It's a Tough Job, But Someone's Gotta Do It!

Growing up on a livestock farm, you learn about the “circle of life” at a young age. Most, if not all, farm kids will get attached to a particular animal at one point or another, and ask questions about why the animal has to be sent to market. There are various explanations that a parent can give at this point, but the bottom line is that it is part of your job as a farmer.

I was thinking about this as I talked to my dad recently about what to do with one of the cows in our beef cattle herd. I have had her since I was 7; so that would make her 15 years old now. Needless to say, I am attached to this one. She has been one of our best cows, she was my first bucket calf, my first show calf, the cow that started our herd of 50 head today… and now she is getting old and her health is less than perfect. So, my dad is giving his 22-year-old daughter the same-old speech about the “circle of life” and making a good business decision as a livestock farmer.

Now, having grown up on a farm and experienced this before, I know how this is going to have to go at some point. (Really, I am lucky to still have her around after 15 years!) But what I think a lot of people need to know about farmers is that this is not always an easy decision to make, and it isn’t a part of our jobs that we would generally describe as “enjoyable.” I have had individuals with no farm experience ask me about this part of being a livestock farmer, and the best way I know to answer them is to be honest: It isn’t our favorite part of the job, but we know going into it that sending animals to harvest is part of the deal.

Numerous surveys show (and any farmer can probably tell you) that farmers are at the top of the list of people who are happy with their job. Farming is a great profession and one that I am proud to be a part of, even though it isn’t always easy. It can be tough work, but it has a lot of great rewards that make it all worth it at the end of the day!

In Case You Aren’t Tired of Being Told to Vote…

Over the past several days, the media has been bombarding us with “GO VOTE!” messages. While I agree that this is an important message, I also think that those Americans who were not going to vote in the first place will not be affected by these messages.

If you ask me, this can be attributed to our tendencies to take things (such as the right to vote) for granted. We see this tendency often within the agriculture industry. In the U.S., consumers have the privilege of being able to be picky at the grocery store. Many people look for food that was produced organically, without sub-therapeutic antibiotics or hormones, grass-fed, etc. All of these production methods are great-- except for one thing: they often don’t produce the high yields that we can achieve with the use of modern farming practices. This abundance of food in turn gives us the ability to be picky at the grocery store.

The problem is that most of us have had the privilege of an abundant food supply for our entire lives. We have not experienced anything different, so it is easy for us to take it for granted. This same idea applies to our right to vote. Obtaining this right took years of fighting and sacrifice- and yet so many of us choose not to take advantage of it.  

No one can force you to vote, but if you take a step back and try to realize what you are giving up by not voting, it may change your mind. Billions of people around the world are still fighting today for the rights that you have always had as an American; don’t take that for granted.  

Everyone together now… GO VOTE!!!

The Importance of Farmer/Consumer Discussion

There is no doubt that in recent years, consumers have become more and more concerned about how their food is produced, and why shouldn’t they be? Everyone wants to make sure that they are providing themselves and their families with safe, nutritious food that was produced in a way that they deem fit. I personally believe that one of the biggest contributing factors to this concern is the modern day “gap” between the farmer who grows the food and the urban mom/dad who makes the purchasing decisions regarding food for their family. Many modern day farming practices are simply misunderstood by many urban consumers because they have little or no experience with food production or farming.

So what do we, the agriculture industry, do about bridging this gap between farmer and urban consumer? Well, this is where the Illinois Farm Families program comes in. The Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Beef Association, Illinois Pork Association, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, and Illinois Soybean Association work together in this program to bring mom’s from Chicago, IL (called “Field Mom’s”) out to farms throughout Illinois to speak directly with the farmers who produce their food. This gives those urban moms an opportunity to ask their questions and voice their concerns about food production. It also gives the farmers an opportunity to explain not only how food is produced, but WHY we use different farming practices.

I think this program sets a good example of what should be happening in today’s society of food production concern. Consumers with questions should be asking FARMERS about the concerns they have! And as farmers, we should be happy to take their questions and answer them as honestly as possible. As a “real farm girl” I have often had friends ask me questions about food production and things they are concerned about- and more often than not, they leave the conversation with a better understanding and more positive opinion about their concern.

So, consumers with concerns: Ask a farmer! We are probably a much more reliable source than TV shows or news stories that are often biased one way or the other.

And farmers: Welcome those consumer questions! If urban consumers can’t ask the people who grow their food, who do you expect them to ask?

I love having these discussions with people, and I think it is discussions like these that will really make a difference in consumers having a better understanding of food production and modern farming practices.

To keep up with the IL Farm Families program, “like” them on Facebook or follow them on twitter!

You Can't Have Your Corn and Eat it, Too.

As harvest gets underway, farmers are waiting to see how much damage this year’s drought has really done to their crops. We are not only hearing concern on the producer side of things, many consumers have also expressed concern regarding the higher corn prices and how it is going to affect their grocery store expenses.

With new drought resistant corn hybrids becoming available and expected to be more sought-after in years following this growing season, I am beginning to wonder: Are consumers more concerned with low yields driving the price of corn up or their qualms with GMO crops? If (heaven forbid) next year we have another drought, but farmers had all planted drought-resistant corn, would consumers be happy to see unwavering yields? Or would farmers get criticized for planting genetically modified organisms?

Of course, each consumer would have a different opinion on this matter, so I do not have the answers to these questions. But it’s an interesting thought. Some may say that farmers are caught in a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation here, but I see a learning opportunity for those concerned with how their food is grown. This year’s drought and the resulting drought-resistant hybrids are a perfect example of why the agriculture industry has been and continues to use GMO crops. There aren’t scientists sitting in a lab somewhere conjuring up different ways to mess with your food just for the fun of it. These crops give farmers a fighting chance against the many factors we cannot control (i.e. weather, pests, disease, etc.) They help to make your food supply safe and abundant.

So, to those consumers who want high crop yields to keep our economy strong and our food prices affordable without the use of technology on our farming operations… think about what you are asking farmers to do. We can’t compete with the weather, we simply have to use the tools we are given to help our crops along the best we can. So the more tools we have available to our farmers, the better!

