Innocent Questions or Skepticism about the Farm?

Posts Tagged ‘Farming’

Innocent Questions or Skepticism about the Farm?

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011

Last fall my family held an open house to celebrate our newly constructed confinement hoop barn for our feeder cattle. We went out of our way to invite non-farm neighbors, members of our church, acquaintances, and the broader community in general. We learned that some questions are just that – and that’s important to not respond defensively.

“So, the cattle don’t ever go outside?” was a question I received from one of the attendees. She had no farm experience. Now, I am all too familiar with the nasty accusations that can be hurled at certain farming practices. I have been attacked on my blog for some of the practices used on our farm. There are individuals who feel it is cruel to keep an animal under a roof while it is being fattened for market – and they are none too hesitant to share their feelings. I’ve been round and round with people, and despite my best efforts, some minds just can’t be changed.

Liz Nieman is a full time mom of three, wife to Justin, and a farmer who resides in northeast Iowa.

I’ll admit, my defenses immediately went up at the asking of this question. I assumed that she disapproved of the practice. For a second, I considered a snarky response. Then I took a step back. She was simply asking an innocent question, and if I responded with a short answer, I would have the absolute wrong effect. I explained that, yes, the cattle get to spend the rest of their lives being pampered in this barn, with fresh bedding added weekly and daily balanced meals delivered right to their feed bunk. They would be monitored closely for health and comfort, as a happy calf is a productive calf. I told her if she wanted to learn more, she could follow our farm on my blog.

In face-to-face conversations, and online comment threads, I have occasionally seen a different scenario play out. A producer will become defensive in explanations of the practices they use on their farm, and will resort to an accusatory tone, especially if the individual they are talking with disapproves. The conversation spirals downward from there, and neither party is working to find common ground. While I understand this reaction to criticism, I also realize that becoming defensive is counter-productive when sharing the great message of agriculture.

My philosophy as an “agvocate”, is to remember that most of the people I talk to, even the ones who disagree with me, are simply looking for information. It’s my job to provide that information while finding common ground. I don’t have to agree with someone in order to respect them. I let my commitment to my work show, check my attitude frequently, and build a bridge.

I may never know what the lady was really thinking when she asked that question, the day of the open house was crazy and I only had a few seconds to give to one person. I do know that I conveyed a positive message that showed the commitment we have to the livestock on our farm. Hopefully she went home and looked up my blog. Which is much better than a snarky response. That would have only put both of us on edge and closed her ears.

When engaging in discussions about agriculture in food production, remember to ask yourself, innocent question, or skepticism? When in doubt, treat it as an innocent question, show the other person that you are a respectable human being, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll begin to build that bridge.

Iowa farm mom talks agvocacy Liz’s family has a diversified farming operation that includes beef feeder cattle, a cow/calf herd, wean-to-finish hogs, corn, soybeans, and hay. She agvocates about family-corporate-agribusiness farming at her blog: http://iafarmwife.com. She’s also on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/lizzynieman) and tweets from @farmwifeforlife.

Tags: Agriculture, agvocacy, animal agriculture, family, farm, Farmer, Farming, food production
Posted in Advocacy, Agriculture, Farmer, Farming, Food | 4 Comments »

Farm Culture in Suburbia?

Friday, May 13th, 2011

~ guest blog post by Bobbi Kleinschmidt

I grew up on a family farm in Milford, Indiana. As a child I didn’t always appreciate weaning pigs, laying irrigation pipe or inhaling dust in a hay mow. I did appreciate that I had a good life and was part of something that made Dad proud. He taught us appreciation for farming and its entwinement with nature. When I left the farm to attend college I realized that agriculture is a unique culture – my culture.

Whenever I’ve interviewed for a job, I mention my farm background and never fail to get a positive comment about our work ethic. Non-farm friends ask for clarification on certain aspects then give thanks for our food. When I meet other farm kids I instantly know who they are because we have the same culture.

When Will and Erin, now seven and five, were born I became a full-time Mom. At this time, we were living in Van Wert, Ohio surrounded by corn and soybean fields. My husband, Andy, worked as an agricultural extension agent. Farming was outside our back door and a weekend at Dad’s farm was an easy drive. Yet, I felt it was up to me to instill my farming culture into my children.

I recreated my culture to the best of my ability in order for Will and Erin to experience life on a farm. A culture of mud puddles and fresh garden vegetables, of petting bumble bees, pigs and cows, of smelling manure and liking it, of understanding plants and soils and hard work and ethics. They road tractors, combines and 4-wheelers and took walks to throw stones in the crick. We identified deer tracks and how to tell a hawk from a buzzard by the tips of their wings. Weeds were identified and plucked from the fields. When not at the family farm, we were learning similar things just outside our back door in our country setting. Our Ohio garden fed four families. I could see my culture becoming part of my kids. Then, we moved to the suburbs in March of 2011.

