Indiana Soybean Industry Facts:
60,000 soybean farms produced 287 million bushels of soybeans.
98% of the soybean & livestock farms in the country are still family farms.
98% of the soybean meal produced in the U.S. is consumed by livestock & poultry.
In Indiana, pigs eat 53% of the soybean meal produced and chickens eat 33%.
Livestock and poultry operations also create jobs: 42,000 in Indiana.
Commodity agriculture alone is 5% of the state’s Gross State Product.
Grain & livestock farms and support industries drive much of Indiana’s rural economy with 35-60% of tax revenue generated from agriculture.
Livestock has a large impact on the economy with direct investment and a 3-4x wage multiplier.
Our beef, dairy and pork farms have been in decline. Doubling pork production means trying to regain our pork inventory to what it was in the 1980’s.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
"7 Things You Didn't Know About HSUS"
It’s no secret that the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) isn’t the organization it pretends to be. Instead of using its money to save pets and care for animals, HSUS utilizes their monetary gifts in their work as a lobbying giant. Their main goal is to eliminate animal agriculture in this country, and they are finding success by passing legislation that makes food production more costly than ever before. I was sent this Center for Consumer Freedom article titled, “7 Things You Didn’t Know About HSUS,” and I thought I would share it with all of you. Undoubtedly, it will be some good coffee talk at the local elevator or cafe this weekend.“7 Things You Didn’t Know About HSUS”
1) The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is a “humane society” in name only, since it doesn’t operate a single pet shelter or pet adoption facility anywhere in the United States. During 2006, HSUS contributed only 4.2 percent of its budget to organizations that operate hands-on dog and cat shelters. In reality, HSUS is a wealthy animal-rights lobbying organization (the largest and richest on earth) that agitates for the same goals as PETA and other radical groups.
2) Beginning on the day of NFL quarterback Michael Vick’s 2007 dogfighting indictment, HSUS raised money online with the false promise that it would “care for the dogs seized in the Michael Vick case.” The New York Times later reported that HSUS wasn’t caring for Vick’s dogs at all. And HSUS president Wayne Pacelle told the Times that his group recommended that government officials “put down” (that is, kill) the dogs rather than adopt them out to suitable homes. HSUS later quietly altered its Internet fundraising pitch.
3) HSUS’s senior management includes a former spokesman for the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), a criminal group designated as “terrorists” by the FBI. HSUS president Wayne Pacelle hired John “J.P.” Goodwin in 1997, the same year Goodwin described himself as “spokesperson for the ALF” while he fielded media calls in the wake of an ALF arson attack at a California veal processing plant. In 1997, when asked by reporters for a reaction to an ALF arson fire at a farmer’s feed co-op in Utah (which nearly killed a family sleeping on the premises), Goodwin replied, “We’re ecstatic.” That same year, Goodwin was arrested at a UC Davis protest celebrating the 10-year anniversary of an ALF arson at the university that caused $5 million in damage. And in 1998, Goodwin described himself publicly as a “former member of ALF.”
4) According to a 2008 Los Angeles Times investigation, less than 12 percent of money raised for HSUS by California telemarketers actually ends up in HSUS’s bank account. The rest is kept by professional fundraisers. And if you exclude two campaigns run for HSUS by the “Build-a-Bear Workshop” retail chain, which consisted of the sale of surplus stuffed animals (not really “fundraising”), HSUS’s yield number shrinks to just 3 percent. Sadly, this appears typical. In 2004, HSUS ran a telemarketing campaign in Connecticut with fundraisers who promised to return a minimum of zero percent of the proceeds. The campaign raised over $1.4 million. Not only did absolutely none of that money go to HSUS, but the group paid $175,000 for the telemarketing work.
5) Research shows that HSUS’s heavily promoted U.S. “boycott” of Canadian seafood—announced in 2005 as a protest against Canada’s annual seal hunt—is a phony exercise in media manipulation. A 2006 investigation found that 78 percent of the restaurants and seafood distributors described by HSUS as “boycotters” weren’t participating at all. Nearly two-thirds of them told surveyors they were completely unaware HSUS was using their names in connection with an international boycott campaign. Canada’s federal government is on record about this deception, saying: “Some animal rights groups have been misleading the public for years … it’s no surprise at all that the richest of them would mislead the public with a phony seafood boycott.”
6) HSUS raised a reported $34 million in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, supposedly to help reunite lost pets with their owners. But comparatively little of that money was spent for its intended purpose. Louisiana’s Attorney General shuttered his 18-month-long investigation into where most of these millions went, shortly after HSUS announced its plan to contribute $600,000 toward the construction of an animal shelter on the grounds of a state prison. Public disclosures of the disposition of the $34 million in Katrina-related donations add up to less than $7 million.
