Yogurt Summit CAFO Regulations/Class III Futures

NY Governor Andrew Cuomo announced changes to the CAFO regulations that may help the state's dairies meet new demand for milk for yogurt. Although a good portion of NY milk goes to the fluid market, any changes that enhance the business climate for dairy farms are very welcome.

And some interesting news from the CME, where dairy prices go to die. Class III futures explode

Yogurt Summit and Thruway Tolls

At the Egg. for the yogurt talks. This seems like an oddly appropriate venue for such a discussion. It is great that Governor Cuomo is addressing the burgeoning yogurt industry in the state by trying to ease regulatory burdens on farmers. 

****It would be even better if someone addressed the outrageous abusers of the milk pricing system who keep prices below the cost of production by selling imaginary cheese on the CME.

And there is also a hearing on the proposed 45% increase in Thruway tolls for big trucks. The governor may consider this to be "modest" but the word outrageous comes to mind for me. This will affect farms as well as trucking companies as milk trucks will be impacted.

So will everyone who eats or uses goods transported by trucks, because you can bet that transport companies aren't going to be eating that modest little increase.

Farm Bill Hearing Schedule

"Field hearings represent one of the best parts of writing the farm bill because it gives us a chance to see the countryside and visit with folks who are directly impacted by our policy decisions in Washington. Agricultural policy affects every American; ensuring that our farmers and ranchers have the necessary tools they need to continue to produce an affordable and stable food supply is as important to our country as national defense. It's critical to all of us that we get it right. I look forward to hearing from our producers and from those who live and work in rural America," said Chairman Frank Lucas.

The full schedule is below. For those who cannot attend the hearings, the House Agriculture Committee plans to provide a live webcast at this link.

Friday, March 9, 2012 – 9:00 a.m. ESTNorth Country Community College, Sparks Athletic Complex
23 Santanoni Ave
Saranac Lake, NY 12983

Friday, March 23, 2012 – 9:00 a.m. CDTCarl Sandburg College, Student Center Building B
2400 Tom L. Wilson Blvd.
Galesburg, IL 61401

Friday, March 30, 2012 – 9:00 a.m. CDTRiceland Hall, Fowler Center
Arkansas State University
201 Olympic Drive
State University, AR 72467

Friday, April 20, 2012 – 9:00 a.m. CDTMagouirk Conference Center
4100 W. Comanche
Dodge City, KS 67801

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Roosting with the Roosters

Who is that, w-a-a-a-a-a-y up there in the box elder tree?

Hmmm, orange and speckled critters,

spotlighted in the light from the setting summer sun

Why, it's the chickens! Enjoying a strong sense of enrichment!

Right over top of this chicken-eating dog,

who evidently also keeps them safe from the wild things

that want to get to know them better

Been working on a Farm Side column about the new agreement between HSUS and UEP on a national standard for hen cages. You know, those "enriched" colony cages that will cost $4 billion bucks to construct. Just thought I would show you the reaction of chickens to the ultimate in enriched environments....the great outdoors.

Here is another column I liked that addresses the topic

"Physician's" (they aren't really doctors) Committee Can't Do Math

Or maybe they "do" math, but not too awful honestly. John Bunting calls their numbers into question and backs it up with real math. A good read.

Updates on Milk Spill Control

This guy has much more sense than some folks I could mention

Here are a couple more articles on the amazing efforts of the EPA to equate dairy products with lubricants and fuels. (Butter as an environmental hazard)

Milk as fertilizer (thanks Nita)

Some news from last summer on the regs.

Pumpkin Growers Smarter than EPA

Equal in the eyes of the EPA

(Which, I am sure comes as no surprise to you.)

Many of the folks who grow giant pumpkins fertilize them with milk. I often bring milk that can't be sold, such as milk from a cow that just had a calf, over to the garden to feed to my assorted squashes. There are those who poo-poo the idea, but it works for me and some pumpkin producers swear by it.

And there have been numerous milk spills in this dairy-rich region, when milk tankers were involved in traffic mishaps.

You wanna know something amazing? No harm was done. Milk is pretty innocuous stuff.

And staggeringly enough, you can actually drink milk (gasp).

However, the EPA in its infinite wisdom figures that milk fits right in with motor oil and diesel fuel in the pollution department.

Yeah, really.

I can gulp down a fresh, foaming, ice-cold glass of milk with some homemade applesauce cookies, and, after much enjoying the experience, live and thrive.

Yet it appears that the EPA thinks milk is the equivalent of some nice, tasty, 10W-30.

Read about in this excellent column by Thomas Sowell.

I have to thank Cathy for the heads up about this issue. Not long ago we were led to believe that the whole milk-as-toxic-waste issue had died a natural death. Alas it appears that legislation by regulation by activist appointee is alive and well and totally devoid of commonsense as usual.

