Last week I had the opportunity to testify in front of the House Judiciary Committee at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre. They were going to vote on HB 1146 that was being pushed by the Humane Society of the United States that would change the penalties for animal cruelty.

As someone who has been around livestock my entire life and have studied animal husbandry, I will be the last person to defend someone who has abused an animal. However, this bill didn't do enough to protect agriculture from being prosecuted for practicing normal animal husbandry procedures. The current law had been formed 18 years ago through a cooperative effort by agriculture, researchers, veterinarians, and local animal shelters. And for 18 years, it has worked well. However, HSUS thought they could shove this through our small state without the input of most groups that would be affected. Fortunately, they were wrong.

After the testimony of livestock producers, veterinarians, dog breeders, and ag organizations that exposed HSUS for who they are and what they are trying to accomplish, the bill was effectively killed by a unanimous vote of 12-0.

The major problem I had with the bill is that HSUS has been trying to redefine normal livestock practices as cruel, torture and accusing us of mutilation. These were offenses that were spelled out as being a felony offense in the proposed bill. I am not a felon. The practices we employ on the ranch are ones that benefit the animal. In turn, these practices also let us produce a safe, affordable beef supply for this country.

This was an obvious attempt by HSUS to further their radical animal rights agenda in South Dakota, and I am proud to say that the citizens of our state overwhelmingly rejected their efforts.

I feel I need to respond to an article I recently read: "Hamburgers are the Hummers of Food in Global Warming: Scientists."

First, let me introduce myself. I am a fifth generation farmer and rancher in Pottawatomie County, Kansas, on the edge of the Flint Hills. My wife, father and children produce corn, soybeans, wheat, hay and yes, beef. We are a small family farm and we are in the process of launching a beef business where we sell locally raised beef to our friends and neighbors.

Let me also preface this by saying I am also the Ag and Natural Resources Agent for Pottawatomie County. That is why some of the misinformation in the article bothered me.

First, it is mis-representation to say that the livestock sector or even the entire ag sector is responsible for 18 percent of the total greenhouse emissions. Pierre Gerber, a livestock policy officer who co-authored the UN report, agreed that 18 percent was a generalization and not accurate in terms of ag producers in the United States.

In April the U.S. EPA released a report called the "Inventory of U.S. Grennhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2006." In 2006 the EPA reported that U.S. agriculture (not just livestock) was responsible for only 6 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Even more important is the fact that when broken down even further, the livestock sector (not just beef) was only responsible for 2.58 percent of the total. This information was found in an article titled "Livestock's Shrinking (U.S.) Shadow."

While I personally doubt that food is the third leading contributor to the average U.S. household's carbon footprint. Let us consider a couple of things. First, the U.S. ag producer is the most efficient producer of food in the world, therefore, fewer inputs are needed to produce more food. Second, if our U.S. ag producers were not as efficicient, more fragile lands such as rainforests would be consumed to produce food for a hungry world.

Finally, if I concede food is the third leading cause, I would guess it is a long way behind number 1 and 2.

While it is true most cattle consume a grain ration for several months before going to market, prior to that most of those cattle are raised on many acres of land and pasture that would not be useful for any other food production. Lean beef is a nutrient rich healthy food. If we look at the increase in population over the next several decades, we will need all of our livestock sectors just to feed this ever-increasing demand.

As a U.S. producer of livestock and grain, I must say I take great pride in being a good steward of the land and environment and I also take great pride in feeding 144 other people around the world.

HSUS is moving to Illinois and Ohio with their legislation and ballot initiatives which would ban egg laying hen cages, sow stalls and veal stalls. HSUS claims these methods of production are not humane. I respectfully disagree.

Humane farm animal care is an issue all farmers should be talking about. In fact, we should own the issue. Whenever the issue is addressed by someone without the knowledge of modern agriculture and the ethics of animal care that guide modern farmers, we first must listen to the concerns, and not just blow them off.

But after, hearing, we must respond by sharing our PERSONAL STORIES ABOUT OUR CARE OF FARM ANIMALS and why we use modern animal production methods.

