Feed My Sheep Farm

This was a common sight in Haiti:

Twins suffering from malnutrition in Montrouis, Haiti

Hungry children at the mountain church

This boy broke my heart. He walked about like an old man–slow and methodical. He used his distended belly as a prop.

Mud cookies are eaten to fill their bellies when there is no food in the house. Pregnant women also eat these to get the minerals that are missing from their diet.

Hunger is a fact of life in Haiti.

In fact, according to World Vision’s website, 2.4 million Haitians cannot afford the recommended minimum daily calories.

One look into those twins faces on Christmas Eve and Jared and I knew we had to do something.

So, we put our ag nerd brains together, emailed a few of our former advisors from college and various jobs and started the development of what has come to be known as the “Feed My Sheep” farm. Our group’s goal is to develop a livestock operation near Ecole Bon Berger school in Grand Gode, Haiti that will provide the school with eggs, milk and meat products, as well as develop a sustainable 3 acre farm outside of L’Artibontie. Our goal in this is to teach the Haitian people agriculture skills that they can use to manage this farm. We want this farm to be completely Haitian run and independently operational in a year.

This is a big undertaking and we need your help. We need people with agriculture expertise to share their knowledge as well as monetary donations to purchase the supplies in country. We also need your prayers as we seek to implement this plan quickly, before anyone else in the community gets more ill or passes away from starvation.

Check out our plan here.

To donate money via PayPal to purchase livestock or equipment click here.

Thanks! God is doing great things! 🙂

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ –Matthew 25:35-40

Winter Work

Howdy! Sorry for the long time away!

Harvest is over and the winter work has begun. During the winter, we focus on fixing equipment that needs work, cleaning up harvest equipment, taking extra winter precautions with the livestock, planting cover crops and breaking land or fixing terraces.

While winter is considerably slower than harvest, the “piddle work” as Jared calls it, is very important. Winter is the time when we plant cover or in the case of some of our fields, break the land  and fix broken terraces. Winter is also the time when we order seed; carefully reviewing varieties, looking at past production on our farm as well as research plots in our area. Everything that goes into winter planning ensures that we have a good start during the next crop season. Even the cleaning and fixing of equipment during the winter pays off in lower shop bills (because of the off season) and less headaches down the road.

We also “baby” our cows much more during the winter since the warm-season grasses are dormant. Some years we plant oats or rye for them to graze, but this year we had a good crop of peanut hay and plenty of bagged oats from last year, so we are carrying them through the winter on that. We also supplement with other feeds and minerals as they need it.  

While we try to use conservation tillage practices on our farm, sometimes a field requires breaking. This maybe to manage a particular weed or in our case, fix terraces on some new land we are renting. Poor management practices in the past, coupled with already quick to erode soils can lead to ineffective terraces that cause washes. These terraces can be improved by reshaping through plowing.  

Here are a few photos of our winter work with the cows… more winter work photos to come!

 

Happy Trails!

 

Drought

*I know we promised a post from Jared but he’s been tied up with some major planting issues so it will be a little while before we hear from him again!*

Drought. It’s a word I’ve heard my entire life but never understood until this year.

According to M-W.com drought is “a period of dryness especially when prolonged; specifically : one that causes extensive damage to crops or prevents their successful growth.”

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, we are in a D3 EXTREME drought.

As of today, we haven’t had significant rainfall since April. Average rainfall in May for our area is 4.5″. This year, we have had less than two-tenths of an inch. The crops don’t have enough water to germinate, the pasture is dying, natural habitats are suffering, fires are common… we desperately need rain.

So what’s a farmer to do?

Just keep on, keeping on.

Jared has been steady planting so that everything is ready and waiting for when the rains come. We’ve harvested oats and rolled the straw which we will use for cow feed throughout the drought. And we’ve been doing a lot of praying. Praying for rain, praying for healthy crops when they come up and praying for wisdom to know what to do if they don’t.

The worst part is always the waiting.

 

Photo Friday: Calves

Some are shy.

Some are bashful.

Some, like this guy…

…are little rascals!

That Ain’t The Way It’s Done

Howdy Folks!

I have been involved with agriculture all my life and have seen beauty in things that I am almost positive nobody but a farmer could appreciate. I have also seen some “not so beautiful” things through the years, all in harmony with the daily tasks involved on a row crop and cattle farm.  This morning Jillian called and informed me of a video showing dairy calves being rendered unconscious with a blow to the head by a claw hammer and a pick-axe (sharp shooter). I would just like to say that of all the bad things that I have witnessed on a farm, this had to be at the top of my list for the most careless, unethical, and stupid way of euthanizing animals that I have ever seen.  Myself, as well as every other farmer, rancher, and dairyman that I know, bend over backwards to ensure that our livestock are taken care of to the fullest extent.  I can’t tell you how many mornings that, I personally, have gotten up well before 4:00 to care for our bottle calves and to make sure that they are warm, healthy, and happy. Or how many late nights we have stayed up pulling calves and nursing sick animals back to health. I can only imagine how much work others have done on their larger operations to ensure good care is given to all of their animals.

