Seth and I had a great experience last weekend. Through a relative, we heard that there was a group of boys that were looking for a learning/service type activity for their church.

We invited them to help us brand and work some calves. The boys were excited, and had no idea what to expect. Even though they only live about 1 ½ hours away from us, only about 5 had ever touched a cow or a horse, and the rest hadn’t even seen any in real life! Utah has really changed; we are not the agricultural community that we used to be! It still amazes me that someone in Utah could go their whole life totally detached from agriculture.

Anyway, the group of them which consisted of 23 boys ages 12-17 and 5 adult leaders arrived that morning to help. We had them help us brand, and work 100 calves. We chose to have them “throw the calves” instead of using the chute, so they could experience everything first hand. Some were scared of the animals, some were curious and just wanted to touch the calves, and some dived right in with no fear! It was great to see them ease into the process, and most of them wanted to take a turn with each application and did so before we were done.

Before we got started, we had a discussion about livestock in general, and the process of what we were going to do, and why. A lot of the boys had several questions, and it was great to clear up some misconceptions that some of them had about the cattle industry.

By the time we were done, the boys were sunburned, DIRTY, and so tired, but every one of them thanked us before leaving. I loved to see their smiles – especially because their teeth were full of fine dust, and they didn’t even know how dirty they were!

It was great to have such a positive day and I hoped they learned something, and I hope they remember the day for a long time. I had a great time opening up our way of life to these boys. I may be prejudice, but I love this way of life!

Last Friday, the Union of Concerned Scientists released a "report" about CAFO's and the harm they cause society. This week, the PEW Commission will release the results of it's two year study on animal feeding operations.

Needless to say, the first report had nothing good to say about modern methods of livestock production and I would bet the north forty that the PEW Commission report will not either.

All of us in animal agriculture will probably be bombarded by statistics from these reports for the next several months, if not years. Bogus numbers about livestock production that were in a report released by the UN a couple of years ago are still used very frequently. When we see these being reported, it is imperative that we correct these media outlets with accurate information.

If you see a statistic that doesn't seem right, look into it. There is a wealth of information available through Farm Bureau that you can use to stop these innaccurate portrayals of livestock production.

When all of us work together, we can make a big difference.

Not to long ago when someone said “Go Green” we all would have all assumed they were promoting a certain brand of tractor. Today the green movement is everywhere! Anyone who is anyone wants to be a part of the green tide that’s sweeping the country. Maybe I should say, anyone who has anything to ‘market’ wants to be part of the green tide (in fact, don’t we now have green Tide?).

I am all about going green! All of us in agriculture know how important it is to be good stewards of the land and to take care of our environment. Haven’t farmers and ranchers been the original environmentalist ever since God gave Adam a loin cloth and a hoe?

My question is, are farmers and ranchers known from sea to shining sea as the original environmentalist?

Tragically, we are not. In fact, we are in the cross hairs of many of those who claim to be the greenest. All I really want to say to those people is, “You bring your carbon credits. I’ll bring mine.” What I will say is, we were green long before green was the pc thing to be. We are green because we live the green not because we’re trying to market it. We are green because it’s what we have built our entire lives, livelihood and tomorrows upon. We are the original green.

I read an editorial today by the Wisconsin State Journal which talked about who was to blame for global warming and world food shortages. Agriculture has become the main target of some organizations searching to place blame on someone. The article talks about how some organizations want to blame livestock for being contributors to global warming.

But this article didn't believe the American Farmer was to blame, to the contrary, they believed the American Farmer was part of the solution to global warming and world food shortages. And they had proof to back up their beliefs.

I commend the Wisconsin State Journal for standing up and telling some facts about agriculture. It's good to know there are still people in journalism who get ALL sides of a story before they report it.

Last year some “friends” of mine encouraged me to apply for the Partners in Agriculture Leadership program or PAL for short. It’s a program that AFBF sponsors where ten people are chosen, through an application process, and put through two years of extensive media, legislative, public speaking and general leadership training. The goal of the program is to create advocates for agriculture. If accepted, I was told that it would be the absolute hardest thing I’d ever volunteered for. My friends said that it would the boot camp of ag leadership training. They said there were several trips involved, a TON of homework in between classes and that overall it would be a PILE of work.

