This is NOT Agriculture!

Every social media site today has been buzzing with the most recent video posted by the Animal Rights Activists Group, Mercy for Animals.  So I have finally had the time to sit down and watch the video.  I am literally sick to my stomach.  The abuse that happens to the calves in this video is outrageous.  I have no words.

The only words that I do have to offer are, THIS IS NOT AGRICULTURE!  The people that were being filmed in this video have no right to be involved in agriculture at all.  On our farm and 99% of the farms around the country, our animals are treated with respect and dignity.  We have a small cow calf operation, which is different setup and concepts from the farm in the video, but, our calves are born and then they are separated out of the main herd with their mothers for a week so we can watch the calves and make sure they are healthy.

I have worked on a couple dairy farms in my time.  As soon as a calf hits the ground we take care of that animal.  Most dairy's have no use for bull calves, they are feed on the farm for about a week and then sold to farms that can raise them out, the people that buy those bull calves raise them to steers and sell them at market or they go to their personal freezer.

All the animals in the video that I could tell were bull calves or very sick heifers, there are other more humane, more professional ways to take care of our animals.  I don't know the whole story or all the details but please just please understand that this case of abuse is not how we do things.  Like I said, I can't find the right combination of words to explain how I feel, but please don't look down on me as a producer because of one bad apple, farming is my lifestyle and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I am not posting a link to this video, because this video is not for the weak at heart at all.  If you are interested in looking it up, on Youtube type Mercy for Animals Calves into the search, it is a video that is a new cast. This is the much more condensed easier to watch video, but the video is still very hard to watch.  If you have any questions about animal agriculture and the way we do things, please feel free to comment and I will answer them.

Everyone Needs to Do Some Research

I absolutely love YouTube.  Its a great place where you get to share your personal opinions through video...or just post something funny that's gonna give people a good laugh.
I honestly really like watching videos that throw a negative image on Agriculture.  That may seem weird to some, but we need to listen to what other people think and try to educate ourselves on their opinions so that we can have a civil conversations with them.
One of my favorite videos that sparks a lot of controversy is a video entitled Genetic Engineering: The Worlds Greatest Scam.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H9WZGKQeYg&feature=related  Take a second and watch it...
The first thing that hits me in this video is how these "horrible" crops are produced outdoors, I just think it's funny, where else an I going to grow it right??  Anyway, I can see the point that they are trying to make, when we grow these GMO(Genetically Modified Organisms) or "traited" (the term widely used in the industry) plants next to a field that has no traits in the seed, they will cross, and that seed is then modified as well, that's basic pollination principals.  Those plants that are not traited or conventional (term used in the industry) will suffer, because my plant that is glyphosate tolerant, (glyphostate is a herbicide) it is not going to be hurt my corn when I spray for weeds, but herbicide drift will effect my neighbors corn that is conventional, that's a situation where the producers need to work together and talk about what they have in the field.
The next point that GreenPeace hits on is how these traited products are patented and that there is then a dependence on those big companies.  The reason that we have to keep records is because of the United States Department of Agriculture not the company its self.  Another reason we do this is because of basic patenting laws, someone invents something, they throw a patent on it, so that they can make the money for the hard work they put into it.
Something that stands out to me in the next piece is when they are talking about the pesticides.  Yes those companies have the products for a person to use with their seed, making it easier for the farmer to buy products, and know that they are mixing the right things together, again just like Tostitos Chips, they have their own salsa and cheese dip too...Are you seeing how easy it is to put all these things into real life situations??
Pesticide resistance is a big issue that we are starting to face, but, that can be easily fixed by being a better steward to our environment, and as simple as reading the label on the jug.  Some people are careless and do not follow the rules on the jug, and use only those products, it is better to switch out those products and use other ones, then resistance is not going to be an issue.
Does anyone else think the little clip with the animals on the conveyor belt or the "Meat Machine" is funny?? I find it a little amusing.  I may be cold and heartless to some, but that's not how meat production works at all, I'm just going to save that conversation for another time.
Finally to wrap up my little synopsis of this video, yes I agree we really don't know what is going to happen to us if we eat these products, I personally haven't grown a third arm yet, but in time we will find out, just like we now know the effects of smoking, lead based products, and  the use of seat belts.
So next time that you hear anything negative about anything.  Remember this article and think, we really do need to become educated from all angles so that you can then form a formal and educated opinion on why you believe what you believe.

Spring I On It's Way

Springtime might finally be here in North Central Ohio.  The weather on Sunday was something we all needed to remind us that it isn't going to be winter forever.  With spring in the air, comes all the hustle and bustle of the spring planting season.
To each of us agriculturalists we view spring just a little different.  To me, that means getting the tractors hooked to tillage equipment and start turning dirt.  Now you can't tell me that, that isn't the best smell in the world, fresh turned dirt!  We work the ground on our farm as not only a way to prepare the seed bed, cause we all know seed to soil contact is a must, but as a way to kill those winter perennial weeds that seem to grow during the colder months.  This also allows us to use less herbicides, which in turn is much better for our environment.
Some might not like the way we do things in a commercial operation, but that's the way we do things.  To each their own and whatever works for you might not work for the next guy.  I say this because I sat down at a very informal meeting with a couple people that are organic producers.  To me quizzing each other back and forth was great.  Explaining why I do this, and why that won't work for me, also learning to hold my tongue and letting others speak was very important.
For me to do what I want to do as an Agvocate, I need to be able to listen to others and hear their opinions without getting defensive or even bashing the other guy.  Because the way I see it, we as agriculturalists need to band together no matter what sector of agriculture, or what type of operation we have.  If we don't band together and learn to speak for each other, in the long run, someone is going to be doing the speaking for ALL of us, and we won't be able to do things the way that they need to be done.
Back to where I was with the tillage...Tillage is a great tool to use to cut down on weed population, but here lately the use of tillage has taken a step back, this is because no-till systems are now in place.  We run both till and no-till on our farm.  Here is just a quick link to follow that explains a no-till cropping system vs. the conventional cropping system that you might be familiar with...
http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G4080

Starting That Final Quarter

Here we are, almost ready to start week two of Spring Quarter here at ATI.  I cannot believe that on June 11, 2011 I will officially be done with school.  But there are a couple things standing in my way, classes and homework.  One of those classes is an Independent Study in Agvocacy.  I personally am going to do a collection of both animal and row crop agvocacy.  Being a livestock producer and a row crop farmer there are a lot of issues that I can face on a daily basis.
The first thing that I think I need to bring attention to is a post I saw on my Facebook wall.  I have a friend that I met at The New Century Farmer Conference that is eating a steak tonight because he has decided to go vegan for a week, he really isn't 100% sure why he is doing it, but to better understand something, might as well try it, right?
This brings to me to my next point; is there really something as being "completely vegan".  I found an interesting picture online about veganism.  It's a picture of a steer showing what all parts of the steer go into different everyday items.  Did you know that products such as chewing gum, crayons, paint, rubber, and fireworks are made of animal fat??  That your favorite anti-aging cream has by-products from the cows brain? Also that our everyday medicines have by-products from multiple parts of the steer.  There are so many more that I haven't listed, and that aren't listed on the picture, leaves me with a thought for you...
Think about what people are telling you, and do some research for yourself, whether you are for or against animal agriculture, because we all need to understand one another's opinions to be able to respect what we all do.
Here is a copy of the link to go check out the picture for yourself! http://fitperez.com/2010-10-26-interesting-picture