7) After gathering undercover video footage of improper animal handling at a Chino, CA slaughterhouse during November of 2007, HSUS sat on its video evidence for three months, even refusing to share it with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. HSUS’s Dr. Michael Greger testified before Congress that the San Bernardino County (CA) District Attorney’s office asked the group “to hold on to the information while they completed their investigation.” But the District Attorney’s office quickly denied that account, even declaring that HSUS refused to make its undercover spy available to investigators if the USDA were present at those meetings. Ultimately, HSUS chose to release its video footage at a more politically opportune time, as it prepared to launch a livestock-related ballot campaign in California. Meanwhile, meat from the slaughterhouse continued to flow into the U.S. food supply for months.
1) The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is a “humane society” in name only, since it doesn’t operate a single pet shelter or pet adoption facility anywhere in the United States. During 2006, HSUS contributed only 4.2 percent of its budget to organizations that operate hands-on dog and cat shelters. In reality, HSUS is a wealthy animal-rights lobbying organization (the largest and richest on earth) that agitates for the same goals as PETA and other radical groups.
2) Beginning on the day of NFL quarterback Michael Vick’s 2007 dogfighting indictment, HSUS raised money online with the false promise that it would “care for the dogs seized in the Michael Vick case.” The New York Times later reported that HSUS wasn’t caring for Vick’s dogs at all. And HSUS president Wayne Pacelle told the Times that his group recommended that government officials “put down” (that is, kill) the dogs rather than adopt them out to suitable homes. HSUS later quietly altered its Internet fundraising pitch.
3) HSUS’s senior management includes a former spokesman for the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), a criminal group designated as “terrorists” by the FBI. HSUS president Wayne Pacelle hired John “J.P.” Goodwin in 1997, the same year Goodwin described himself as “spokesperson for the ALF” while he fielded media calls in the wake of an ALF arson attack at a California veal processing plant. In 1997, when asked by reporters for a reaction to an ALF arson fire at a farmer’s feed co-op in Utah (which nearly killed a family sleeping on the premises), Goodwin replied, “We’re ecstatic.” That same year, Goodwin was arrested at a UC Davis protest celebrating the 10-year anniversary of an ALF arson at the university that caused $5 million in damage. And in 1998, Goodwin described himself publicly as a “former member of ALF.”
4) According to a 2008 Los Angeles Times investigation, less than 12 percent of money raised for HSUS by California telemarketers actually ends up in HSUS’s bank account. The rest is kept by professional fundraisers. And if you exclude two campaigns run for HSUS by the “Build-a-Bear Workshop” retail chain, which consisted of the sale of surplus stuffed animals (not really “fundraising”), HSUS’s yield number shrinks to just 3 percent. Sadly, this appears typical. In 2004, HSUS ran a telemarketing campaign in Connecticut with fundraisers who promised to return a minimum of zero percent of the proceeds. The campaign raised over $1.4 million. Not only did absolutely none of that money go to HSUS, but the group paid $175,000 for the telemarketing work.
5) Research shows that HSUS’s heavily promoted U.S. “boycott” of Canadian seafood—announced in 2005 as a protest against Canada’s annual seal hunt—is a phony exercise in media manipulation. A 2006 investigation found that 78 percent of the restaurants and seafood distributors described by HSUS as “boycotters” weren’t participating at all. Nearly two-thirds of them told surveyors they were completely unaware HSUS was using their names in connection with an international boycott campaign. Canada’s federal government is on record about this deception, saying: “Some animal rights groups have been misleading the public for years … it’s no surprise at all that the richest of them would mislead the public with a phony seafood boycott.”
6) HSUS raised a reported $34 million in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, supposedly to help reunite lost pets with their owners. But comparatively little of that money was spent for its intended purpose. Louisiana’s Attorney General shuttered his 18-month-long investigation into where most of these millions went, shortly after HSUS announced its plan to contribute $600,000 toward the construction of an animal shelter on the grounds of a state prison. Public disclosures of the disposition of the $34 million in Katrina-related donations add up to less than $7 million.
