I love cattle (if you haven't figured that out already). They provide my family with a lifestyle that so few today can even imagine. They are an unwavering existence in my life, keeping me grounded and focused and content. Plus, they provide us with BEEF, which packs the most nutrient dense punch per serving of any other food product. Most people don't know, however, that the humble cow provides our population with much more than just beef. Modern producers respect these animals and make sure that every bit is used so nothing is thrown away. Here is a short list of some other everyday items cattle provide us with:
anti-aging creme, medicines, dyes and inks, adhesives, minerals, plastics, plant food, photo film, shampoo, conditioner, lamination, plywood, charcoal, glass, instrument strings, air filters, brushes, felt, insulation, plaster, textiles, cosmetics, gelatin, flavorings, wallpaper, candies, nitrogen, phosphorus, chewing gum, candles, detergents, fabric softener, deoderant, shaving creme, perfume, pet food, crayons, paint, oils, lubricants, biodiesel, waterproofing agents, cement, chalk, explosives, fireworks, matches, antifreeze, linolium, rubber, and textiles, to name a few.
Beef producers like to say we use everything but the moo. You can see that these are products used by nearly 100% of the population every day, so everyone has benefited in one way or another from the beef industry. Keep this list in mind, and the next time some fine individual announces 'Yes, I am a vegan' you can laugh and say, 'No, you are not.' Reality tends to throw those people for a loop.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Awesome new experiences, and a little steam to blow off...
I want to vent briefly. At the beginning of this year we started selling beef at a market in Pittsburgh. It has proven to be a great way to meet the non-farm public, promote BEEF and the people who raise it, and open up a whole new customer base for our business...all very good things. But almost every week we have someone walk up to our stand and say "Oh, beef...ssssssssss (this is the sound people make by sucking air through their teeth in order to demonstrate to everyone around that they are an intellectual about to say something earthshattering)...well, maybe I'll get some, but...how do you treat your cattle?"
Really? How do we treat them? Where do I start?
My family life revolves around those animals. We respect them more than anything else because they provide us with a lifestyle that we love and nourishment for hundreds of others. We get up each and every day to go out and make sure they are clean, comfortable, well fed, protected from the weather, and stress free. I have never heard my dad say "man I can't wait to kick back and do nothing this weekend" because the weekend means nothing to our herd and, therefore, nothing to us...we still work. My family doesn't take family vacations because we can't all leave the animals at the same time. I have been willingly frozen, scorched, rained on, snowed on, pooped on, kicked, covered in tennis-ball sized boogers, and trampled more times than I can count all while working for the betterment of our animals - and I love doing it because I know at the end of the day they are in better shape as a result of my discomfort. I will gladly serve these animals until the day I die because animal care and beef production are a passion of mine that I cannot shake.
So when a forty five year old yuppie woman trying desperately to look nineteen again wearing UGG boots, stretchy pants, a Northface jacket, and too much makeup and who is too irresponsible to keep even a goldfish alive prances up, makes the concerned teeth sound, and askes if we take really-good-extra-special care of our animals, I about want to rip her head off. We do. And how dare you, with no experience whatsoever, assume otherwise?
Really? How do we treat them? Where do I start?
My family life revolves around those animals. We respect them more than anything else because they provide us with a lifestyle that we love and nourishment for hundreds of others. We get up each and every day to go out and make sure they are clean, comfortable, well fed, protected from the weather, and stress free. I have never heard my dad say "man I can't wait to kick back and do nothing this weekend" because the weekend means nothing to our herd and, therefore, nothing to us...we still work. My family doesn't take family vacations because we can't all leave the animals at the same time. I have been willingly frozen, scorched, rained on, snowed on, pooped on, kicked, covered in tennis-ball sized boogers, and trampled more times than I can count all while working for the betterment of our animals - and I love doing it because I know at the end of the day they are in better shape as a result of my discomfort. I will gladly serve these animals until the day I die because animal care and beef production are a passion of mine that I cannot shake.
So when a forty five year old yuppie woman trying desperately to look nineteen again wearing UGG boots, stretchy pants, a Northface jacket, and too much makeup and who is too irresponsible to keep even a goldfish alive prances up, makes the concerned teeth sound, and askes if we take really-good-extra-special care of our animals, I about want to rip her head off. We do. And how dare you, with no experience whatsoever, assume otherwise?
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Back from the Dead
It's been almost a year since I've dusted off the keyboard and typed up something that has been on my mind. To be blunt, I don't like sitting at the computer...I have no idea how professional writers do it. But I decided to buck up a little and stop whining...there is a lot happening on American farms and people need to hear it. So, once again, I'll charge up the paddles and try to start a pulse in my online self.
Clear!
I have been attempting to use Facebook and Twitter regularly to show followers what I do each day to produce beef. This method is a little easier for me because I can use my phone to communicate with the websites, cutting down on my dreaded computer time (although in my case even this method is a little rough around the edges - my phone is a fine flip model from about five years ago that cannot in any way be considered smart). Here is something I posted recently that has created a small amount of buzz:
'Think about all the people you see in a day. Your family, everyone you pass on your way to work, everyone at work, everyone you see walking down the sidewalk, your friends...EVERYONE. Imagine if tomorrow when you wake up you had to make all those people breakfast. Nothing fancy, just a couple eggs, some sausage, a cup of fruit and a glass of milk. That's a LOT of food, right?! Now imagine that you had to grow everything you served - cows for the milk, pigs for the sausage, chickens for the eggs, and plants for the fruit. How many animals would you need to supply that much product?? How many acres of crops to fill every individual cup of fruit?? Sounds impossible, right?