This is Babe. She is a heifer that Jillian, her family and I bottle raised several Christmases ago. While we haven't had anymore calves to bottle feed since then, we still keep a check on the babies and their mamas to make sure they are getting enough to eat and are healthy.

When I see this video, I feel as though many people who are not familiar with the livestock industry might come to the conclusion that this is the way all animals are treated. Not by a long shot.  It only takes one bad apple to ruin the batch, and I hope these bad apples are prosecuted to the fullest.  When I see this, it makes me feel as though all of the hard work that we as farmers, ranchers, and dairymen put into our operations to improve the quality of life for our animals and to educate people on the real way animals are treated on all modern farms goes to the wayside. How do these people justify these cruel and unethical acts?  How can the organization that released this material (Mercy for Animals) say that going vegan will change these careless practices?

The answer is not to eliminate animal products from our lives; it is to educate the public on how animals are treated on the majority of all modern operations who take extra care of their animals because the animals take care of them. We are placed on this earth to be good stewards of the land and animals that are provided for us.  Those very few who use unethical practices will not be in business very long in today’s agriculture code of ethics.

On another note, tune in later to hear about conservation tillage and new practices being used on cover crops to help suppress Palmer amaranth (Roundup resistant pigweed) and ways to conserve moisture before planting.

Until next time keep your nose clean and don’t take any wooden nickels.

—Jared

Animal Abuse

This morning after a delightful extra hour of sleep due to a canceled class, I grabbed my crackberry and checked twitter. There I found two blog posts from Haley Farms and  Michele Payne-Knoper, both expressing their disgust, anger and outrage about the contents of the recent Mercy for Animals video on dairy calves. Their outrage was not directed toward the vegan push at the end of the video, but the fact that someone would abuse these tiny creatures in such horrific ways.

After watching the video (which is very graphic, I’m glad I hadn’t eaten breakfast yet) I came to ponder two questions:

1) How did the camera man just stand there and do nothing?

Answer: I have no idea.

2) Is this more about veganism or animal abuse?

Answer: I believe it has more to do with the latter.

To put it simply, these people deserved to be turned in to the authorities. No animal should ever be abused or mutilated. This is something I think we all (livestock producers and animal rights activists) can agree on. I also believe it is a cause that we can all work toward despite our differences.

So, how do we, as concerned individuals from different philosophical backgrounds (ie: animal rights vs animal welfare) work together to ensure that animals aren’t abused?

Answer: Education and awareness.

So I know what you’re thinking: “Dang it, Jillian, that is a fluff answer. We need ACTION! Not education and awareness.”

I agree–if you encounter a situation like Mercy for Animals you should turn the abusers into the proper authorities. However, without understanding how the operation works, without learning about both camps (rights and welfare) and without being aware of what is or isn’t common practice in the industry, how will you know how to approach the situation in the most effective manner?

Don’t misunderstand me, I am NOT saying that the video contains common practices. I am saying that before you choose a cause to champion, you should invest serious time and research into it.

Therefore, for the sake of all dairy calves, learn a little more about common farm operations today. I certainly will! In fact, I’m going to visit our campus dairy–no it’s not a commercial diary, but it’s the closest one I can get to today between classes.

Here are some links to get you started:

An awesome video from Zweber Farms on how they take care of calves.

Dairy Blogs:

RayLinDairy

FarmersWife30

The Dairyman’s Blog

Also be sure to check out the folk of AgChat

And his name is…

 

And his name is…

Pistol Pete!

Thanks to Ryan and farmerswife30 for the recommendation!

Stay tuned for more updates on Pistol!

–Jillian

This Calf Needs a Name!

This little guy is a pistol pete. He’s spunky and curious and if his mother hadn’t of been so upset with his sudden interest in photography, I’m pretty sure he would have walked right up to me and licked the camera.

The sad news is the little firecracker doesn’t have a name.

So, I am asking for recommendations! Drop a suggestion in the comment section below! Or, if you’re like me and draw a blank, comment on a name someone else suggested that you like. Nothing is too outlandish. I once had a beagle named Windshield Wiper and a pair of fish named Peat and Repeat.

Get to naming, folks!

Jillian

 

Animal Rights vs Animal Welfare and the “Meat Tax”

The organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has announced its intention to call for an excise tax on meat, citing that meat is the “number one cause for climate change” and that a tax on meat could prevent future natural disasters.

I’m going to have to call bull on this one (pun intended).

First of all, I think that it is a far stretch to blame recent natural disasters on the fact that people consume meat. If that’s what you want to promote then provide some studies or statistics to back that up. I’m not all about glittering generalities. I want facts. Not quotes from two or three scientific seeming individuals, but cold-hard facts. If this meat tax is going to be considered as serious legislation, then long-term, peer reviewed research should be invested before making a willy-nilly accusations or decisions that will affect everyone.