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: 2012 Corn Edition

The good: Most of Illinois got some rain this weekend! Nearly 2 inches reported in some parts of the state.

The bad: That storm also produced some brutal 50mph winds, knocking down many acres of corn in the southern part of the state.

The ugly: Corn after the storm.

A few farmers are beginning to harvest their corn already. So far, there have been reports of yields ranging from 0-130 bushels per acre at best. ICMB board member Jim Raben has been hearing of yields between 0 and 40 bushels per acre in non-irrigated fields and higher yields of about 130 bushel in irrigated fields. On average, most southern Illinois counties are expecting a 50 bu/acre yield.

Yield isn’t the only number farmers are keeping an eye on. Early harvest brings with it the threat of high moisture ratings. Of those farmers beginning harvest early, the current range is 18-30% moisture. Grain elevators want to see corn coming in at less than 15% moisture, so this means more drying cost and/or premium reduction for these farmers.

If nothing else, this year has been a prime example of the volatile nature of being a crop farmer. No matter how much time, money, and work a farmer puts into their crop, the weather gets the final say in how productive a field will be. Last year, farmers were celebrating yields approaching 200 bushels per acre, and this year most are just hoping for their average to be 50 bushels per acre! Calling this a “tough year for corn farmers” seems to be an understatement throughout most of the Midwest.

Photography Project

Social Media- Are you doing it right?

If you are reading this blog, you already know about and are participating in social media. Chances are you are also aware of how popular social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blogging (to name a few) have all become. But what can we do, as representatives of the agriculture industry, to make our use of social media more effective in reaching more diverse demographics and creating a positive image of the industry that we are all so passionate about?

Today, I watched a Ustream video on U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance’s website Food Dialogues. The live video stream today was called “Hollywood and “Vine”: The Intersection of Pop Culture and Food Production” and included representatives from both the agriculture and media industries. The discussion was largely based on how agriculture and the media need to work together to bring real facts and honest stories to the consumer. It was mentioned that the next generation of kids will be able to operate an iPad or laptop without any problem, but they won’t have a clue about where there food comes from. Examples from current “educational” cartoons were depictions of bulls with udders and an understanding that “if it has horns, it must be a bull.”

Most of you reading this (I hope) understand that those things are not true, but how are we ensuring that our kids know and understand these concepts? Another suggestion in the Food Dialogue was that agriculture needs to be a source for these materials. If we are making the cartoons and other informational outlets, we have control over the messages and information being presented to kids in our schools.

There is one thing in particular that stands out to me from the video stream: Social media is NOT a “magic cure-all” for agriculture’s challenges today. It is a tool, and if used correctly, it can make a big impact. When it comes to reaching a large and diverse audience and getting them to listen to your message, there is a right and a wrong way to use social media. Jeff Fowle, one of the panelists today, is a farmer/rancher who knows how to use social media effectively. He is one of the founders of the Ag Chat Foundation, which has this mission: “to empower farmers, ranchers and foresters to share their stories effectively through social media platforms.” More recently, he began the  Just Farmer blog with a few other colleagues. This is a social media platform for dialogue between consumers and producers that has seen a lot of success.

Check out some of these organizations and ideas to learn more about how you can make better use of you social media skills to start more discussions about food production! My generation has already accepted and flocked to social media, now all you have to do is find a way to keep their attention and tell them your side of the story!

Ethanol Burns Cleaner... see for yourself!

I found this video from the McHenry County Farm Bureau's Ag in the Classroom program. Gives you a pretty good look at what they are talking about when they say "ethanol burns cleaner!" Plus... it's home-grown!

Springtime on Our Farm

Even if your closest link to farming is the fields you see when you are driving down the road, you probably know that spring means a lot of farmers are getting their crops in the ground. But what does springtime mean for livestock farmers? This weekend, I took a few photos of our cattle farm. As you can see, springtime means lots of baby animals on our farm!

We choose to have all of our calves born in the springtime. The main reason for this is the well-being of our cows and calves. Springtime usually offers good weather for calving- not too hot, not too cold. Extreme weather conditions are a threat to newborn calves, so we try to avoid exposing them to these kinds of weather conditions.

During calving season, we need to check our cows more often to make sure that we know if one is in labor and whether or not she needs help. Ideally, cows have their calves without assistance and everyone is happy and healthy. Once in a while, though, cows need help giving birth. Problems such as a leg or head positioned wrong can make it almost impossible for a cow to have her calf. If it takes her too long, the life of the newborn calf is at risk. Once the umbilical cord is broken, the calf has no oxygen supply, so it becomes priority to get the head and chest of the calf out quickly.

Cows aren't the only ones with new babies on the farm! These cute little guys live in our shed where we store our seed for the crops. Mice can cause huge problems and waste a lot of seed by chewing holes in the seed bags, so keeping cats around helps to keep our mice population down and ultimately saves us money on seed.


We used to have pigs on our farm before all of our pasture was used for cattle. Springtime always meant (you guessed it) baby pigs! My dad would bring my brother and I with him to care for the new pigs, so we would always sit on the roof of the hog huts and hold piglets while he worked. Sows are incredibly protective, so the roof of the hog huts was a safe place to us to be while we were out working with dad.

Spring is a critical time of year for both grain and livestock farmers... but it is something we look forward to every year!

Thirsty Thursday: Cheer's to Barley!

In honor of Thirsty Thursday (and my weekend starting early!) I would like to raise a glass to all those barely farmers out there who bring us one of our favorite beverages... beer! To make beer, you generally need 4 ingredients: water, barley, hops, and yeast. Barley supplies the malt for the beer by being exposed to a specific temperature that stops the maturing process of the plant, but allows the enzyme that breaks starch into sugar (maltose) to remain active. The yeast then metabolizes that sugar into carbon dioxide and ethly alcohol!
Barley does more than supply the beer with malt and the sugar needed to create alcohol... it also gives it that distinct flavor that we all know and love! Barely that is not used for it's starch can be roasted to higher temperatures. The degree to which the barely is roasted determines the color and taste of the beer.

