How do farmers care for their animals? If you turn to the nightly news you will not see an accurate image of how farmers care for their livestock. Once again a major news network has aired an emotional video and story concerning animal care on farms. I have said it before and I will say it again, bad actors need to be punished for abusing animals. I do not condone animal abuse nor does any farmer I know. The alleged abuse that was showed on a dairy farm on ABC last night is not typical of how animals are cared for today. The person shown hitting or kicking the animals needs to be held accountable for their actions.

I am still troubled by the media only showing video of farms where alleged abuse takes place while choosing emotional words to describe what viewers are being told to see. Why don't they show all the farmers who are caring for their animals the right way so society can see the real picture of how animals are cared for? These videos are not typical of how farmers and ranchers protect and care for their livestock. It doesn't matter what size or type a farm is, farmers know healthy animals produce healthy food. We eat and drink the same food as do you, the consumer. We want our children to have healthy and safe food. This is why my husband spends more time with our animals on a daily basis than he does with me or our children. This is why when it is three degrees below zero outside my husband is out in the cold weather checking on our cattle or checking to make sure our hogs are comfortable inside our heated barns.

Just last night, my husband missed our daughter's basketball game because our livestock needed his attention. While he was checking on the pigs and cattle, our daughter scored her first ever three point shot at the age of 12. Where was her daddy? Outside in 15 degree weather checking our cattle and looking for a missing calf. He wasn't on the bench cheering her on next to me. Was our daughter disappointed? Sure, but she knows the livestock come first because she also knows healthy animals produce healthy food.

So why aren't stories like these on the nightly news? Because sensationalized stories increase viewers, not the truth.

I'm tired of farmers being painted with a broad brush. The type or size of farm doesn't impact the quality of animal care. What impacts animal care is the farmer and the tools available to him to make his animals comfortable. Thanks to technology I no longer have pigs on my farm born outside in freezing temperatures where they freeze to the ground. My pigs are in heated barns where they are not exposed to predator attacks, disease or the weather. Our family has borrowed a lot of money from the bank to make our animals comfortable inside our barns because it was the right way to protect our animals. Everything we do for animals is to protect them and keep them comfortable. And we do it even when it means missing our daughters first three point shot ever. Too bad ABC didn't tell that story on the nightly news.

Here is a video I just found on the dairy industry from Utah State Veterinarian Dr. Bruce King.

More details are coming out about a New York dairy farmer who shot 51 of his dairy cows and then committed suicide himself. This is a horrible tragedy that has occurred. We may never know all of the details, but hopefully we can all learn something from the story. It may be easy for us to speculate and pass judgment on a man who was obviously in pain and not thinking clearly. (If you would like to read more of the story, you can find an article here.)

Many of us have recently found ourselves falling on hard times. With an end to the current economic downturn out of sight, families are finding that they have to make the tough choices.

Personally, my family has been affected by the current economic situation. The company that my husband works for has cut back on projects and therefore has cut back on the number of hours and days my husband has been working. This week we made the choice to sell our family dairy cow.

I am sure that there are many other people out there who have it far worse than my family. Thankfully, my own position is stable and I am able to work some extra hours here and there to help make up some of the difference of what my husband is not bringing home.

Help is out there if you find yourself in need. Specifically, in New York State, we have Farm Net. Farm Net is an organization that offers many different types of support services to New York farmers. They help with financial planning, estate planning, business transfers, as well as crisis services, counseling, and stress management.

You may never know if someone else is in pain or need. Sometimes all it takes is a kind word or gesture to turn someone else’s day around. We need to reach out to one another; you just never know when what you say or do will have an impact on someone else’s life.

When I signed on to Facebook for the first time, it was like stepping into a virtual world that I never even knew existed. Thousands of others before me had already been exploring this electronic frontier, and were flourishing in this new environment. As I became more familiar with the Facebook platform and jargon, I realized what a powerful tool this could be for all those involved in the agricultural industry.

