A new year stretches before us and we get ready with anticipation of all that may await us. Hopefully for many, we will see some semblance of improvement in the way of a farm bill and maybe a little more in the direction agriculture is headed.
Our Farm Bureau has been working hard to update some of its programs and activities to keep people engaged in what the organization is doing for us.
At the state annual meeting held at the end of November, we took a look at one of these programs –advisory councils — and determined that these worked well in the past and could be expanded into our communities to get more people involved and informed about the issues and problems we face as a community and in agriculture. This will involve direct feedback to the county office and then to the state office. The program is to be unfolded early this year.
Currently, we are at the beginning of our 2013 membership campaign which kicked off in mid January. Our goal is to have a 45 day campaign. If you have not renewed your membership, now is the time. It has been pointed out that farmers, as a percentage of the population, are a diminishing number in the United States.
Yet we produce safer, more wholesome, contaminant-free food than in most other countries of the world. As our demand for various edible commodities grows, our ability to provide that assurance must also grow. The process by which we educate and understand what it takes to provide that quality of food must be conveyed to the consumer.
Some of the things not so visible were brought to my mind recently that some who don’t have farm animals may not consider. Specifically, both my wife and I had a severe case of the flu or bronchitis or whatever, but it laid us low for about three weeks.
The problem was that our animals still needed to be cared for and that meant someone had to go out to the barn and do the daily chores. Fortunately, we are not feeding cattle this winter so it wasn’t as bad as it could have been in years past; but it brought to mind that anyone who has animals still has to make provision for their care no matter what.
In the case of a dairy farmer, this is especially true. These are our dependents. They look to us for food, water, and a clean, dry place to protect them from the elements. Every farmer I know will make the trip to the barn to take care of his animals no matter how sick he or she is or at least have dependable backups for when they can’t.
I can’t think of any job that requires more commitment than someone who takes on the responsibility to raise livestock. Remember that the next time you drink a glass of milk or eat that hamburger.
Think spring!
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Pete Schanz