7) After gathering undercover video footage of improper animal handling at a Chino, CA slaughterhouse during November of 2007, HSUS sat on its video evidence for three months, even refusing to share it with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. HSUS’s Dr. Michael Greger testified before Congress that the San Bernardino County (CA) District Attorney’s office asked the group “to hold on to the information while they completed their investigation.” But the District Attorney’s office quickly denied that account, even declaring that HSUS refused to make its undercover spy available to investigators if the USDA were present at those meetings. Ultimately, HSUS chose to release its video footage at a more politically opportune time, as it prepared to launch a livestock-related ballot campaign in California. Meanwhile, meat from the slaughterhouse continued to flow into the U.S. food supply for months.
2007 Ag Census information
Putnam, Indiana
2007
Number of Farms 843
Land in Farms 168,446 acres
Average Size of Farm 200 acres
Market Value of Production $69,252,000
Crop Sales $51,372,000 (74 percent)
Livestock Sales $17,880,000 (26 percent)
Average Per Farm $82,149
2007
Number of Farms 843
Land in Farms 168,446 acres
Average Size of Farm 200 acres
Market Value of Production $69,252,000
Crop Sales $51,372,000 (74 percent)
Livestock Sales $17,880,000 (26 percent)
Average Per Farm $82,149
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Farm Bureau member Tour
Putnam County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and any other member is invited to attend a tour of the Apache Sprayer Factory in Mooresville on Friday February 20. The tour starts at 9:30 am. Anyone interested in going can contact Chris Mann by e-mail clmann@ccrtc.com or by phone at 765-795-5345.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Discussing Animal Care "website"
http://www.conversationsoncare.com/ this website is a great place to learn the
facts concerning the care and well being of all types of livestock.
facts concerning the care and well being of all types of livestock.
Keeping the farm in the Family
You Can Buy the Family Farm, But Remember I Still Own It
Feb 2, 2009 3:29 PM, Source: Hoosier Ag Today; By: Gary Truitt
Transferring power in multi-generational farming operations.
The banquet hall was filled with about 500 young farmers, most ranging in age from late 20s to mid 40s. The speaker asked how many were the third generation living on the family farm. The majority of the hands in the room went up. Fourth generation, he asked; and still the majority of the hands were in the air. Fifth generation, and still more than a few hands were raised. Sixth generation, and still a few hardy souls held their hands high. Seventh generation, and there were 2 hands in the air. Eighth generation, and one very proud couple still had their hands up. This is a testament to the enduring power and legacy of American agriculture. It is also a testament to how successful the transfer of those family farms has been from one generation to another. No other industry can make this claim, but it is a process that is getting harder and harder with each generation.
It is an economic reality that the only way to get into farming today is to inherit it. While there are a few notable exceptions, the vast majority of farmers today were either born or married into it. Yet, the changes that are impacting rural America are making that farm transfer process much more difficult. Dr. Ron Hanson, a professor at the University of Nebraska, has made it his specialty to help farm families navigate this process, “If it is the dream of parents to see that family farm pass on to the next generation, to have their children have the same opportunity they did, then they have to make it happen.” Dr. Hanson said the key to keeping the farm in the family is keeping the family together.
In a presentation to the Indiana Young Farmers Leadership Conference, Dr. Hanson told heartbreaking true stories of families that were destroyed and farms that were lost when the fighting began over what would happen to the farm. He stated that the families that make a smooth transition are those that communicate openly, set goals, and share visions. He said family issues are the most important issues, “Farms can be replaced, but families cannot.”
The pressures on farm families are greater today than perhaps they have ever been and they are certainly different than they have been in the past. The increasing rate of divorce means there is a great likelihood of stepchildren being part of the mix. Fewer and fewer children of farmers want to return to the farm and work in agriculture. Urban sprawl and rural housing developments are inflating land values and presenting families with the opportunity to reap considerable profits from the sale of the farm.
Dr. Hanson said it is the current generation of farmers who hold the key to passing the farm on to the next generation, “It is mom and dad’s farm, and they have to decide what will happen to it. They have to initiate the process, make sure the process is carried out; they have to make sure the process is accomplished.” Dr. Hanson does not believe in “sweat equity.” He suggests, from the first day a son or daughter comes into the business, they need to begin to acquire assets and build net worth, “No banker ever made a loan to a young farmer on sweat equity.”
Ultimately, it comes down to control. At some point in the transfer process, the control of the farm must move from one generation to another. This is an area in which some families really struggle according to Hanson. Even if the farm is transferred successfully, the control of the operation can still be an issue. “Not doing it dad’s way can still be an issue,” said Hanson.
What to do with the family farm is one of the most emotionally charged issues for a family. Yet, successfully moving American agriculture to the next generation is vital for the future of our economy and our society.
