While observing Memorial Day yesterday, I gave a lot of thought to Red Shirt Friday. I wear a red shirt to show support for our troops because “red” is really an acronym for “remember everyone deployed.”
Last Friday, as on many Fridays, I wore my red shirt. This Friday, however, wearing red had a more personal meaning for me and my wife, Janice. Our daughter, Sara, was home to help celebrate my birthday and our wedding anniversary. Sara is a military veteran, and she greatly appreciated seeing her mother and me show a sign of military support.
Apparently wearing red on Fridays is an old tradition that might even date back to a military women’s support group. Last night I spent several hours googling, trying to find that story. I didn’t find “that” story. I did, however, find some very interesting links that I’ve incorporated into this blog post and also will share below. I hope you will take a few moments to read these articles and watch the video.
Too many Americans have forgotten there are many U.S. troops still fighting to defend our freedoms. That’s why I appreciate all my good friend and radio broadcaster Trent Loos does to raise awareness and to support our troops. In fact, I ordered my red shirt through Trent. He also is a huge supporter of the All American Beef Battalion, which thanks U.S. servicemen and women by serving ribeye steaks to them.
It doesn’t matter whether you support the wars we are fighting or whether you support the various places our troops are serving. What matters is that we support our troops for doing a very dangerous job! These people from all walks of life like you and me, yet they make it possible for all of us in this country to express our views and enjoy our rights!
Attention New Grads: Don’t Take Water Quality Issues at Surface Level
This past weekend, I attended one of my granddaughter’s high school graduation ceremony in a small town south of Des Moines. The ceremony was held on the football field, which is quite an undertaking during spring in Iowa!
By luck, and maybe a little divine intervention, the outdoor graduation ceremony worked. We enjoyed some sunshine. Then just like you’d expect from Iowa weather, some clouds moved in, a few sprinkles fell and the winds began to gust. Papers blew off the stage, and the young ladies were hanging onto their skirts. Nonetheless, it was a beautiful ceremony!
About 35 years ago, Larry Sailer planted trees and bushes along the creek that runs through his farm. #FarmersCoverIowa
The keynote speaker was a retiring school teacher, who had taught most of his career at this school. I must admit that I don’t remember the speech at my graduation, however, he captured my attention by referencing farmers in his presentation! He talked about how farmers sow seeds, and teachers do likewise. What a great analogy, right?
Later in the commencement address, the speaker told these graduating seniors how they need to fix the problems of our waters in Iowa! He shared how an all-time high number of our waters are polluted. I could feel my wife’s eyes on me. As soon as we got to our car, Janice said she was a little concerned at how I might react to the keynote. Rather than say anything at the time, I decided to address it in this week’s blog.
It concerns me that educated people can be so misinformed! Did the teacher share untruths about Iowa’s farmers? No! Did he share all the facts? No!
Our government agencies have the ability to control public perception simply by choosing which information to release and when. The Des Moines Waterworks (DMWW) own data shows a downward trend of nitrates in the Raccoon River, but that’s not what is making the headlines these days in Iowa. Instead we’re hearing about increasing amounts of nitrates from the DWMM.
More Iowa waters made the “polluted list” this year, but it’s misleading because the standards by which waters are judged have changed. When you lower the level by which waters are judged, you have more water bodies on the list. Was this information shared with these new graduates? Of course it wasn’t!
The commencement speaker used the water quality example to rally new members of our society, and as is often the case today, people take information at surface value. Many people do not dig for the facts! Emotional issues run on emotion, not facts.
As I was pondering the commencement address, I an article from the New Yorker came to mind that reads: Scientists have discovered a powerful new strain of fact-resistant humans who are threatening the ability of Earth to sustain life. One scientist involved with the study concluded by saying that although the research is preliminary, “… It’s possible [humans] will become more receptive to facts once they are in an environment without food, water or oxygen.”
The water running through Larry Sailer’s farm is so clear you can see rocks on the bottom of the creek bed.
