and other projects such as cooking and floriculture and looked forward to meetings and fair time.  When I reached my 8th grade year, I can remember counting down the days until I was in high school and could join FFA.  I coudn't wait to start judging and public speaking in a competitive manner and was even more stoked at the opportunity to run for a chapter office.  When I finally reached high school, I dove in head first and immersed myself with extracurricular activities - basketball, cheerleading, track, volleyball, cross-country, National Honor Society, quiz bowl, band & show choir but the most important of all my extracurriculars was by far my high school's agriculture program and The National FFA Organization (FFA).

Over the years I earned a lot of honors, awards and offices in FFA and developed critical life skills - communication, public speaking, book keeping and how to be part of a team.  I also learned tons of facts about nutrition, animal evaluation, horticulture, crops and I'm proud to say that I can ARC and MIG weld with the boys!  I now apply the information I learned in FFA and agriculture classes so many years ago to my everyday activities in grad school and I am sure that I will continue to use them in both my personal and professional life.  I can say with 100% certainty that had I not been involved in agriculture in high school, I wouldn't be where I am today.


If I were a student at Seaman High School, I wouldn't be able to build that strong foundation of knowledge.  USD 345, which contains Seaman High School, has decided to end the program indefinitely.  The agriculture instructor and FFA sponsor left Seaman at the conclusion of the 09-10 school year to teach at another school.  Seaman has yet to replace him and will not be offering agriculture curriculum or FFA for the fall semester and the school board has yet to decide whether to hire a new teacher.  The reason?

MONEY

The school board is trying to be "fiscally responsible" and by cutting the program they're saving money. I don't think responsible is the correct word in this case.  Inconsiderate, irresponsible, hasty, thoughtless, ignorant - these are all terms that correctly describe the actions of the school board.  A group of students spoke to the school board and strongly discouraged them from ending the program for reasons that I have already stated: FFA and vo-ag equip students with science, technology, leadership and life skills that contribute to preparedness for life and future careers.

I have already written a letter to the superintendent voicing my opinion about Seaman's irresponsible decision.  Agriculture isn't just cows and plows - it's sales, marketing and communication in addition to the production jobs that raise, process and market our food supply.  You'd be hard pressed to find a career or job that wasn't at least indirectly related to agriculture.  Bankers supply farmers with loans, insurance agents provide farmers with an ease of mind, agriculture lawyers lobby for equal representation of farmers, part-time employees at McDonald's market and sell Angus 1/3 burgers!  Agriculture is our backbone and it's time the rest of the country recognizes that. 

Please - take part in the effort to keep agriculture alive and send a letter to

Seaman High School

c/o Mike Mathes

901 Lyman Rd

Topeka, KS 66608

Kansans, if there was ever a time for action in your community - that time is now.  First Seaman, then your school. 

Until next time,
~Buzzard~

oh, p.s. - I heard on the radio that Seaman recently constructed a NEW football stadium. That may or may not be true but was that fiscally responsible?????

Fantastic 50!

Wow! I can't believe that after 9.5 months I have enticed 50 poor souls to read this blog!  It started out as just something fun but now I would like to think that I am helping tell agriculture's story in a unique way.  I really enjoy blogging and plan on starting a new, separate blog for married life in Australia (title is being kept a secret). 

Thanks so much for following me! I hope I can continue to entertain/educate with my ramblings!

Until next time,
~Buzzard~