Find this article at:
http://www.beefmagazine.com/sectors/cow-calf/0203-family-farm/index.html
Feb 2, 2009 3:29 PM, Source: Hoosier Ag Today; By: Gary Truitt
Transferring power in multi-generational farming operations.
The banquet hall was filled with about 500 young farmers, most ranging in age from late 20s to mid 40s. The speaker asked how many were the third generation living on the family farm. The majority of the hands in the room went up. Fourth generation, he asked; and still the majority of the hands were in the air. Fifth generation, and still more than a few hands were raised. Sixth generation, and still a few hardy souls held their hands high. Seventh generation, and there were 2 hands in the air. Eighth generation, and one very proud couple still had their hands up. This is a testament to the enduring power and legacy of American agriculture. It is also a testament to how successful the transfer of those family farms has been from one generation to another. No other industry can make this claim, but it is a process that is getting harder and harder with each generation.
It is an economic reality that the only way to get into farming today is to inherit it. While there are a few notable exceptions, the vast majority of farmers today were either born or married into it. Yet, the changes that are impacting rural America are making that farm transfer process much more difficult. Dr. Ron Hanson, a professor at the University of Nebraska, has made it his specialty to help farm families navigate this process, “If it is the dream of parents to see that family farm pass on to the next generation, to have their children have the same opportunity they did, then they have to make it happen.” Dr. Hanson said the key to keeping the farm in the family is keeping the family together.
In a presentation to the Indiana Young Farmers Leadership Conference, Dr. Hanson told heartbreaking true stories of families that were destroyed and farms that were lost when the fighting began over what would happen to the farm. He stated that the families that make a smooth transition are those that communicate openly, set goals, and share visions. He said family issues are the most important issues, “Farms can be replaced, but families cannot.”
The pressures on farm families are greater today than perhaps they have ever been and they are certainly different than they have been in the past. The increasing rate of divorce means there is a great likelihood of stepchildren being part of the mix. Fewer and fewer children of farmers want to return to the farm and work in agriculture. Urban sprawl and rural housing developments are inflating land values and presenting families with the opportunity to reap considerable profits from the sale of the farm.
Dr. Hanson said it is the current generation of farmers who hold the key to passing the farm on to the next generation, “It is mom and dad’s farm, and they have to decide what will happen to it. They have to initiate the process, make sure the process is carried out; they have to make sure the process is accomplished.” Dr. Hanson does not believe in “sweat equity.” He suggests, from the first day a son or daughter comes into the business, they need to begin to acquire assets and build net worth, “No banker ever made a loan to a young farmer on sweat equity.”
Ultimately, it comes down to control. At some point in the transfer process, the control of the farm must move from one generation to another. This is an area in which some families really struggle according to Hanson. Even if the farm is transferred successfully, the control of the operation can still be an issue. “Not doing it dad’s way can still be an issue,” said Hanson.
What to do with the family farm is one of the most emotionally charged issues for a family. Yet, successfully moving American agriculture to the next generation is vital for the future of our economy and our society.
Find this article at:
http://www.beefmagazine.com/sectors/cow-calf/0203-family-farm/index.html
Who is Dating Your Cows?
Before you get to the article I must explain that to post this is difficult as I am the Artificial Insemination Technician for ABS in this area and encourage cattlemen to look to AI for their breeding program and avoid some of the concerns listed below in finding the right herd bull. With todays technologies cattle breeding can be done successfully in a reasonably short amount of time and allow the use of a variety of bulls that fit your needs along with protecting you from diseases and the other problems listed below with the purchase of a herd bull.
Who is Dating Your Cows?
Feb 2, 2009 3:38 PM, Source: The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation; By: David Annis
What are you looking for in your next herd bull?
As we head towards spring, we are thinking about bulls. Purchasing a bull for your herd is just like hiring a new employee. Ever wondered about the bull you've hired? What do you really know about him? If he isn't suited to the job or can't do the job, why did you hire him in the first place? You've hired him to help with calf production, but can he do it? It's much easier not to hire a marginal employee than it is to fire one. So what do we need to do to find out if this bull is the employee we need in our herd?
You can start by examining his expected progeny differences (EPD). An EPD is a prediction of the difference between the average performance of an individual animal's progeny and the average progeny performance of another. This can give you insight on how his genetics may complement your cow herd relative to other "applicants" in the pool. Let's move on to the next item.
