Dug out, thawed out, bedded, fed and even bred.

No school thanks to the blizzard so I had great help today with Lindsi. Yes go ahead and notify the Department of Labor that some rancher Dad is taking pictures while his 10 year old daughter chops ice with an "axe".

Cows have to be God's most amazing creation (right after Jesus). Look they survive anyway, they eat stuff not good for anything else, cellulose, and they make what people need to live. I want to be as tough as a cow one day. The blizzard hit and they are just happy as can be on corn stalks.

Why is that silly cowboy always laying on the ground?

These hogs figured out how to handle the snow drifts in their pen. They made tunnels from the shed to the feeder to the waterer. I WANT A CAFO.

First project of the day collected El Regresso and bred the 1-1 spot sow.

Random photos on blizzard Dec 19, 2012

This is my market hog finishing pen in a blizzard today. Meanwhile pigs in a confinement building (incorrectly called a factory farm) are still in 75 degree building and don't know it is even snowing. I NEED A CAFO.

The snow can be so beautiful yet so troubling at the same time. Actually snow is no problem but when the wind comes beauty turns ugly.

Okay call me crazier than your pet coon but I love winter.

Goats out looking for a meal in the big blizzard 2012.

The snow starts at noon and comes so peacefully...

The story of 21-3 crossbred sow sired by Snowflake

Okay I have mentioned before I am not a big fan of my own crossbred hogs but let me tell you about 21-3. Here she is about 30 days from farrowing.

This barrow is from her litter born July 20, 2012 and will be exhibited by Lindsi Loos at the Arizona National hog show the week after Christmas in Phoenix, AZ. He is sired by COD a son of Package at the A Cut Above stud Benedict, NE.

So she has just farrowed again on Dec 17, 2012. Think she has any milk?

Trying to out do herself in the past she farrowed 13 live pigs born to Anticipation on stud at Purple Power in Chalmers, IN. He is a Duroc boar and the pigs look tremendous. I earnotched them today and they are litter number 8 watch for them next summer.

Problem in the goat pen this morning. Yes that is a mid-term abortion. Goats tend to be very susceptible to mold so I am hoping that is the deal. Or they are also very "rammy" and one head butted another. Disease would be the other reason and that would be the worst news.

Christmas season in full swing at Loos's

The girls decorate the Christmas tree last night... Ironically without plan a cross is visable in the window, cool. Thank you Jesus.

Kelli and her sister Roxi organize the church program telling the story of the birth of Jesus. Court is held and it is determined that we should celebrate "Joy to the World." Great job Kelli, Lindsi and Landri J.

Oh yes and Libbi's job is to capture the program with camera. Did not realize when I snapped the picture that Lindsi "playing" the bailiff is seen in far left corner.

Back home on the ranch and great day

Kelli had a terrible time keeping the cows in the corn stalk field while I was gone but I think that new turbo electric polywire combine with a light shower got the problem fixed.

This poly wire has been tremendous until this week. I personally think that it is so dry the cows do not get shocked enough to be a deterent. A little shower that didn't amount to any rain seemed to make difference today.

 

Random photos from Las Vegas Dec 11-13, 2012

This is what Las Vegas Blvd looks like at 6:00 am on Dec 13, 2012.

First time I have seen this my faucet has a rotating commercial while I wash my hands.

Second year in a row I have attended this A4M conference in Las Vegas. Not a confidence building for today's medical system.

The dark spots are actually arteries in thermo-imaging scan at the Neo40 booth at the trade show of A4M conference 2012.

Las Vegas photos 2012

Apparently Pampus is my favorite place to eat in Vegas I have eaten here 3 times in the past 6 days. Yes this Brazilian Grille is awesome.

Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture. For how long I ask?

Question of the day. When will he contribute to the unemployment statistics. Answer NOT SOON ENOUGH. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has some harsh words for rural America: It’s “becoming less and less relevant,” he says. A month after an election that Democrats won even as rural parts of the country voted overwhelmingly Republican, the former Democratic governor of Iowa told farm belt leaders this past week that he’s frustrated with their internecine squabbles and says they need to be more strategic in picking their political fights. “It’s time for us to have an adult conversation with folks in rural America,” Vilsack said in a speech at a forum sponsored by the Farm Journal. “It’s time for a different thought process here, in my view.”

