Going green?

I will admit to being a little slow with the think tank once in awhile or possibly just too stubborn to accept things as they really are but it only took me about ten years to totally understand what it means to go green. It simply means that it is going to cost more dinero, cash, greenbacks, mullah or just more jack. The funny thing is that it only took the ignorance of the Democratic National Party in bringing their annual convention to Denver this August for me to finally see the light. They have decided to have a totally green nominating convention August 25-28, 2008. Reports are that caterers are scratching their heads in disbelief.

Fried foods are forbidden at the committee's 22 or so events, as is liquid served in individual plastic containers. Plates must be reusable, like china, recyclable or compostable. The food should be local, organic or both. Organizers are attempting to explain that if they plan to follow this protocol for 50,000 attendees it will certainly more than double the price of the meals.

The good news is, I would think, that they consider Greeley local to Denver and there is an ample supply of beef standing there waiting to be respectfully harvested. But, of course, this is the same misguided mind set that recently promoted the notion that reducing beef consumption by 20% would be as beneficial to the environment as every American driving a hybrid car. I have a feeling Denver won’t see a rush on beef demand during these three days.

I would hope that public stupidity at this level would serve as a great learning opportunity. If we continue to make these utopian, unrealistic demands on our food system, the system will be forced to move to other soils. Have they no realization of the fact that central Colorado is not really the salad bowl of American organic food production? No, I don’t think they have the first clue.

The great irony is that this could be the largest gathering of food finicky eaters in the country. I believe the average attendee to be one who considers it fashionable NOT to clean their plate. That on the heels of an EPA report out this week that suggests that 27% of all food available for sale in the United States actually ends up in the landfill. Yes, the third largest component flowing into our nation’s landfills is food. Image the methane contribution that food waste contributes to greenhouse gases. And that is not to suggest that I believe greenhouse gases produced today are contributing even one percent to climate change, but the “Green consumers” have certainly been duped into believing that.

I have no problem with anyone choosing to eat organic food. I have a huge problem when elected officials and food marketing companies position the food production technologies we used in the 1950’s as somehow being better for the environment. The truth of the matter is that we have increased food production efficiency beyond what most thought could have been accomplished even 20 years ago. Today, fewer resources are utilized to feed, clothe, medicate and fuel more consumers and that is thanks to the implementation of technology.

The continual ignorance and rejection by elected officials of how science and technology have improved our food system will result in nothing other than our nation becoming dependent on imported food as we have done with energy. Rejecting technology contributes to what the USDA tabulates as a rapid growth in food insecurity in our own country. 34 million Americans are considered food insecure and instead of trying to find ways to create a better availability of safe, healthy, domestic food production, we pile ridiculous regulation on top of regulation. The ironic is that if we in livestock agriculture pile too much effluent in one spot, they call it pollution but they do it with laws and regulations and they call it protection. I project that the effluent will hit the fan come August in Denver. Of course if you are familiar with the concept of spring grass, that brings to mind a whole different image of “going green”. Hey, that motto might just be fitting for the Democratic Convention after all.

Going green?

I will admit to being a little slow with the think tank once in awhile or possibly just too stubborn to accept things as they really are but it only took me about ten years to totally understand what it means to go green. It simply means that it is going to cost more dinero, cash, greenbacks, mullah or just more jack. The funny thing is that it only took the ignorance of the Democratic National Party in bringing their annual convention to Denver this August for me to finally see the light. They have decided to have a totally green nominating convention August 25-28, 2008. Reports are that caterers are scratching their heads in disbelief.

Fried foods are forbidden at the committee's 22 or so events, as is liquid served in individual plastic containers. Plates must be reusable, like china, recyclable or compostable. The food should be local, organic or both. Organizers are attempting to explain that if they plan to follow this protocol for 50,000 attendees it will certainly more than double the price of the meals.

The good news is, I would think, that they consider Greeley local to Denver and there is an ample supply of beef standing there waiting to be respectfully harvested. But, of course, this is the same misguided mind set that recently promoted the notion that reducing beef consumption by 20% would be as beneficial to the environment as every American driving a hybrid car. I have a feeling Denver won’t see a rush on beef demand during these three days.

