Not My Circus

After 146 years, the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus is ending the greatest show on Earth.  Last week’s announcements cited many reasons for the closure, but it seemed many circled back to issues with activist groups.  These groups had been holding ongoing protests at performances around the country and were successful in ending certain popular acts.   While there are very distinct differences between a circus and a family farm; it’s a reminder of the influence activists can have on what many consider an American institution.  

Activists are becoming smarter when choosing their battles by taking small steps to much bigger and much more detrimental goals for agriculture.  Instead of attacking family farms producing hogs in Iowa, activist chose to start a legislative movement in states where hog production is less known.  There are several examples like the fight to eliminate gestation stalls, activists targeted 10 states like Maine, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.  Hog production in these states is much less important than Midwest states, and most voters have no connection to local hog farmers in their communities.  

Then look at the ballot initiative in California to ban poultry cages.  That law rippled across the country because it applied to all eggs sold in California.  The voters in one state, mostly unfamiliar with the care and husbandry of chickens, changed the way egg producers do business across the country.  The activists agenda was able to creep across the country unchecked then by a majority of voters or lawmakers.

It’s important that farmers stay in tune to what is going on in the state and federal legislatures this time of year.  While agriculture groups have their own policy proposals to make food production better and safer for our consumers, we can’t lose sight of activists’ proposals.  Their wish lists are long and come on many fronts.  Many proposals do not attack their goals directly, but lay the ground work to erode the ability of hard working farmers to raise livestock to feed the world. 

I know many people dislike the idea of being politically active; it’s a circus they don’t want to be involved in.  On this inauguration day, I encourage all farmers and agriculture supporters to be engaged in the political process, and be ready during the legislative sessions to speak up and defend our farms from harmful legislation and administrative rules.

Thanks Chipotle

I am really sincere when I say Thank You to the Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant chain.  They accomplished more in the last few months by demonstrating that their products are not superior, safer or healthier than farmers did in two years of blogs and interviews.  As a proud, conscientious farmer, I also want to say thanks to Chipotle for demonstrating to American consumers that their marketing claims and attacks on traditional farm practices are wrong.  Chipotle branded itself using all the buzzwords to bring in health minded consumers.  They were throwing “organic”, “natural”, “GMO Free”, “Antibiotic Free”, “Locally Grown”, and about any other catch phrase around  to differentiate itself from every other fast-food franchise.

Chipotle took it one step further by attacking the modern, science based practices we use to raise our beef and pork in a series of internet videos.  They attacked the use of climate controlled hog and cattle barns like my family uses to improve animal health and protect livestock from extreme weather.   The use of antibiotics even those veterinarians prescribe to treat illnesses were demonized, and they attacked the use of FDA approved growth supplements to improve meat quality.  The premise of the stories was that the modern, research based, farming practices made food less safe, not as nutritious, and maybe harmful.  It’s been impossible to find objective, science or health research to back up those claims.

Then Chipotle stumbled with a series of food borne illness outbreaks, something that shouldn’t happen based on the chains claims.  It started with one store, then a few more in the same area.  Two outbreaks involved norovirus, three more were caused by E. coli and the other was caused by Salmonella, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Then it spread to 500 people in ten states.  The story created to market the franchise as healthier and safer was unraveled.  The Attorney General in California with the FDA has subpoenaed the records regarding the outbreak in Simi Valley, California. Further calling the chains conduct into question. 

Politics, people, or food the popular marketing strategy is to divide and conquer rather than the actual merits. In this case, a restaurant chain could have had millions of farmers and food producers rallying around them instead of sitting on the sideline, maybe even enjoying watching them fall.  We know that food borne illnesses from restaurants or our homes happen, typically from mishandling food during preparation.  This doesn’t make organic or natural any more or less safe than it was before, but it shows the common truth regarding all our food.    Fresh, locally grown, organic or conventional food must follow the FDA guidelines for safe handling and preparation, and we know from the stats and facts that the US food supply is the safest in the world.  However, they chose to create a divide a go it alone. Thanks for the lesson.  Animal and human health as well as food safety are common bonds the should unite all food raisers and marketers.

I believe in food choices.  I think consumers should have the opportunity to buy the food they wish.  I think that farmers have the right to grow the crops they choose and specialty foods sold for premium, niche markets may get a higher price for their efforts.  But restaurants like Chipotle should not use baseless attacks as a marketing campaign to gain acceptance.  There are plenty of consumers to create a market for all food options; they should be able to choose by facts not crafted stories. 

If you’re looking for “Food with Integrity” as Chipotle claims, I’d trust the 2 million or so American family farmers who have been skeptical if not critical all along and eat somewhere else.

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Farmers Are Thankful, Too

Thanksgiving.  The time each year when most American’s reflect on the blessings they have in their lives.  The people, health, activities, events, and things we have that make life good.  Often we hear or see tributes to the farmers who raise the food that we eat on Thanksgiving and all year long.