It's not.
This scenario is basically what every American farmer is faced with every day of the year...but we do it for 310 million people and we provide lunch and dinner too! How is it possible??
To start, we are well educated to be the best at what we do. We use technology to help us work at maximum efficiency to provide more food from fewer acres using fewer inputs. We work with the land, animals, and climate to specialize in crops and livestock that are suited to our growing conditions. We love what we do. And we do it so well that the consumers using our products don't even know what we do or how we do it, and they spend less on food than any other country in the word. Aren't modern farmers amazing?'
I hope that this gets people to think a little bit about how amazing modern food production actuall is and how much they benefit from America's farmers. Modern agriculture is in the crosshairs right now and we need the public to be on our side more than ever. You and everyone around you benefits from the productivity of today's farmers, and that is something we can all be thankful for.
Clear!
I have been attempting to use Facebook and Twitter regularly to show followers what I do each day to produce beef. This method is a little easier for me because I can use my phone to communicate with the websites, cutting down on my dreaded computer time (although in my case even this method is a little rough around the edges - my phone is a fine flip model from about five years ago that cannot in any way be considered smart). Here is something I posted recently that has created a small amount of buzz:
'Think about all the people you see in a day. Your family, everyone you pass on your way to work, everyone at work, everyone you see walking down the sidewalk, your friends...EVERYONE. Imagine if tomorrow when you wake up you had to make all those people breakfast. Nothing fancy, just a couple eggs, some sausage, a cup of fruit and a glass of milk. That's a LOT of food, right?! Now imagine that you had to grow everything you served - cows for the milk, pigs for the sausage, chickens for the eggs, and plants for the fruit. How many animals would you need to supply that much product?? How many acres of crops to fill every individual cup of fruit?? Sounds impossible, right?
It's not.
This scenario is basically what every American farmer is faced with every day of the year...but we do it for 310 million people and we provide lunch and dinner too! How is it possible??
To start, we are well educated to be the best at what we do. We use technology to help us work at maximum efficiency to provide more food from fewer acres using fewer inputs. We work with the land, animals, and climate to specialize in crops and livestock that are suited to our growing conditions. We love what we do. And we do it so well that the consumers using our products don't even know what we do or how we do it, and they spend less on food than any other country in the word. Aren't modern farmers amazing?'
I hope that this gets people to think a little bit about how amazing modern food production actuall is and how much they benefit from America's farmers. Modern agriculture is in the crosshairs right now and we need the public to be on our side more than ever. You and everyone around you benefits from the productivity of today's farmers, and that is something we can all be thankful for.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
One at a Time
As I have mentioned many times before, when it comes to defending agriculture from the multitude of activist opinions that have flooded public perception I tend to become a little too defensive, throwing up my fists and trying to take on anyone and everyone who speaks out against the industry. This method expends a lot of energy and tends to be fruitless - I become overwhelmed from managing so many fronts and my message is lost. Many agricultural writers offer up a simple piece of advice to eliminate this problem: deal with misperceptions one at a time, not all at once. Finally, after reading these words of wisdom for the hundredth time, I am listening.
In choosing a target, I decided to go for the most bang for my buck; a case where if I succeeded in changing one mind, I could effectively change others connected to it. This challenge presented itself to me in the form of a Presbyterians Today magazine, a writing put together and published by, obviously, the Presbyterian Church. An article featured in said magazine featured none other that the great Michael Pollan (look back through my posts to find my opinion on the individual), spewing out his usual plethora of questionable ideas concerning modern agriculture. I was naturally offended by the horrendous "statistics" he poured forth into the writing, and I decided to contact the individual in charge of the magazine to make her aware of the inaccurate "facts". She responded (much to my surprise) and actually seemed to be willing to hear what I have to say. After a few more brief back-and-forth emails, I sent her this one, which I hope will effectively challenge the Pollan-biased opinion of the magazine and enlighten the Presbyterian team on the greatness of modern agriculture:
Hi -----,
I hope all is well with you and your loved ones. We at Clarion Farms have been
reveling in some much needed sunlight as we prepare for spring planting (our
seed arrived yesterday and is resting in the garage as a daily reminder that in
just a few weeks the tractors will be humming in a full-scale effort to get the
crops in the ground. I love this time of year).
Again I want to thank you for passing my emails along to your associates for
their review and consideration. An unfortunate reality, however, is the month
of March has ground away and the Presbyterian website still features false
information about meat production and the industry that supports it.
As trendy as it is to reference and quote individuals like Michael Pollan, Kathy
Freston, and other activists who have worked their way into the public
spotlight, the simple truth is environmental stewardship, responsible food
production, and global food stability are not moved forward by recognizable
names. Each of these important issues is practiced and accomplished on the
ground floor, out in the dirt with the folks who work with the land and animals
every single day.
What happens when an organization like the Presbyterian Church supports and
distributes information stemming from the above mentioned names and others like
them is actually quite shocking: the path of information followed by the
non-farm public is diverted around farmers, ranchers, and food production
experts and directs them into a tangle of opinions coming from more non-farmers.
Do you see the flaw here? We (farmers) are never given a chance to speak. How
is it that someone seeking information about a topic can receive an accurate
answer if the response is not coming from the source??
So I ask you this: when seeking information about farming, why do turn towards
some media buzz and not towards the farmers? Do you, like many others, not
consider us to be credible? Think for a moment - why would we lie about what we
do? To assume (and promote) that farmers and ranchers regularly take part in
activities leading to daily horrendous abuse of farm animals and unchecked
destruction of the land and the air (remember the livestock statistic) is also
to assume (and promote) the idea that farmers are truly evil people; I do
believe it would take someone with a black heart to participate in such
atrocities. When the activist thought process is stated in this manner - that
farmers are angry, dark, careless people - it loses momentum. One would hope
that any thoughtful person should hesitate at such a claim.