Get the real feel of life in Rural America from Linda O'Connor from Sharon Springs, KS and grew up in upstate New York. Click here to listen to Linda on Loos Tales Dec 11, 2012.

You know that feeling of relief when the cows out are not yours? THIS TIME.

Today is wean day here for sows... About time geez.

Pictures from NFR Vegas 2012

This sign is no way shape or form reflects the attitude of my travel buddy Kelli Loos in Las Vegas 2012.

Mickey Hayes my guest on Loos Tales Monday Dec 10, 2012. Certainly a "stache" much wilder than mine.

While so many go to the rodeo for the bulls my events are saddle bronc and bareback and the first horse out of the chute indicated a great horse bucking night.

138 exhibtors ride in the Grand Entry as a record attendence crowd of more than 17,500 are ready to rock the house.

The National Anthem being sung by Susie McIntire right after a tremendous "cowboy prayer" to kick off the performance.

Truly a well-run, entertaining show NFR Dec 8, 2012.

Quite possibly geared more toward the female palate, the water show in front of Belagio was huge draw on street.

All Food has hormones, or it is not food.

Last night I truly enjoyed a small group of young agricultural enthusiast at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Block and Bridle meeting. Prior to the meeting we went to eat at Cheddars and I did not throw a big enough fit. Think I will be going back there one item listed as "Natural, hormone free beef" Nothing of value is hormone free. I had a discussion with waiter but we were in hurry. Stay tuned more to come

It has just "dawned" on me... This 2 year out of ToHinto and Lady Blue is nameless. I should come up with his name.

Dec 2, 2012 and I am driving through the Sandhills of Nebraska with my window down. Not good I say.

Skyrocketing beef prices today are not a result of the drought...Stay tuned for more on this subject but don't believe major media. They caused high beef prices more than Mother Nature.

Feeding corn that was baled last summer due to the drought. Yes I mean the whole corn stalk because it would not make grain. Great cow feed though. Nitrates okay. Lets "FACE" it, if every day was 55 degrees no wind clear blue skies the "need" for gestation crates may be less. But Mother Nature is not that cooperative.

HumaneWatch.org reporting information from IRS 990 on HSUS.. Here are points of interest. Here are the nuggets—lowlights, really—from the tax return: ■ HSUS spent less than 1 percent of its budget on grants to pet shelters. ■Meanwhile, HSUS had fundraising-related expenses of $48.1 million, or a whopping 38 percent of its total budget. If that doesn’t tell you the real priorities of HSUS, nothing will. ■ HSUS paid $7.7 million to Quadriga Art, a fundraising consultant recently exposed by CNN that is reportedly under investigation in New York and California. Between 2009 and 2011, HSUS paid Quadriga about $25 million. ■ HSUS also reported paying about $333,000 to Infocision Management, whose questionable practices were exposed by Bloomberg this fall. ■ HSUS added another $2.4 million to its pension plan, bringing the total to about $17 million since Wayne Pacelle took over as CEO in 2004. ■ Speaking of Pacelle, he pulled in just under $300,000 in compensation. That brings his total haul since joining HSUS to about $3 million. ■ In all, HSUS had 24 people who received more than $100,000 in compensation. ■HSUS’s “All Animals” magazine had a circulation of about 530,000. That’s a good estimate of HSUS’s true membership size, since the magazine is included with a $25 membership. (HSUS likes to claim it has a “constituency” of 11 million, which inflates its influence greatly.) In short, HSUS as usual had plenty of money to spare for overhead. But its giving to pet shelters—which desperately need resources in this economy—was once again scant. Link here to full HumaneWatch.org report.

Why does that bucket look so dirty? Because it is the hogs got it down and do what pigs do.

Of course the perfect time to dig a water line when the lows are single digits.

Loading replacement heifer calves to haul to corn stalk field. Corn stalks provide excellent feed source and is otherwise wasted resource.