Within just a couple hours of creating my online profile, I had found a number of friends, high school classmates, and acquaintances that I had lost contact with over the years. With a click of a button a ‘Friend Request’ was sent, and we were reconnected almost instantaneously. I also began posting information to my ‘Wall’, and decided to use the space as my personal billboard for promoting agriculture (The “Wall’ is essentially the location where you can capture your thoughts, feelings, sayings, links, photos, videos, etc.).

In most cases many of our Facebook “Friends” are not directly involved with agriculture. By simply posting an interesting fact about the agricultural industry, or giving a glimpse into a day on the farm, we are helping to tell agriculture’s story. With each post we have the potential to expand our knowledge and increase the size of our network. Our influence can also increase by building and maintaining relationships with others.

Intentionally using Facebook to portray agriculture in a positive light is just one example of how we can use technology to strengthen our voice. Facebook also provides a great forum for individuals to share ideas, ask questions, and provide encouragement and support.

For those already utilizing Facebook, I encourage you to think about new ways you can engage your ‘friends’ in conversations about agriculture. For those who are still apprehensive or skeptical about Facebook, I encourage you to learn more by visiting the Ohio Farm Bureau.

Many farmers in Eastern Virginia are what I like to call “row crop” farmers. Corn, wheat, soybeans, peanuts, cotton, and barley are grown in neat rows in the fields. Even most vegetable farmers plant their crops in rows. You might think that row crop farmers without livestock are not busy this time of year. After all, most years we are done with harvest by now and the winter cover crops are already planted. But I think you would be surprised at just how busy we are during the cold winter months.

First of all there are meetings. Lots of meetings! As a former Extension Agent who used to schedule a lot of these meetings, I can tell you that winter is a good time to get a lot of farmers together. There are meetings to earn recertification credits for pesticide applicators. There are meetings to learn about the research the Land Grant Universities have conducted. Meetings are hosted by seed companies, chemical companies, and government agencies to tell farmers about their latest advancement or program offering. There are also organizational meetings for groups like Farm Bureau, commodity groups, and cooperatives. Did I mention trade shows? Well, I think you get the picture; there are a lot of meetings!

You might be able to tell by the kinds of meetings I have described that most of them are to help farmers evaluate the past year and plan for the next. This winter my dad, brother, and I have spent a lot of time planning for the 2010 growing season. Like many businesses, we use this time to evaluate what went right and wrong during the past year. We look at research done by the Universities to determine what varieties of seeds to order. We reexamine our nutrient management plan and talk about what crops to plant in what fields. There always seems to be maintenance jobs on barns, storage bins, and equipment that need attention. But one of the most important things we do when we are unable to be busy in the fields is to set goals for next year while taking into account what we learned a the various meetings we’ve attended.

I think sometimes we as farmers, members of organizations, and as individuals underestimate the potential benefits of sitting down and setting goals. Now, I’m not talking about the kind of goals that are set on Jan 1st and fade as gym memberships go unused. I’m talking about the kind of goals that are realistic but yet motivating. Goals that have benchmarks to determine when success is achieved and goals that create accountability are the ones worth setting. After all, if you don’t set goals to determine what success looks like in your business, organization, or life, how will you know when you are successful? How will you know when to try something new? How will you know when attending meetings at the sacrifice of something else have been worth it?

Do you attend a lot of meetings this time of year too? Sometimes I get so caught up in attending meetings, I just show up so I can mark it off my to-do list while I spend the whole meeting worrying about how I will make it to the next meeting or the next item on my to-do list. I forget the real reason I am there- to meet a goal of some sort. This year, I am going to make a conscious effort to make sure each meeting helps me to reach a goal.

How will you know if 2010 was a successful year? Do you have personal, business, and organizational goals? If not, you should start setting goals today so you can be successful in 2010.

Last night was a long one at our farm. Just about 9:00 last night I found a ewe with a lamb in an outside pen. Come to find out she had a set of twins. One was already dead and the other was very cold. We spent the next three hours working to save the surviving twin.