Those involved in agriculture, big and small, production and niche, livestock
and crops, are people just like you and everyone in your office - our business
just happens to be farming. We, too, are passionate about our work, love our
families, enjoy sports, go to college, attend church, and do everything that
non-farmers do. And, believe it or not, we, too, care for animal well being and
want to provide them with healthy, dignified lives. We, too, want to protect
soil quality and leave it better than we found it. We also breath the air and
do not wish to contaminate it. We also eat the food sold in grocery stores and
do not want our families to be sickened by it. We also pay attention to major
agricultural companies and their control of products on the market. We, too,
become frustrated when somebody else dirties our image based on their opinion.
There is, however, one significant difference that sets farmers apart from the
online crowd claiming to be worried about environmental degradation: we are
actually doing something about it.
Our World looking down the barrel of a gun loaded with a population that is
going to increase by 3 billion in the next forty years, a worldwide increase in
per-capita income and a resulting global appetite that is going to double in the
same amount of time (with animal protein demand leading the way), a society that
will continue to congregate in urban areas (it is estimated that by 2050 there
will be as many people living in cities as there are people in the world today)
leaving a comparatively smaller percentage to grow our food, and an
ever-reducing supply of farmland, water, and inputs with which to grow the
sustenance we rely on. These are daunting figures, to say the least. And such
a huge demand for food on such a limited amount of land necessitates perfect
management of our resources in order to sustainably squeeze the maximum
production out of our land, year after year, generation after generation.
Anything less than perfection from our farmers will result in global (and
domestic) hunger issues far worse than those we see today.
As I have mentioned, advancements required for my generation to fulfill our task
do not come from Michael Pollan and his campaign to do in modern agriculture.
Such groundbreaking ideas and technologies pour forth from great minds at
agricultural universities across the nation. These ever-improving production
methods are put into action not by an urban foodblogger, but by national
agricultural companies who have the funding, research, and vast reach required
to build the idea into a reality and make it available to farmers across the
country. Animal handling and care strategies are not developed by a high
profile vegan actress posing naked for an attention-grabbing PETA advertisement,
but by passionate animal experts like Temple Grandin who are willing to work in
the feedlots and packing plants to find and eliminate issues at their source.
Agricultural chemical studies and regulations do not come from the Organic
Growers Association, but from scientists working within the industry who are
actually developing and monitoring the products. Erosion control is in place
because of cover-cropping and reduced tillage techniques adopted by grain
farmers, not because a video producer made a documentary to shock the public.
In fact, virtually all of the environmentally sound advancements that have been
made since my grandfather's generation (when no such efforts existed) have come
from people working within the food production industry, NOT from outsiders
viewing the industry through the cloudy window of an online chat room.
I am not saying agriculture is perfect, and I am not denying that unfortunate
incidents of irresponsible mismanagement do occur, but I am telling you that as
a whole we are very good at what we do. As a member of an organization
dedicated to responsible environmental care and the elimination of World hunger,
you should be well versed in the realities of modern farming before speaking out
against it. In order to truly advance environmental protection and to ensure
there will be food for billions in the coming years, does it not make sense to
support and praise those doing the work? Work with us to protect the
environment rather than cutting us off at the knees by spreading questionable
data to the public; such actions create upheaval among the masses that results
in uninformed third-party decision making. By making yourself known within the
industry you will gain the respect of the farm community (a vast majority of
whom are dedicated church-goers) and launch your Presbyterian team into a
leadership position.
So that is my challenge to you: tell our side of the story. By recognizing the
requirements of food production in the coming years and embracing those who are
stepping up to meet and exceed the challenge, you will find yourself with an
inside line to work with and advance significant efforts to fulfill global food
requirements. Try to familiarize yourself with modern production; I am willing
to act as a source of information, and I will make an effort to connect you with
other producers across the US. Websites like www.americanagriculturist.com,
www.agweb.com, and www.beefmagazine.com are also great places to find
agricultural information. Just poke around a little bit...you will be able to
read about major agricultural issues from our point of view and gain insight
into what we are doing to deal with them. Read some of the blogs from
agricultural writers (Amanda Radke from Beef Magazine and Holly Spangler from
American Agriculturist are two of my favorites, but there are a multitude of
others) and see what is happening in the lives of young farmers in this country.
If you do not wish to take on this challenge, simply respond and tell me that
you have no such desire. You will never hear from me again. I will say,
however, such an oversight will keep you on the activist hamster
wheel...spinning away, pointing fingers, making accusations, 'enlightening' the
public, creating terrifying advertisements to advance an opinion...and never
really gaining any ground. Presbyterians Today will be mired in a sinkhole of
opinions, while farmers, ranchers, and industry employees buckle down to
accomplish the task at hand. I hope you do not get left behind.
Kind regards,
John-Scott Port
I am anxiously awaiting her reply. Although this might not instantly change her mind, I am pleased that she has at least heard a side of the story other than that of Michael. Perhaps, however, the editors will listen and Presbyterians Today will feature an article that praises modern agriculture and those involved with it every day. That, I believe, will change a multitude of minds.