Has the bull had a breeding soundness exam (BSE)? This is a very important test. Failing this test can make you or break you financially if your bull cannot perform, especially if you only have one bull. An entire calf crop could be missed if the bull is a sub-par performer. If the bull hasn't been tested before you've purchased him, or if it is 30 to 60 days before breeding, he will need a breeding soundness exam. BSEs establish a positive identification of the bull, conduct a physical examination, examine the reproductive organs and collect semen for evaluation. However, the BSE does not show if one bull is better than another and if some venereal diseases are present.
Has the bull been tested for venereal diseases? Venereal disease in cattle can be caused by bacteria, protozoan and viral organisms. So who has this bull been around in the past? One herd? Several herds? A "virgin bull" (one that has not been placed in a cow herd) is your best bet to help avoid these diseases. Trichomoniasis and Vibriosis are only spread by venereal contact. The resulting infections usually result in the death of the embryonic calf. (Keep in mind that Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR), Johne's disease and Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) can be shed by the bull through body excretions. Test for these as well!)
But if I am renting or borrowing a bull, how can I protect my herd from diseases? Either be the first one to use him (and have a BSE performed on him) or have him tested before you let him anywhere near your cows. Your cows represent a significant investment of your time, management and money. Always consider your herd. It only takes one management mistake to haunt your herd for years.
The last question that I am concerned about is the bull's temperament. Am I going to have to worry about getting in the pasture with this new employee? If there is doubt in your mind about his temperament, don't bother with the bull. Go to the next bull on your list. Don't buy a problem!
This may sound like a lot of work; however, it will pay off in the long run. If you aren't able to wean a calf crop or you've introduced diseases into your herd, you have caused yourself considerable long-term grief - both financially and in your management. Perhaps you'll decide that with all this at stake, you'll have to get to know that bull a lot better before you'll allow him in with your cows!
Find this article at:
http://www.beefmagazine.com/genetics/0203-bull-genetics-in-cowherd/index.html
Who is Dating Your Cows?
Feb 2, 2009 3:38 PM, Source: The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation; By: David Annis
What are you looking for in your next herd bull?
As we head towards spring, we are thinking about bulls. Purchasing a bull for your herd is just like hiring a new employee. Ever wondered about the bull you've hired? What do you really know about him? If he isn't suited to the job or can't do the job, why did you hire him in the first place? You've hired him to help with calf production, but can he do it? It's much easier not to hire a marginal employee than it is to fire one. So what do we need to do to find out if this bull is the employee we need in our herd?
You can start by examining his expected progeny differences (EPD). An EPD is a prediction of the difference between the average performance of an individual animal's progeny and the average progeny performance of another. This can give you insight on how his genetics may complement your cow herd relative to other "applicants" in the pool. Let's move on to the next item.
Has the bull had a breeding soundness exam (BSE)? This is a very important test. Failing this test can make you or break you financially if your bull cannot perform, especially if you only have one bull. An entire calf crop could be missed if the bull is a sub-par performer. If the bull hasn't been tested before you've purchased him, or if it is 30 to 60 days before breeding, he will need a breeding soundness exam. BSEs establish a positive identification of the bull, conduct a physical examination, examine the reproductive organs and collect semen for evaluation. However, the BSE does not show if one bull is better than another and if some venereal diseases are present.
Has the bull been tested for venereal diseases? Venereal disease in cattle can be caused by bacteria, protozoan and viral organisms. So who has this bull been around in the past? One herd? Several herds? A "virgin bull" (one that has not been placed in a cow herd) is your best bet to help avoid these diseases. Trichomoniasis and Vibriosis are only spread by venereal contact. The resulting infections usually result in the death of the embryonic calf. (Keep in mind that Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR), Johne's disease and Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) can be shed by the bull through body excretions. Test for these as well!)
But if I am renting or borrowing a bull, how can I protect my herd from diseases? Either be the first one to use him (and have a BSE performed on him) or have him tested before you let him anywhere near your cows. Your cows represent a significant investment of your time, management and money. Always consider your herd. It only takes one management mistake to haunt your herd for years.
The last question that I am concerned about is the bull's temperament. Am I going to have to worry about getting in the pasture with this new employee? If there is doubt in your mind about his temperament, don't bother with the bull. Go to the next bull on your list. Don't buy a problem!
This may sound like a lot of work; however, it will pay off in the long run. If you aren't able to wean a calf crop or you've introduced diseases into your herd, you have caused yourself considerable long-term grief - both financially and in your management. Perhaps you'll decide that with all this at stake, you'll have to get to know that bull a lot better before you'll allow him in with your cows!
Find this article at:
http://www.beefmagazine.com/genetics/0203-bull-genetics-in-cowherd/index.html
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