“Armchair farmers” believe agriculture is simple and that policies are needed to ensure farmers protect the environment. While I agree there are still improvements that we can make to further enhance water quality, let’s give credit for the improvements that have been made. Conservation practices are helping improve water quality.
Back in the good old days, a lot of damage was done to our soils and water. The ground was tilled until there was no residue left, so soil would either blow or wash away. “Conservation tillage” was a buzz word when I started farming. No-till was just beginning. Terraces, or dirt pilled to control water flow, were being built by the miles.
I have taken pictures of my creek, showing how clean my water is leaving my farm. The water is absolutely clear, so you can see the bottom of the stream. Such clear water makes it difficult to take a picture, but I hope you “see my point.”
Yes, we also need to control things in the water that we can’t see. That why I side-dress fertilizer, using just the right amount at the right time to feed corn plants. Lots of farmers are voluntarily spending millions of their own dollars every year to implement conservation practices.
Today’s technology can detect smaller amounts of pollution in our waters, but it can also help us reduce that pollution. Farmers have made a huge difference, and we’ll continue to do more because we take pride in seeing results!
Apparently that sensational headline didn’t spark enough attention so now the USDA announces it is building a program to respond to climate change. An article in the May 1 edition of the Illinois Farmer Today states: “This [new program] will utilize voluntary, incentive-based conservation, forestry, and energy programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase carbon sequestration and expand renewable energy production in the agricultural and forestry sectors.”
Mr. Hohenstein’s job is to ensure every government agency considers climate change before any project is undertaken! He has been given a lot of power, and money seems to be no object. It seems every week I read about another muti-million program from my “favorite government agency,” but apparently the USDA doesn’t have to prove whether the expenditure will lead to the desired results.
When are Americans going to start questioning whether centralized government is the best route? This week I read an article in The Daily Signal entitled, “The Death of the Green Energy Movement,” where author Stephen Moore concludes:
We don’t know if renewables will ever play a significant role in America’s energy mix. But if it does ever happen, it will be a result of market forces, not central planning.
When taxpayer money is thrown at green projects, there is going to be waste. Why are we continuing to throw money into a sink hole as big as “climate change”?
Undoubtedly, weather changes. Weather cycles even repeat themselves… Remember what we learned about the Ice Ages? That climatic change occurred without man’s interference! Throughout history, weather events like meteors, volcanoes, earthquakes have occurred that affect our weather.
Climate change is real, but government bureaucracy is also real. Our Founding Fathers believed in less government control and more free enterprise. The United States, and let me repeat STATES, was built by private business owners coming up with solutions to problems. Private business owners have skin in the game. Let’s let real, true ingenuity from our private business come up with solutions that will work!
Sunday morning before I went to church, I shared an article about Australia holding a day of prayer for the USA. It was admitted that Australia may have the same moral and spiritual bankruptcy as the U.S. but its concerned more because so many countries worldwide benefit from foreign aid from America. The article states: “Moral and spiritual bankruptcy leads to financial and governmental bankruptcy. America is in great danger from within and from without.”
After sharing this post, I went to church. I didn’t check my Facebook account until the church service was done, and there was a pretty charged debate taking place on my post! Everything from civil unions to a separation between church and state was being discussed. Many comments were thought-provoking, and my “friends” definitely were passionate about their beliefs.
This online debate combined with the sermon I heard earlier that morning brought his scripture to mind, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21
Pastor Scott’s sermon on Sunday, as always, seemed to be directed at me. (Ok… Ok… Pastor Scott probably isn’t targeting me, but his sermons are definitely speaking to my heart!) The burning question Pastor Scott raised Sunday was, “Who or what is the king ruling over your life?”
Are you a workaholic, who is allowing your job to take you away from church and family? Do you value material possessions, such as your house or vehicle, to separate you from what’s more important? I knew what my wife, Janice, was thinking as she listened to this sermon. After all, Janice has often threatened an intervention of my Social Media!
While I really don’t believe agvocating has gotten in the way of church and my family, it definitely is time consuming. So many activities and jobs compete for my time. I’m more involved than ever with church activities. Serving as an Elder has been a very rewarding position. I’ve attended way more events for my grandkids than I did for my kids.