I would hope that public stupidity at this level would serve as a great learning opportunity. If we continue to make these utopian, unrealistic demands on our food system, the system will be forced to move to other soils. Have they no realization of the fact that central Colorado is not really the salad bowl of American organic food production? No, I don’t think they have the first clue.

The great irony is that this could be the largest gathering of food finicky eaters in the country. I believe the average attendee to be one who considers it fashionable NOT to clean their plate. That on the heels of an EPA report out this week that suggests that 27% of all food available for sale in the United States actually ends up in the landfill. Yes, the third largest component flowing into our nation’s landfills is food. Image the methane contribution that food waste contributes to greenhouse gases. And that is not to suggest that I believe greenhouse gases produced today are contributing even one percent to climate change, but the “Green consumers” have certainly been duped into believing that.

I have no problem with anyone choosing to eat organic food. I have a huge problem when elected officials and food marketing companies position the food production technologies we used in the 1950’s as somehow being better for the environment. The truth of the matter is that we have increased food production efficiency beyond what most thought could have been accomplished even 20 years ago. Today, fewer resources are utilized to feed, clothe, medicate and fuel more consumers and that is thanks to the implementation of technology.

The continual ignorance and rejection by elected officials of how science and technology have improved our food system will result in nothing other than our nation becoming dependent on imported food as we have done with energy. Rejecting technology contributes to what the USDA tabulates as a rapid growth in food insecurity in our own country. 34 million Americans are considered food insecure and instead of trying to find ways to create a better availability of safe, healthy, domestic food production, we pile ridiculous regulation on top of regulation. The ironic is that if we in livestock agriculture pile too much effluent in one spot, they call it pollution but they do it with laws and regulations and they call it protection. I project that the effluent will hit the fan come August in Denver. Of course if you are familiar with the concept of spring grass, that brings to mind a whole different image of “going green”. Hey, that motto might just be fitting for the Democratic Convention after all.

We the People still need a department

I can only imagine that Abraham Lincoln is not simply turning over in his Illinois grave but he must be beside himself trying get out and bring some logic back into our political system. For the past ten years a series of societal pressures have taken our nation down the path of eliminating our ability to feed ourselves. In 1862, during the Lincoln Presidency, two extremely important pieces of legislation enabled us as a nation to become the world’s premiere supplier of food, fiber and fuel to our citizens. First, the Untied States Department of Agriculture was established and Lincoln himself called it “The People’s Department”. Second, the Morrill Act created the Land Grant University system and the three-legged stool of teaching, research and extension. These two programs are vital to our industry. For the past twenty years, we have allowed the continued erosion of both of these entities.

Once upon a time we as nation did not need to rely on other countries for our energy supply. But due to the social pressures from shortsighted and self-serving individuals, we began to seek foreign crude oil. The white collar Americans didn’t want to bother with the dirty work of mining the oil and refining it into gasoline or the other petroleum based products that we rely on daily. We just wanted to brag about the regulations we put in place that would lead to a pristine environment. Why subject our people to a task that Middle Easterners would do? It is certainly easier to import gas than it is to utilize the resources we have at home and provide jobs for our own labor force. Fast forward to the 21st century and suddenly our nation realizes we have become extremely dependent on foreign energy supplies. In fact, one slap in the face from Mother Nature called Hurricane Katrina and our nation has finally decided that we have a problem.

In fact, since 2001 we have sent 1.6 million of our nation’s young soldiers into Afghanistan and Iraq. Must I remind you that over 4000 of them came home in body bags and tens of thousands more were injured? I am not making a judgment on whether or not we should have gone into the region but I am telling you that because of petroleum we created a position where we did not have much of a choice. Why? During the past decades of building dependence upon foreign crude oil, we have allowed our system of domestic energy production to erode. Any nation that relies on foreign suppliers for food, fiber and or fuel is vulnerable.

In the past ten years I have seen the same erosion of our domestic food system. In fact, one person that was a hanging chad away from being President openly admitted that we as a nation should produce only some food locally and allow less developed nations to do the majority of that for us. I have repeatedly witnessed township, county and state officials that are reluctant to allow local families to expand their livestock enterprises because of public pressure and the fear of the unknown. What is happening in the home state of both Abraham Lincoln and myself right now is the worst case of ignorance yet.