So let's raise a glass (after your work day is over of course) and toast to our farmers! Without them, we wouldn't just go hungry... we wouldn't have beer!
Have a great weekend! And remember to thank a farmer.

What does all this weather mean for farmers in the corn belt?

Like many of you, I have been enjoying the warm weather we have been having for the last few months. But what does this unseasonable warm weather mean for our farmers here in the corn belt? Obviously, weather plays a huge role in the success of a farmer's crop, but it is also a variable that farmer's have no control over. This is a pretty scary thought... but mother nature seems to be on our side so far this year!



Warmer weather early in spring gave farmers the opportunity to get their corn in the ground in record time this year. Although planting early increases the risk of frost killing a young crop, many farmers got lucky and avioded that threat.
In theory, early planting means there will be many farmers harvesting earlier than usual this fall. However, the weather we will have this summer is going to play a huge role in how quickly this years corn crop matures. Corn needs good summer heat and rain to grow efficiently, so the farmers aren't done gambling on the weather yet.
If mother nature continues to favor the corn crop, and early harvest will have an affect of corn prices. Corn stocks are expected to shrink significantly this year, so every bushel of corn counts. An early crop could cause market prices to rise, which is good for our corn farmers, but will increase feed costs for livestock farmers and different products in the grocery stores.
It is hard to say what the outcome of the corn crop will be this year, but so far many of our corn farmers are pleased with the way things are going!

The Hard Work Doesn't Stop Here

As my college graduation day approaches without delay, I thought I would share this thought from an image created by Erin Ehnle on her page Keeping it Real: Through the Lens of a Farm Girl. If there is one thing I have learned this last semester through my job hunts and many life decisions, it is this: The learning and hard work it takes to achieve your goals is never over. As I begin my full time job and classes towards my Master's Degree, I know that I am going to have to put in a lot of hard work... but I also know that my hard work will pay off in the end.

How do I know that? Everything I grew up with on the farm was hard work, but it was more rewarding than any other project or assignment I have ever worked on. Farmers spend countless hours in the field during planting and harvest, but knowing their hard work made that crop successful makes all those hours worth it. Livestock farmers are outside caring for their animals morning and night, rain or shine. Can you guess what makes it all worth it?

It is because of my upbringing on a farm that the hard work coming my way doesn't scare me... in fact, I look forward to it. I know once I accomplish all it is that I am working towards, nothing will compare to the satisfaction I get from knowing that the harvest of my success was as a result of good old fashioned hard work.

Masters of Beef Advocacy Program

I recently participated in the online Masters of Beef Advocacy program, which is one of the many programs in place that is funded by the beef checkoff dollars. As a beef producer, I have paid a checkoff with every beef sale I have ever made. I am glad to see that my dollars are going to programs such as this one, and I am more than willing to participate myself!


Ok, Rosie. You keep talking about this Masters of Beef Advocay program... but what is it?? It is a program designed for beef producers to better prepare us to discuss our product and operation with consumers. I am glad to participate in this program because I strongly believe that consumers should be able to ask a local farmer questions about the industry. If consumers can't ask their local farmer about how their food is produced, who can they ask?

I keep refering to consumers and producers as if there is an "us" and "them." I would like to point out that I'm not just a beef producer... I am a consumer, too! I have the same concerns about the food I eat as anyone else, I just happen to be a producer of some of that food and attend agriculture courses 5 days a week in which we discuss issues such as food production. Not everyone has access to the resources that I have pertaining to food production, so I feel it is my duty to extend what I learn to other consumers who have concerns about what is on their plate.

The MBA program went over topics such as modern beef production, beef safety, nutrition, animal care, and environmental impact. These are all important issues to be knowledgable about as a producer because consumers often have questions about these topics. If you are interested in participating in the program, follow the link above. I highly recomment it!

BSE (aka Mad Cow Disease)- What's the deal?

In case you have been on vacation and out of touch with technology and the news, earlier this week a cow in California was found with BSE. We all know that "mad cow disease" is something we want to keep out of our food supply, but what exactly is it??
Well, the correct term is Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (or just BSE for those of us that can't spit that out in casual conversation). BSE is a type of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy; in cattle it is called BSE because it is in the bovine species, but TSE's have also been found in other species including humans (in which case it is called Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease). This is a degenerative neurological disease in which prion proteins in the brain unwind, eventually causing neurological and behavioral changes in the infected individual.

So if a cow has BSE, and I ingest milk or meat from that animal, will I get the human TSE?
No. Because this disease affects the prion proteins that are only located in the brain, spinal column, and ileum of the small intestine, the meat and milk from an animal would not contain any harmful pathogen caused by BSE. However, if an animal is diagnosed with BSE, no product from that animal enters into the food chain.

So is every animal tested before being harvested?
No. Approximately 1 in every 5 animals that enters a harvesting plant is tested. According to the USDA, approximately 40,000 cows are tested for BSE each year. However, as a safeguard, none of the high risk parts of the animal (brain, spinal cord, and small intestine of animals 30 months of age or older) are ever allowed to enter the food chain.
Those high risk parts have historically been used to make meat and bone meal (a protein source fed to livestock animals and pets). Since the research conducted on BSE and the discovery of ruminant to ruminant transmission, it is now illegal for producers to feed any meat and bone meal to ruminant animals. Today meat and bone meal is most commonly found in pet food because it is not harmful to your non-ruminant pets.

Is BSE a growing problem?
On the contrary, new regulations and awareness about the issue has decreased the number of instanced drastically. In 1992, there were over 37,000 cases of BSE discovered worldwide. Last year, that number was 29... and none of those cases were in the US. In fact, the case discovered this week puts the total number of diagnosed BSE cases in the US at 4.