In choosing a target, I decided to go for the most bang for my buck; a case where if I succeeded in changing one mind, I could effectively change others connected to it. This challenge presented itself to me in the form of a Presbyterians Today magazine, a writing put together and published by, obviously, the Presbyterian Church. An article featured in said magazine featured none other that the great Michael Pollan (look back through my posts to find my opinion on the individual), spewing out his usual plethora of questionable ideas concerning modern agriculture. I was naturally offended by the horrendous "statistics" he poured forth into the writing, and I decided to contact the individual in charge of the magazine to make her aware of the inaccurate "facts". She responded (much to my surprise) and actually seemed to be willing to hear what I have to say. After a few more brief back-and-forth emails, I sent her this one, which I hope will effectively challenge the Pollan-biased opinion of the magazine and enlighten the Presbyterian team on the greatness of modern agriculture:
Hi -----,
I hope all is well with you and your loved ones. We at Clarion Farms have been
reveling in some much needed sunlight as we prepare for spring planting (our
seed arrived yesterday and is resting in the garage as a daily reminder that in
just a few weeks the tractors will be humming in a full-scale effort to get the
crops in the ground. I love this time of year).
Again I want to thank you for passing my emails along to your associates for
their review and consideration. An unfortunate reality, however, is the month
of March has ground away and the Presbyterian website still features false
information about meat production and the industry that supports it.
As trendy as it is to reference and quote individuals like Michael Pollan, Kathy
Freston, and other activists who have worked their way into the public
spotlight, the simple truth is environmental stewardship, responsible food
production, and global food stability are not moved forward by recognizable
names. Each of these important issues is practiced and accomplished on the
ground floor, out in the dirt with the folks who work with the land and animals
every single day.
What happens when an organization like the Presbyterian Church supports and
distributes information stemming from the above mentioned names and others like
them is actually quite shocking: the path of information followed by the
non-farm public is diverted around farmers, ranchers, and food production
experts and directs them into a tangle of opinions coming from more non-farmers.
Do you see the flaw here? We (farmers) are never given a chance to speak. How
is it that someone seeking information about a topic can receive an accurate
answer if the response is not coming from the source??
So I ask you this: when seeking information about farming, why do turn towards
some media buzz and not towards the farmers? Do you, like many others, not
consider us to be credible? Think for a moment - why would we lie about what we
do? To assume (and promote) that farmers and ranchers regularly take part in
activities leading to daily horrendous abuse of farm animals and unchecked
destruction of the land and the air (remember the livestock statistic) is also
to assume (and promote) the idea that farmers are truly evil people; I do
believe it would take someone with a black heart to participate in such
atrocities. When the activist thought process is stated in this manner - that
farmers are angry, dark, careless people - it loses momentum. One would hope
that any thoughtful person should hesitate at such a claim.
Those involved in agriculture, big and small, production and niche, livestock
and crops, are people just like you and everyone in your office - our business
just happens to be farming. We, too, are passionate about our work, love our
families, enjoy sports, go to college, attend church, and do everything that
non-farmers do. And, believe it or not, we, too, care for animal well being and
want to provide them with healthy, dignified lives. We, too, want to protect
soil quality and leave it better than we found it. We also breath the air and
do not wish to contaminate it. We also eat the food sold in grocery stores and
do not want our families to be sickened by it. We also pay attention to major
agricultural companies and their control of products on the market. We, too,
become frustrated when somebody else dirties our image based on their opinion.
There is, however, one significant difference that sets farmers apart from the
online crowd claiming to be worried about environmental degradation: we are
actually doing something about it.
Our World looking down the barrel of a gun loaded with a population that is
going to increase by 3 billion in the next forty years, a worldwide increase in
per-capita income and a resulting global appetite that is going to double in the
same amount of time (with animal protein demand leading the way), a society that
will continue to congregate in urban areas (it is estimated that by 2050 there
will be as many people living in cities as there are people in the world today)
leaving a comparatively smaller percentage to grow our food, and an
ever-reducing supply of farmland, water, and inputs with which to grow the
sustenance we rely on. These are daunting figures, to say the least. And such
a huge demand for food on such a limited amount of land necessitates perfect
management of our resources in order to sustainably squeeze the maximum
production out of our land, year after year, generation after generation.
Anything less than perfection from our farmers will result in global (and
domestic) hunger issues far worse than those we see today.
As I have mentioned, advancements required for my generation to fulfill our task
do not come from Michael Pollan and his campaign to do in modern agriculture.
Such groundbreaking ideas and technologies pour forth from great minds at
agricultural universities across the nation. These ever-improving production
methods are put into action not by an urban foodblogger, but by national
agricultural companies who have the funding, research, and vast reach required
to build the idea into a reality and make it available to farmers across the
country. Animal handling and care strategies are not developed by a high
profile vegan actress posing naked for an attention-grabbing PETA advertisement,
but by passionate animal experts like Temple Grandin who are willing to work in
the feedlots and packing plants to find and eliminate issues at their source.
Agricultural chemical studies and regulations do not come from the Organic
Growers Association, but from scientists working within the industry who are
actually developing and monitoring the products. Erosion control is in place
because of cover-cropping and reduced tillage techniques adopted by grain
farmers, not because a video producer made a documentary to shock the public.
In fact, virtually all of the environmentally sound advancements that have been
made since my grandfather's generation (when no such efforts existed) have come
from people working within the food production industry, NOT from outsiders
viewing the industry through the cloudy window of an online chat room.
I am not saying agriculture is perfect, and I am not denying that unfortunate
incidents of irresponsible mismanagement do occur, but I am telling you that as
a whole we are very good at what we do. As a member of an organization
dedicated to responsible environmental care and the elimination of World hunger,
you should be well versed in the realities of modern farming before speaking out
against it. In order to truly advance environmental protection and to ensure
there will be food for billions in the coming years, does it not make sense to
support and praise those doing the work? Work with us to protect the
environment rather than cutting us off at the knees by spreading questionable
data to the public; such actions create upheaval among the masses that results
in uninformed third-party decision making. By making yourself known within the
industry you will gain the respect of the farm community (a vast majority of
whom are dedicated church-goers) and launch your Presbyterian team into a
leadership position.