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich announced the elimination of the ENTIRE Extension program last week. Indeed 450 people in the state believe they are unemployed as of today. The concept of the Land Grant System was based on a three-legged stool -research, teaching and extension and it cannot be expected to function in any other manner. He uses the excuse that it costs too much money and the state budget has too much of a deficit. Governor Blagojevich, I suggest you fly from your home in Chicago to the State Capitol in Springfield, (because he has refused to move into the Governors Mansion and commutes to work at the taxpayers expense) and stop by the grave sight of our nation’s first President from Illinois. Tell Ole Abe that our people no longer need to provide for themselves. I suggest that if you are paying attention you might get a real different feel for the importance of self-reliant food, fiber and fuel production.

We have an abundant supply of natural resources in this great land. We have incredibly intelligent scientists at Land Grant Universities, like the University of Illinois, that have the ability to create so much more efficiency in the food system if they only had a commitment from elected officials to let them do their work. We need to continue to teach young people who want to be a part of the all-encompassing American food system whether it is on the farm or in the food plant. And most importantly in this case, we need extension folks who communicate the results of these research findings to the individuals in the field who simply get the work done.

This needs to be a wake up call to all who have ever doubted the need to continue the world’s premiere food system. We cannot take for granted the things that individuals before us have worked hard to develop. We must also never take for the granted what American families continue to sacrifice in the name of national security through energy production. “The People’s Department” needs some real leaders to once again stand up for what is right for the future generations of Americans. Shortsighted bureaucrats need to stop putting the American Soldier at risk simply because they can’t see any future for the importance of feeding, clothing and providing fuel for our fellow countrymen.

Our forefathers were wise and visionary and recognized, even in those early days, the need for a country to be not only independent but self-sufficient; to rely on our own hard work and ingenuity to make this nation a great place for all of us to live. To start farming these responsibilities out to third-world countries is opening a Pandora’s box of trouble for future generations. If planting corn or feeding cattle isn’t up your alley, that is fine; But don’t use your spare time and money to support groups and leaders that try to prevent those of us who make it our living from taking on the challenge of providing the essentials of life for our fellow man.

A CALL TO ARMS

By Steve Kay, Editor & Publisher, Cattle Buyers Weekly, Petaluma, CA

Delivered to the National Meat Association’s annual convention, February 21, 2008

U.S. animal agriculture is under attack as never before in its long history. Today, it is inhumane handling of spent dairy cows. Tomorrow, it will be hogs lying prone in a truck because of mild heat stress. The livestock industry must urgently work together to get out front of the next “expose”. It must ask itself: What will the next HSUS video show? For there will be more.

I was in Virginia last Friday addressing cattlemen there. I congratulated them on keeping their beef cow herds largely intact after their terrible drought last year. I also suggested they keep their leanest cows that aren’t in the best of shape at the back of the farm, well away from anyone who might film them.

Then on Tuesday, I joined a media teleconference hosted by the Humane Society of the United Sates, during which Representative Rosa De Lauro of Connecticut said the Westland/Hallmark episode clearly showed that the U.S. food safety system is collapsing. Representative George Miller of California and HSUS President Wayne Pacelle made similarly emotive comments.

That was all to be expected. What disappointed me was the total absence of any kind of response or rebuttal statements by USDA or the industry. So all the media stories I read Wednesday morning were totally unbalanced. Ordinary Americans might therefore reasonably believe that the food they eat has become less safe, when, as we know, the opposite is true.

My point is: The U.S. meat and livestock industry urgently needs an industry-wide public relations body or mechanism to monitor and respond to every challenge to and claim about industry practices and other issues as they arise. If the Secretary of Agriculture is unwilling to immediately rebut such outrageous accusations from members of Congress, then someone representing this vital sector of the U.S. economy must. It seems that, once upon a time, the American Meat Institute performed this function, at least to some extent. But AMI now appears to be MIA, missing in action.

As Kirk Ferrell of the National Pork Producers Council told NMA’s Government Relations Committee yesterday afternoon, there is a war going on. It is a war for the hearts and minds, and I would add the stomachs, of all Americans.

We can all sit back and say: “Well, Americans will always eat meat and poultry products.” That’s true but it is missing the point. If the industry continues to allow the HSUS and others to make all the plays, the industry will have forced on it more and more legislative and regulatory restrictions that will make it even harder for many of you to stay in business. A downsizing of the American meat industry will mean consumers will simply eat more imported products.

