Update on the Animal Rights activists use of sensationalism

Tonight I watched a investigative report on a major networks late night news show Nightline  that was about dairy farms. The sensationalism used in these stories is getting harder to watch as a second generation farmer whose family has cared for our animals comfort for nearly 40 years. I feel the media and activist groups use isolated incidents to create a sense of a major problem when quite the opposite is true. In the video I listened to the farmer say he does not stand for the improper care of animals and has previously fired employees for just that. I only wish he was able to express whether the employee(s) in this incident had been let go. If you want to see a video of animals on an average dairy you can see a video I did for Evernote. the California Milk Advisory Board also has put together some great videos of average dairymen and dairy families throughout California.

The dairy farmers  in the United States are working toward implementing a best care practices program for animal care called the National Dairy FARM Program. when this program is in place we will have an animal care manual that all dairy farms can use to continue to provide the highest level of care for their animals.

A great friend of mine Jeff Fowle, a cattle rancher from northern California has a great post on his blog Common Sense Agriculture discussing  animal rights versus animal welfare and why we should pay close attention to the difference.

In addition the post I made on this topic in September of 2009 is still pertinent as is the post referenced below from Dino Giacomazzi.

Sensationalism and the Animal Rights movement

September 29, 2009

Below is a link to a blog post by a fellow California Dairyman Dino Giacomazzi. Dino does an awesome job highlighting the unnecessary pressure and sensationalism some Animal right groups are using to ban the docking of Cattle Tails in CA. This is all unnecessary because no farm or dairy group opposes the ban and one group even supports the ban now that the farmer can provide prompt care for an injured animal.
I’m not a farmer but I play one on TV!

For the betterment of all.

I want to commend Jeff Fowle for this post from his blog. I wholeheartedly agree with everything he says. We in Agriculture need to realize we must remain strong in the face of opposition. If we are not united in our voice we can not accomplish this goal if we are divided. No matter the style, size, or form of farming & ranching we must speak with one voice. Organizations like Farm bureau allow this to be the case, the policies that were decided upon had been debated for nearly a year before being finalized in Seattle. We do not always agree on every point however at the end of the day decisions have to be made and the majority vote decides that. the organization then moves forward together for the betterment of the whole Agricultural industry.

AFBF 2010 Convention Demonstrates Open Arms, Appreciation & Values

At the 2010 American Farm Bureau Convention, President Bob Stallman opened the activities with an inspiring address and was commended through a standing ovation by a very diverse crowd of family farmers and ranchers. Farmers and ranchers representing every commodity, every state, including Puerto Rico and every method of production were joined together for one objective; to work together to ensure “Passage to Success” for all American Agriculture. It is the ability for this diverse community to come together and discuss sensitive issues in a professional and civil manner and coming to agreement for the benefit of agriculture that makes the American Farm Bureau Federation so special.

The American Farm Bureau Federation opened the doors to the media, including representatives from publications of opposition. It was and is the intent of the American Farm Bureau to welcome individuals with open arms to engage in positive dialogue and demonstrate the tremendous grass root foundation that exemplifies Farm Bureau’s purpose to make progress based on freedom and dignity of the individual, sustained by basic moral and religious concepts.

Certainly, it was disappointing to see several articles published that portrayed the American Farm Bureau Federation in a negative light. However, family farmers and ranchers will continue to encourage positive dialogue, even with those who are in opposition, in the hope that understanding can be reached in an effort to share the positive message that farmers and ranchers have with the public. Family farmers and ranchers are and always shall be optimistic, welcoming and looking for opportunities to engage the public in a civil manner with the hope for beneficial outcomes.

As Terry Bradshaw stated in his address to the delegation, “Life is too short not to smile and be appreciative for the bountiful blessings bestowed upon us by our creator.” We should all be thankful for the work of America’s farmers and ranchers for providing the country and the world with a bountiful supply of safe and healthy food. Thank a farmer!

#thankafarmer

I am extremely humbled and honored as a farmer that someone out there is looking to make the HashTag #thankafarmer trend on Twitter at JBChicago. Here are some other references to the same trend from Cut to Paste and Marketing Newbie.

I would also like to offer my thanks to fellow farmers for being a great group of friends and acquaintances. I am also thankful for the farmers who grow feed that I can raise my animals with. moreover my family can eat a wide variety of food thanks to many farmers out there. I am also thankful for the many farmers who serve their communities as Church Leaders, Council & Commission Members, Volunteer Firefighters, Youth Group Leaders, and may other Volunteer positions.

Here are some other Thank A Farmer blog posts:

• Love Thanksgiving? Thank a Farmer – Busy Women’s Guide to Eating Better
• Be Thankful for a Lot of Things, and Don’t Forget the Farmers – Texas Agriculture Talks
• America’s Family Farmers
• Farmers make foodie aspirations possible – Farm Bureau Blog
• Don’t Be a Turkey This Thanksgiving, Thank a Farmer – Beyond the Rows
• Food a Plenty, Thanks to family farmers – NCGA
• A place to post your thanks – Beef from Pasture to Plate
• A Farmer in Northwest Iowa – Faith, Fiction, Friends
• Thanking a Farmer for Introducing Me to the World of Beef Cattle – Beef from Pasture to Plate
• Fun Facts about the Food We Eat – Ag Day
• Thank a Farmer – Beef From Pasture to Plate
• Thank a Farmer – Advocates for Ag
• It’s Thank a Farmer Week – Tyson Foods Hunger Aid
• Reflections on your Thanksgiving Plate
• Gilmer’s Moo Tube Minute – Gilmer Dairy
• Give Thanks For This Harvest (Blake Hurst) – The American
• A New Thanksgiving Tradition in the Making? #Thankafarmer – Ag, It’s not a job It’s an Adventure!
  