So that is my challenge to you: tell our side of the story. By recognizing the
requirements of food production in the coming years and embracing those who are
stepping up to meet and exceed the challenge, you will find yourself with an
inside line to work with and advance significant efforts to fulfill global food
requirements. Try to familiarize yourself with modern production; I am willing
to act as a source of information, and I will make an effort to connect you with
other producers across the US. Websites like www.americanagriculturist.com,
www.agweb.com, and www.beefmagazine.com are also great places to find
agricultural information. Just poke around a little bit...you will be able to
read about major agricultural issues from our point of view and gain insight
into what we are doing to deal with them. Read some of the blogs from
agricultural writers (Amanda Radke from Beef Magazine and Holly Spangler from
American Agriculturist are two of my favorites, but there are a multitude of
others) and see what is happening in the lives of young farmers in this country.
If you do not wish to take on this challenge, simply respond and tell me that
you have no such desire. You will never hear from me again. I will say,
however, such an oversight will keep you on the activist hamster
wheel...spinning away, pointing fingers, making accusations, 'enlightening' the
public, creating terrifying advertisements to advance an opinion...and never
really gaining any ground. Presbyterians Today will be mired in a sinkhole of
opinions, while farmers, ranchers, and industry employees buckle down to
accomplish the task at hand. I hope you do not get left behind.
Kind regards,
John-Scott Port
I am anxiously awaiting her reply. Although this might not instantly change her mind, I am pleased that she has at least heard a side of the story other than that of Michael. Perhaps, however, the editors will listen and Presbyterians Today will feature an article that praises modern agriculture and those involved with it every day. That, I believe, will change a multitude of minds.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Can Farmers Have A Voice?
Last year I became a member of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) in an effort to learn about the organization and become involved with the state (and country) wide food production discussion. Since jumping into the Farm Bureau head first I have learned more than I imagined was possible, met some great people, enhanced my agricultural knowledge, and had some awesome experiences to tell the story of food production. I am proud to be a part of such an extensive organization and I look to the future with eager anticipation.
A major aspect of Farm Bureau is working with legislatures and various government organizations to ensure that unreasonable laws and regulations are not put in place that will choke Pennsylvania's grain and livestock farmers out of business (one of my primary motivations for joining was to become involved in this segment of the Bureau). The 50,000+ Pa Farm Bureau members provide the voice to guide discussions and the numbers to maintain a fair amount of political clout in Harrisburg and Washington, something vital to avoid being overlooked and overrun. Such an outstanding amount of membership support for the PFB has helped keep the playing field level to ensure that farmers carry a fair share of various regulations and do not end up with a heavier burden than other Pennsylvania industries.
Something that has surprised me, however, is how fiercely opposing organizations attack us, the farmers, for joining and contributing to the organization. The moment any political issue arises that the Farm Bureau is involved with, the media is flooded with comments from outraged environmentalists, animal rights activists, etc, screaming about how awful it is that 'Big Agribusiness' and the associated 'Factory Farms' use their oppressive political power to cover up all of the harm done by the food production industry.
Why is it OK for opposing organizations to rally hundreds of thousands - or even millions - of misinformed people in an attempt to punch their agenda into modern society, but completely outrageous if the farm community comes together in an attempt to counter their attacks? An individual once told me that mainstream society does not like to see the farmer succeed; although I did not want to accept the idea, I have found it to be quite true. If, Heaven forbid, we manage to turn a profit in a year, we are accused of ignoring animal well being and destroying the quality of our land in pursuit of the almighty dollar. If we do not tout ourselves as a trendy organic farm, we are accused of poisoning consumers without giving food safety a second thought. If we combine efforts to counter stringent regulations (that provide third party organizations the right to require overwhelmingly expensive overhauls to existing farms, with a $30,000 per-day penalty for not meeting the requirements), suddenly we become factory farmers who care little for the world around us. Interesting.
Believe it or not, farmers - both big and small, production and niche, livestock and crops - are people just others in mainstream society; our business just happens to be agriculture. We, also, love the land and do not want to destroy it. We, also, appreciate our animals and want to give them healthy, dignified lives. We, also, breath the air and do not want to contaminate it. We, also, feed our families with food from the grocery store and do not wish to be sickened by it. In other words, our goals are the same as those of the organizations rising up to oppose us. We are working towards the same cause, but the farm community needs a fair voice in order to balance out the equation and ensure regulations and associated time lines can be reasonably attained. Certain environmental groups would do well to realize that reality before lashing out against us.
A major aspect of Farm Bureau is working with legislatures and various government organizations to ensure that unreasonable laws and regulations are not put in place that will choke Pennsylvania's grain and livestock farmers out of business (one of my primary motivations for joining was to become involved in this segment of the Bureau). The 50,000+ Pa Farm Bureau members provide the voice to guide discussions and the numbers to maintain a fair amount of political clout in Harrisburg and Washington, something vital to avoid being overlooked and overrun. Such an outstanding amount of membership support for the PFB has helped keep the playing field level to ensure that farmers carry a fair share of various regulations and do not end up with a heavier burden than other Pennsylvania industries.
Something that has surprised me, however, is how fiercely opposing organizations attack us, the farmers, for joining and contributing to the organization. The moment any political issue arises that the Farm Bureau is involved with, the media is flooded with comments from outraged environmentalists, animal rights activists, etc, screaming about how awful it is that 'Big Agribusiness' and the associated 'Factory Farms' use their oppressive political power to cover up all of the harm done by the food production industry.