No matter how much time I give to my church, my family or even my farm, I feel like there’s more I should be doing. My To Do List is longer than the list of projects I’ve completed. There’s landscaping to finish. My shop is going unused. There are rocks that need to be picked up from fields. The list goes on… My mind wanders to the numerous jobs on the farm that need doing as I sit writing another blog post!
Some folks have suggested that I apply for a new award, America’s Pig Farmer of the Year for demonstrating the “We CareSM ethical principles.” I’m good at raising pigs, but I haven’t been all that successful at making money at it. Diseases like circo-virus have not helped my bank account. When my combine caught fire during harvest last fall, it made rethink farming this year. Less than breakeven grain prices makes “pushing a pencil” a must! I know there are others like me, who are thinking very hard about how to survive this round of low crop prices.
Whether we farm or not, there are things that weigh heavily on our minds. We all have pet projects that distract us from our priorities. I thought by having some custom farming done this year, I would have more time. This may come back to bite me, but I’m going to give it a try. I’m going to fuel more energy into building my seed dealership, and I’m going to reprioritize my “Honey Do” list. Mother’s Day is this Sunday, and I want my wife to see just how much she means to me! We’ll attend church together and afterward we’ll enjoy a family dinner. I’ll be smoking pork, of course!
Every April, the Franklin County Farm Bureau hosts an Ag Fair at the Franklin County Fairgrounds for the third graders throughout county. Jennifer Healy has organized this event for many years. This year was no exception, although she was fighting cancer.
The Ag Fair on April 23 was bittersweet this year as Jennifer passed away one day before the event. Jennifer was as passionate as anyone about hosting this event, so kids can experience agriculture firsthand. Even in a rural county like ours, many kids don’t experience farm life.
Thanks to the staff of North Central Iowa Ag in the Classroom for doing such a great job. These ladies provide hands-on learning experiences that are so much fun. Third graders experienced many different stations: horses, cattle, fire safety and llamas. Who knew we had so much diversity in our own county? Talk about a well-rounded farm day!
It’s important for people of all ages to understand how their food is raised. That’s why I accepted an invitation to attend a screening on the Iowa State University campus last week of Farmland, followed by panel discussion. The movie is about several young farmers from across the country with very different types of operations, and the ISU panel was set up the same way. The committee did a great job of bringing together a diverse group of Iowa farmers:
Bill Couser raises cattle and crops.
Mark Kenney grows crops and seed.
Katie Olthoff raises turkeys.
Andrew Pitts is an organic farmer.
Mitchell Roush grows the famous Muscatine watermelons.
And me… a pig farmer with a small crop farm.
A diverse panel of Iowa farmers shared their personal ag stories with Iowa State University students, who gathered to watch the Farmland movie and to learn more about agriculture. Panelists included: Larry Sailer, pigs; Andrew Pittz, organic crops; Mitchell Roush, produce, Bill Couser, cattle; Katie Olthoff, turkey; and Mark Kenney, corn and soybeans.
Now his is the way to find out how your food is grown… learn about farming from farmers! Our group represented six very different ways to grow food. And guess what… there wasn’t a single argument. No one put down another farmer’s way of growing food. We had a great discussion about how what we do, and we discussed how our practices are “right” for each one of our operations.
We all grew up in different areas of the state, and we came from different backgrounds. What we have in common, however, is the desire to grow food and tell our costumers why we do what we do.
We talked about food choice, and how Americans can buy what they want. Consumer choices also creates diverse markets for farmers.
One member of the audience asked how consumers can find out more about food, and I believe this panel was a perfect way to do that! Special thanks to Natalina Sents for bringing together such a great event with a panel of high caliber experts to share about what they do.
If you’re interested in learning more about your food is grown, follow some of my favorite ag bloggers including:
I’m not going to be politically correct because an attack on American’s freedom of choice is increasingly bothering me.
I always trying to understand all sides of any issue. I read all that I can get my hands on: newspapers, magazines, Facebook, blogs… But I learned a long time ago that if I read enough information, I can defend either side.