Secondly, you are entitled to your opinion just like I am. And that’s what I feel this issue is—a matter of opinion. If you don’t want to eat meat—then don’t. I have no problem with vegetarianism or veganism. No, it’s not the life I’ve chosen but if that’s what makes you happy then go for it.

I have a problem with an organization that pushes for legislation on an issue that I feel is strictly a personal preference. I chose to eat meat, you don’t. We can still be friends. However, it is not right to restrict my freedom by placing barriers to something that has been acceptable as a means of providing nourishment to billions of people, for thousands of years. This is not the type of pork we need to be wasting our time with in Congress.

Ahhh…a deep cleansing breath. I’m climbing off of my soapbox now.

Let’s look at this from a different angle.

After I moved to Auburn, I was introduced to the terms animal welfare and animal rights. In my mind they were the same thing—making sure animals are well fed, healthy and safe. However, after a bit of research I discovered that these two terms are VERY different; that difference is a cause of disconnect between livestock producers (like me and Jared) and animal activist groups.

According to Wikipedia, animal rights “is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings.” Meaning that animals should be afforded legal rights just like humans and considered a part of society; therefore they shouldn’t be used as food, clothing, in research or for entertainment.

Farmers and ranchers generally fall in the animal welfare category.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, “an animal is in a good state of welfare if (as indicated by scientific evidence) it is healthy, comfortable, well nourished, safe, able to express innate behavior, and if it is not suffering from unpleasant states such as pain, fear, and distress.”

Animals welfare is what we strive for everyday on our farm. We want all of our animals to be healthy, happy and safe while they are under our care.

And, in case you haven’t noticed, those cows that are pictured on the blog every week are more than dollar signs. They mean a lot to me and Jared (otherwise why would I waste my time naming all of them?)

For example, one of them was given to Jared by his grandfather who is no longer with us. Some of them are all I have left of my granddaddy’s original herd. We care about these animals for more than economic reasons. That’s why I get so fired up about animal rights activists telling the public that we don’t care about our animals because the offspring of these cows are harvested for meat.

But, we do care. Deeply.

In the end, this meat tax comes down to a philosophical disagreement. Just like the differences in religious beliefs and political opinions it probably won’t be resolved and will vary from person to person. However, if serious legislation is considered on this issue, I hope it goes forth with a great amount of research, consideration and care. Because this decision will affect more than the federal budget or PETA’s plan for total world domination (I’m kidding!)—it will affect families all across this nation. And, if the family can’t thrive, neither can the nation.

Now, I want to hear from y’all! What are your opinions on the meat tax? How do you feel about animal rights? Animal welfare? Let me know in the comment section!

Here’s a few helpful links to get you started:

PETA

Animals Rights: Wikipedia

Animal Welfare from American Veterinary Medical Association

Temple Grandin on Animal Welfare (PS—in case you’re wondering she’s the one that said “nature’s cruel but we don’t have to be!”)

Ag and Twitter? Hmmm…

Howdy Folks!

It’s been a while since I have posted and I would like to apologize for that. As our busy winter is winding down and an even busier spring is almost upon us, I would like to take a minute to talk about an interesting trip that I made between my last blog post and now. On January 8, Jillian and I went to Atlanta for an Ag Chat Foundation meeting. I’ll have to admit that I have never been one for Twitter… you know getting tweets ALL the time, every one asking questions or posting what is on their mind continuously, and getting all those “@#to” symbols followed by something that I had to look twice at to understand what it was. Heck, I aint been long just learned how to use email and Facebook so why in the word would I give a hoot about twitter? That is exactly what I was asking myself on our drive to the hub of the south.

Once we got to the meeting, I met some people whom I had heard of through Jillian’s Twitter account. These people were from all across the U.S. and were very interesting. I learned at that meeting, that there are people all across this country that are very passionate about agriculture and work hard to meet the demands of our ever growing population. People, who like me, love their work and enjoy telling others about where their food comes from and how it got there. At the conference we met dairy farmers from Wisconsin and California, a farm mom from North Dakota and people from industry leaders like AGCO. Not to mention a red headed woman from Memphis who talked about cotton ALL the time…

As I sat through this meeting I began to realize that all of those “@#to” mumbo jumbo symbols were people that were communicating about agriculture, the very same way we strive to do with this blog. People that behind all of those modern CB handle Twitter names were very educated folks making the most of their resources to bring food to the American consumer and preserve a way of life.

So while I still do not have a Twitter account, I do have a new found respect for those in agriculture who use twitter as a means of communication. Who knows one day I might just get all technical and get me one of them there phones that has a Twitter thing on it…

Until next time… keep the greasy side down!

Jared