The beef industry is already downsizing at the packing plant and cattle feedlot levels because of shrinking cattle numbers in North America. I would be horrified if further downsizing occurs because the industry did not come together and act very rapidly to tell its story, be it on animal welfare or food safety, in a forceful, factual way.

To do that, the industry must speak with one voice. It needs to have one or more highly credible spokesmen or women who can articulate to the American public that much of what HSUS and other industry critics are saying today, and will say tomorrow, is simply not true.

The industry should also consider an extensive campaign to educate members of Congress with the facts as to food safety, animal welfare and other management practices in the industry.

The industry must also take steps to anticipate what targets might be next and work to get ahead of any future attacks, be they on confined animal feeding operations, the use of growth promotants and other pharmaceutical tools that cattle and hog producers use, the castrating of male cattle and hogs, and other animal husbandry practices.

The enemies of U.S. animal agriculture have identified themselves and have revealed their tactics. It is time for the meat and livestock industry to draw up its battle plan and counter-attack.

Marketing Trends
National Meat Association March 3, 2008

I’m mad as hell and I’m not gonna to take this anymore!!(Peter Finch from the movie Network)

As I listened to Steve Kay in the PDQ session at the recent NMA Annual Convention, I caught his clarion call for action and it has incensed and infused me. He was excoriating those anti meat activists who, to paraphrase Steve, are hell bent on putting those of us who derive our living from meat related activities out of business. Steve is that parakeet in the mine warning us all that we had better do something soon or we may be out of business before we know it. Maybe it is a bit belated, but I am now incensed with the methods those, who would attempt to take away my rights, use and I am infused with a passion to not only expose them but better yet show our consumers that the anti-meat, anti-animal-agriculture activists are wrong.

The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have the right to say what they believe. In fact, there are many of us who donned our nation’s military uniforms to protect their rights. However, they don’t have the right to use methods that, in my opinion, are repugnant and have become an anathema. In my attempt to get a better idea of their espoused “rights,” I visited the PETA website . The first answer listed to their rhetorical question, “Why animal rights?” is “Animals are not ours to eat.” They go on to say that, “. . . animals are not ours to use, wear, experiment on, use for entertainment or abuse in any way. . .” All of these are sentiments that smack of a fuzzy feel-good aura difficult to counter without coming off as a cold-hearted, brutal killer of animals. More about heart below.

Those of us in the meat business produce a healthy, wholesome human food, and for our work, we neither deserve the abuse from the PETAs of the world nor expect the praise of others. We not only provide good food, but among many other things, we are a source of jobs and contribute to stewardship of the environment all of which improve our society. We simply do our job of humanely raising animals and processing them into meat products for human consumption. Such is an honorable profession, which, as I say, does not deserve to be painted with a brush of scorn that PETA and others so liberally apply. They use the term “factory farming” as their euphemism for all animal agriculture practices without regard to their “humaneness” to galvanize others less informed to be against agribusiness.

However, is PETA the only anti-animal agriculture group deserving of our scrutiny? Well, I discovered another one called Animal Place of Vacaville, CA . They, too, promote an anti-meat agenda, but do it, in my opinion, in a more insidious manner. Their tactic is to promote their agenda with children. They justify their agenda with statements like, “Counter agribusiness's relentless conditioning of young children, which serves to dull their natural feelings of empathy and curiosity about farmed animals.” They do it by promoting 5 H instead of 4 H and in their words, “This campaign asks kids to add a 5th H "Humane Choices" - to their 4-H projects. Those animals whom (sic) they have cared for since birth and grown to love will not have to be subjected to the ultimate betrayal of trust by being sold for slaughter. The kids will not have to continue the process of desensitization which makes the betrayal easier each year.” Their stated goal in their words again, “Animal Place is committed to promoting compassion for all species and educating the public about the unjustifiable cruelty of factory farming and the far reaching benefits of veganism.”

These two organizations have every right to promote their agendas, as I said earlier. We, in the meat industry, also have every right to counter their methods with the truth about how we raise and process animals for food. However, the marketing lesson I am advocating is that such an effort must be as well orchestrated as those of PETA and Animal Place. This marketing campaign, and that is exactly what it is, should be education of not only consumers but also children and young adults as after all they are the future consumers. It should be a joint effort of all meat industry groups.