Why is it OK for opposing organizations to rally hundreds of thousands - or even millions - of misinformed people in an attempt to punch their agenda into modern society, but completely outrageous if the farm community comes together in an attempt to counter their attacks? An individual once told me that mainstream society does not like to see the farmer succeed; although I did not want to accept the idea, I have found it to be quite true. If, Heaven forbid, we manage to turn a profit in a year, we are accused of ignoring animal well being and destroying the quality of our land in pursuit of the almighty dollar. If we do not tout ourselves as a trendy organic farm, we are accused of poisoning consumers without giving food safety a second thought. If we combine efforts to counter stringent regulations (that provide third party organizations the right to require overwhelmingly expensive overhauls to existing farms, with a $30,000 per-day penalty for not meeting the requirements), suddenly we become factory farmers who care little for the world around us. Interesting.
Believe it or not, farmers - both big and small, production and niche, livestock and crops - are people just others in mainstream society; our business just happens to be agriculture. We, also, love the land and do not want to destroy it. We, also, appreciate our animals and want to give them healthy, dignified lives. We, also, breath the air and do not want to contaminate it. We, also, feed our families with food from the grocery store and do not wish to be sickened by it. In other words, our goals are the same as those of the organizations rising up to oppose us. We are working towards the same cause, but the farm community needs a fair voice in order to balance out the equation and ensure regulations and associated time lines can be reasonably attained. Certain environmental groups would do well to realize that reality before lashing out against us.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Where Have I Been?
I went through a pretty good dry spell in regards to updating this blog. Two months, I believe, of nothing. Although I would like to run through a multitude of really good excuses to explain my absence, the reality is I have none. It boils down to one simple reality: I am not a 'sit in front of the computer' kind of person, and writing my thoughts down online requires, believe it or not, sitting at a computer. I just plain have not felt like taking the time to do this.
So what have I been doing while avoiding the torture keyboard? Quite a few things, actually.
I am proud to be a part of our local Young Farmer & Rancher committee. We have been meeting every month and working out various projects that will help us tell the story of agriculture in our community. Our ideas include entering national farm-video competition that portrays various farm operations. Clarion University has agreed to help us with filming and editing...we are in the preliminary stages of working out that deal. Other plans include establishing food donation programs that celebrate the productivity of modern agriculture and visiting high-school juniors and seniors to discuss the awesomeness of modern food production. Good progress has been made on all three, and I am excited to see what the future holds for our group.
A friend I met during a PSU trip to Moldova has put me in touch with a young producer in the country who recently came into possession of a soviet-ear facility consisting of eleven large barns for livestock. He is trying to establish himself as a viable beef producer and has actually contacted ME as a source of advice. We have been talking back and forth for some time, bouncing ideas off each other and attempting to create a clear path for his future. I am really excited to have some involvement in his operation and I hope the connection will at some point provide me with the opportunity to once again visit Moldova.
Speaking of traveling abroad, I am leaving to visit a few farms in Brazil this month. I am looking forward to once again seeing the massive crop production in the state of Bahia and learning how the frontier farms have progressed since my last visit (a little sunny 80 degree weather won't hurt, either). Every now and then it is good to head out of Clarion and stand on a 30,000 acre crop farm to put things in perspective. It takes a lot to feed this world.
As expected, I still get mad when I hear about Michael Pollan and his followers. I still throw a fit about vegetarians who seem hell-bent on forcing their beliefs into the minds of others and eliminating the American livestock industry - I love raising cattle; I enjoy eating beef (and every other kind of meat I can get my hands on); please do not tell me I need to stop doing both based only on your opinion. And I still get bent out of shape about the smoke-and-mirrors agenda of Wayne Pacelle and the Humane Society of the United States. But I am working to arm myself with the truth so when I encounter a concerned individual who has been influenced by the skewed teachings of said organizations I am able to provide a well planned, fact-based response. Want to know a few things I have learned recently? *A three oz serving of lean beef provides ten nutrients for an average of 154 calories. It takes a vegetarian two to three times more calories to get the same protein from a plant based diet. *From 1987 (the year I was born) to 2007 modern farmers grew 40% more corn, 30%more soybeans, and 19% more wheat ON THE SAME AMOUNT OF LAND. During that increase in productivity they reduced farmland erosion by 43%. I doubt Michael Pollan wants you to know that.
Opportunities for our farm and business seem to be springing up like crazy. I love sorting through the possibilities to see how we can maximize our productivity. If I mention any of our current business ideas I am sure they will be jinxed, but it is evident that the future holds great things. We will see where the path leads.
My most recent project involves the Presbyterian Church and one of their Lent projects. Apparently they have made the common mistake of referencing Michael Pollan as an agricultural expert, as well as including Oprah and Kathy Frestone (an outspoken anti-meat vegan) in their panel of farm and health experts. This fine group has convinced the Presbyterians to adopt the idea of Meatless Monday in order to get healthy and save the environment during Lent. I wrote the organization a letter explaining the flaws in their plan and asking them to reconsider using a non-biased group of experts; they have not responded yet. Now I am in the process of rallying agricultural bloggers across the country to spread the word and contact the Presbyterian organization. We will see how well that goes.
So what have I been doing while avoiding the torture keyboard? Quite a few things, actually.
