Shepherds Pie Burger Recipe
Monday, January 30, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
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
Friday, January 20, 2012
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.
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.
Monday, January 16, 2012
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!!
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!!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Natural vs Organic: Know your labels
Now more than ever, people at the grocery store are leaning towards products that are labeled "natural" or "organic." While this is not a problem, many consumers don't really know what these terms mean. Both are words that can have different definitions depending on who you ask. Before making decisions about what is the best choice for your wants and needs as a consumer, look into the FDA's regulations on labeling, you might be surprised at what you find.
"Natural" is defined by the FDA as having minimal processing and no additives. This sounds pretty similar to what you think organic is, right? Actually, the term natural (in the case of requirements to put this label on a food product) has nothing to do with how the product was produced. If a product is minimally processed and there are no additives AFTER harvest, it is considered a natural food. A chicken, cow, vegetable, etc can be produced using conventional methods and still be labeled as natural as long as there were no additives and little processing after harvest.
"Organic" on the other hand refers not only to the food you are buying, but the way in which it was produced. In order to be certified organic, a product must have been produced, harvested, and handled in a way that complies with organic farming methods that use recycling and promote biodiversity. However, also know that in order to be considered an "organic" producer or product, only 95% of your production methods or inputs must be organic. There is a 5% margin in which those producers can use "conventional" farming inputs or products.
Also, many people assume that if they are buying organic or natural animal products, those animals were raised outside or in a "natural" environment. This is simply not the case. Certain farmers that label their products natural or organic may choose to raise their animals in a natural setting, but this is not a requirement for labeling. For organic, as long as the animal is fed 95% organic feed stuffs, the product produced by that animal is labeled organic. That says nothing about the way in which the animal spent it's days. In the case of natural, as I stated before, the only qualifications to label a food natural have to do with post-harvest procedures. If you are looking to purchase an animal product from an animal that was raised outside, look for the "free range" label. Even "cage free" leaves a lot of room for interpretation. They can be raised in confinement without cages, so free range is the best bet when looking for that type of product.
Wether or not you are choosing to buy these products, my point here is to understand what exactly the labels on food mean. Often consumers make assumptions about labels, which may or may not be true. But look into these things before you make the choice to spend more of your money on these products. I am not against organic or natural products, I have many of them in my own refrigerator. Just make sure that you are, in fact, getting what you are willing to spend some extra money on. Wether that be natural, organic, free range, or just the best bargain at the grocery store- be an informed consumer.
"Natural" is defined by the FDA as having minimal processing and no additives. This sounds pretty similar to what you think organic is, right? Actually, the term natural (in the case of requirements to put this label on a food product) has nothing to do with how the product was produced. If a product is minimally processed and there are no additives AFTER harvest, it is considered a natural food. A chicken, cow, vegetable, etc can be produced using conventional methods and still be labeled as natural as long as there were no additives and little processing after harvest.
"Organic" on the other hand refers not only to the food you are buying, but the way in which it was produced. In order to be certified organic, a product must have been produced, harvested, and handled in a way that complies with organic farming methods that use recycling and promote biodiversity. However, also know that in order to be considered an "organic" producer or product, only 95% of your production methods or inputs must be organic. There is a 5% margin in which those producers can use "conventional" farming inputs or products.
Also, many people assume that if they are buying organic or natural animal products, those animals were raised outside or in a "natural" environment. This is simply not the case. Certain farmers that label their products natural or organic may choose to raise their animals in a natural setting, but this is not a requirement for labeling. For organic, as long as the animal is fed 95% organic feed stuffs, the product produced by that animal is labeled organic. That says nothing about the way in which the animal spent it's days. In the case of natural, as I stated before, the only qualifications to label a food natural have to do with post-harvest procedures. If you are looking to purchase an animal product from an animal that was raised outside, look for the "free range" label. Even "cage free" leaves a lot of room for interpretation. They can be raised in confinement without cages, so free range is the best bet when looking for that type of product.
Wether or not you are choosing to buy these products, my point here is to understand what exactly the labels on food mean. Often consumers make assumptions about labels, which may or may not be true. But look into these things before you make the choice to spend more of your money on these products. I am not against organic or natural products, I have many of them in my own refrigerator. Just make sure that you are, in fact, getting what you are willing to spend some extra money on. Wether that be natural, organic, free range, or just the best bargain at the grocery store- be an informed consumer.
Monday, November 14, 2011
An Introduction
This is the first of many blogs I hope to write. A little bit about myself:
I was born and raised on a farm, so naturally, agriculture has been a big part of my life. As I grow older, I realize more and more just how little most people from urban areas know and understand about the industry that has been my life. Everyone eats, heck, for most of us it is a favorite activity! For me, there is nothing better than a nice home-grown steak and a side of mashed potatoes and gravy. Give that a bit to digest, and bring on the apple pie! Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and I could not be more excited... but I digress.
My point is, all of us eat. Even beyond our dinner plates, agriculture and it's many products are a part of everyone's daily lives. With the growing urbanization of America, current generations are getting further and further from the farm. The fact of the matter is, most people have rarely, if ever, been exposed to farming first-hand. With the media and food labeling companies telling people what to eat, when to eat it, why it is good for you, where it came from, why it is better because it came from there, etc... how can we expect the average consumer to assume anything other than what they are being told?
The problem is a major communication gap between the farm and the consumer. So far, little effort has been exerted by the agricultural community to talk to our customers. Biased information is given to people every day by extremist groups and has been for years. Now the agricultural industry is playing catch-up. Somehow, we expect to change everyone's minds about things that they have believed to be true for so long. This is a big task, but it is finally being addressed. Now more than ever, people in agriculture are standing up for what we do and the integrity with which we do it.
With this blog, I hope to bring up some topics that can help more people understand what is going on on our farms. Remember, there are two sides to every story... agriculture needs to be heard.
I was born and raised on a farm, so naturally, agriculture has been a big part of my life. As I grow older, I realize more and more just how little most people from urban areas know and understand about the industry that has been my life. Everyone eats, heck, for most of us it is a favorite activity! For me, there is nothing better than a nice home-grown steak and a side of mashed potatoes and gravy. Give that a bit to digest, and bring on the apple pie! Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and I could not be more excited... but I digress.
My point is, all of us eat. Even beyond our dinner plates, agriculture and it's many products are a part of everyone's daily lives. With the growing urbanization of America, current generations are getting further and further from the farm. The fact of the matter is, most people have rarely, if ever, been exposed to farming first-hand. With the media and food labeling companies telling people what to eat, when to eat it, why it is good for you, where it came from, why it is better because it came from there, etc... how can we expect the average consumer to assume anything other than what they are being told?
The problem is a major communication gap between the farm and the consumer. So far, little effort has been exerted by the agricultural community to talk to our customers. Biased information is given to people every day by extremist groups and has been for years. Now the agricultural industry is playing catch-up. Somehow, we expect to change everyone's minds about things that they have believed to be true for so long. This is a big task, but it is finally being addressed. Now more than ever, people in agriculture are standing up for what we do and the integrity with which we do it.
With this blog, I hope to bring up some topics that can help more people understand what is going on on our farms. Remember, there are two sides to every story... agriculture needs to be heard.
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