As a farmer, my top priority is the care I give my animal. I know a healthy animal produces healthy food. My kids and I eat the same food I raise for consumers; I wouldn't feed my family anything that wasn't safe. Farmers use these methods of production to PROTECT their animals from each other, predators, disease and the elements of the weather.

As a hog farmer, I know my hogs can not sweat, which means the hog doesn’t like physical activity because the hog can’t cool their body down. Because of this, my hogs lay down and rest, they only get up to eat or drink. Hogs also do not have necks, they don’t like going someplace if they can’t see where they are going, thus, they do not like turning around. Hogs prefer moving forward, that is why my barn is designed to meet this need and we have no sharp turns or angles which would cause stress for our hogs during movement. Our stalls create a stress free environment where the sow can lay down, eat or drink without fighting for food or water or being stepped on by another sow. Our stalls provide PROTECTION for our sows.

I know on my farm I am providing the best care for my animals and they are content and comfortable. I can tell this by their body language, as can every farmer who raises livestock.

Farmers and ranchers have a great story to tell, please go out and share your story with others. And if you don’t raise livestock, you can still tell our story, talk about your neighbor who raises livestock and the humane care and respect they give their animals.

Farmers and ranchers provide the best care for their animals based off years of experience, sound science and responsibility to provide healthy food for our families, and yours.

"Can you be a leader if you don't hold a title in an organization?" I was asked this question not long ago and my answer was yes. Each day it is my responsibility to be a leader for agriculture to ensure the next generation can return to our farm. My passion is agriculture and I make it a priority to tell agriculture's message on a daily basis. Whether it is talking to a stranger in the grocery store or responding to an online news article, it is my responibility as a farmer to tell our story. By doing this, I am representing agriculture and setting an example for others to follow.

Leadership is finding your strengths and using them to move your organization or cause forward. You don't have to hold an office to be a leader, you can lead by promoting your cause on a daily basis and letting your passion for your cause be your motivation.

Each leader has their own strengths, some are good at surfacing ideas, others are good at bringing opposing sides to a consensus, others are good at communicating. Whatever your strength may be, use it on a daily basis to benefit agriculture. We don't have to be the President or Vice-President of our local Farm Bureau to be an effective leader, we can use our leadership strengths in everyday life to ensure a positive future for the next generation in agriculture.

We had a great time at the YF&R Leadership Conference that was held in Sacramento, CA. this past week. We met so many outstanding young farmers & ranchers from all over the nation. I am impressed by the people that we met. What a wonderful group of people to be associated with! I am so proud to be a part of Farm Bureau.

Thanks to the California YF&R who all went out of their way to host us and show us an excellent time at the closing reception. Thanks for an awesome conference to everyone that came!

A friend sent me a link to the Beef Daily Blog today and there is a post written by Amanda Nolz about an article she recently stumbled upon in SELF magazine titled "Veg Out."

"Veg Out" defines the different types of vegetarianism, which include being a vegetarian, a vegan, a pescatarian, a fruitarian, or a raw foodist. It also offers vegetarian diet menus and recipes. (Check out Amanda's post to read more about the article).

The part of the article that really misses the mark discusses Ethical Eating 101 and it detailed ways to lessen your impact on the Earth by minimizing your meat intake. The article said, "Transporting cattle, farming grain for feed and cows’ own emissions of methane and nitrous oxide (farts) are major greenhouse-gas producers. If every American had one meat-free day a week, it would have the same impact as taking 8 million cars off the road, according to the Environmental Defense Fund in New York City."

This article was a six-page spread in the magazine, and even portrayed Hollywood Stars and what their eating habits were. Carrie Underwood was portrayed for her vegetarianism and Jessica Simpson was also portrayed on the other side wearing a “Real Girls Eat Meat” t-shirt.

Amanda Nolz, the author of the blog post, is asking the agriculture community to stand together and tell our story. Please help Amanda by taking a few minutes out of your busy day to contact SELF and let them know the truth about meat and dairy products and how farmers and ranchers are caring for the environment.