Honoring those that motivate us

In my lifetime few people have had as great an impact on my passion to explain Agriculture and get the Farmers story out there than Michele Payn Knoper (MPK). It is now time for me to help honor her for her passion to get farmers to tell there story. I first met MPK several years ago while attending the Young Dairy Leaders Institute (YDLI). This was my first experience in a leadership program and boy was I uncomfortable but in a good way, as I soon came to realize that learning to function in an unfamiliar environment would be a great asset in speaking out for Agriculture. Fast forward a few years and again MPK was there encouraging me to speak out for my industry this time with a new form of media we have all grown to love “Social Media” . I had just  started using Twitter to “put a face on the farmer” as many have heard me say, and MPK was htere pushing me to meet my potential.

It is now time for me to honor MPK and encourage people to nominate her for Mashable’s Twitter user of the year. MpK believes she is not deserving of this award, however her humbleness just adds to the reasons to nominate her. One of the greatest tools Agriculture has to connect is her brainchild, Agchat a Twitter based chat on Ag is held every Tuesday evening with the exception of the 3rd Tuesday of the month when Foodchat is held. I was given the honor of being the guest moderator for Agchat tonight 10/27/09 and could not help but fell like “Wow the Master Agvocate is letting me take her sports car for a spin, don’t wreck it”! Mpk is well deserving of the award as a great representative of Agriculture and speaking out to tell our story. Please vote daily for a great Agvocate!

Quick update

Unfortunately I have neglected to make any new posts. I am working on some new stuff so keep an eye out for it in the coming days.

Dino Giacomazzi nails it again.

This is getting scary how Dino is taking the words right from my mouth! He lays it out on the hijacking of the money that was to be used to clear cheese inventories and give the product to those who can use it.

http://dinogiacomazzi.com/2009/10/washington-quit-politicking-feed-the-hungry-help-your-dairy-families/

WP.com Share Button

Sensationalism and the Animal Rights movement

Below is a link to a blog post by a fellow California Dairyman Dino Giacomazzi. Dino does an awesome job highlighting the unnecessary pressure and sensationalism some Animal right groups are using to ban the docking of Cattle Tails in CA. This is all unnecessary because no farm or dairy group opposes the ban and one group even supports the ban now that the farmer can provide prompt care for an injured animal.
I’m not a farmer but I play one on TV!

WP.com Share Button

A Dairy Goddess’s Blog

Another great dairy farmer blog. Barbara and I were both in the same CA Dairy Leaders Class and I am excited to see her engage in the use of Social Media.

A Dairy Goddess’s Blog

Posted using ShareThis

My comments on:Op-Ed Columnist – Food for the Soul – NYTimes.com

Mr. Kristof,

You really do cast a wide net with your statement “It’s not just that it produces unhealthy food, mishandles waste and overuses antibiotics in ways that harm us all.” It is very disheartening to myself a member of a family farming operation to be painted with such a broad brush.

As long-time dairy farmers, my family and I care deeply about our profession and are committed to doing what’s right for our community, our animals and natural resources, while producing dairy products that are safe, affordable and healthy.
Today, through lessons learned from previous generations we can operate our dairy more efficiently to remain economically viable. Modern technology enhances individual animal care and attention; for example, using my cell phone I can now access whole-health history for each cow at any time. Modern freestall housing keeps our animals comfortable and healthy – protecting them from weather extremes, predators and disease. Our herds health is checked at a minimum of every two weeks by a veterinarian.
Change? Yes. Compromise? No. We manage every aspect of our farm in a socially responsible manner so we can be proud of the legacy we leave. As parents, & grandparents we take this responsibility seriously.

Op-Ed Columnist – Food for the Soul – NYTimes.com

My response to: Getting Real About the High Price of Cheap Food – TIME

Getting Real About the High Price of Cheap Food – TIME

As a longtime family dairy farmer, I’m angered by TIME’s biased attack on agriculture in its article “Getting Real About the High Price of Cheap Food.” There’s no question that farming, like every industry, has changed – but the change is driven by a passion for our profession.

My father, brothers and I are committed to doing what’s right for our community, our animals and natural resources, while producing dairy products that are safe, affordable and healthy.

Today, my father, brother and I can operate our 500-cow dairy more efficiently to keep up with the growing world demand for our milk. Modern technology enhances individual animal care; for example, I can access whole-health history for each cow from my cell phone. Modern freestall housing keeps our animals comfortable and healthy – protecting them from weather extremes, predators and disease. Also, a veterinarian frequently checks on our herd.

We’re committed to doing everything we can to conserve and minimize our impact on the environment, too – from re-using 10- to 11-million gallons of groundwater each year to carefully applying nutrients from manure to grow our crops.

Change? Yes. Compromise? No. We manage every aspect of our farm in a socially responsible manner so we can be proud of the legacy we leave.