For many weeks, I have been talking with state Farm Bureau leaders about how to increase the number of young people in agricultural organizations. As we talked, it was very easy to list the reasons why young people are not getting involved. Solutions on the other hand were none existent. So I took a step back and looked at why I am involved.

The number one reason for me is to protect my future as a farmer and protect the ability for Americans to consume food produced in the USA. I believe as young people we take for granted the people and organizations that are fighting to protect our right to farm. Generations before us have paved the way for our future.

Now it is our job as the next generation to step up and lay another layer of brick on the foundation of American agriculture. There is an article in the October 2008 issue of the "PROGRESSIVE FARMER" about Chris Chinn and her commitment to telling the story of American agriculture. In that article, she states that, "The world is led by those who show up." It's time that the next generation shows up to protect American agriculture.

On Wednesday, September 24, 2008 Yahoo had a link posted to an article in a Hearst Publication website, " The Daily Green" called "One Farm. More Pollution than Houston, Texas." It’s becoming a common occurrence to see articles like this which try to sell a skewed image of agriculture.

I pulled this paragraph from the article:

In May, the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production concluded a two-year study that detailed how cheap feed had led Americans to eat more meat than any other nation on Earth. It urged new regulations to rein in the growth of factory farms, lest they sap fresh water, pollute the environment, or continue contributing to global warming (livestock is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions).

Farmers and Ranchers go to great lengths to protect our environment and our animals. The Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production leaves out a lot of important information about agriculture. Agriculture industry representatives were not even allowed to participate in this study. Please take a few moments to read this article and post comments on this website. We have to start correcting the misinformation that is being advertised about our industry, or our children will not have an opportunity to return to our farms and ranches.

PETA released a video yesterday showing abuse of pigs at a farm in Iowa. The way the animals were treated is not acceptable and the people who did this need to be held accountable.

As a livestock farmer, it is important to me to make sure my animals are well cared for. I know that a healthy, safe and comfortable animal produces safe and healthy food for my family and yours. My top priority is to provide humane and compassionate care for my pigs at all times. I follow best management practices on my farm. These include guidelines set by the National Pork Board, including Trucker Quality Assurance which teaches proper pig handling during transportation, and Pork Quality Assuarance Plus. Pork Quality Assurance Plus helps farmers care for animals and the environment in a safe and responsible manner. These programs are supported by animal scientists, retail consumers and veterinarians.

I am concerned about this video for many reasons. Not only because animal abuse is not acceptable but because these images may have been distorted. I wasn't able to see at one point in the video the sow being hit by the rod, I could see the employee raising their arm to swing, but I didn't see the sow being hit by the rod. I did see the rod, but to me it looks like it was hitting the pen or gate. I do not condone these behaviors, but I think we need to remember this is a video and videos can be misleading.

Another concern I have about this video is some of the scenes were taken out of context. For example, the baby pigs shown laying together were newborn pigs, they were still wet from the birthing process. Some of the pigs were stillborn, while others were alive, but I don't think this scene proves there was abuse to those animals.

The Marhsall Democrat News recently ran a two-part profile on a Missouri farm famiy, Dennis & Chrissy Gessling, regarding controversy over their hog farm. The first part of the story, "Farmer at heart of CAFO Controversy Lives Dream of Raising Hogs," and the second part, "Gesslings Weather Tumultuous CAFO Controversy" were both very informative and gave an inside look at the situation through the eyes of the farmer.

Dennis has been raising hogs all of his life, beginning in FFA, where he received the State FFA Degree. Gessling's goal is to bring his wife back to the farm full time to work by his side, and in the future, his stepsons & son. He was going to make that dream a reality by expanding his hog farm so Chrissy could join him full time. But because of exsisting environmental rules by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR), he couldn't locate his new hog barns near his existing hog barns. He found a location which was approved by Missouri DNR, but it was two miles from the historic town of Arrow Rock.

Because of emotion based propaganda from non-agriculture groups, the people who visit Arrow Rock for events, and a few who live near the historic town, were led to believe there would be a horrible smell from the farm two miles away. (His exsisting barns are four miles from Arrow Rock). Because of this inaccurate information, Dennis & Chrissy received several threats, inculding death threats. Dennis said at one time, he was calling Chrissy every hour to make sure things were o.k.