I am not fond of crossbred hogs but this 21-3 sow leads me to great "Anticipation" with her next litter coming in two weeks. A barrow from her will be exhibited by Lindsi Loos at the Arizona National Show the last week of Dec.

This heifer is quite impressive and if her moma is any indication she will be a great cow too.

The water is full for cows on corn stalks after night freeze.

Press Release: Loos Tales Merit award to OK FFA'er Piper Merritt

For immediate release For additional information, contact Trent Loos 515.418.8185 trentloos@gmail.com. www.LoosTales.com Oklahoma FFA student inspires Loos Tales Merit award (Owasso, OK) The first ever Loos Tales Merit award will be presented to Piper Merritt, a freshman at Owasso, OK High School. Loos will award a purebred Spotted gilt to Merit as a result of her research and presentation on the importance of antibiotics in animal agriculture. Merritt will receive the gilt in the Owasso, OK High School at 11:00 am on Nov 14, 2012. “Piper Merritt, as a 13 year old, has as much poise and maturity as any guest on my Loos Tales radio program” says Trent Loos, host of Loos Tales. “Piper addressed antibiotic usage in animal agriculture, an issue that many others have made very complicated, and she was able to break it down to the sheer basics of science and explain the importance to all consumers.” “In today’s world many myths exist about how and why modern agriculture has evolved into the most efficient safest food supply in the world. Technologies such as antibiotic usage have contributed to healthy animals and safe food. It has become a largely political issue yet as an 8th grade student Piper Merritt chose to give a speech on the topic.” Loos Tales is a daily look at the people and places in Rural America that truly make it what it is. In 13 years of broadcasting in 19 states on over 100 radio stations, Loos says no one program generated as much positive impact as the Piper Merritt speech on air. The United States of America was built by generations of individuals doing extraordinary things to improve the lives of others. That is what Piper did by bringing to light the importance of antibiotics for improving the health of animals and thus the food supply for 313 million Americans and people around the world. As a result of her powerful presentation, Trent Loos decided to establish the Loos Tales Merit award to recognize a young person that goes above and beyond the call of duty to improve human lives. The purebred Spot gilt that Piper Merritt will receive was born on Aug 18, 2012 and will provide her the opportunity to compete in youth livestock shows including Oklahoma Youth Expo in March 2013. In accepting the Loos Tales Merit award gilt, Piper agrees to continue the tradition by recognizing other agricultural youth who rise above and beyond. She will be asked to designate one person next year to receive a gilt from her first litter. Trent Loos is a 6th generation United States farmer residing in central Nebraska. His passions include a lifetime in animal agriculture and supporting youth within the farming community that inspire optimism for the future of American Agriculture. Congratulations to Piper Merritt, not only for being the first recipient, but for being the person who inspired the entire program.

Dr. Temple Grandin responds to radio program with my criticism. If case you missed the show link here to listen.

Temple Grandin not working on Animal Welfare for consumers benefit any more.

Dear Trent,

I would really appreciate it if you would post my response to your program about me on your website. I will address each topic that you discussed below:

1. Bob veal –I have worked extensively in slaughter plants where Holstein bob veals that were less than a week old were processed. Holstein calves are weaker than beef calves and if they are too young, they have difficulty walking. Downer bob calves would be condemned, but they would still have the stress of travel. Bob veal is a regional industry that occurs in places where there is no market to grow the calves into either milk fed veal or beef steers. The development of beef steer or milk fed markets in these regions would improve animal welfare.

2. Gestation Stalls – Over ten years ago, I conducted a very objective informal survey with fellow airline passengers. I showed them very attractive pictures of sow gestation stalls and clean finishing pigs housed indoors on a slatted floor. Almost everybody liked the finishing pigs but two-thirds of the people did not like gestation stalls. Later scientific surveys had the same results. Gestation stalls are a degree of confinement that many people find objectionable. On the other hand, I have taken many people through a large beef slaughter plant and they were amazed at how quiet and calm the cattle were. A well-run beef slaughter plant was acceptable when it was shown to the public and gestation stalls were not acceptable. I am fully aware of the scientific studies, but the public will not accept them.