It’s no wonder today’s consumers are confused as to what to eat. Media reports are filled with mixed messages: Good fat. Bad fat. Eggs are good. Eggs are bad. Eat more beef. Reduce your red meat intake.
There is a huge amount of oversight keeping our food safe. We don’t need expensive regulation, just common sense. Let common sense prevail… Eat sensibly and work off what you consume.
Want to add a little joy to your backyard? Plant a butterfly garden! Butterflies spread beauty as they feed on the flowers they help pollinate.
There are a lot of things to think about when planning a butterfly garden, but the most important – and also the most obvious – is the plants. Lure butterflies into your yard with flowers that produce the nectar they prefer.
Some perennial plants that work well to attract butterflies to gardens in North Iowa and across Plant Hardiness Zone 4 include:
Butterflies are attracted to fragrance. Be sure to include good smelling plants like lavender, lilac and bee balm. These plants will be a treat to your senses, too!
April is National Gardening Month and a great time to plan your butterfly garden. Just click the links above to get started!
Join Cristen & Kristen on a Food Journey across Iowa
“Iowa Girl Eats” blogger Kristen Porter and “Food and Swine” blogger Cristen Porter are teaming up for a food journey across Iowa.
A self-described “born and raised Iowa farm girl with a passion for baking timeless recipes,” Food and Swine blogger Cristen Clark is teaming up with Des Moines native Iowa Girl Eats blogger Kristin Porter to “cook up” conversations about today’s farm and food system.
“I’m an Iowa girl through and through, but until I teamed up with Iowa FFP, my ‘farm visits’ were limited to seasonal trips to the farmers’ market, an apple orchard or a pumpkin patch,” said Porter. “… The biggest takeaway I had from each [farm] visit was the assurance that the farmer I just met does everything he or she can to raise quality food for their families, neighbors, communities and state.”
Starting this month, Cristen and Kristen will connect food-minded Iowans with the people who provide, prepare and serve food. They will partner with farmers and a dedicated team of chefs and dietitians from Hy-Vee, Inc. to share information about production methods, health information and food preparation.
Follow along with their journey at www. iowafoodandfamily.com. Watch for dates to be posted soon about these activities:
Iowa Food and Family (Iowa FFP) Cookbook: This recipe book features nearly 60 recipes from Cristen and Kristen, farmers and Iowa FFP sponsors like Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds. (Words alone cannot express how excited I am to have some of my favorite recipes included in this cookbook!) Complimentary copies of this cookbook will be distributed during in-store events at Hy-Vee, the Des Moines and Beaverdale Farmers’ Markets and the Iowa State Fair.
Recipe Refresh: You’ll have the opportunity to win a makeover and shopping experience — with food! Winners of “Recipe Refresh” events will be chosen statewide and will join Hy-Vee dietitians, area farmers and bloggers as they shop for ingredients to prepare their favorite recipes in-store while also stocking their carts with groceries courtesy of the Iowa FFP.
Make it & Take It: This dinner club event welcomes food-minded Iowans to participate in an informational, hands-on cooking demonstration alongside farm group leaders, a Hy-Vee chef and dietitian.
Bullying Can Happen to Someone You Love, Online or Off!
We no longer feel the isolation and loneliness that were common before instant communication. Through Facebook, I’ve been able to connect with old friends and meet new acquaintances with shared interests. Through Twitter, I’m able to follow a newsfeed filled with hot topics. There are so many people to communicate with – and so many opportunities to do so!
As much as I enjoy being active on Facebook and Twitter, as well as blogging, I’ve found that I am often misunderstood on social media! People reading my posts cannot see the twinkle in my eyes. They can’t hear the tone in my voice. Text messages – even with the use of emoticons – don’t allow us to look into someone’s eyes or read their body language.
Social media can be a very non-emotional form of communication. Comments can easily be taken out of context. Too often people make statements while hiding behind a computer. Facts can get twisted and feelings can get hurt when people post comments via social media that they would never say in during a face-to-face talk!