At the end of the day, BSE is an issue that the cattle industry has dealt with in the past, and learned how to prevent. The case in California this week was atypical, meaning that cow did not ingest any infected material, it simply came down with the disease spontaneously. This is not a very likely occurrence, but it does happen. The number of cases show that the threat of BSE on our food supply has been diminishing and continues to get smaller. Even with the present threat, the USDA and FDA have regulations in order that prevent any infected material from entering our food supply even if an infected cow were to enter the harvesting plant without being detected.
So BSE is something that the industry keeps a constant eye on, but nothing that should be a major concern to you as a consumer. There are many measures in place ensuring you a safe, TSE-free product.

NAMA: Experience for Ag Students

As you have heard me say before, being an agriculture major means you are getting more than just a classroom education. Last week, I was in Kansis City attending the National Agri-Marketing Conference with other members of my university's Student NAMA chapter. For the past year, our chapter has been working on a marketing project that we presented at this year's conference in Kansas City.
Each school that competes comes up with an innovative product directly related to the agriculture industry and designs a marketing plan for that product. This experience allows students to not only learn about marketing in a classroom setting, but to actually implement strategies and ideas. An experience like this prepares students to enter the work force with a better understanding of what it takes to implement a marketing strategy like the one we spent a year working on.

This year, our team made it to semi-finals with our marketing project. NAMA isn't just about working on a presentation, though. Our chapter was also recognized as the Outstanding Student NAMA Chapter and presented with a John Deere Signature Award. This award is presented to chapters who "excel in encouraging student opportunities for increased business knowledge, academic excellence, leadership development and community citizenship."
Working on the marketing project gives students useful experience, but it doesn't stop there. The opportunities and networking that an organization like this can offer a student are limitless and extremely valuable. Through NAMA I have had job shadowing opportunities, networking opportunities with countless professionals in the industry, and the opportunity to learn about marketing hands on and gain experience in public speaking through our presentation.
"The proof is in the pudding," and the pudding here proves that being an agriculture major offers students a learning experience that extends beyond the classroom, and into real-world experience. In my opinion, ag students are some of the most well prepared and sought after students upon graduation (take that Terence Loose, author of Most Useless Degrees)!

Friday Farm Photo: Conservation Award

In 2010, my family was recognized by the state of Illinois for our efforts in soil and water conservation on our farm. Strip tillage, rock dams in the creek, and CRP (conservation reserve program) land that is set aside on the farm all contributed to my family being recognized for conservation efforts. Environmental integrity is important to farmers because our livelihood and success depends on things like soil fertility, water quality, and other resources our crops and animals need to stay healthy and grow. 

I am very proud of my family and the steps they have taken to conserve the environment!

April Showers Bring May Flowers... and Baby Calves!

Spring is here! That means April showers, May flowers... and baby calves! Just like humans, cows have a gestation period that is approximately 9 months long. So if we want to have calves in the spring, we breed our cows in late summer/early fall. These calves will stay on pasture with their mothers until they are weaned at about 6 months of age. 

On our farm, we use the fence-line weaning method. This simply means that rather than abruptly separating the pair, the calves are moved to a pasture right next to the cows. This way, they can still see each other and socialize, but the calves will no longer be nursing from the cows. We choose this method because research has shown that this method puts less stress on the animals; lower levels of stress = healthier animals = happier farmers.

Spring time on the farm is one of my favorite times of year. The leaves and grass are getting green, flowers are blooming, and new babies are being born on the farm! It doesn't get much better than that!

Farm Photo Friday: Take 3

Just one of the many perks of living in the country... you can saddle up and go for a horseback ride anytime! Summer is almost here, and there is no better time to go for a ride than on a beautiful summer evening. I can't wait!

Farm Photo Op

Pretty cool, huh? Last year around this time, I took these photos on my farm and spelled out my family's last name (since "sanderson" was a took up too much space, I shortened it to my first name for the blog). I have seen these in many homes, but I think the coolest part about my project was the fact that every letter was a photo of something on our farm. Pictured above: "R" is from an old brick, "O" is a wreath in my mom's garden, "S" is part of a metal decoration on our garage, and "E" is a portion of the back of our fork lift.

Impressed? You ain't seen nothin' yet.
 "A" -the side of the porch swing on our cabin's porch.
 "D" -a view through our cattle chute.
 "N" -an old broken gate. (one man's trash is another girl's photo op)

I had a lot of fun doing this project, just thought I would share the idea!

To pump, Or not to pump... Ethanol that is.

Yesterday, the US Environmental Protection Agency approved applications for the registration of E15 fuel. What does this mean exactly? It means gas stations are one step closer to having the option to sell gasoline that contains 15% ethanol. Ethanol has been blended into gasoline for over 30 years but the law has limited it to 10% for use in gasoline-fueled vehicles.

Once a few more legal hurdles are jumped and gas stations have E15 available, you will see this sticker at the pump:


Why choose ethanol?
1) If you have a 2001 or newer vehicle, it is safe for you to use E15 fuel. If you drive a flex-fuel vehicle, it is safe for you to use fuel that is up to 85% ethanol (E85).
2) Ethanol is considered a renewable fuel because it is generally produced from plant or waste products, not from fossil fuels. Some people have shown concern for using too much corn for ethanol production, but corn used for ethanol production doesn't stop at the ethanol plant. After the starch is extracted from the kernel, the remainder of the corn is used as a livestock feed called Dried Distillers Grain with Solubles (DDGS). This is an economical feed choice for livestock farmers, and the fermentation process involved with making ethanol actually makes the protein in the corn more available to the animal.
3) If safety and sustainability aren't good enough reasons for you to choose E15 at the pump, here is one last tidbit for you: It costs less! According to Dave Loos, Technology & Business Development Director at Illinois Corn Growers, E15 would cost the consumer 10 cents/gallon less than the E10 blend, and 27 cents/gallon less than gasoline without ethanol! Sign me up!

Most importantly, I want to point out that E15 is approved as an option. Retailers don't have to add it as a product, and consumers don't have to buy it. Keep an eye out for these stickers at the pump in the future, and make a choice as an informed consumer!