SO, what did I do? I filled out the application, jumped up and down with my hand in the air hollering, “OOOhhhhh, pick me! Pick me!”

I was picked.

Up to this point we have gone through two of our four classes, the media and the legislative modules. I can honestly say that being in the PAL program has been the hardest thing I’ve ever volunteered for. However, I can also say that it has been the absolute best personal development training that I have ever embarked upon. There is no doubt that I have grown as an individual, as a leader and as an “advocate for agriculture”.
Here is the fact of the matter; ALL of us in agriculture should be working to be better advocates. Who better to defend our industry than us? Who better to tell our story than us? Who better to reintroduce American Agriculture to the general public than us? It absolutely does not matter if you’re in a class or a combine. We all must become advocates for what we do! If you like being out in the field then sometimes you better get out of the field and tell our story. Our existence depends upon it because after all, we are all Partners in Agriculture.

Yesterday we finally had sunshine in Missouri! It was a warm day and my kids were excited to get outside and spend some time on the farm. We have had more rain than normal for this time of year, which has kept our kids inside more than they prefer.

Our kids started out their afternoon by going with their Grandpa. They worked on cleaning out fence rows and picking up broken limbs and sticks. Next, they helped their dad change the oil in the tractors. Then they helped get the baler ready for the first cutting of hay, which appears to be a long time away according to my six year old. After they finished this job, they took some time off to inspect the deer and turkey tracks that were around the farm. They finished their day in the hog barns with their dad, which also involved playing with their 4-H pigs.

As I tucked my kids into bed last night, they were both very tired but they each commented on how much fun they had on the farm with their dad. Our kids are what keep us going during the hard times, these two kids are why we keep moving forward! It's no secret the hog industry is facing tough times, worse than we did in 1998, but my kids give me the motivation I need to get out of bed each morning and keep providing safe food for this country.

Recently a local TV station, KOMU, did a two part story on Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). This story was different from most stories about CAFO's, it talked about the facts, not emotions.

I had the opportunity to be interviewed for the story, as did a Commercial Ag Specialist from the University of Missouri, and a representative from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The story talked about how CAFO's were regulated, how farmers cared for their animals, and how all this benefits the local economy and consumers.

After the second part of the story aired, the reporter told about the many calls and letters they had received for the story. Many of these calls were positive. This is a perfect example of GRASSROOTS at it's best. We have always been told we need to make contact with the media, this is a perfect example of farmers contacting the media.

So the next time you like or don't like what you see on TV about agriculture, pick up the phone or send a letter to your local station and let them hear your opinions! And when you have finished with your call or letter, call a friend and ask them to do the same.

The importance of getting involved in agriculture and staying involved in agriculture is on my mind daily.

This last weekend I had the pleasure of speaking to a group of Alpha Zeta, Agricultural Honors Fraternity Members at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo! Boy was I impressed! I couldn't help but think that our industry REALLY needs to continue to reach out and encourage participation in agriculture!

Programs like FFA, 4-H and even Alpha Zeta will be what ultimately BUILDS OUR FUTURE with leaders ready to take charge.

I can say this much - the folks coming up through the ranks offer me all the encouragement in the world that American Agriculture will continue to lead the world in innovation!

Here is a letter to the editor that was published in the West Yellowstone News. This is a perfect example of the lack of knowledge about agriculture that some of our consumers have. He shares a host of misconceptions in this letter that all of us need to try eliminating. Livestock production will always be a key component to feeding the world. There are a few of us writing rebuttals to this letter. Please join us in doing so by going to the following website: http://westyellowstonenews.com.

To the Editor:

Cows, cowboys and cattle ranchers are obsolete. Only they don't know it. A kilogram of grain fed beef takes 100,000 liters of water to produce; thirty times as much as a kilo of chicken meat. Feed prices are now sky high because America is burning grain in its cars. The same kilo of beef takes fourteen times the fossil energy input as chicken. What's the price of gas?

Our supply of hamburger often arrives contaminated. Beef itself is not a healthy food for those prone to heart and vascular disease. Feedlots generate enormous ground water, river and estuary pollution from animal waste, hormones and antibiotics. Cows are susceptible to brucellosis, for which there is no effective vaccine. Many cattle ranchers say they can't operate profitably without subsidies in the form of cheap grazing rights on our public lands. Then, because they can't protect their cows and calves out on the range, they want to wipe out whole species of carnivores.