I am proud to be a part of our local Young Farmer & Rancher committee. We have been meeting every month and working out various projects that will help us tell the story of agriculture in our community. Our ideas include entering national farm-video competition that portrays various farm operations. Clarion University has agreed to help us with filming and editing...we are in the preliminary stages of working out that deal. Other plans include establishing food donation programs that celebrate the productivity of modern agriculture and visiting high-school juniors and seniors to discuss the awesomeness of modern food production. Good progress has been made on all three, and I am excited to see what the future holds for our group.
A friend I met during a PSU trip to Moldova has put me in touch with a young producer in the country who recently came into possession of a soviet-ear facility consisting of eleven large barns for livestock. He is trying to establish himself as a viable beef producer and has actually contacted ME as a source of advice. We have been talking back and forth for some time, bouncing ideas off each other and attempting to create a clear path for his future. I am really excited to have some involvement in his operation and I hope the connection will at some point provide me with the opportunity to once again visit Moldova.
Speaking of traveling abroad, I am leaving to visit a few farms in Brazil this month. I am looking forward to once again seeing the massive crop production in the state of Bahia and learning how the frontier farms have progressed since my last visit (a little sunny 80 degree weather won't hurt, either). Every now and then it is good to head out of Clarion and stand on a 30,000 acre crop farm to put things in perspective. It takes a lot to feed this world.
As expected, I still get mad when I hear about Michael Pollan and his followers. I still throw a fit about vegetarians who seem hell-bent on forcing their beliefs into the minds of others and eliminating the American livestock industry - I love raising cattle; I enjoy eating beef (and every other kind of meat I can get my hands on); please do not tell me I need to stop doing both based only on your opinion. And I still get bent out of shape about the smoke-and-mirrors agenda of Wayne Pacelle and the Humane Society of the United States. But I am working to arm myself with the truth so when I encounter a concerned individual who has been influenced by the skewed teachings of said organizations I am able to provide a well planned, fact-based response. Want to know a few things I have learned recently? *A three oz serving of lean beef provides ten nutrients for an average of 154 calories. It takes a vegetarian two to three times more calories to get the same protein from a plant based diet. *From 1987 (the year I was born) to 2007 modern farmers grew 40% more corn, 30%more soybeans, and 19% more wheat ON THE SAME AMOUNT OF LAND. During that increase in productivity they reduced farmland erosion by 43%. I doubt Michael Pollan wants you to know that.
Opportunities for our farm and business seem to be springing up like crazy. I love sorting through the possibilities to see how we can maximize our productivity. If I mention any of our current business ideas I am sure they will be jinxed, but it is evident that the future holds great things. We will see where the path leads.
My most recent project involves the Presbyterian Church and one of their Lent projects. Apparently they have made the common mistake of referencing Michael Pollan as an agricultural expert, as well as including Oprah and Kathy Frestone (an outspoken anti-meat vegan) in their panel of farm and health experts. This fine group has convinced the Presbyterians to adopt the idea of Meatless Monday in order to get healthy and save the environment during Lent. I wrote the organization a letter explaining the flaws in their plan and asking them to reconsider using a non-biased group of experts; they have not responded yet. Now I am in the process of rallying agricultural bloggers across the country to spread the word and contact the Presbyterian organization. We will see how well that goes.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Pitiful Pollan
Back in 2001, a little known writer from the New York Times Magazine walked on to a South Dakota ranch owned and operated by Troy and Stacy Hadrick and their families. The newly married fifth generation ranchers were told that a story was going to be written for the NY Times focusing on the life of a steer on their ranch - the writer wished to show the public what kind of effort is put in to a steak before it is eaten. Because the intent of the story was sold to them as a positive way to enlighten consumers about ranch activities, the enthusiastic couple agreed to work with the interested journalist for a season in order to tell the story of agriculture to a relatively large audience.
The writer's name happened to be Michael Pollan. And, rather than following through on his promise to write an informative article about modern beef production, Pollan ripped the Hadrick family and their operation to shreds in his article "Power Steer". According to BEEF Magazine (one of my favorites), Mike described the Hadrick operation as "crowded, filthy, and stinking, with open sewers, unpaved roads, and choking air." He went on to credit beef production as the cause of "antibiotic resistance, environmental degradation, heart disease, and E. coli poisoning."
Upon reading the article, Troy and Stacy were (quite understandably) brought to their knees. It seemed impossible that some sly goon could skew the passion for their multi-generational livelihood and their commitment to the ranch animals into a horrendous, negative article, but the evidence of such a tragedy lay right in front of their eyes. For some time, the Hadricks stayed quiet and under the radar as the Pollan's "Power Steer" article circulated throughout the media, gaining undeserved attention and becoming a reference point for health nuts, educators, students, and niche organic growers across the nation.
Fortunately for the Beef industry, Troy and Stacy decided that they were not going to allow the biased and inaccurate writings of some clown to snuff out their way of life. Today, when they are not working their ranch, the couple travels the nation spreading the truth about beef production. The Hadricks are some of the most influential agricultural advocates in our country today, managing an awesome website (www.advocatesforag.com) and teaching other farmers and ranchers how to spread the truth about production agriculture. They are a couple whom I would very much like to meet at some point in my life, and I regularly follow the Advocates for Ag blog as a way of bettering my own agricultural education skills. We (the industry) are lucky to have them.
I did not write this, however, simply to focus on the Hadrick family. This post was written to help reveal the real Michael Pollan.
After writing "The Omnivores Dilemma", Michael gained national attention as a great food visionary dedicated to solving America's health problems (which he blames entirely on our farmers and ranchers) and saving the environment by producing our food in neat little organic gardens spaced appropriately across the nation. College professors, students, hippies, niche farmers, and a multitude of others fell in line with Mr. Pollan, raising him to near celebrity status as a result of his teachings - apparently he was actually considered by President Obama to be a USDA secretary.