Farm Photo Friday: Take 2

Today I thought I would share a photo of the swimming pond on my family's farm. This particular pond was landscaped by a class at our local community college, but we also have 6 more ponds on our farm that are there because of low ground left by a rail road that used to run through the property. While this pond is clearly for recreational purposes (complete with a floating dock, rope swing, and tin shack for storage), the other 6 ponds are inhabited by wildlife and not altered in any way by my family. Conservation of land and the environment is important farmers, after all, it is our home and work place. My experience growing up here has taught me the importance of being a successful farmer while maintaining a great respect for the environment, land, and wildlife on our farm.
What a great place to grow up, I feel very blessed!

Strawberry Frapp a la Bugs please.

Have you heard? In an attempt to minimize the use of artificial ingredients, Starbucks is using crushed up insects rather than dyes to give their Strawberry Frappuccino’s a pink color. What really "bugs" me about these articles isn't the idea of insects in my frapp, but the media's willingness to defend this method of coloring. I think it is great that they point out the already wide use of these insects in other food products and the FDA's approval of it. But why is the media suddenly so willing to defend bugs in our food when they have written countless articles vilifying agricultural products such as high fructose corn syrup, GMO's, and most recently lean finely textured beef?

Starbuggs? Strawberry Frappucino colored by insects

The article's statements about the current use of these insects and the FDA considering it safe were placed in the article to prevent Starbuck's customers from becoming alarmed and reducing their purchases of this product. Those two statements apply to all three of the previously mentioned agricultural products... so why isn't the media trying to protect the agriculture industry like they are Starbucks? In fact, without agriculture, Starbucks would have no ingredients to make their drinks and bakery items with.
The way the media chooses to report a story has a HUGE impact on consumer perception. Have we really become more willing to defend our caffine source than the food on our table? Comment with your thoughts, I am interested to hear what other's think about this.

Farm Photo Friday

Today I thought I would share a picture from my own farm. Readers, I would like you to meet Wise-Guy, my 14 year old cow. I got her when I was 7 years old and raised her from a bottle and a bucket. She was the first cow on our farm, and since then our herd has grown to approximately 50 cows. She is still my favorite... and loves getting treats and attention!

"Easy Button" for Calving Season?

Earlier this week, I came across this article suggesting a correlation between feeding time and the time of day a cow is more likely to calve.  You can find the article here:

Calving Tips: The secret to day time calving



Having spent 18 years growing up on a cattle farm and a few nights on calf watch at the university farm, I know personally why calving in the day-time is more desirable.

1)      Being able to avoid going out multiple times during the night to check on the cows is a big plus for the farmer.

2)      During the daytime, it is much easier to spot a cow going into labor, meaning a faster response to any problems and a higher probability of a healthy cow & calf.

3)      Cooler nighttime temperatures are a threat to new born calves as they try to dry off, warm up, and start nursing. It is crucial that newborn calves get to their mother’s milk as quickly as possible because for a short time, the mother’s milk contains colostrum that kick-starts the baby’s immune system.

 So, how do we get cows to cooperate with us and calve during the daytime? According to this article, the answer is feeding at night.

… Seriously? Could it be that simple? According to the article, in a group of cows that were fed between 4 and 6pm, 85% of the calves were born in the daytime the next day. Researchers aren’t entirely sure why feeding influences calving time, but some of their explanations include gut fill, metabolic temperature, and frequency of rumen contractions. It doesn’t look like this method is fool-proof, though. Studies conducted in Montana and Canada showed little difference in calving time between cows fed at different times throughout the day.

Regardless of those studies that showed little difference, I’d say this method is worth a shot! Considering the fact that there are no extra costs involved and assuming it won’t throw a wrench into your normal daily routine, you have nothing to lose. Unless you enjoy going out to the barn and pulling a calf at 3am- in that case, this calving method may not be for you.

Shout Out to a Fellow Ag Advocate! A job well done.

If you are reading this blog, you are already aware of how popular social media has gotten. Today, I just wanted to give a shoutout to Erin Ehnle and her facebook page Keeping it Real: through the Lens of a Farm Girl.
She started this page just a few months ago, and so far she has over 5,000 "likes" to show for all of her hard work. Here is one of my favorite photos from her page, it reminds me of something my dad always said to me: "Find a job that you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."

In order to be a farmer, you have to love what you do. You don't get holidays or weekends off, you work all day from sun-up to sun-down.. and sometimes even at night. But do you hear farmers complain about any of that? No, because they love what they do, and most would say they would never trade it for a 9-5 office job.

If you like what you see, check out her facebook page and "like" it! She is doing a great job of showing people what agriculture is really all about, great job Erin!

Pink Slime: It's What's for Dinner.

I can remember a time when "slime" was a cool thing on Nickelodean, ahhh the good ol' days. Today slime is back and bigger than ever in the news... only this time, it's pink. In the name of correctness, from here on out I will be referring to "pink slime" as lean finely textured beef (that is, after all, what the product was called before the media ran away with the more attention-grabbing designation).




So what is lean finely textured beef? Well, before you buy a steak or roast in the store, the fat around the edges is trimmed off. Rather than wasting these trimmings, technology allows processors to separate the fat from the muscle fibers that remain through heat and centrifusion. Those muscle fibers contain nutrients that are more useful to us in our food than in the waste-line at the processing plant.

Considering how important sustainability has become to our industry and consumers, this process should be praised, not detested! It saves those trimmings from being wasted. Would I want processors to grind all of that trimmed fat into my ground beef? Probably not, but that is why they separate the fat from the muscle fibers and use only what is nutritious to our bodies.

This is a perfect example of the power that the media has over an under-informed consumer. They slap a more alarming name on a product to get the attention of millions of people- once that is accomplished, they will present information in whatever way they see fit. Lean finely textured beef is not the villain that the media is making it out to be, but it is up to you to do the research, find the truth, and make your own informed decision.

Facebook Parenting: too far or just right?