We brought him in the house where we dried him off and put him in a bathtub full of hot water. His core temperature had dropped to 97 degrees and lambs need a core temperature of 102 to 103. So for the next two hours we dried, rubbed and fed him until his core temperature had reached an acceptable level.

We then took him out to his mother and spent another hour making sure he had nursed her and didn't get too cold. Then in the middle of the night I got up and went out and made sure he was OK, watching him for another 10 minutes. My alarm went off at 5:30 and I got up and went out and checked him then too.

The lamb appears to be just fine and should make it. For that I am grateful, but all day my thoughts kept going back to the lamb we lost. I wondered what I could have done different and what I had missed. I would guess I am similar to many farmers and ranchers that I agonize over every animal lost in my care.

Often those of us who make our living in agriculture are portrayed as people who view livestock as objects, but that is not true. Even though I know the animals I raise will ultimately become food, that doesn't mean I provide them a lower level of care.

I will spend the time it requires, in any weather, at any time of the day to care for my animals. My commitment is to provide them the best care possible, with as little discomfort and at the lowest possible stress level while they are with me. My animals are my life and their survival is my highest priority.

As news unfolds about the devastation in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, my heart goes out to the Haitian people. The need for basic life sustaining materials (food, shelter, medical and water) grows with each passing day, and countless people are searching tirelessly for their missing loved ones.

Stories and images are beginning to surface from the aftermath of the 7.0 magnitude quake and the impoverished nation has been exposed for all the world to see. As an American it is encouraging to see how people have rallied together to help this ailing country. However, it is during events like these that we should re-examine our abundant and busy lives and think about how much we take for granted.

We are fortunate to live in such a wealthy nation and to have access to clean water, a safe and abundant food supply, medical care, and infrastructure - just to name a few. Unfortunately some of these items were hard to come by in Haiti before the earthquake, and now they are almost all but non-existent. This was a city that was destroyed in minutes and will take a lifetime to rebuild.

Although I did not personally have contacts in Haiti, I still felt a commitment and responsibility to give. Here are a few links that may be helpful if you want to learn more about Haiti and how you can help.

• Red Cross
• Heifer International
• World Food Programme

I propose that on days of poor air quality in the Kansas City metro area that the driving of cars be banned. The EPA wants to regulate when we can burn because of air quality issues in Kansas City. Let me state that it is my belief that while we may push those air quality numbers to a higher level, pasture burning is not the cause for alarm. The air quality is pushed to the brink because of all the cars being driven in the Kansas City area.

You can't do that, it would hurt your business. Well, I suppose it would and those are the same reasons that limiting burning do not work for those of us in the Flint Hills. Research has proven that fire is necessary to maintain the integrity of the tallgrass prairie. Kansas State University research has also proven that cattle eat a more nutritious diet on pastures that have been burned in the spring. Therefore, they gain more weight, they are worth more money when the rancher sells them and the rancher makes more money (or loses less).

The EPA would have us burn at different times of the year. Again, research has proven that earlier burning results in more water running off of the native range increasing soil erosion and allowing less water to infiltrate the ground and causing a lack of soil moisture. They have all of this information and yet they chose to ignore it.

What am I asking for. Well, I suppose I am asking for something novel, something very uncommon in government regulatory agencies with political appointees, common sense. All I am asking for is for the EPA to realize that the burning of the Flint Hills tallgrass prairie is necessary and only results in a very short, very temporary blip in air quality and to ignore it. In a matter of hours or days it will go away. In the meantime, we will maintain the last tallgrass prairie in the world. Remember, as ranchers we have spent our whole lives taking care of the prairie and we know what is best. Please contact your congressional representative and the EPA and ask them to use some uncommon, common sense.

The contestants for the Final Four have been announced! Jamie Ager from NC, Michael Honeycutt from IN, Rachel Bina from ND, and Jennifer Cruise from AL will be competing at 11 am to see who will be driving home in a 2010 Dodge Ram 2500!