As a result of the inaccurate information, a group called The Friends of Arrow Rock sued the DNR for permitting Gessling to build, and the Judge in the case ruled against DNR due to a missed deadline for paperwork by a day or two. (Gessling has not built the proposed buildings to date, & the permit is set to expire in September, which means a building can not be constructed with out a new permit). The judge also ruled that no new CAFO can be constructed within 15 miles of Arrow Rock or a state historic site or park.

This is a tremendous mistake for the future of agriculture in Missouri. Agriculture is our #1 industry, and the foundation of our state. This ruling not only prohibits Dennis from bringing his wife and kids home to the farm, it leads to serious implications for the future of Agriculture in Missouri. Farmers everywhere need to stand up for agriculture by going to your local media and telling your story. I can't help but wonder if these stories had been told a year ago if the outcome wouldn't have been different. It's up to us to tell OUR STORY because as you can see, if we don't, someone else will!

Last night while I was working for Pace Paramedic Service, my full-time-off-the-farm job, I was listening to the radio on the way back from a call and Paul Simon's "Loves Me Like a Rock" came on the radio and one of the lyrics goes. "If I was the president and the minute congress call my name..." That lyric triggered something in my mind.

I was able to listen to the speech given by Mayor Rudi Gulliani and Governor Sarah Palin on Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention and everyone is a "buzz" here in the Blue State of Maine. In talking with different people and doing my own poll I think that the McCain campaign gained a lot by having Governor Sarah Palin come on board. I also want to note that she said that she started off her career in politics she signed up for the PTA, then for city council, then mayor, then governor and now VP nominee. SHE GOT INVOLVED! The same thing can happen to ANY FARM BUREAU MEMBER. We are a grassroots organization and we work our way up to the levels we want to in our organization from county president to state president to national president. I would encourage any Farm Bureau to run for public office because who knows....you may be the president.

Another thing I would like to add is I noticed a lot of "COUNTRY FIRST" signs in the audience. This makes me excited to see this since I think for so long we haven't put our country first. Its time to get back to the values and morals that founded this country. What does the rest of the group and visitors feel? McCain/Palin or Obama/Biden? This election is one of the most important elections in my lifetime. We all need to take a piece of it and call it our own. I welcome your input.

I had a great conversation last night with Jim Taber. Jim is the chairman of the YF&R Committee in Montana. He was telling me about the efforts of their committee to encourage their lawmakers in Washington DC to pass H.R. 5134, The Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2007. This bill would eliminate the capital gains tax on the sale of agricultural property if it was sold to a qualified beginning farmer or rancher. It would also reduce the taxes paid if the land was sold to a person that was going to keep it in production agriculture. This would allow the seller to offer it to a beginning farmer or rancher at a reduced price. Jim said they have had some great conversations about this bill with Sen. Baucus from Montana and are hoping to get his support.

I would encourage all YF&R members and state committees to start encouraging their representatives and senators to take a look at this bill and urge them to support it.

This is one of the great reasons to belong to Farm Bureau. Our grassroots approach to improving agriculture is second to none. Congratulations to the Montana YF&R for their hard work on this issue.

I don't know about you but I am tired of this debate. I recently acquired a publication by the American Soybean Association that really hit home. It is titled "Myths and Realities Behind Rising Food Prices" and wow does it explain what is truely happening on this issue.

Many people do not have a clue about what really happens to our agricultural goods these days and how farming in the United States is definately a Global Situation rather than just a local one. Today's farmers and ranchers need to be alert to Global issues and knowledgable on so much more then raising crops and livestock. We face pressure every day on what we do and how we do it, when in fact, there isn't another country that cares more then we do about feeding the World.

As a young kid on the farm my dad taught me to be a steward of the land and take care of livestock with great care as most of you reading this were probably taught. It's time that we make sure that the rest of the world knows what we do. Reading this publication and talking about it is just one way of doing just that. Have a safe harvest!