Simply to offer past tense reasons for the Hallmark/Westland debacle and how this could never happen again, we must instead insure that it never happens again. At the same time, we must show how it has never happened in other plants and how wholesome, nutritious and healthy our meat products are. Anything less shows no heart.

Mack H. Graves of Latigo, Inc., a meat and poultry marketing and management consulting company, who serves as CEO of Panorama Meats, Inc. wrote this Marketing Trends. You may reach him at his office phone: 303-699-7795,
Mobile: 303-882-5453, fax: 303-699-7206 or e-mail him at LatigoMack@cs.com.

The newest phenomenon: Global Cooling

Last week I was granted the opportunity to speak at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. It was, in many respects, a very eye opening experience. First of all, you need to know that these were not all agricultural students - a dozen or so “concerned citizens” did show up and were quite vocal. They were vocal about the environmental degradation we as humans are causing through food production, transportation and just living, period. In fact, a couple of them were emphatic that the world is only years away from complete ruination. But then again why wouldn’t they think that? Have you listened to “the news” lately? “Global warming is altering this. Global warming is causing that”. The one that really gets my goat is when a presidential hopeful makes the statement that “our planet is in peril”.

The concept of global warming has become big business. We are reminded every day that we must be stripped of our consumer choices because the planet is in peril. We must enact tougher new environmental regulations because the planet is in grave danger. As it turns out, this may be the biggest fund-raising scam the globe has ever seen. If global warming weren’t a fear-mongering sales pitch, how would a past vice president have sold enough copies of his movie to pay the outrageous electric bill he runs up every month on his Tennessee mansion?

I would hate to think that an actual scientific conference has just taken place in New York City and you didn’t hear about it but the odds are good that it won’t make the prime time news. The 2008 International Conference on Climate Change took place March 2-4, 2008 and 100 environmental scientists from around the world gathered to share some startling facts.

Guess what they revealed. From the mid 1970’s until 1998 the earth’s temperatures did indeed rise. However, in the past ten years there has been zero net gain on temperature increase and, in fact, the evidence shows that the earth has cooled during that decade. Furthermore, these real experts presented evidence that humans are responsible for less than a fraction of 1% of the effects from greenhouse gases. Even more startling would be the fact that greenhouse gases have not caused planet warming but rather any temperature increase was caused by the sun.

Whether Global Warming is the world’s largest hoax or not, we as short time occupants are obligated to use our God-given cranial matter to protect the environment. Just as livestock producers study and determine the best manner in which to handle the nutrients produced by their operations and reapply them to the land, everyday citizens also have an obligation to make decisions that are best for future generations.

As we reflect back to the thought processes of some of the Cornell students last week, I don’t believe for a minute that what I experienced there is unique. In fact, I believe the greater the divide between the global consumer and land, the greater the perceived concern for the land. That is simply because they don’t have hands-on experience of helping to care for the land as most farmers do. I can tell you that it was an eye-opener for the ag kids on campus to hear their fellow students verbalize dire concern about what is happening to our world allegedly because of farmers. It is one thing to read it in a paper or hear it on the news but it is a completely different thing to hear one of your peers blame your industry for the demise of the world as we know it.

Everyone is so concerned with water pollution that we restrict the flow of natural nutrients into streams and rivers. We lose sight of the fact that nitrates and phosphorus are nutrients that are essential for life. In my lifetime, I believe we will see the day that we will have to add both of these nutrients into fresh bodies of water because we have created too sterile of an environment for the creatures that need to live in the water. Of course, too much of any nutrient is not a good thing but if it is essential for life you must have access to it. Life without the sun is not possible either, but too much sun can kill you.

At the end of the day my only wish is that every citizen of the United States truly understood that the agricultural portion of our planet has never been in better hands. The soil and water are cleaner and safer now than they have ever been. The only way the cycle of life will continue is if we, as humans, continue to implement conservation practices into the conversion of natural resources into the essentials of life for humans beings. Come to think of it, other than fundraising, egos may be the biggest problem we face. Some among us can’t come to grips with the concept that, as humans, we are just a little blip in the big picture of the universe instead of totally in charge of it all!

