MachineryLink philanthropic initiative supports local organizations

MachineryLink provides combine rental programs to growers across North America – a solution the company says “provides a more lucrative and logical alternative to combine ownership.”

Recently, MachineryLink launched CommunityLink – a philanthropic initiative that supports local agricultural organizations across the region.  Through the CommunityLink program, MachineryLink contributes $1,500 dollars to philanthropic organizations that direct farmers to MachineryLink resulting in a partnership with the company.

Alternatively, when a new customer joins MachineryLink, the company donates $1,500 in the name of that customer to the philanthropic organization of their choice.

We discussed the CommunityLink program with Meredith Powell, vice president of marketing and public affairs with MachineryLink.

AUDIO: Merideth Powell (3:35 MP3)

For more information, contact MachineryLink at 888.272.3323 or send an email to info@machinerylink.com.

A wild two weeks in DC

It’s been a wild two weeks in DC. In just 14 days, we’ve wrestled with Farm Bill markups in both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, a vaunted rush to complete the Senate Farm Bill on the floor, a bipartisan immigration reform bill – the first since 2007 – approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, and a White House increasingly under fire for a host of reasons. I’m going to give my two cents on most of these since it’s rare Congress demonstrates its efficiency while at the same time exposing its inherent silliness.

First, major kudos to Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D, MI) for not only getting her second Farm Bill in 12 months out of committee and to the floor — that’s got to be some kind of historic achievement — but keeping her cool this week as her colleagues continually blocked her momentum as she waded through 194 mostly silly – and nongermane – amendments. Anyone who thought Stabenow, when she took the reins of the committee 30 months ago, couldn’t handle the job has been proven wrong in spades.

Stabenow wanted to get the bill finished this week and it looked as if she was on her way. It’s never a good idea to let members of Congress go home for 10 days to contemplate their wish lists. However, Stabenow’s mostly male colleagues continually interrupted Farm Bill floor action to “debate” unrelated issues.

Most time consuming was a back-and-forth over whether the Senate should appoint conferees to a conference committee with the House on the FY2013 budget resolutions, and whether instructions to those conferees should include a taboo on discussing raising the debt ceiling. Important stuff no doubt, but not during floor consideration of a major piece of legislation – one carrying a 10-year, $955-billion price tag and one that materially affects 16 million folks employed in the agriculture and food industries. Then there was the spat between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D, NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell over the confirmation vote for a federal judge, and who had promised what to whom. It was reminiscent of a school yard blame game, and several Senators who should have known better kept egging them on.

The Senate Judiciary Committee deserves praise for holding an open series of hearings and markup of the Gang of Eight’s comprehensive immigration reform bill. Yes, it took almost three weeks, but there were over 300 amendments to slog through. Judiciary Chair Patrick Leahy (D, VT) kept his word and allowed any and all relevant amendments to be debated, and showing leadership by example, withdrew “with a heavy heart” one of his own amendments – equal immigration treatment for same sex couples – when committee members from both sides of the aisle warned him he might just blow up the whole carefully crafted deal.

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R, UT), ranking member of the judiciary panel, showed why he’s Utah’s best weapon on the national scene. He brokered deal after deal for his Republican colleagues, leveraging his ranking member status, but he sided with Leahy when it was the right thing to do. He voted to move the bill out of committee when the final gavel fell, but honestly warned his colleagues he may not vote for the bill on the floor in a couple of weeks if too much mischief ensues.

I’m not so crazy about the overall House reaction to the Senate getting an immigration reform bill through committee. House Speaker John Boehner (R, OH) could have said he was eager to see what the Senate accomplished on immigration reform so it could inform the House pursuit of the same goal. However, he decided instead to very publicly this week announce his chamber would not take up the Senate bill.

I’ll cut him slack because unlike Reid’s chamber, Boehner has a good share of ultraconservative members who have their heads in the sand when it comes to immigration reform. It’s these members who demand we “deport ‘em all” rather than recognize that while it’s reprehensible there are upwards of 10 million “undocumented” immigrants in this country, a good chunk of that number is keeping farming, ranching, food processing and retailing operational. It’s called refusing to deal with the reality of the situation, preferring instead to spout political rhetoric.

