Thanks, Soapweed. That is a good program, and does so much more than just the vaccination improvement. We, as an industry, still have work to do to stop the drain from various defects and problems that such money out of our pockets all the way from our ranches al to the consumer.
Sandhusker, my church doesn't have bake sales. We learned that auctions are more fair. People will pay more for better quality, or for something they really want, friendly competitions excepted. We like those, too because they raise quite a bit more money for improvements to our little rural town church, along with being fun.
The USA does NOT "just open our doors to anything anybody can put on our shores". There are protections, inspections, rules, and regulations that must be followed. That there have been some failures does not mean there is NO protection for US production from foreign imports, though some people with their own agendas apparently want to make consumers think that is true.
Diamond S..., 1. the fact is that all methods of production have people who will try to cheat, will abuse animals, and won't follow the PLAN book. Fortunately, they are few.
2. Fine, you posted links. Your comments are what most people have read. Yes, I did read some of the links and bookmarked others to persue as time allows. However people who don't check the links might well misunderstand.
3. I was applauding the fact that the writer, whom you have definitely not proven to be "idiotic", actually got into print! It is pretty rare to read criticism of organic CLAIMS, costs, and denigration of conventional practices. Possibly you don't do that. THere are plenty of people who do.
RM, you misunderstand my point in what I said to Ben. First, I have NO PROBLEM with people who want to farm organically, naturally, or however they choose, so long as they do not create problems for neighbors who were doing their own thing first.
I don't criticize people for farming organically and marketing their produce as such, so long as they don't claim other production methods make unsafe food. Market on taste, for goodness sake! That is subjective and more or less 'in the eye of the beholder'. Or "feel good about knowing the farmer" aspects.
Re. your claims of NCBAs "position" on Omega 3. There is no such thing!
NCBA works with the scientific and medical communities, and recommends a moderate diet of a broad range of foods. When the research is verifiable, peer reviewed, and accepted, the horn blowing for CLA and benefits of fatty acids in beef will begin! If there is any stated policy, it is to follow laws and be VERY sure before making claims about the superiority of beef. We can KNOW in our hearts and minds that we have a superior product, but will not make claims we can't verify.
Kaiser, yes, we "do something" with our livestock. We have only sold calve, unweaned at that, one time in our 50+ years in business! That was last year and solely due to the extreme drought. Normally we pasture wean with very little stress or problems. They remain on pasture for a few weeks, then go into our backgrounding lot on a growing ration of dry hay, minerals, and some dried distillers grain carefully formulated to give the growth rate we want, with hieffers we plan to keep, and calves of different weights getting different rations appropriate for their weight and projected growth. We have very little sickness, mostly due to dusty pastures and pens. Some of the faster growing calves may be sold directly to feeders late in Jan. to early March. The rest will go onto grass early in May, being sold to feeders in Aug. to Oct. time period. We may use auctions, or internet, or private contacts to sell them. We actively market our calves. Drought has been our limiting factor for the past several years.
Our so called "way of life" comes, not from designing our ranch operation to accomodate it, but vice versa!. There would be far easier lifestyles, believe me! We work way too many hours, required because it is difficult to impossible to hire good help. We have spent many years building ranch infrastructure which will make things run more efficiently in the future. We hope as we get to our mid-70's in a couple of years, we can slow down a little. The men on the ranch easily average 60 to 90 yours work per week year round. No slack time in winter for us, except for switching to more bookwork during Jan. and Feb. till after taxes are done. If weather is wicked, it is more hours outdoors, though. We could not do this unless we truly loved it.
We do not "follow a bunch of cut throat packers because of fear" of anything! We recognize that packers' wishes are NOT the only factor in prices we receive for our calves or yearlings.
I would fearlessly match, and maybe even surpass, the moral values of people, both members and staff, I have come to know over 50 years involvement with Beef Checkoff, NCBA and predecessor organizations on the state and national level, including ranchers, cattle feeders, and the very few packers who attend, with yours any day! Do you really believe that all those stockholders in corporate businesses are evil, too??? Or is it just the top brass? Or top to bottom of those in authority over those under them? Good grief!!!!
Where you see wrongdoing and evil intent in corporate structure, I see attempts to be financially efficient and operate complex businesses to process and distribute beef around the world in a timely way. Some are promoting an "eat locally" food system. I see that as taking away from the variety of foods available to MOST people in the world, if not outright limiting what many people can have, seasonally, and due to break up of food packaging, transportation and distribution systems. There would have to be many more food inspection facilities and personnel to maintain any semblance of safety inspection of all the "locally produced" foods, too.
You are incorrect in stating that research NCBA, CBB, and others involved with them has studied "has come up with nothing". It takes time for the detailed and exacting verification of apparent miracle food status to make it a viable thing to advertise, if we are truly responsible and accountable for possible mistakes, which I believe the Beef Checkoff leadership to be.
Oh, BTW, I'm not "involved" with Cargill or Tyson, for your information!
RM, I know your question was for Soapweed, but am curious....do you believe that fed cattle HAVE to "be fed sub-therpeutical antibiotics and antacids to keep it[them] alive long enough to be slaughtered"????
mrj
Why should I expect any different view on CLA from NCBA? 