Trent,

I am pretty much an all beef all the time type of consumer. Your recent video on YouTube re: beef and the environment is troubling. I have had my ears up for many years on the subject and, contrary to your stated experience, rarely hear anybody claiming that our beef industry is the biggest CO2 producer in the US. It seems like I might have heard a few comments like that back in the ‘70’s but not since that time. I occasionally do hear our approach to beef producing is a significant contributor of CO2 which fits with the facts of the 2% that you quote--two% of the amount of CO2 the USA produces is, in fact, a huge number. I cannot imagine what is gained by your exaggerating the truth to the point that most readers know that it is just not true at a glance? When you do that, the informed people you are trying to convert, sway, or inform just turn a deaf ear to anything that follows and your whole purpose of informing them about the virtues of the beef industry is defeated.

Beef is environmentally friendly because of the large segment of the beef production chain--from conception to the entrance gate of a feedlot--that is almost entirely based on native or low input domesticated perennial forage plants growing on land that cannot produce plant materials for human consumption in a truly sustainable and environmentally safe fashion. As you well know, whenever animals start consuming materials from land that can safely produce plant crops that humans can eat the degree of environmental friendliness decreases. It is not fiction that beans from a given acreage can feed more people than can be fed if the beans are fed to beef animals and the beef is consumed by people. Personally, I don’t like beans but that does not make the feedlot to slaughter segment of the beef industry more environmentally friendly, sustainable, or ecologically efficient than using the same land to produce human edible protein as you have claimed. I agree with you on how much more efficiently we raise beef today than in the past and we should be proud of it and make it known to the public. I also agree with you about implants. And, I think beef producers should be especially proud of the way they have incorporated a vast variety of processing byproducts into high quality beef feed.

One thing that always amuses and amazes me is that beef producers and organizations do not brag about the environmental friendliness of their product as compared to that of pork and poultry products which comes from animals whose life-time diets come primarily from land that could safely grow human consumable protein that doesn’t need to be transformed by an animal.. Seems like a no brainer to me.

Jerry Dodd
Lawton, Oklahoma 73505

NEWS RELEASE
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
101 S Webster, PO Box 7921,
Madison, WI 53707Phone: (608) 266-6790 TDD: (608) 267-6897dnr.wi.gov www.wisconsin.gov
DATE: For Release: Thursday, Nov. 29, 2007
CONTACT: John Shenot, DNR, 608-267-0802Laurie Fischer, Dairy Business Association, 920-491-9956
SUBJECT: Dairy Business Association signs Green Tier Charter with Department of Natural Resources

MADISON – The Dairy Business Association (DBA) is helping dairy producers and processors make America’s Dairyland a bit greener by signing the industry’s first charter with the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Green Tier program.
DNR Secretary Matt Frank and association executive director Laurie Fischer signed the charter today in Madison at DBA’s Business Conference. Green Tier is Wisconsin’s innovative program for organizations that voluntarily pledge to go beyond environmental compliance.

“Wisconsin should be proud of DBA’s commitment to helping dairy producers and processors achieve environmental excellence,” DNR Secretary Matt Frank said. “Dairy farms are a cornerstone of Wisconsin’s history and it’s encouraging to know that Wisconsin dairy producers and processors will continue to make exceptional dairy products while pursuing superior environmental performance.”

The charter is a partnership effort between DNR and the Dairy Business Association’s Green Tier Advancement Project. The goal of the Green Tier Charter is to provide opportunities for Wisconsin dairy producers and processors to achieve superior environmental performance by providing resources and support in the development, implementation and auditing of Environmental Management Systems (EMS), an eligibility requirement for participation in Green Tier. DNR was recently awarded a $275,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to help off-set the initial costs of developing, implementing and auditing EMS’s for prospective Charter participants.

“By leveraging the dairy industry’s commitment to environmental excellence, DBA hopes to work with DNR and the dairy industry to provide additional financial incentives for participating in Green Tier,” DBA Executive Director Laurie Fischer said.

DBA President Jon Vrieze added the charter “paves the way for a new future between DNR, dairy producers and processors.

“Wisconsin has long been the leader on environmental issues and Wisconsin’s dairy industry is an important partner in informing and solving many of the issues Wisconsin faces,” he said. “Participation in Green Tier doesn’t mean simply checking a box; it requires real commitments that will require considerable effort on the part of producers.”

