Here are a couple videos featuring comments form the USDA-sponsored NAIS listening sessions.
The opposition has been overwhelmingly against a National Animal Identification System. Do you think our government will listen?
For the latest news on NAIS go to the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance website.
I was out to some land I own to inspect my hay ground and also meet a real estate agent, as I would like to sell this parcel. To my surprise, there were two baby raccoons climbing on one of the gate posts. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a camera with me and I was disappointed that I wouldn’t be able to show them to my family.
When the real estate agent arrived, I showed him the two babies and lamented the fact that I didn’t have my camera along. Fortunately, he did! My thanks for the picture below that he emailed me.
Two Baby Raccoons
This little bull calf’s name is Princeton.
It looks like he doesn’t want to go!
WHO radio in Des Moines, Iowa airs The Big Show from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM on weekdays. I happened to be listening today and heard the hosts discussing the swine flu. If you are not familiar with The Big Show, it is agriculture-focused. WHO has a long history and stellar reputation for its support and reporting of agriculture.
In their discussion of the swine flu, they were making observations about the severity of the outbreak, geographical location, and the different methods of raising pigs.
I don’t think that the means of production is causative of swine flu or H1N1. The higher mortality rate in poorer countries most likely has everything to do with the general level of health in the population.
It is also a misnomer that people don’t raise pigs outdoors in the U.S. (although this is a rare sight anymore). The Beginning Farmer is from Iowa and his pigs enjoy the sunshine and green pastures!
The biggest worry in the U.S. is that people will infect the pigs! Yes, the worry at the large confinement operation is that someone will bring a virus into the barn and it will spread like wildfire in the close conditions. They better watch out where their workers come from!