3. Ick Factor – There was a discussion that there are icky things in agriculture that the public will not accept. Now that every phone is a video camera, the public will see everything. We need to modify practices and open the doors electronically. Fair Oaks Dairy in Illinois is doing a wonderful job with its public tours. I hope they build Pig Adventure, which will be a large commercial farrow to finish unit that the public can view.

4. Horse Slaughter – There is a very good EU inspected horse slaughter plant in Mexico. Unfortunately, there are some horses traveling to Mexico that go to unregulated municipal abattoirs where they are killed with a stab in the back of the neck. The lucky ones go to an EU inspected plant. Horse traders take horses across the border in small trailers to sell for slaughter in unregulated markets. I get attacked on the horse slaughter issue by horse activists because I do not oppose horse slaughter in the U.S.

5. Sy Montgomery’s Book – In this book I show very clearly that a large slaughter plant can be run humanely. When I travel the country I see more and more restaurants and college cafeterias with vegan entries. I have had many people write to me and tell me that my work has made them comfortable about eating meat. I eat meat and I plan to keep eating it.

Concluding Statement: Animal agriculture needs to look at everything they do and ask “How would my wedding guests from the city react to what I am doing.” On the infamous “pink slime” controversy, I think the finely textured beef product can be sold to the public as a method to avoid wasting food. It should be listed on the label. One of the reasons why the public went berserk was due to not listing the product on the label. People hate surprises.

Sincerely,
Temple Grandin
Professor of Animal Science
Colorado State University
Fort Collins CO 80523

Consumers are not always right

IN this information age, is there such a thing as too much information? Is the human brain capable of computing all of the information it acquires?

Last week, I attended the Worldwide Food Expo sponsored by the American Meat Institute and the International Dairy Food Assn. The first day of the expo was filled with tremendous meat research. Information was presented about the latest discoveries from the laboratory about health, safety and nutrition.

The presentation that stuck with me most was from Dr. Nathan Bryan of the University of Texas' Center for Cell Signaling. Bryan has spent his research career studying the effects of nitrites and nitrates on the human body.

He reminded us that nitrites have been used for more than 5,000 years as a food preservative. In the 1970s, a study was released that connected nitrites, particularly those found in meat, with an increased incidence of cancer. The public perception of nitrites has been a downward spiral ever since then.

Bryan's research clearly shows that nitrites and nitrates are closer to a health food than a carcinogen. Of any food source, leafy vegetables, considered by most to be a health food, contain the highest level of nitrates. In fact, the European Union, in its infinite food wisdom, reported that "since leafy vegetables are the main source of dietary nitrate, the EU established maximum limits for nitrate content in lettuce and spinach in 1997."

My point is that if you would randomly ask consumers where nitrates come from in their diets, bacon and ham would get all of the blame. I am not sure many would actually know that leafy vegetables are a primary source.

Bryan's research suggests that dietary nitrite is NOT causing cancer and is actually a beneficial compound in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, and that makes me wonder if we are trying to over-regulate a healthy compound.

Bryan is quite excited about how important the compound could be if used properly for prevention of cardiovascular disease. For bacon lovers like myself, this is indeed good news: One of our favorite foods could now be viewed as a health food.

Given the research of Bryan and others that has all been inconclusive in regard to the risk associated with nitrites, why, then, is a line of "nitrite-free" meats being unveiled to consumers in December? I've been told it is because the company launching this new line was simply tired of getting beat up on the nitrite issue and just decided to "give the consumers what they want."

While that may indeed be the right step for a food company interested in making a profit, it can be a risky move for those involved in the rest of the food production chain and, for that matter, for consumers.

The fact of the matter is that consumers are not always right about what is in their best interest. Food companies exhibiting at the Worldwide Food Expo made it quite clear that if they identify something a consumer is willing to pay for, they will sell it.

That basic thought process is even trickling down to the production level of food production and is resulting in unattainable animal handling and behavior standards.

It is time we start educating our consumers about the facts and dispel the myths that are forcing increased and unnecessary regulations on producers. The proof is in the figgy pudding in the EU, which is trying to regulate Mother Nature in regard to leafy vegetables and nitrites.

