This little bull calf’s name is Princeton.
It looks like he doesn’t want to go!
Swine Flu on The Big Show
May 13, 2009 – 7:08 pm
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.
- Poor countries have small farms raising pigs outdoors. (Implies this method of agriculture breeds disease.)
- The U.S. have large farms raising pigs in large, confined operations. (Implies this method of agriculture is safe.)
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!
NAIS Listening Sessions
May 7, 2009 – 4:05 am
Here are a couple excerpts from a press release from former Iowa Governor and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will hold a series of listening sessions on the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).
The meetings will take place next month in Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington state.
Why are the sessions only being held in seven states? I don’t know. There should be a session held in every state, as everyone will be affected by this program.
The full article can be read here.
My Vote is NO – NAIS
May 5, 2009 – 3:05 pm
I was outside the other day and I noticed the most unusual patterns on one of my cows. This is my oldest miniature jersey. It must take a lot of experience to be able to shed hair this way.
I vote NO NAIS!
I know that Asther has an unusual talent! But she really brings up a great point. NAIS is not needed. It will not make food safe. Widespread food-caused illnesses really started with industrialized food processing. Small, local farms don’t cause massive outbreaks of illness caused by bacterial contamination. If a small farmer has bad product, he is out of business!
NAIS will also make a lot of money for the companies that sell chips, tags, computer software, and other equipment. It will cost that same amount of money for the farmer or rancher to comply with the program.
I’m with Asther. I vote NO for NAIS too!
Love, Asther