In case you haven't seen it, watch this video of a dad teaching his daughter a lesson about disrespectful facebook posts:


This video has gone absolutely viral, over 31 million views and it has been shown on numerous news channels. This father/daughter duo was being interviewed on a TV program I watched last night and the main question was, "Do you think you took it too far by publicly humuliating your daughter?"

I couldn't help but feel sorry for this dad. Over and over again the interviewer tried to get him to say that he was wrong by posting this video, but I don't see why he is getting such negative feedback. Anyone that I have shown this video to has had the reaction of "good for him" or "she clearly needed an attitude adjustment, and she got it." The overwhelming support I have seen viewers have for him and this video makes it hard for me to believe that there are a large number of adults out there who are so against this video. Teenage girls, on the other hand, probably don't enjoy this video quite as much.

In my personal opinion, this father was disrespected and reacted accordingly. One argument against this video is that he is setting a bad example by posting publicly on the internet (the very thing he was punishing his daughter for). But let's think about this... what is the most effective way for kids to learn lessons growing up? Hearing lectures from their parents, or making a mistake and learning from it through their own personal experiences? If nothing else, I think this dad showed his daughter just how dangerous it can be to post such things publicly. You could argue that this "tit for tat" response was immature of the father, but if it is an effective way to teach his daughter, in this case, I can't help but to support his actions.

Is organic really a safer choice??

As I am sure you have read or seen on the news, recent studies have discovered some levels of arsenic in food products with "organic brown rice syrup" listed as an ingredient. It has been long known that rice absorbs more arsenic (which is naturally found in the soil) than other plants. This is because rice requires higher amounts of silica which is chemically very similar to arsenic, so the plant is more likely to absorb the arsenic "on accident" you could say.

This is becoming a more wide-spread issue because organic brown rice syrup has been used to replace High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) in foods labeled "natural" or "organic." So my question is:

Is choosing to eat foods with organic ingredients really a safer/healthier choice?

I don't oppose eating organic foods, but do I agree that organic foods are more nutritious for me? No. There simply isn't enough supporting research to convince me of that. Do I think organic products are safer for me because of the production methods used? No. One fun fact that many people seem to overlook is that organic producers are allowed to use a certain amount of herbicides on their product, so you are not avoiding these chemicals by choosing to eat organic. Methods used in food production today are used because they allow farmers to be more efficient and because they help to ensure a SAFE product for you as a consumer.

The purpose of this blog is not to convince you that organic food is bad, I am simply questioning the faith that many consumers have in the safety of organic products. HFCS has been given quite the bad reputation because it is a processed product, but is replacing it with organic brown rice syrup really a healthier alternative if it means you are consuming high levels of arsenic? Food for thought.

One man's burger is another man's... Stem Cell???

I have known for quite some time that researchers have been working on growing meat from the stem cells of animals, but I recently found this article suggesting that they have made some serious progress. You can find the article here:

One stem cell burger: $330,000



I have to admit, the idea of eating a stem cell burger kind of makes me cringe. But then again, technology has brought us so far in the agriculture industry, so I hesitate to criticize this idea. I think it is exciting that technology is allowing us to explore options such as these, but are stem cell burgers really going to be successful? I am thinking that if people have a problem with eating a GMO (genetically modified organism) crop, there is no way they are going to accept a piece of "pinkish-yellowish" meat that was grown in a petri dish.

Another question I have is about the claim that this is an alternative for people who are "concerned about the ethics of livestock production but don't want to be come a vegetarian." The article clearly states that making these stem cell burgers in the future would use animals that were killed so that the stem cells could be harvested. Maybe it's just me... but I don't quite understand how that solves any ethical issues concerned with livestock production.

It is exciting that today's advanced technology is allowing us to research avenues such as this one, but as for stem cell burgers, I think we have a long way to go before they are an economical choice (after all, the funding for the research to produce this 1/2 gram burger was $330,000). Even then, I wonder how consumers will react to seeing a stem cell burger on the grocery store shelf? Only time will tell... until then, I'll stick to my conventional home-grown burgers!

"We all know our beliefs, but we need to know our facts."

Last week I was given the opportunity to attend the Agricultural Communications Symposium in Champaign, IL.  It was a great opportunity for a college student such as myself, because I got to hear numerous professionals speak about ag communications and what they have learned in their years of experience. While I learned a lot at the event, there was one statement that I thought was a great take-home message from the day. During the last panel, Kristina Boone from Kansas State University made a great point:

We all know our beliefs, but we need to know our facts.

What a short but noteworthy point! How many times have I tried to make the point that everyone is entitled to their opinion or beliefs, but before forming said beliefs people need to do some research? Her statement really hit home for me and I thought it was worth sharing.

No matter how opinionated people are… you can’t argue the facts. Even when researching information on a topic, people often disregard facts that disagree with their current opinion. The fact of the matter is that there are facts out there that can support almost any argument, but we must take ALL of the facts into consideration in order to be making an informed judgment. Especially when it comes to the food we are choosing to buy, it is incredibly important to be an informed consumer!
So I encourage you to form your own opinions and stick to your beliefs... but know your facts first.

Is going "back to the start" really a good idea?

I have noticed it becoming more and more common to hear people express their opinion about current farming practices and suggest that we go back to "the way things used to be." To be quite honest, I completely understand where they are coming from. In today's world, technology is everywhere. It can become overwhelming and frustrating at times. Having said that, I do not agree with the statement that farming practices should regress to where they were 50 years ago.
Here is a video created by a chain restaurant that promotes this idea:



First of all, I have to address some of the images shown in this video. They depict animals roaming around freely as their ideal farming operation… besides the numerous parasites that the animals are exposed to rooting around in the soil; the idea of animals roaming around freely is entirely unrealistic! From my own experience, if people driving by my farm notice cows that have gotten out of their fenced in area, sheer panic ensues. First they call the police (as if they would have any training on how to herd the escapee’s back into their pen), and then we usually get a knock on our door and are greeted by the concerned citizen. I just don’t see the public being ok with farm animals roaming about as they please. I would also like to point out that producing animals in confinement protects the animals from harsh weather, predators, competition among the group and exposure to parasites that can cause disease or illness. This video depicts it as a negative practice when, in fact, it has a lot of positive factors.