In addition to nitrites, a similar situation has been unfolding in the milk arena, where the consumer has been incorrectly convinced that fat should be avoided at any cost. The message there has been to drink low-fat milk and be leaner, but we are quickly learning how flawed this is, especially in light of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) studies. Ironically, consumers are now trying to supplement their diets with the fatty acid instead of simply consuming foods that are naturally higher in the substance ... like whole milk.

Dr. Mark Cook at the University of Wisconsin has proven that whole milk contains higher levels of the fatty acid and provides tremendous health benefits. CLA can increase lean body mass and decrease fat, inhibit the growth of tumors and enhance immune function. CLA also is found naturally in beef and cheese, yet consumers continue to avoid fat.

If we choose to continue to be in food business, the end user needs a tremendous level of education. If we don't educate, the consumer will demand a food product that does not impact the planet, allows for no death to plants or animals and contains no additives. Little do consumers know that their misinformation about dietary issues may actually be what kills them.

Trent Loos is a sixth generation United States farmer in Central Nebraska. He also host the Loos Tales radio program and was recognized by West Quest as the Voice of Rural America. More information at www.LoosTales.com or email him at trentloos@gmail.com

One huge step backwards for mankind

Amazingly, we as individuals within an extremely informed society know more about less than ever before. Somebody can come up with a negative slang term like “pink slime’ and complete chaos follows.

What happened to all of their lip service about “the desire to live a green life?” Is that just lip service or do people know so little about the food system that they fall for anything. People haven’t really looked into the process but are quick to condemn it. The technique created by Beef Products Inc found a way to remove every last bit of beef from the bone of the critter and then add a dash of ammonium hydroxide to it to help maintain the proper pH and eliminate bacteria growth. Yesterday BPI announced the shut down of 70% of their production, leaving hundreds without jobs all because of media hysteria.

The technique they developed actually recovered enough additional beef from the bone that it reduced the need for 1.5 million additional head of cattle each year. Forget about the carbon footprint that so many are usually stammering on about, what about just the concept of being better with our resources in order to feed more with less?

Thanks to its catchy and housewife-scaring title of pink slime, the general concern is supposedly not about the beef but about the Ammonium hydroxide that is added. Here is science on that:

Ammonium hydroxide is ammonia combined with water. Ammonia (NH3) is a compound consisting of nitrogen and hydrogen. Both ammonia and ammonium hydroxide are very common compounds, found naturally in the environment (in air, water, and soil) and in all plants and animals, including humans. Ammonia is a source of nitrogen, an essential element for plants and animals. Ammonia is also produced by the human body – by our organs and tissues and by beneficial bacteria living in our intestines. Ammonia also helps maintain the body’s pH balance.

Amazing, huh? A nutrient essential to our healthy living and yet we put a dash of it in the lean beef trimmings to achieve a desired pH balance like we have in our body and people go nuts. What is really strange about this situation is that usually these food scares involving the implementation of technology start in the EU. Get this the World Health Organization, along with most countries in the world, consider this an approved technique - even the EU!

Here is the really sad part of the story. If you were to eat a double cheeseburger the ppm of ammonia in the burger with “pink slime” is lower than that of the cheese, the bun or the condiments (ketchup, mustard and mayo).

In fact, maybe the most disheartening thing about what has transpired in the past week is that when you look at the big picture, this technology has been used in food production in the United States for twenty years. One must wonder why is it that beef is singled out? Who really started this “pink slime” propaganda campaign? Lets take a look at the prevalence of ammonia in other foods that utilize the same procedure.

Domestic Blue Cheese 1389 ppm
Beer Cheese 917 ppm
Peanut butter 489 ppm

Catsup 352 ppm
Gelatin 342 ppm
Grapefruit 166 ppm
Ground Beef 101 ppm

This is information that was part of a 1973 study printed in the The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The world continues to ask the question, “How will we feed 9.3 billion people on the planet by 2050?” The answer is simply that we must feed more people with less resources. This food-saving technique is just one example of how American ingenuity continues to pave the way toward improving human lives. However, based solely upon selective portrayals of the truth, we have just taken one giant step backwards for hungry, iron-deprived people around the world.