As to the White House headaches, well, I learned about them from the media just about the same time you did, and heck, no one told me there were such problems. I just didn’t know.

Hog production explained to restaurant execs

A Midwest hog farmer met with a group of restaurant executives in Arizona recently to answer their questions about modern farming practices.The meeting was set up by the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) with one of their four Faces of Farming & Ranching, Chris Chinn, who runs a hog operation with her husband in Clarence, Missouri.

Chinn tells Brownfield Ag News she talked about gestation stalls with the restaurant folks, some whose restaurants have banned pork products from hogs raised that way and others who have not.

AUDIO: May 3, 2013 interview with Chris Chinn (7:00 mp3)

Managing herbicide resistance in weeds

The problem of herbicide resistant weeds is becoming more serious every year.  On today’s Managing For Profit report, Iowa State University Extension weed scientist Mike Owen talks about some of the preventative steps that farmers need to begin implementing in their fields.

AUDIO: Mike Owen (3:00 MP3)

Us and Them

Commentary.

It doesn’t have to be “Us versus Them.” I do not believe that it is unrealistic or utopian to believe that those of us who make our living in agriculture can coalesce into one “entity” when doing so would improve our chances of being heard. We would surely be a force to be reckoned with as a voting bloc, an educational alliance or a marketing cartel if we could all just get along.

But as I listen to and read comments made by many for whom I have great respect, it is not a coalition I see forming, but several well-meaning factions drawing lines in the sand, daring “Them” to cross. Sometimes “them” and “us” are not so far apart on issues, but distrust one another because historically, they have distrusted one another.

I like a good, healthy discussion. How are we going to learn anything and understand the world if we fail to ask questions and form our own opinions by listening to the facts and opinions of others? I find little if any common ground between my beliefs and those expressed by animal rights groups but I believe that knowing where our detractors stand helps us more clearly define our own position on any given issue. Without knowing the reasons behind another’s conviction, how in the world can we ever convince them to open their minds?

For more than a decade I’ve been warning you that agriculture is under attack and that we need to keep our eyes open and be ready for the fight. I haven’t changed my mind. But gee whiz, sometimes I think a few of us who have been in the front lines in the fight against animal rights activists and environmental-wackos have become suspicious of almost anyone who doesn’t fit into the “conventional agriculture” box. Instead of asking questions, we jump the gun, assuming that any square peg that doesn’t fit into the round hole is our enemy, or at the very least – just plain wrong.

If we (Us and Them) are going to feed a growing world population with a safe, affordable and abundant food supply while at the same time remaining economically sound and environmentally friendly, we need all of agriculture working together.

It shouldn’t matter how many acres you farm, what you grow on those acres, or how many head of livestock you own as long as you are a good steward of the land, livestock, water, air, your community and family. I like living in a country where we have choices. If you want tomatoes grown locally, you can buy them that way. If you want to purchase brown eggs from a free-range farm, you can buy them that way. If you want to buy natural beef or organic bananas, you can buy them that way. But expect to pay a premium.

“Us” should be able to grow a corn crop with stacked traits and “Them” should be able to grow non-GMO organic white corn and “We” should be grateful that both have markets for what is grown, because a rising tide really does carry all boats.

We should spend a little less time judging one another and a little more time addressing those issues of true concern, like universities and law schools across this country that receive millions of dollars to establish animal rights programs, and the ever-growing lode of regulations targeting nearly every aspect of our lives in rural America.

A rising tide carries all boats

Commentary.

Last week, the Missouri legislature voiced support of farmers and ranchers by passing the Right to Farm referendum. This proposed constitutional amendment, designed with the intent to protect farmers from out-of-state activists, will next year be submitted to voters of Missouri for adoption or rejection:

Section 35. That agriculture which provides food, energy, health benefits, and security is the foundation and stabilizing force of Missouri’s economy. To protect this vital sector of Missouri’s economy, the right of farmers and ranchers to engage in farming and ranching practices shall be forever guaranteed in this state, subject to duly authorized powers, if any, conferred by article VI of the Constitution of Missouri.