As far as the general message of “going back to the start,” is that really what you should be asking for? While technology on the farm can be overwhelming both for the operator and the consumer observing the ever-changing practices on a farm, the benefits that it offers far outweigh any frustrations it may cause. The advanced technology that is available to farmers allows them to produce a safer product and more of it. As Americans, we have access to one of the safest food supplies in the world. This is often something that we take for granted because many of us have never had to worry about the food we buy exposing us to diseases or other illnesses caused by contaminated food.

Not only does this technology allow for a safer food product, but more of it! 50 years ago, one American farmer fed approximately 25 people. Today, that number has increased to 155! Another thing most of us as Americans have never had to worry about was having enough food to feed our families. America has an abundant food supply, and that is thanks to our farmers and the technology they have had access to.

When people express their opinion of wanting farming practices to be like they were generations ago, I don’t think they realize the entire outcome of what exactly they are asking for. Sure, it might be more picturesque to some people, but are you really willing to give up your safe and abundant food supply?

Occupy Wall Street: Do your homework next time.

In case you haven't noticed, the "occupiers" are still camping out outside of corporations and on public universities throughout the US. My college campus has had student occupiers since September... and they are still there- well, their tents are at least. As they will tell you, it is their right to occupy these areas and stand up for what they believe. It doesn't bother me one bit that there are people out there that will stand up for what they believe is right, I am glad that there are still people out there who will try to make a difference!
What I DO have a problem with is the general lack of knowledge that these occupiers have about the very issues they are standing up for. If you have not seen their "list of demands," you can see it at their website here:
OccupyWallStreet.org

Here are two items from their list that directly relate to agriculture:
"They have poisoned the food supply through negligence, and undermined the farming system through monopolization."
"They have profited off of the torture, confinement, and cruel treatment of countless nonhuman animals, and actively hide these practices."

Poisoned the food supply through negligence? Here’s a fun fact for you: The US has one of the safest food supplies in the world. When you go to the grocery store, you don’t have to worry about what kinds of diseases or pathogens may be carried by the food there, you just have to worry about what flavor or packaging you like best. That is because we have the technology available to grow safe food. Even after it leaves the farm, products are inspected for safety before ever reaching the grocery store shelves.

Undermined the farming system through monopolization? There are numerous organizations that work with the agriculture industry in order to support and get funding for research in order to better our industry. A monopoly is when one company or person has exclusive control over something… who then is controlling agriculture? Bottom line: agriculture is a consumer driven industry, not controlled by one person or company.

How about profiting off of the torture and cruel treatment of animals? If you can explain to me how an injured or neglected animal is profitable to a producer, I would love for you to help me understand. Healthy animals benefit producers, torturing them would be far from profitable. The occupiers lost a lot of respect from me for that statement alone.

As for confinement, there are numerous benefits for the animals AND for the consumer of animal products raised in confinement. The animals are not exposed to outdoor threats such as predators, hazardous weather conditions, and pathogens for disease. If you still do not agree with this practice, however, there are plenty of producers who raise their animals outdoors, and as a consumer you can choose which product to buy in the store. I understand that raising animals in confinement is a controversial issue, but listing it as a negative practice is simply not factual.

One last thing that I found humorous about this list of demands was their statement accusing the media of misinforming the public. This is a huge problem with agricultural issues such as animal welfare, and yet, they have used the misinformation supplied by the media to form items on their own list of demands. I guess that’s one way to prove your own point…
My point here is simple: I applaud the occupiers for standing up for what they believe is right, but get your facts straight before you make a national protest with weak arguments based on non-factual information.

More than a Classroom Education

One of the classes I am enrolled in this semester requires each student to spend 2 nights at the University Farm for "calf watch." It is pretty self-explanatory: the student checks cows throughout the night to watch for new calves being born. Last night, instead of watching the super bowl and pigging out on all of the delicious recipes my friends made, I spent my night waking up every 2 hours to walk through the cow barn and get newborn calves under a heat lamp and separating cows that were going into labor.

As exhausting as it was waking up every 2 hours throughout the night to work with cattle, I couldn’t help but think about the education that Ag students get and how much it differed from the many other majors on my college campus. Every Ag student has numerous classes that take place at the farm and offer the student hands-on education and experiences.

I cannot count the times that other students have asked about my classes and been so intrigued to hear that we go to the farm and work with animals as part of our course work. The experiences I have had growing up on a farm and now learning even more about the industry on the University Farm are experiences that so many of my peers will never get. A lot of my education has taken place in the classroom learning about the science behind the animal industry, but the applied education I have received on the farm has really strengthened my knowledge and passion for the animal ag industry.

How many other college students can say they stayed up all night helping cows give birth and helping them care for their newborns? As tiring as it was, it was a rewarding experience and one that I know I am lucky to have as an Ag student.

6 More weeks of winter??

Groundhog's Day has come upon us, and I was not surprised this morning to hear that, once again, the groundhog had seen it's shadow. "This means six more weeks of winter... great."- was my first thought. But then I looked back on the last few months and realized... has winter even started yet?? It was 53 degrees today for cryin' out loud! I wouldn't mind six more weeks of this!

As much as I have been enjoying this mild winter, it does have me concerned about what we will encounter this spring. What if the snow all comes at once during planting season? Frozen ground and snowy weather does not make getting the crops in the ground an easy task. Weather is a MAJOR factor in farming, and I think that is commonly over-looked by the non-farm public.

To a farmer, winter weather doesn't just mean starting the car early to defrost the windshield and having to shovel the sidewalk. Winter weather means plowing the driveways so that equipment can be moved and operated. It means checking the animals to make sure they have access to food, water, and shelter during the cold weather. It means postponing getting their crops into the ground. It means hoping the weather doesn't cause power outages, because your rural home will be one of the last to be fixed. I can remember going 3 days without any power on our farm one winter while I was in high school. FYI: to all of you non-farm folks out there, when you have your own well, a power outage means no electricity, heat, OR running water! Talk about a stressful time on the farm.