The real issue is not how it will impact one company and their need to shut down three food plants and lay off hundreds of workers. The real loser in this situation is the millions of working Americans who will now be forced to spend more of their hard-earned money to feed themselves and their families. The revolt should come from working people who take to the streets and tell these elitists among us to take their sensationalism to another country. We don’t have time for it here in the good, old United States of America. We are busy producing food to feed a hungry world!

Trent Loos is a sixth generation United States farmer in Central Nebraska. He also host the Loos Tales radio program and was recognized by West Quest as the Voice of Rural America. More information at www.LoosTales.com or email him at trentloos@gmail.com

U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance
801 Kingsmill Parkway, Columbus, OH 43229
Ph. 614/888-4868 • Fax 614/888-0326
Website: www.ussportsmen.org • E-mail: info@ussportsmen.org



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mike Faw (614) 888-4868 x 214
March 7, 2012 Sharon Hayden (614) 888-4868 x 226




Santorum Provides Views on Sportsmen’s Issues

(Columbus, OH) –On the day before the pivotal “Super Tuesday” primaries, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum sat down for an interview with the staff leadership of the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance to discuss issues important to hunters, trappers and anglers.

The USSA staff present for the interview with Santorum were: Bud Pidgeon (President and CEO); Rob Sexton (Senior Vice President); Doug Jeanneret (Vice President, Marketing); and Evan Heusinkveld (Director, State Services).

Here is the interview by issue topic:

Topic One: Hunting Recruitment and Hunting Access

Jeanneret: One of the issues facing sportsmen these days are dwindling numbers of sportsmen. It’s a really big issue. The conservation community, every national group… if you talked to any of them it’s a concern of theirs. One of the things we would like to ask you, the Department of Interior oversees U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which oversees federal game laws. In your opinion, should they be helping us create hunters, fishermen, trappers and promoting that ethic out there?

Santorum: I hear you but I am looking at where we are from the standpoint from the deficit. I mean a lot of people ask me, where are you for federal dollars for this or that? We are borrowing 42 cents of every dollar right now and for me to commit any new dollars to do anything would be a tough thing. If you are talking about within the literature, for example that comes out, and we do things to talk about hunting and fishing opportunities… if it’s in the context of what the agency generally does and making sure that people are aware of opportunities and things like that to sort of reinforce the importance or nature of the sports. I have no problem with that. It’s different if you’re saying we need to spend new dollars to do this.

Jeanneret: We’re not.

Sexton: We’re not. The pot of money we are talking about would be excise tax dollars that come from ammunition sales, firearm sales, fishing tackle sales. That money typically gets spent back on conservation issues and sportsmen issues anyways. We are looking for some prioritization of that money to programs that will get people into the field and get them out and open up new land for them to hunt on and things like that.

Santorum: I have no problem. I mean if you are asking me if I am going to be friendly to opening up federal lands for more sportsmen activity the answer is absolutely yes. If you are talking about if we are going to take federal lands in the extent we can and turn them over to private sector or turn them over to the state the answer is yes. I think this is an opportunity for us. We have way too much federal land and way too many restrictions on the federal lands that we have. I will be working with a whole variety of different conservation groups, not environmental groups, conservation groups as well as sportsmen groups to see what avenues we can pursue to make that a much more welcoming environment for sportsmen and for recreation.

Sexton: For years our community put our money towards reestablishing species, whether it be deer or turkey or pheasant or what have you. Returning to the idea of hunters, one of the biggest factors is the urbanization of America. Guys give up hunting because they have to drive 2½ hours to get to a place to hunt. I am just bringing this around full circle so you know where we are coming from. We have used our money… the firearm tax money and the fishing tackle money. That money is supposed to be put back into the resource so that you get back more hunters and anglers. Of course they (hunters) have a huge economic impact as you know from your own home state. What we are looking for now… we want to see investment in programs so that a guy doesn’t have to drive 2 hours outside of Pittsburgh to get to hunt.

