Climbing on the ol' soapbox this evening...
Is it just me, or do things seem to be unraveling a little (lot) in our nation's Capital? The evening news just finished its segment on the IRS scandal, and I cannot believe the man in charge still has his job?! But, Congress has finally found a topic they can agree on - that targeting any politically minded group because of their viewpoints is wrong. Everyone is scrambling - either to cover up whatever the rest is, or to dig it up. The only good thing I can see is that the diggers are bringing more and more information to light, and people are responding.
That was followed by "highlights" of Michelle Obama's graduation speech at one of the oldest African American colleges in the country, where she literally said only one in five African American students had gotten a college degree. Had gotten?! Seriously, I know I'm a grammar hound, but the lady was addressing college graduates.
And, as if that wasn't enough, it just disgusts me that anything a white, straight, job holding person says that could be misconstrued in any way as racism/intolerance is considered such, and yet our first lady can give a commencement address entirely focused on a single race and she is not considered racist. She can negate rappers and the way children are being raised, but is not considered intolerant. Give me a break.
The remaining portion of the news was primarily focused on the devastating weather that's already gone through much of the country, and that is expected the remainder of the week. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected and impacted by them.
It's always so refreshing to watch the evening news...
Showing posts with label current issues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label current issues. Show all posts
Friday, May 17, 2013
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Issues in Agriculture
As everyone gets ready to start the work week, I would like to highlight a couple ag-related issues. I don't have time to cover everything I would like on here, and always find it refreshing when I find a great source of information on relevant topics written by others.
Up first is South Dakota being ranked the least humane state in the country by HSUS (Humane Society of the United States). I am firmly opposed to the HSUS, because they are not the same group as your local humane society. There primary goal is to end animal agriculture, and they conveniently use the assumption that they are similar in nature to your local humane society to garner funds to support their objectives, which really don't include helping pets. I live about 25 miles from the South Dakota border, and know several great farmers and ranchers that take exceptional care of their livestock every day by a standard that is self-created and unprecedented. Stories of a First Generation Farm Wife lives right in South Dakota, and has an excellent post on this topic. She also includes the link to an article printed in the Rapid City paper on this subject, which quotes another ag producer.
Second is the topic of using false information advertising, especially when that false information makes the agriculture producers in our country look bad. We deal with this a lot right now in agriculture, and it's very frustrating to have to combat and rectify false statements that are stated as fact. Crystal Cattle tackles this topic on her latest post, which highlights several of the misleading angles used in Chipotles Grammy winning commercial.
Just a couple of the important issues currently faced by farmers and ranchers. Hope everyone's week is off to a great start!
Up first is South Dakota being ranked the least humane state in the country by HSUS (Humane Society of the United States). I am firmly opposed to the HSUS, because they are not the same group as your local humane society. There primary goal is to end animal agriculture, and they conveniently use the assumption that they are similar in nature to your local humane society to garner funds to support their objectives, which really don't include helping pets. I live about 25 miles from the South Dakota border, and know several great farmers and ranchers that take exceptional care of their livestock every day by a standard that is self-created and unprecedented. Stories of a First Generation Farm Wife lives right in South Dakota, and has an excellent post on this topic. She also includes the link to an article printed in the Rapid City paper on this subject, which quotes another ag producer.
Second is the topic of using false information advertising, especially when that false information makes the agriculture producers in our country look bad. We deal with this a lot right now in agriculture, and it's very frustrating to have to combat and rectify false statements that are stated as fact. Crystal Cattle tackles this topic on her latest post, which highlights several of the misleading angles used in Chipotles Grammy winning commercial.
Just a couple of the important issues currently faced by farmers and ranchers. Hope everyone's week is off to a great start!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Important Issues
During the WSGA Winter Roundup, there were a number of general sessions, committee meetings, presentations and discussions about a number of important and relevant topics to agriculture in Wyoming.
The governor elect, Matt Mead, spoke during one lunch session, and updated attendees on what he's been up to, and some of his plans upon taking office.
In very few states is the governor known by almost the entire population. With our small population in Wyoming, we have the unique ability to know and talk to our governors. While I voted for the other Republican candidate, I do look forward to getting our current governor out of office, and agree with Mead on some of the big issues.
The brand meeting covered the topic of using g-forms to take cattle to the Crawford sale barn. This is a topic I'm heavily invested in, as my family is for this idea. We market cattle in Wyoming, South Dakota and Nebraska, and having the option to go to Crawford on a g-form would simplify the process for us. It would save the brand board money, and as we primarily market cull cows at that auction, and it costs a lot of money for a brand inspector to drive out to our place to inspect a handful of cows.
While I'm on my brand board soapbox, I would also like to state that I personally believe the brand board should be elected, not appointed as they currently are. Their job is to represent the brand holders of the state, and I don't think they do that at all. There is no fear of not being rel-elected, so they all take up their personal causes and don't get anything accomplished at their meetings. They also fail to listen to the producers the majority of the time, and as a result of that don't accurately represent the wants and needs of Wyoming's brand holders.
Back on track now that I've let you know how I feel.
During the brand meeting the idea of an in-state beef checkoff was discussed, as there is proposed legislation to make it possible. Personally I feel like we already pay more than enough to different programs and causes every time we market animals, but very few go directly into advertising and promoting our product outside our industry. The Check-off does this, and they take up the slack so many ranchers don't have the time to do when it comes to telling the positive story of beef and ranching. So, while I would want to know how the money will be spent, I am not opposed to pursuing the idea of in-state Check-off.