I love the lifestyle that comes with living on a farm, but it does take hard work- especially during severe winter weather. So I hope that the groundhog was wrong this year, and we continue to have a mild winter with a smooth transition into a beautiful spring! Farmers are always in a better mood when planting goes smoothly, and my family is full of farmers... so wish me luck if this winter decides to take a turn for the worse!

Shepherds Pie Burger?!?! Yes Please!

No words necessary... I know what's for dinner tonight!!!


Shepherds Pie Burger Recipe

The Power of Media

   
This semester I am enrolled in a Mass Communications course. Although we have only had a couple of weeks of class, I have already learned and realized a lot about the media and how much power it has in society. The media is constantly creating fads telling us what things we should wear, who we should listen to, and even what we should eat. As an Agriculture major, of course my thoughts turned immediately to the recent surge in interest of foods with some of these now commonly seen labels:

Labels like these are not new to the grocery store shelves, but they are becoming more common because consumers are suddenly looking for these labels on the food they choose to buy. So what is behind this change in consumer's outlook on food products? Largely, I would say it is the media.

How often to you see a story on the news or on the internet about farming and what practices you should support when buying products at a grocery store? Agriculture has become the target of many organizations that have worked hard to shed a negative light on the industry in order to sway the public's opinion. We are seeing these labels more and more because the people selling that product know that the consumer is more likely to choose their product if a certain label is on it. What people don't realize is that these new labels don't necessarily mean that the producers have changed their production methods, it could simply be that they have decided to advertise the methods that they were already using.

I just found it interesting that the media has played such a huge role in the consumer's personal opinion and what decisions they make at the grocery store. One thing I would like to add is that as a consumer, you should not only be aware of why these labels are on the product, but what exactly they mean. Look into FDA regulations and what specific criteria a producer has to meet in order to have a certain label on their product. I think you will be suprised to find that labels don't always meet all of the criteria that you might assume.
Click here to read my blog about understanding food labels: Natural vs Organic: Know Your Labels

Useless Degree #1: Agriculture... I think not!

For the past few days, an article about the most useless college majors has been the talk of the town... at least for the Ag Department here on campus. If you haven't seen this article, go to the link below to see what everyone is talking about:


http://education.yahoo.net/articles/most_useless_degrees.htm?kid=1KWNU


The number one useless degree according to this article: agriculture. Coming in at numbers 4 and 5 are animal science and horticulture. Naturally, all of the agriculture students are outraged. After all, they are spending a pretty penny to get their college degree... and now this writer has the nerve to call it useless! According to Terence Loose, the author of this article, agriculture is a useless degree because farms today are becoming more efficient, so farms and ranches simply aren't hiring any more labor. Well, apparently Mr. Loose neglected to do his research. Agriculture majors are NOT limited to being hired as labor on a farm or ranch! As a matter of fact, I would say most agriculture majors are not looking to be hired by a farm. Agriculture majors move on to have careers at commodity organizations, banks, loan agencies, farm bureaus, grain elevators, fertilizer & seed companies... the list goes on! It is simply naive for the author of this article to make such a claim about majoring in agriculture for the reason of farms becoming more efficient.


One statement that I found particularly troubling in the article was as follows: "Still, if your idea of a good day is getting up with the sun and working till it sets as an agricultural manager, a degree in agriculture might be your calling." Is that supposed to be read as a bad thing? I think if nothing else, this statement proves the common work ethic that "farm kids" are often known for and hired for. Even if a job opening is not directly related to agriculture, employers like to hear that an applicant comes from a farm background. Plain and simple, farm kids do work from sun up to sun down and because of that they gain a work ethic that other kids often lack. If the author's intention was for that statement to be a slam of sorts on the agriculture industry, maybe he should have given a little bit more thought to what exactly he was saying. Talk about weakening your argument.


At the end of the day, it is difficult for ANY college graduate to find a job in the current job market. Agriculture, however, does have some guarantees that other industries lack. Everyone needs to eat, and what industry produces our nations food? Agriculture. What industry employs ever 21 million americans? Agriculture. What industry exported $108 billion dollars worth of goods in 2010, having a great impact on the US economy? Agriculture.


In the words of President Thomas Jefferson: "Agriculture... is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness." I couldn't have said it better myself.

Home for the Holidays

     Now that the holidays are over, like many other students, I am headed back to college with a few more pounds and a few more miles on my car. For a lot of farm kids, living in town on a college campus is a big change and takes some adjusting. I have lived on campus for 3 and 1/2 years now, so I think it is safe to say I have adjusted to the lifestyle. From time to time, however, the hustle and bustle of the city starts to drive me insane and I need to go back home to the farm for a weekend to gather my sanity. If you have ever lived on a farm, I'm sure you know what I am talking about.
     For the past month back home, I didn't hear one siren or college party. It was a month filled with bon fires, family, and playing with my dog in the snow. If nothing else, it was just plain refreshing to be able to see for miles without any tall buildings blocking my view. There is something so special about land that has yet to be touched by urbanization, and until you leave the farm and live in town for a while, it is hard to appreciate the wide-open space for how truly rare it seems to be today. I feel so lucky to have grown up on my family's farm. It is an experience that many of my friends never had, which makes it even more special to me.
     When I get to go home for semester breaks, I get to go back to the place where I grew up and had so much opportunity as a kid. We learned how to work hard and play harder. Summers were filled with bonfires and diving off the rope swing into the pond, and winters were filled with making sled hills and pulling each other on sleds behind the 4-wheeler. Not every kid gets to grow up the way I did, and going to college and meeting all sorts of different people has given me a new appreciation for my childhood growing up on a farm.
     I only have one more semester of college left, after which I hope to be able to have my own farm someday so that everyday I can come home to a farm and all that living on a farm has to offer. Don't get me wrong, I love my college and would not change the last 4 years for anything... but getting back to the farm could not come fast enough!!