This recent move to the “burbs” of Iowa has created a new panic within me. What if my children forget the culture I’ve tried so hard to teach them? What if they don’t want my culture anymore?

Again, I felt it was up to me to keep my culture alive in Will and Erin. But guess what? My culture is their culture. Will and Erin asked to help plant the garden; they only willingly eat vegetables that we grow. Will taught his class that the small alfalfa plants they were growing will eventually be fed as hay to cows and even ate a leaf as proof. Erin was helping plant a new tree and identified clay in the soil; she even made a soil ribbon to show me. Both can tell the difference between a hawk and a buzzard in the air and still love a good mud puddle and a walk to their papa’s crick. Both are considerate kids who do their chores. I am so proud!

The burbs are not my favorite place to live, but I am driven to keep agriculture and nature in the soul of my children. We are on a much smaller playing field now and agriculture will always be a part of our lives and is still, in a sense, right out our back door. Farming is still all around us – I just have to look for it a little harder. How are you helping people find farming?

Bobbi Kleinschmidt earned a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy and a Master of Arts in Communication, both from Purdue University. She worked as an agronomist and in public relations and marketing. Bobbi is currently working as a freelance writer while living in the suburbs of Iowa and dreaming of the county while getting dirt under her fingernails.

Tags: Agriculture, Farming, food production, garden, mom, suburbs, work ethic
Posted in Agriculture, Farm Life, Farming, Food, Moms | 1 Comment »

Is Talk Cheap in Farm Animal Welfare?

Thursday, May 12th, 2011

~ guest post by Tim Amlaw

“Talk is cheap,” they say.

With all due respect, those of us at American Humane Association’s farm animal welfare programs disagree. We think it’s time for farmers, ranchers and consumers to discuss why farm animal welfare’s important.

We’ve been talking about the topic since American Humane Association launched the first, and now largest, third party-verified farm animal welfare program in North America. These days we certify food producers representing over 135 million farm animals and more than 90% of the nation’s “cage-free” egg production.

Our programs arrived at a time when public awareness about the topic was low, but that’s not the case anymore: farm animal welfare has become one of the fastest-growing issues in America. Public awareness has never been higher in the wake of recalls and exposes, which have brought calls for increased oversight of food producers.

Unlike the sensational media coverage and often draconian solutions proposed by some, American Humane Certified farm animal program uses science-based standards to establish welfare guidelines that food producers must meet. Then we use third-party audits to verify those standards are met on an annual basis for a producer to use the American Humane Certified certification mark on its products. Our world-class scientific advisory panel of animal scientists and veterinarians, which includes expert Dr. Temple Grandin, keeps us abreast of the latest research and developments.

Here’s another significant aspect to our approach: we know there’s more than one way to deliver humane living conditions for farm animals, whether they be egg-laying hens, cattle or pigs. For example, we endorse three solutions for egg-laying hens: free-range, cage-free/aviary and enriched colony housing.

Currently, legislation defining humane conditions for egg-laying hens is working its way through the state legislatures in Washington and Oregon. While we aren’t in the business of writing legislation, we’re proud that both bills mandate enriched colony housing, which allows hens to move around and engage in the full range of natural hen behavior, from extending their wings and turning around, to perching, nesting and scratching. In addition to that freedom of movement, studies show enriched colony housing also has a positive impact on food safety.

This is not to suggest that many farmers and ranchers aren’t already using humane animal welfare practices. Scores of food producers have made the decision to improve animal welfare at their own operations in recent years, whether or not it’s mandated by legislation. These enlightened businesses are not only making the right ethical choice, but the right practical one, as consumers are demanding that animals that produce food for our tables be humanely treated.

We applaud them for their choice, which cuts to the core principal of everything we do: Americans have the right to eat whatever they wish, NO one has the right to treat animals inhumanely.

We understand that finding the best possible farm animal welfare solution can be an often controversial, emotional and complex effort. But rather than shy from the challenge, we’re encouraged that people are talking, whether it be in legislatures, on social media (like this great website) or across the fence.

After all, we happen to think talk has great value. What do you think?

Tim Amlaw is the vice president of American Humane Association’s ground-breaking American Humane Certified farm animal welfare program. Tim has more than 35 years of experience in the agricultural and beef industries. To learn more about American Humane Certified farm animal welfare programs visit http://thehumanetouch.org. They also tweet at http://twitter.com/HumaneTouchOrg.

Tags: AHA, animal agriculture, animal welfare, Farming, food production, third-party audits
Posted in Agriculture, Animal Rights, Consumer Trust, Farming | 1 Comment »

Farming in the Rain

Monday, May 2nd, 2011

~guest post by MRS

I wish I could tell everyone how wonderful the weather has been. How HandyMan and his dad have been able to get all their corn and beans planted. I wish I had cute pictures of Blue riding in the buddy seat of the tractor “helping” his dad or grandpa work ground. In fact, I’d like to tell you that we are excitedly planning to get in the field this week, but that isn’t the case.