If I were in the cow business, I would stop corrupting our political system, stop asking the government to stifle the competition, stop lobbying the DOL to kill more bison, stop stonewalling the life cycle tracking of individual cows, stop raising artificially fattened animals, stop shooting wolves and start looking around for a new occupation. Sell the ranch and retire. Open the range to free roaming bison. Set up a wind farm. Lease land to the Hutterites. Or, take a look at a land trust.

If I were in the cow business, I would do some strategic planning, for the sake of my family, before I miss the boat completely. When the market can no longer hide the true price of beef, the only option will be to turn toward Washington and pray for a taxpayer bailout. By then, the investment banks will have beat me to it.

Jay Moor

Bozeman

This week the President of the American Farm Bureau, Bob Stallman, requested the Department of Agriculture to increase the amount of pork purchased under Section 32. Section 32 is a permanent approriation USDA uses to support non-farm program commodities while enhancing nutrition programs. This would help provide some stability for the pork industry but more importantly would supply a healthy protein source for users of nutrition programs. These users include children who eat school breakfast and lunch.

This request comes at a critical time for family farmers who raise pork. Today's pork producers are faced with feed costs which have more than doubled in the last year, while prices for liveweight hogs are at the lowest they have been in over 4 years. Right now a family farmer can raise one hog which averages 250 pounds for about $150, but the market is only paying these farmers $110 for the hog. Farmers can not continue to absorb these losses. Pork prodcuers do not receive government assistance and rely entirely on the markets.

As a pork producer, I believe President Stallman's request comes at a very crucial time for my industry. This year resembles the 1998 pork crisis, where many family farmers exited the pork industry due to extremely high losses. I appreciate Farm Bureau standing up for pork producers and being our voice!

Farming has never been said to be "easy." In todays day and age, the key is diversification and the ability to direct market.

This is what growers in my end of the world have found. The latest rage has been blueberries along the Central Coast of California.

Southern High Bush varieties thrive in low chill and drier climate conditions. Local farmers are getting top dollar for great local product. We all know the "rage" that local is driving in our businesses. That is for sure! Buy local is getting more attention than sustainability in some places.

We just need to think "outside" the box when it comes to what we grow. If it is different and can be marketed locally, we'll never be second to any other farmers out there.

Pennsylvania land owners are facing a problem that I feel will have negative a impact on Agriculture and Family activities. Over the past few weeks, the chair of the Pennsylvania's House Game and Fisheries committee is trying to pass legislation; that would allow Sunday hunting. The legislation would give the Game Commission the authority to allow and regulate Sunday hunting. I personally have a problem with this. As a farmer, Sundays is the one day I take time to relax and spend time with my family. Most of the time this includes being outdoors at are local state forests or on my own property. It would truly no longer be safe to continue these activities if Sunday would be open to Hunting.

I do want to make it clear that I am not against hunting. Hunting is very important to me as a sport but also as a source of protection for my crops. The groups that are pushing this fill that it will increase the number of people hunting. I do fill it will increase the numbers. The only change I see is a shift in days when people hunt.

This week I had the opportunity to meet with a group of leaders from Ohio. Ohio pasted Sunday hunting a few years ago. At the time this group was all for allowing Sunday hunting. It was interesting to find out now that they are regretting their decision. I am trying to look at this issue from both sides and hope to receive some good feed back on how others feel about this issue.

I recently received an e-mail from a friend who had stumbled across an article in a religious publication regarding agriculture. Unfortunately, this wasn't a positive article about agriculture. It was attacking modern agriculture practices and expressed views on animal welfare. The article appeared in “The Banner,” a monthly magazine that the Christian Reformed Church puts out for its members.

As a farmer, I know from first hand experience that every aspect of my farm revolves around animal welfare and protecting our environment. We have modernized our farm so our animals are safe and comfortable but also to ensure a safe food supply for our consumers.

I sent a letter to the editor of "The Banner" and expressed my concern about the article, I explained what a modern livestock farm is like, and why we use technology to provide safe shelter for our animals. I encourage everyone to write to the editor of "The Banner" and explain to them why agriculture looks different today. I don't know many industries which still operate like they did in the 1950's, agriculture is no different.

With more people paying attention to agriculture, it is even more important for farmers and ranchers to stand up and protect our industry.