The development of the charter was made possible by the support and contributions of numerous individuals and organizations, including: Kenn Buelow (Holsum Dairy), Karl Klessig (Saxon Homestead Farm), Liz Doornink (Jon-De Farm), John Vrieze (Baldwin Dairy), DNR Runoff Management Program, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, and the Wisconsin Agricultural Stewardship Initiative. Grants from the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Coastal Management Program and the Joyce Foundation were also instrumental to successfully completing this agreement.
Dairy producers and processors who are interested in learning more about the opportunities available to Green Tier participants, or the charter should contact DBA or visit DNR’s Green Tier web page at http://greentier.wi.gov.


30

Trent,

Hello, high school classmate! I read your November 13, 2007 Loos Tales article and wanted to respond. I know your passion and enthusiasm and first want to tell you how proud I am of you for traveling, learning, discussing and speaking out to protect the rights of small farms. You are inspirational and I applaud your efforts!

My son has raised chickens on our small Iowa farm for four years and started his own small egg business. He has learned much about chickens and business that has enhanced his love of poultry and helps to teach him responsibility. This summer he went to Iowa State Fair having the honor to present his 4-H Educational Presentation entitled “Everyone Eats Eggs.” Garrett researched all the variation of egg carton terms and the facilities that raise them. It is confusing. Iowa is the number one egg producing state in the United States and currently has most of the factory farms raising hens in open-range conditions. His presentation was well received with the most questions from the audience. This proves that people are interested and starting to care more about their food and where it comes from. I understand fully what some people are saying about the housing of chickens in the large warehouses. There are many ways of raising chickens in better conditions. The better the conditions for the chicken, the better quality of eggs we as consumers eat.

However, for every person who wants to complain about conditions of the chickens in large factory farms and blame big companies for their involvement, I would encourage them to first analyze their own buying habits. Each one of us is supporting these larger egg factories when we purchase cheap eggs in the grocery stores. Until more people are willing to be responsible for their own actions and start being more informed about the industry, then I don’t understand how they can justify blaming other companies for the huge demand of human consumption of eggs and chickens.

In less than half a decade ago, most every small farm raised their own chickens for their food and eggs. The extra eggs they did not use were sold to make money for the family. You can’t drive across Iowa anymore and see many animals outside. Most everyone eats eggs and eggs are in most everything people eat, but eggs are a subject that most people know little about anymore. Chickens are truly amazing animals that we all depend on every day. The sad truth is that most people don’t want to be inconvenienced with raising their own chickens. Small farmers are dwindling and large factory farms had to move in to meet the continual demand of the people. Unfortunately with this transition, it caused fewer people to realize how much work it takes to raise these animals, and many people think only about animals when they buy their products in the grocery store. They have lost the precious connection between animals and humans.

So I will encourage everyone to think about where they buy their food and I hope to motivate people to start raising their own animals. Their time with animals will be far more rewarding than writing letters complaining to large corporations - that are only trying to meet the demands of people and have many other things to worry about than giving a chicken a good home.

Not telling you anything that you don’t already know, Trent. If you can use any of this to reunite the connection with animals and humans, than I am all for it!

Thanks,

Jayne Murfin-Clampitt

Independence, Iowa

(319)290-6934

clampittcreations@trx.net

“Teach your children that we have taught our children that the earth is our mother. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of earth…All things are connected.” – Chief Seattle, 1854...Read his entire speech at: http://www.kyphilom.com/www/seattle.html

Bill Nienhueser from Concordia, MO showed up during the 4th Annual Houston E. Mull cattle drive and wanted to ride "11" the pink mule. Even though the shadows in this picture make him look black she had a pink mane and tail. Bill is 88 years old and I was very reluctant to let him get on 11. He told me I was one of 11 survivors in my unit on D-Day you think I am afraid of this pink mule?

My thanks to Bill and all other WWII veterans for their efforts. The statistics say we are losing 1000 of them every day. I hope you take the chance to visit with every WWII veteran you get the opportunity to do so.

Okay here I am riding "11" carrying the U.S. Flag that flew at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq on Oct. 1, 2007. I carried that flag 30 miles leading the Cattle Drive reminding everyone of the efforts the United States take to protect our freedom.