Santorum: I am okay with that as long as…you are going to find if you look at my record one of the programs I am not a fan of is CRP. I know a lot of CRP land is used for habitat but we shouldn’t be paying farmers not to farm. I mean if you want to use that money to pay farmers to keep habitat for pheasant, turkey, whatever…great, but I don’t think we should be using money that encourages farmers not to farm their land for environmental purposes. It’s not (CRP) as you know, it’s not intended for wildlife habitat. It was intended for runoff and all sorts of other things to preserve the ecology. I understand a lot of hunters and sportsmen actually feel very passionate about the CRP program. I don’t. Just being very up front with you. If you want to use the knowledge for that, that’s one thing but we shouldn’t use ­­ag (agriculture) dollars for that.



Topic Two: HR 4089, The Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012

Heusinkveld: We have a piece of legislation we have been working on in D.C. It’s called the Sportsmen’s Heritage Act of 2012. It’s a package of four different pieces of legislation. It would close legal loopholes that anti-hunters have used to shut down access to sportsmen to federal lands. It has a provision, “open until closed,” which mandates that these federal lands are open (to hunting, shooting, and fishing) until closed by the agency because they’ve got specific reason or cause or evidence that it needs to be done. The way the current law works, they (federal land management agencies) have to open every single piece of land. That opens up the opportunity to be sued by anti-hunters and animal rights groups.

Santorum: I’m for it. (referring to supporting HR 4089)

Heusinkveld: Great.

Santorum: Government should make things available unless there is a reason it shouldn’t be.



Topic Three: Dog Breeding and the Humane Society of the United States

Sexton: I think you are probably aware of a lot of the media coverage over issues of substandard dog breeding operations. There has been a 50 state campaign to address the issue but the issue has gotten out of control. The laws that are being written heavily impact folks who aren’t large breeders, but operate sporting dog kennels, hobby breeders instead of going after…

Santorum: …that’s actually why we thought about doing this at the federal level so we could get all the folks and interested parties in doing it. I mean you actually probably know I supported some of this because of it was in conjunction with a problem we were having with the importation of dogs and cats, but mostly dogs from China where there are huge, huge problems with dogs, huge amount of dogs dying in transportation and other types of problems and so that was clearly a federal government issue because it has to do with trade so this was sort of piggy backed on that bill. But it has been a chronic problem for us in Pennsylvania too in the Amish areas. It became sort of a wildfire issue for me and as far as I know they didn’t have this (state) effort, which I understand they do now, to try and take care of this in the 50 states. I know each state is dealing with it differently. But if you look at that law we put together we were very, very conscious of hobby breeders. We were very conscious of making sure we were talking about large commercial operations, not somebody that was breeding a few bitches you know every year or two.

Sexton: I think one of the concerns about the issue nationally is that the chief proponent of the overall issue was the Humane Society of the United States, who the hunting community regards as the top anti-hunting group. The bills have been written in wide funnel methodology that would… well in Pennsylvania the law they proposed would have put every sporting dog kennel out of existence. We couldn’t find even one in compliance with their proposal.

Santorum: I am not surprised by that. We dealt with both the AKC and the HSUS. There were a lot of issues that ultimately would go back and forth that we are not able to resolve and as a result probably just set them aside. You know for me this was trying to do something that was reasonable. I do believe in people’s ability to raise their own animals, but I also believe when animals go into the home as most of these animals do, you have to have consumer protection standards so you’re not having defective animals and animals that have temper problems and other types of problems coming into people’s homes. How many folks do you know that their dog is like their child? You just can’t introduce an animal into the home without having some sort of standards that are set in place.

Sexton: Are you aware of the issues between the Humane Society of the United States and the Sportsmen’s Community?

Santorum: Sure. I am very aware of it. I understand there are issues between them (HSUS) and production agriculture which is even worse than it is with the Humane Society and the sportsmen. I think you’ll find I am very reasonable guy. I do believe we should be good stewards. We have dominion over animals. We have dominion over the earth and we have to be responsible for the treatment of them. I know most sportsmen are but unfortunately there are some breeders who aren’t. As a result this is the same thing as everything else when you have people that do not live up to those conditions. Everyone else has to deal with regulations as a result of that. You can’t just turn a blind eye to it. You can’t just say well it’s too bad there are some bad people out there but too bad. I just don’t think that’s what laws are for. People keep a minimum standard for the care of and treatment of animals.