When I posted a blog taking a look inside #RealPigFarming on March 31, I received several unpleasant comments. Those comments hurt enough to make me question whether I should continue to keep blogging. That wasn’t the first time I’ve felt harassed online, and the negative effects are cumulative.
Think about it… what kind of communication are our young people having? My attention was focused on this very question while visiting with my granddaughter after one of her friends committed suicide this past week. This action was taken by a girl in Junior High!
After talking more with my granddaughter, I discovered that her friend was being bullied. Cyberbullying has become a new lethal form of bullying. Speaking of bullying, 85% of students witness bullying when adults are not present. I also learned that my granddaughter’s friend was a very troubled young girl. I understand that I’m only hearing one side of the story, but it brought mental healthcare to mind.
Why are so many kids today either involved in school shootings or taking their own lives? Many folks are quick to dismiss this topic by saying, “Kids have always been this way.” Or they ask, “What’s wrong with today’s kids?”
So many things can probably be blamed: social media, nutrition, the way we discipline our kids, and Common Core with all the testing. But I firmly believe that kids today must learn – and accept – that everyone is NOT the same. Not everyone deserves a blue ribbon. Not every team can win a game, so keep score at ball games. Teach kids how to win and lose! Kids need to learn that more effort often yields results. That way players, who don’t win every game, can feel good about their efforts. A kid who earns a red ribbon but desires a blue ribbon will be motivated to want to learn how to improve.
We need to stop making excuses and start looking for answers. Kids are dying! My granddaughter, like other teenagers facing a similar situation, is very hurt. She wonders if there was more she could have done, and the guilt she carries will be another problem. Suicide does not only involve one person; it has a huge effect so many people.
In the short term, my granddaughter needs to be reassured that she’s not to blame and that’s she’s loved! In the long term, this problem needs to be addressed by everyone. Empathy must be taught for bullying to stop, says internationally recognized educator, best-selling author, and bullying prevention expert Dr. Michelle Borba.
There isn’t a simple solution. A community must be willing to change. Community leaders, parents and educators must collaborate. What do you think is the best way to get a conversation like this started in a community?
What answers do you get if you ask someone to list STEM careers? My guess is you may hear things like mechanical engineering, architecture, medicine, computer programming, or research analyst. I doubt you will hear farming very often. However, STEM is a large part of everyday farming in the 21st century!
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. You don’t have to look far to find STEM in everyday farming. Here are a few examples:
SCIENCE – Midwest farmers will soon be planting #crop15, and one area that has seen a lot of science improvements is the seed that is planted. Scientists are constantly working to improve seeds to better withstand different weather conditions (e.g. wind and drought) and overall improve yield. Farmers do a number of scientific tests throughout the year to ensure all of their management practices are optimal. These tests include things like soil samples, water quality samples, moisture testing harvested grain in the fall, feed particle size for livestock operations, and the list goes on.
TECHNOLOGY – You can hardly open a farming magazine today without an article on new technology. Precision farming technologies are being used in much of the equipment today to auto-steer equipment and attachments with increasing precision and accuracy, vary the rate of seeds and fertilizer, and send alerts or messages to farm managers. Drones are being used for crop scouting and monitoring farm areas more efficiently. Technology has also increased for livestock operations with hardware and software to monitor everything from feed ordering to building maintenance issues. A number of farmers are also looking at installing solar panels around their operations for energy.
ENGINEERING – Engineering is designing and building a new or improved product or process. Farmers do this on a regular basis. They may modify a tool bar to better meet their needs, design a new grain leg, or modify a sprayer to plant cover crops. Farmers are also documenting their processes and looking for ways to improve efficiency.
MATH – Math is something that is definitely used on a daily basis. Farming is a business which requires solid financials to remain competitive in today’s environment. In addition to financial performance farmers are constantly doing mathematical calculations to determine everything from acres of coverage to bushels of grain.
Sally Hollis with two of her previous managers from John Deere
The future is so exciting! Science, math and engineering are applicable to nearly every career. That’s why I believe STEM education in Iowa elementary and secondary schools is so important.