This is pretty straightforward language. Lawmakers and representatives from numerous agricultural organizations rolled up their sleeves and worked together to craft an amendment designed to preserve and protect farming and ranching in Missouri. In the words of House Speaker Pro Tem, Jason Smith, “Four out of four people eat, and this measure would only enhance and preserve Missourians’ food choices and security.”

State Representative Bill Reiboldt stated “This industry is responsible for providing jobs to hundreds of thousands of Missourians, as well as providing food security for, not only our state, but a significant portion of the country. We cannot simply sit on the sidelines as special interest groups such as HSUS attempt to kill the industry in our state as they have in so many of our neighbors.”

In addition to the regular media channels, social media outlets “lit up” with posts and tweets about lawmaker support of Right to Farm.

I love the fact that social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter open the door for conversations among the like-minded and the not-so-like-minded. I dislike the fact that social media platforms are often used by those with no knowledge about a subject to stir up a whirlwind of fear, distrust and even hate.

Scanning Facebook the day after Right to Farm passed, I noticed a post by an acquaintance. She wrote: “Monsanto backed agenda? Is this going to help our small, organic growers and producers or will it hurt them? I’m curious.”

I had to breathe deeply, take a walk, and rewrite my response several times because I was so frustrated with the post.

This is not a big versus small issue. This shouldn’t be us versus them. I find no mention of Monsanto or any other agricultural company in this proposed amendment. I believe a rising tide carries all boats. There are some false prophets who mask themselves as supporters of animal welfare, when in reality, they don’t eat meat and they don’t want you to have the right – the choice – eat meat. They don’t care that our cattle are treated humanely. They don’t think we have a right to own cattle. They believe an animal has the same inherent rights as a person. These same groups don’t believe that you have the right to have a pet.

I believe Right to Farm will protect all farmers and ranchers by enshrining their freedom to produce. How a farmer decides to grow or raise food – organic or conventional – should be up to them and not outside forces.

Farm Mom says no better place to raise kids

Betty Rosson keeps the book at her family’s farm and cattle ranch in Virginia and she is this year’s Monsanto Farm Mom of the Year. Rosson’s son, Charles, nominated her and she says that winning Farm Mom of the year is “awesome” but it hasn’t sunk in yet.

Rosson and her husband Charles farm with their younger sons, Charles and Lee. They have raised five boys on their farm… a life that Betty says is very special. She tells Brownfield Ag News, “It’s just such an experience. Kids that don’t grow up on a farm – they don’t have any idea. It’s just a blessing for the family to be on a farm.”

AUDIO: Interview with Betty Rosson (7:00 mp3)

Monsanto’s Farm Mom of the Year for 2013

Unmanned aircraft could play a big role on your farm

A number of states have introduced legislation and three have passed bills prohibiting the use of unmanned aircraft in their states. But there are proponents who say unmanned aircraft could be used for all sorts of good including agriculture. Gretchen West is executive director of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, she says they would like to see the technology move into the commercial market and believes agriculture will be a big user.

AUDIO: West talks about the possibilities 3:59 mp3

Putting the right hybrid in the right soils

Imagine if you could change the corn hybrid you’re planting based on the field’s soil type? 

Jason Webster, Central Illinois Practical Farm Research Director for Beck’s Hybrids says farmers can – and could see a significant return on investment. 

AUDIO: Jason Webster, Variable Hybrid Planter (3:00mp3)

Don’t underestimate safe food grilling practices

It’s important for us to understand proper food handling since it can prevent ourselves and others from getting sick from food.  The USDA’s Kathy Bernard goes over the four rules of food safety:  Clean, separate, cook and chill – and applies them to backyard grilling.

HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAM – Grilling food safety (1:30 mp3)