During a water meeting I heard a heated discussion on proposed temporary in stream flow legislation that would allow producers to be compensated for not using water for irrigation for a set period of time each year.
The issue is that right now, if one producer doesn't use the water, the next guy on the water rights list can use it. (I think, feel free to correct me as my knowledge of irrigation and water rights is very limited)
This legislation would keep the water in the stream and not let it be used by anyone else if the original producer sold their rights into the temporary use program. The problem with that is if water isn't used higher up the stream, the ground water and aquifer supplies aren't re-filled, and pretty soon there isn't any water in the stream. Water rights and appropriation of those rights is a really big deal to a lot of producers, and having access to water that is left over from other producers is often the difference between having a hay crop and not having one on any given year.
The WSGA took a "strongly opposed" stance on the bill.
A Progressive Rancher Forum on Tuesday covered topics ranching from genetic selection in your cow herd to winter nutrition, to market diversification.
A lengthy talk on estate planning tools included a panel of producers from around the state who spoke about their personal experiences in transferring a ranch from one generation to the next. Those of us in agriculture are very negatively impacted by the death tax, and if we don't do very extensive planning we can easily lose our entire operation just from paying the inheritance tax. People are really starting to work on this issue, and learning what does and doesn't work.
I also attended the annual banquet this year, and had a great time drinking and visiting with new and old friends, including a good friend from college who is one of the ladies who puts the whole thing on!
It wasn't all work and no play : )
This is just a brief glimpse into a vast amount of information that was disseminated during the two-day event. While I completely understand being too busy feeding cows in a snow bank this time of year to be able to attend all of these meetings and conventions, I feel it's important to keep yourself educated on current events, especially those that have a direct impact on your way of life. Being well educated also helps in taking an active role in preserving, protecting and enhancing the agriculture industry and lifestyle, which is becoming increasingly important in today's world.
The governor elect, Matt Mead, spoke during one lunch session, and updated attendees on what he's been up to, and some of his plans upon taking office.
In very few states is the governor known by almost the entire population. With our small population in Wyoming, we have the unique ability to know and talk to our governors. While I voted for the other Republican candidate, I do look forward to getting our current governor out of office, and agree with Mead on some of the big issues.
The brand meeting covered the topic of using g-forms to take cattle to the Crawford sale barn. This is a topic I'm heavily invested in, as my family is for this idea. We market cattle in Wyoming, South Dakota and Nebraska, and having the option to go to Crawford on a g-form would simplify the process for us. It would save the brand board money, and as we primarily market cull cows at that auction, and it costs a lot of money for a brand inspector to drive out to our place to inspect a handful of cows.
While I'm on my brand board soapbox, I would also like to state that I personally believe the brand board should be elected, not appointed as they currently are. Their job is to represent the brand holders of the state, and I don't think they do that at all. There is no fear of not being rel-elected, so they all take up their personal causes and don't get anything accomplished at their meetings. They also fail to listen to the producers the majority of the time, and as a result of that don't accurately represent the wants and needs of Wyoming's brand holders.
Back on track now that I've let you know how I feel.
During the brand meeting the idea of an in-state beef checkoff was discussed, as there is proposed legislation to make it possible. Personally I feel like we already pay more than enough to different programs and causes every time we market animals, but very few go directly into advertising and promoting our product outside our industry. The Check-off does this, and they take up the slack so many ranchers don't have the time to do when it comes to telling the positive story of beef and ranching. So, while I would want to know how the money will be spent, I am not opposed to pursuing the idea of in-state Check-off.
During a water meeting I heard a heated discussion on proposed temporary in stream flow legislation that would allow producers to be compensated for not using water for irrigation for a set period of time each year.
The issue is that right now, if one producer doesn't use the water, the next guy on the water rights list can use it. (I think, feel free to correct me as my knowledge of irrigation and water rights is very limited)
This legislation would keep the water in the stream and not let it be used by anyone else if the original producer sold their rights into the temporary use program. The problem with that is if water isn't used higher up the stream, the ground water and aquifer supplies aren't re-filled, and pretty soon there isn't any water in the stream. Water rights and appropriation of those rights is a really big deal to a lot of producers, and having access to water that is left over from other producers is often the difference between having a hay crop and not having one on any given year.
The WSGA took a "strongly opposed" stance on the bill.
A Progressive Rancher Forum on Tuesday covered topics ranching from genetic selection in your cow herd to winter nutrition, to market diversification.
A lengthy talk on estate planning tools included a panel of producers from around the state who spoke about their personal experiences in transferring a ranch from one generation to the next. Those of us in agriculture are very negatively impacted by the death tax, and if we don't do very extensive planning we can easily lose our entire operation just from paying the inheritance tax. People are really starting to work on this issue, and learning what does and doesn't work.
I also attended the annual banquet this year, and had a great time drinking and visiting with new and old friends, including a good friend from college who is one of the ladies who puts the whole thing on!
It wasn't all work and no play : )
This is just a brief glimpse into a vast amount of information that was disseminated during the two-day event. While I completely understand being too busy feeding cows in a snow bank this time of year to be able to attend all of these meetings and conventions, I feel it's important to keep yourself educated on current events, especially those that have a direct impact on your way of life. Being well educated also helps in taking an active role in preserving, protecting and enhancing the agriculture industry and lifestyle, which is becoming increasingly important in today's world.
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