So what are farmers most thankful for?  There are many different things that farmers are thankful for each year, and I cannot say this is completely inclusive or that it speaks for all farmers, but I am very confident it resembles most other farmers. 

A safe growing season. 

Ample rain. 

Long, warm growing season. 

Our fertile, black soil. 

A bountiful harvest. 

Successful calving seasons or pig farrowings.

Healthy animals.

Beneficial, safe treatments for livestock when they are sick.

Working with family in our farming operation.

Raising our kids on a farm with plenty of open green space.

Living in our rural community.

And most importantly people around the world that trust us to feed their families.

Farmers are grateful for our land and what careful cultivation can create for our family, community, and others.  I think there are few better to handle the challenges of continuing to cultivate, preserve, and improve our natural resources than farmers.

Enjoy a Happy Thanksgiving with your family and friends with a big meal from our bountiful, safe, wholesome, and diverse food supply.   

Do As I Say, Not As We Did

This summer our family had the opportunity to host a group of Danish farmers.  The bus load of men from across Denmark came to America to learn more about risk management, agricultural manufacturing, and production practices.  The group was a cross section of family farmers, most with livestock, a few with only crops, and a couple who were organic producers.  They had visited the Chicago Board of Trade, John Deere, Pine Lake Ethanol, and came to our farm as they wound down their trip.

After touring the farm, visiting the feedlots, checking out the corn crop, and taking self guided tours around the machine shed, we sat down for a barbecue.   Then we started to solve the world’s food problems over a cold one.  I had prepared myself to explain and justify the use and safety of biotechnology, but I quickly realized most of our visitors were bigger proponents than me.   “I feed GMO soybeans to my broilers (chickens).  I just can’t grow them myself.  Don’t do what we did.  The European Union ignored science and now we are stuck.”

He explained that they had pretty good soils as a whole, not like central Iowa, but generally very productive.   Denmark limits nitrogen to rates below the economic optimums.  In Europe it’s about 50% less than they used in 1985, plus farmers are restricted from using GMO seed.  While land prices and inputs are comparable in price, yields are limited.   He said they are competing in a world market, and the regulations put Denmark at a big disadvantage.   They had the research but followed the emotional argument.

He then asked, “Do people pay the real cost for organic milk and eggs in America?”  I really didn’t know how to respond, but luckily he continued, “Organic products are subsidized in grocery stores so they are cheaper than conventional milk and eggs.”  Again he reminded me that America shouldn’t do what Denmark had done.  They ignored the real consumer demand for the organic product, which is much lower at real prices.  

As we continued our discussion politics came up.  They had just had elections and with the various parties, the top vote getters were still forming a coalition for control.  “We’ve spent decades trying to get out from the control of government rule (a monarchy until 1849), but they keep adding more rules and laws.  We aren’t trusted.  Don’t do what we do. “

I thought a lot about that last thought since then.  Our founders fled Europe for freedom, and it seems like ours keeps eroding away.   Our ag regulations keep growing all the time, and I am afraid we will do as they did, not as I say.

4-H’s Lessons of Life

This year’s 4-H projects came to a close this week when the kids’ steers were sold at the local sale barn in Tama.  This is not the first time through the production cycle for them, so there were no long good-byes.  As Abby and Nick helped load the steers, we took time to save the ear tag that read “Spike” from one steer.   Abby herded them out of the barn quietly, and as each one passed the gate Nick patted them one by one for the last time, and then he announced “That will be some good hamburger.”  I guess I wouldn’t expect anything different from a farm kid who affectionately named his pigs Sausage, Ham, and Bacon the day they arrived back in March.

There’s many lessons learned each year with their livestock.  Each year the knowledge gets a little deeper.  Animal care and health, feed rations and nutrition, and of course learning more about exhibiting and showing.  The character and responsibility they gain are tough to quantify but are more apparent each year.   They can’t do it all by themselves, and they shouldn’t.  Some people say 4-H showing is more for parents than kids, but just like school or sports kids need guidance, encouragement, and assistance to learn and become better.  The family time and new friendships gained are invaluable as well.   The idea of creating a network and resources to get help or exchange ideas will benefit them long after 4-H.  There are very few activities that teach the life skills and about life itself like these projects.

Growing up on a livestock farm, the kids knew the reason for a market hog or steer was to provide food for people.    As Abby puts it, “People have to eat and these will taste good”.  So the kids learned to do the best possible way to raise their animals and market them to provide a safe wholesome food supply.  There is also a special respect for life that cannot be learned any other way.  On our way home from the sale barn, their attention turned back to plans and goals for next year.  The kids are anxious for this year’s calves to be weaned and up for sale so they can start the cycle over for another year. 

Nick’s gilt named “Bacon” found an unexpected home this year.  She turned out well enough as Reserve Grand Champion to earn a spot in a local show pig producer's herd after the county fair.  This has led to a lot of questions of the hows? and whats? about the entire livestock production cycle.  Learning about the wonders of nature and people is a never ending cycle.