While Activists Panic About Cow Medicines Here

Mkay, I know it's a fly, but it's the best I can do

Drug and heavy metal contamination is sneaking into much of the food we eat via imported honey from the world's biggest producer, China.

Assorted food activists are doing the best they can to ensure that American farmers can't doctor sick cows and other livestock. New York in particular currently has a bill on the table that would take away many of the medicines we use to keep our livestock healthy.

Meanwhile, imported honey is full of contaminants and illegal medications, such as chloramphenicol, which was outlawed decades ago in this country. It is being smuggled and juggled into this country at staggering levels. It is used in all sorts of prepared foods, such as baked goods, and you won't find the country of origin on the label, because it is passed through other countries first..

You have to read this story (even though it is long). I have been writing in recent weeks in the Farm Side about clenbuterol in Chinese pork. That is a real horror story with many Chinese people falling seriously ill from eating the stuff. Here is another story of willful contamination of food, along with a serious threat to our own carefully regulated honey industry. As a big fan of the product I am pretty upset about this.

***HT to Thank a Farmer on Facebook

Suzanne Somers and the Food We Eat

Great letter here. Does something that is completely wrong become true just because somebody says it on TV? Hmmmm......

Food Inflation

Yeah, spring will come and there will be daffodils....just not for a while yet

A top concern in the coming decade. Read number eight.

Interesting that someone finally noticed that we are running out of farmers.

Food Miles, Calories and Fallacies

I was surprised to find this in a NY Times article.

This is a well-thought out piece worth a thorough read. I am so glad it is reaching a main stream audience.

High Tech for Everybody

But us. Ag columnist Chuck Jolley shared a link to this well-written piece on Facebook. Mike Barnett man tells it like it is and I wish I could walk up to him, shake his hand and thank him for it."

July 4th Milk Dumping Protest "Dump the Milk Day"

I had been hearing rumors of this protest here and there but this is the first I have seen actual published material on it.

Egg Quality a Success in Ohio

Read about it here

Michigan Meatout Makes Many Mad

The State Senate

A Facebook group

Farm Bureau

And even me. What on earth possessed the governor of Michigan, where agriculture is the number 2 industry (to the tune of 71.3 billion bucks a year) to declare Saturday the 20th of March (not at all incidentally National Agriculture Day) Michigan Meatout day? I can't imagine.

I hope she wakes up and rescinds the proclamation. In the meanwhile, even if she doesn't I suspect that most Michiganders will ignore her ignorance and munch on meaty meals this weekend.

Dean Foods Buyout

Maybe or maybe not. Dean Foods is huge, handles a large percentage of American dairy products and is looking at anti-trust lawsuits. What will it mean if it is in fact bought out by a French company?

Cows that tweet.

An outstanding editorial on Hollywood and food activism

New York's new organic guidelines

Farm Bureau Lobby Days

Liz's Roylane Jordan Daughter, Gypsy

In Albany today. A chance to sit down with legislators or their staffs and discuss farm issues. I went for the first time well after I turned thirty. Liz is only 23, but she is there today, and this is not her first trip.

So, what do you think? Are we doing our kids a favor raising them to understand the affect of regulation on our lives, to comprehend the issues and to take action by showing up and speaking out, lobbying, attending meetings, joining organizations?

Or would it be a far, far kinder thing to let them stay fat, dumb and happy and let someone else do it?

I don't know. Sometimes it is a misery to be involved in the political side of farming. Downright painful and overwhelming and leaving behind of a feeling of total helplessness.

Sometimes there is great satisfaction. Yesterday a nationally-known figure, whom I won't name, because it is just better not to, used something I sent him in a certain campaign. (This would only be recognizable to me and three or four other people....) He didn't acknowledge me and it was better that he didn't. However, I plumb chortled when I saw it. Yeah! Sometimes you can make a difference, even just a tiny little bitty one.

So is it right to raise your kids to kick upstream like questing trout, despite the pain it might cause them, or to let them drift unknowing in the warm, soft waters of ignorance and uncaring? What do you think?

*****I know we will be missing Liz. With Alan in college just Becky, the boss and I will have all the chores. To me it is worth it though...

Still More Yellowtail Wine HSUS

Lest you think that you can't make a difference...

And a post about the true grassroots nature of the anti-donation uprising.

No Link Between Saturated Fat and Heart Disease

Or at least that is what this study says.

Meanwhile I am going to slap some pure, real, golden butter on my toast this morning and relish every bite!

Just When We Thought

....that the dairy industry might be beginning...just baby steps mind you...to crawl out of the terrible pit it has been in for the past year, comes yet another threat.

Favorable climate gives NZ farmers a huge advantage in dairying as their cows remain on pasture year round, expensive buildings are not required, and supplemental feed costs are negligible. Last time we got involved in trade talks with them and dairy was on the table, they got to send us Cheddar cheese, we got to send them cat food. Not so advantageous for our struggling industry.