It's been a whirlwind day here at the 91st AFBF Annual Meeting. Three rounds of the Discussion Meet are in the books and the stage has been set for the Final Four tomorrow. Along with that, the finalists in the Excellence in Ag and the Achievement Award have been selected and they will be giving their presentations tomorrow.

When you gather the best and brightest young farmers and ranchers from across the United States in one spot it makes for an exciting event for sure! And with three Dodge pickups to give away, tomorrow will only be better.

The Sweet Sixteen of the 2010 Discussion Meet are as follows:

Rachel Bina of North Dakota
Andy Holt of Tennessee
Emily Ward of Idaho
Deanna Bartee of Colorado
July Danley of Texas
Michael Honeycutt of Indiana
Caci Nance of South Carolina
Beth Porior of Wisconsin
Melanie Block of Michigan
Jennifer Cruise of Alabama
Brian Ziehm of New York
Jennifer Belcher of Virginia
Meghan Dresselhaus of California
Robert Calvin of Missouri
Jamie Ager of North Carolina
Marie Sipler of Pennsylvania

The Sweet Sixteen took part today at 5pm and the Final Four will be announced tomorrow morning. Good luck to all!!

Today in Seattle, Washington at the AFBF 2010 Annual Meeting, it is a great day to be a Young Farmer and Rancher. This morning at the Opening General Session, the Top 10 Finalists for both the Achievement Award and Excellence in Ag Award were announced.

The following competitors are finalists for the Achievement Award:
*Jeremy and Carissa Gillam of Arkansas
*Jamie Jones of Connecticut
*Joe and Angela Mann of Indiana
*Aaron and Ashley Reding of Kentucky
*Carl and Cynthia Greene of New York
*John Allen of Norht Carolina
*Brandon and Julia Weber of Ohio
*Bo and Patti Norris of South Carolina
*Eric and Jo Ann Maupin of Tennessee
*Kyle and Shelly Matthews of Utah

The following competitors are finalists for the Excellence in Ag Award:
*Marcos Moore Jr of Arizona
*Jesse Lopez of California
*Joanna Samuelson of Conneticut
*Steve and Kimmie Gauck of Indiana
*Daniel and Alison Smith of Kentucky
*Greg and Charity Vold of Minnesota
*Andy and Lindsay Hill Vance of Ohio
*Brian and Samantha McLerran of Tennessee
*Brandon and Sherrie Foote of Utah
*Scott and Mendy Sink of Virginia

Tomorrow, these finalists will take part in interviews and presentations and then the winner will be announced tomorrow at the Closing General Session.

Good luck to all!!!!!

This morning's networking session for the Achievement Award and Excellence in Ag competitors was amazing. It is awe-inspiring to see so many gather who represent some of the best and the brightest that agriculture has to look forward to. These are the prople who will help lead our industry into the next decade.

As we discuss and learn and share these next few days, I know this much for sure...our future is bright indeed!

Everyone attending the 2010 AFBF Annual Meeting just had the pleasure of hearing President Bob Stallman's address to the membership. I particularly appreciated his call for the members to stand up and aggresively tell the story of agriculture.

It will take the efforts of all farmers and ranchers to make this happen. So stand up and speak out!!

After a productive committee meeting, the Promotions subcommittee decided that our efforts would be best utilized by getting some face time with Annual Meeting attendees and just the general public in Seattle. Armed with cameras and a notepad, we split into two groups and hit the streets. One group focused on Annual Meeting attendees asking them how they got their start in Farm Bureau. We were pleasantly surprised to hear that old or young, each person we spoke to got their start in YF&R! The other group hit the streets with a video camera and asked some people in surrounding business about their connection to their food and their perceptions of agriculture. Unfortunately, most responded that they didn't even think about their food until they were hungry. This just reminds us all that we constantly need to be telling agriculture's story even if it is for just a moment.