When you can't plant corn, you plant flowers, right?

Right now, I just wish the rain would stop and give the ground time to dry out so we could hope to get in the field in a week or two. According to the extended forecast, that probably won’t be happening this week. But that is the life of a farmer and a farmer’s family. Always watching the weather, hoping for a break in the rain or hoping for it to rain at just the right time. Hoping for the temperature to be perfect for seed germination or pollination or harvest, etc. It’s amazing how much more I pay attention to the weather since I married into my farming family.

Every year, I’ve learned so much more about farming and how much the weather really does affect the yields during harvest. HandyMan has taught me to look for signs of stress in the plants, specifically in corn when there hasn’t been enough rain; the leaves tend to be sharp and pointed upwards. In contrast, when there’s too much water, the leaves on the bottom of the stalk tend to turn yellow. HandyMan has also taken the time to point out to me how fast corn can grow in ideal weather, and I’ve learned to pay attention to these details. Before marrying HandyMan, I never would have thought I could even have a semi-educated conversation about any kind of farming!

Still pregnant!

While HandyMan and his dad are dreaming of being able to get their crops planted, I’ve been doing a little farming of my own. Instead of growing corn or soybeans or even tomatoes, I’m working on growing a baby. A few weeks ago, I posted about having complications with our pregnancy. Those complications have continued and I have been on bedrest for almost 5 weeks now. Thankfully baby reached “viability” a couple of weeks ago and I am now in my last week of the 2^nd trimester. Every day that I am still pregnant is a huge blessing, even if bedrest is not!

We’re hoping that our baby won’t make her appearance until the middle of the summer and we’re also hoping that by the time our baby comes, all the worries of a wet spring will be nothing but a fading memory.

But, if this rainy pattern continues, HandyMan and I might be able to make money by turning our field into a lake; after all, it’s almost a lake already! Boating anyone?!?!

Tags: Agriculture, bedrest, farm, Farming, mom, Parenting, Planting, pregnancy, rain, spring
Posted in Agriculture, Farming, Moms | No Comments »

Small Farmer Talks Rabbits & Chickens on Social Media

Friday, April 15th, 2011

~ guest blog post by Jan Hoadley, Slow Money Farm

Most people wouldn’t consider social media a part of their agricultural venture. Technology maybe, but Twitter or Facebook? It’s vital for my operation because there’s a whole world who hasn’t heard about our animals.

You see, many have chickens or rabbits. Many will sell eggs or other products from the farm. As a small operation, we’re dependent on larger operations for our feed and keeping that feed affordable. We’re also dependent to a large degree on social media not just for agriculture but for our choices in breeds.

Many people have never seen a giant chinchilla rabbit, although rabbits are common with lop ears or white or small pets. Our Dominiques trace to those hardy birds of 100 years ago when they were the bird of choice on American farms. They could forage, lay enough eggs for a family and excess males were large enough for Sunday dinner. Today they, like many rare breeds, are kept alive in those smaller conditions. They aren’t adapted as a commercial bird.

You see, it’s rare breeds that balance the commercial production animals in giving food choices. They’re also a living link to the past. The giant chinchilla has the moniker “the million dollar rabbit” and are gentle enough to be handled by a novice pre-teen, despite their larger size.

Our animals have function and beauty but that isn’t enough in today’s agricultural diversity. Without exposure – without people learning about them and generating demand for them – they may well become extinct. Gone forever, such as some in the past that were so good at producing crossbred production animals no one kept the purebred lines alive.

Social media allows us to provide a little history and a little present day mixed together with function and memories. Social media allows photos, stories and videos to cross wires and be viewed by people far away. It allows those far from their food source to see options in agriculture and in how their food is grown.

It allows viewing something besides horrific videos that don’t represent agriculture as a whole, but it does so in color. From the Rhode Island Reds and Dominiques to the black Australorps it allows showing the birds from the comfort of their home to those in the comfort of theirs.

Agriculture is diverse! From aquaculture to herbs to thousands of products we deal with every day, agriculture is a part. Beyond that no two poultry operations are the same. In using social media to tell our story it is about more than just us – it highlights some colorful, beautiful and functional animals that others can support from afar or use to produce their own food.

As a small operation it’s difficult to get away for long and each bird or rabbit is an individual. Our crops are much smaller and more diverse than what is produced on large farms or found in the local grocery. Social media takes promotion to new levels with convenience. You can “visit” from anywhere…and we hope you will! Extinction is forever – in farms and in livestock. We all offer choice.

Jan Hoadley grew up in the Midwest, but currently lives in northwest Alabama with a variety of unusual looking creatures. She is a proud graduate of the AgChat Foundation’s Agvocacy 2.0 training and has recently added video blogging to her use of social media tools, though she prefers to be behind the camera rather than in front of it. Jan is known for bringing a unique perspective to the conversation about our food. You can find her on Twitter, Linkedin or the farm’s website is http://www.slowmoneyfarm.com.