But what if Pollan isn't really such a visionary? If you cut all the fat out of his writings, what he really preaches is common sense: don't eat processed junk food, avoid gigantic servings of fatty foods, and eat a variety of stuff; the fresher the better. Not exactly rocket science. So why is he famous?
Michael Pollan is anything but a well informed visionary; he is simply a capitalist. Mike has discovered that by lying, cheating, deceiving and manipulating people, and creating radically inaccurate speeches by completely eliminating one side of an argument, and serving it all up in a warm fuzzy organic gardener blanket, he can capitalize on people's natural desire to stay healthy. He found a topic that everyone has an interest in - food - and infused his own blend of biased information to make people afraid of what is on their dinner table. Most Americans have never been on a working farm or ranch, so when Michael spews out a description of "open sewers and choking air" and ties the negative image to the food people purchase for their families, readers get uncomfortable and Mike's books start flying off the shelf.
I like to think that most of Pollan's readers - those open to reason and not committed to the same agenda that he is - would withdraw their support if it became common knowledge that Michael is nothing more than a snake in the grass, willing to crush and eliminate the lives of young farm and ranch families simply to gain recognition as a writer and enjoy the fortune and fame that comes with being a best selling author. He has little food production experience outside of his own garden, and his fame was built on corrupt information gathering and a steady stream of deception fed to his readers (they are looking to him for real information, but he is instead flooding their minds with "facts" designed to fuel his own agenda).
It is a shame that those working only for themselves seem to be the people who get all the attention. If Michael were truly a visionary he would be promoting modern agriculture and encouraging the public to work with real production farmers to make our food system even better and more productive than it already is. That, however, would take a good bit of media focus away from Michael, yet another reality he is not willing to face. Pitiful.
The writer's name happened to be Michael Pollan. And, rather than following through on his promise to write an informative article about modern beef production, Pollan ripped the Hadrick family and their operation to shreds in his article "Power Steer". According to BEEF Magazine (one of my favorites), Mike described the Hadrick operation as "crowded, filthy, and stinking, with open sewers, unpaved roads, and choking air." He went on to credit beef production as the cause of "antibiotic resistance, environmental degradation, heart disease, and E. coli poisoning."
Upon reading the article, Troy and Stacy were (quite understandably) brought to their knees. It seemed impossible that some sly goon could skew the passion for their multi-generational livelihood and their commitment to the ranch animals into a horrendous, negative article, but the evidence of such a tragedy lay right in front of their eyes. For some time, the Hadricks stayed quiet and under the radar as the Pollan's "Power Steer" article circulated throughout the media, gaining undeserved attention and becoming a reference point for health nuts, educators, students, and niche organic growers across the nation.
Fortunately for the Beef industry, Troy and Stacy decided that they were not going to allow the biased and inaccurate writings of some clown to snuff out their way of life. Today, when they are not working their ranch, the couple travels the nation spreading the truth about beef production. The Hadricks are some of the most influential agricultural advocates in our country today, managing an awesome website (www.advocatesforag.com) and teaching other farmers and ranchers how to spread the truth about production agriculture. They are a couple whom I would very much like to meet at some point in my life, and I regularly follow the Advocates for Ag blog as a way of bettering my own agricultural education skills. We (the industry) are lucky to have them.
I did not write this, however, simply to focus on the Hadrick family. This post was written to help reveal the real Michael Pollan.
After writing "The Omnivores Dilemma", Michael gained national attention as a great food visionary dedicated to solving America's health problems (which he blames entirely on our farmers and ranchers) and saving the environment by producing our food in neat little organic gardens spaced appropriately across the nation. College professors, students, hippies, niche farmers, and a multitude of others fell in line with Mr. Pollan, raising him to near celebrity status as a result of his teachings - apparently he was actually considered by President Obama to be a USDA secretary.
But what if Pollan isn't really such a visionary? If you cut all the fat out of his writings, what he really preaches is common sense: don't eat processed junk food, avoid gigantic servings of fatty foods, and eat a variety of stuff; the fresher the better. Not exactly rocket science. So why is he famous?
Michael Pollan is anything but a well informed visionary; he is simply a capitalist. Mike has discovered that by lying, cheating, deceiving and manipulating people, and creating radically inaccurate speeches by completely eliminating one side of an argument, and serving it all up in a warm fuzzy organic gardener blanket, he can capitalize on people's natural desire to stay healthy. He found a topic that everyone has an interest in - food - and infused his own blend of biased information to make people afraid of what is on their dinner table. Most Americans have never been on a working farm or ranch, so when Michael spews out a description of "open sewers and choking air" and ties the negative image to the food people purchase for their families, readers get uncomfortable and Mike's books start flying off the shelf.
I like to think that most of Pollan's readers - those open to reason and not committed to the same agenda that he is - would withdraw their support if it became common knowledge that Michael is nothing more than a snake in the grass, willing to crush and eliminate the lives of young farm and ranch families simply to gain recognition as a writer and enjoy the fortune and fame that comes with being a best selling author. He has little food production experience outside of his own garden, and his fame was built on corrupt information gathering and a steady stream of deception fed to his readers (they are looking to him for real information, but he is instead flooding their minds with "facts" designed to fuel his own agenda).
It is a shame that those working only for themselves seem to be the people who get all the attention. If Michael were truly a visionary he would be promoting modern agriculture and encouraging the public to work with real production farmers to make our food system even better and more productive than it already is. That, however, would take a good bit of media focus away from Michael, yet another reality he is not willing to face. Pitiful.
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