The Young Farmer and Rancher Committee had their elections today in their business meeting, and I am very excited to announce that Will Gilmer, a dairy farmer from Alabama will be the 2010-2011 chairman for the committee. Erin Sweet, a corn miller from California will be serving as vice-chair for the committee. And also Chalsey Kortes, a beef rancher from Wyoming, the new secretary. Congratulations to our new representatives!

The AFBF YF&R committee rolled into the “Rainy City” Thursday to prepare for the 91st annual AFBF Convention. We got to work first thing yesterday morning. We met with Curtis Miller over breakfast then followed by conducting an accurate ag books activity at a local school. The activity was an amazing opportunity to interact with and educate children about agriculture. I am constantly reminded of the magnitude of the American Farm Bureau Federation. As we worked yesterday, I had the opportunity to see much of the behind the scenes work that it takes to put together the convention. Seeing all of the preparation and work reminds me of the many farmers and ranchers who toil daily in a successful effort to safely and efficiently produce the food and fiber that feeds and clothes our great nation and much of our diversified world! My hat is off to all of the farmers and ranchers who are continuously working to meet the challenge that has been placed before them. While we’re working in Seattle, we’ll be keeping you posted via Twitter @AFBFYFR or become our friend on our AFBF YF&R Facebook Fan Page. We hope to see you at Convention, if not, we’ll see you on the web!

Yesterday, our Young Farmer and Rancher Committee had the chance to visit a preschool in Seattle. It was a fantastic opportunity. The kids were so excited to meet a group of farmers and ranchers. The only farm most of them had ever been on was a local pumpkin patch, so they had lots of questions they wanted to ask us.

We got to read them a book called Soybeans A to Z. Along with that we did several activities with them afterwards. They included, counting soybeans, coloring a picture with crayons made with soy and then they pretended to be a growing soybean plant where they needed soil, sun, rain, and air to grow.

The teachers also shared with us that even though several of the preschoolers weren't scheduled to be there yesterday, they came into school anyhow just so they could meet a farmer. Not only did this provide a teachable moment for the kids, but also the teachers and some parents that were there that day.

The biggest payback I got yesterday though was a hug from one of the kids and he said thank you for coming to his school. I'm proud to raise food for my new friend and his family. For some great pictures of the event check out the YF&R facebook page photo album.

I was just watching the Fiesta Bowl and really liked the Lay's Commercial!!

They thanked the American Farmer for raising the best potato for their chips.

I think we do raise the best crops for the American People. I will buy Lay's over another brand the next time I am at the store!

It's official, Michelle Obama has made a stand she will no longer wear fur. Way to stand up for something important. I’m glad our first lady has no other more important issue to get behind than fashion.

Cancer must be cured; teen smoking must be not be an issue anymore. Over the past year and a half, it seems like Barack and Michelle are more interested in being rock stars than political servants for our country.

Happy 2010, everyone!

2009 is now behind us and many producers, including myself and every other dairyman I know, are glad to see it go. It has been a year of challenge for many of us, and we know that some of those challenges will continue on into the new year.

Unpredictable weather, market volatility, and fluctuating input costs are challenges all farmers face annually. And we know that we have many battles ahead of us in both Washington, DC, and our home states as we fight to protect our nation from policies and legislation that would undermine our ability to produce an abundance of safe, affordable food, fiber, and fuel. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, there will be challenges coming at us from every direction this year, so begin preparing yourselves and your farms for the fight!

But with challenges come opportunities. We each have the chance to find ways to produce our products more efficiently, market them more effectively, and educate the public so they have a better understanding of the stewardship and care involved in getting these products from the farm to them.

America's farmers and ranchers are uniquely positioned to provide exactly what our country needs in 2010 and beyond. As the population continues to grow and the economy improves, so will the demand for safe and affordable food, fiber, and fuel that is produced in an environmentally and socially responsible way. How can these demands be met? Agriculture is the answer!