Sexton: You know you can draw a parallel when you think about it like firearms regulations and laws. We are after law breakers, not the law abiding and the same would be true on this issue.

Santorum: The concern is that we heard from some sportsmen groups and breeders that government shouldn’t be involved with us at all. Well, I don’t buy that. I mean you know if you want to police yourself…but you’re not because I can point to lots of kennels where you’re not. So if you’re not, someone is going to have to police it, otherwise you can run the videos and show the American public and you’re going to lose because no one is going to want to see animals treated like this and hear the stories that are going on. I mean, Americans loves our pets so we have to be reasonable. What I found is that vast majority of breeders are very reasonable. Some who don’t believe in any government regulation of anything and they have been out there speaking against me as I have heard in some of the states, but my feeling is we need responsible laws just make sure were hitting the irresponsible people not the responsible ones.

***Editor’s Note: The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is attempting to set up interviews with the remaining presidential candidates. We will provide information on their views on the most important issues to sportsmen as it becomes available.

About USSA: The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance’s watchdog efforts protect hunters’ rights and the interests of anglers, trappers and recreational shooters in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress, and through many public education programs. The USSA has more than 150,000 registered Sentries that regularly receive information about conservation issues, and then they actively work to promote and protect scientific conservation through calls and contacts. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and the Sentry program, call (614) 888-4868 or visit www.ussportsmen.org.



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Nicole Small
Neodesha, KS writes letter to expose the truth about modern food production.

Hello All,

Some of you have hear this story, and others have not so please bear with me. This week my oldest, a third grader, brought home a little "magazine" in a plastic bag that had a gummy vitamin in it. I was eating breakfast as he left to get on the bus, so I sat down to read it. The magazine had several advertisements and articles about keeping kids healthy during cold and flu season. When I got to the next to last page, I think my blood pressure must have doubled. (See scan #14) An ad for Moms for Antibiotic Awareness with a lot of misleading fact. After showing the booklet to my pig farmer friend, Michael Springer, and getting his response, I call the school to complain about the poor information against agriculture that they were distributing through the school. The principal admitted that she did not know what I was talking about and would have to look into it. She called me back within 2 minutes and said that PTO had brought them in....I am a member of PTO. Uggh I then contacted the president of PTO who also knew nothing about the fliers and did more checking. One of the PTO members, on her own, had signed up at a website called schoolfamily.com. Apparently, she has received baskets for raffles and other handouts before. I am not blaming her at all for this incident. In fact, I should probably send her a thank you note for educating all of us; however, she did take it very personally that I stopped the mini-magazines from going to the entire school system. She and the President of PTO contend that everyone has an opinion. My response is yes, but I send my children to school to learn the facts not opinions.

I called our other elementary school and they did have the booklets, but they had not went out yet. I e-mailed a scan of the page to our District 3 Farm Bureau representative who happens to be one the school board members and whose wife happens to work in the school district office. I am not sure what actions were taken by him, but I do know that no more of the booklets went out. In fact, my son and the neighbor girl are possibly the only ones in their classroom that took them home, because they ride a later bus. YAY!! This is the reason that I have not been able to find very many copies of the book and scans of the entire book are attached.

We have always heard that HSUS and other activist organizations are targeting our children with propaganda like this, but not in my children's school! I am thankful that I had people to support me and back me up. The backlash on Facebook against me, as the (supposed) unnamed parent, was pretty intense; however, I missed most of it because I was showing the book the District Farm Bureau leaders. I have had friends call to check on me after the outcry on Facebook and tell me that they were proud that I stated the facts and let the others go to blows. I am proud to say that I did this and would do it again tomorrow if I had to, but I really don't want to be forced there again.

The PEW Charitable Trust is asking for comments from mothers about antibiotics, I encourage all of you to join in the conversation at http://saveantibiotics.org/moms.


Nicole Small