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Agri Business Updates with Chad Moyer
Tuesday September 1 Ag News
Posted by Chad
Nebraska Crop Progress Report
Agricultural Summary: For the week ending August 30, 2009, a cool week slowed crop maturity, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. Some producers were harvesting corn for silage in southern counties. A few fields of proso millet have been harvested in the Panhandle and the first fields of winter wheat are being planted. Other producer activities included preparing
wheat ground for seeding and getting ready for fall harvest.
Weather Summary: Temperatures averaged 4 degrees below normal across the state. Temperatures ranged from the mid 90’s to lows near 40. Widespread precipitation fell with amounts of one to two inches common in the southeastern third of the state. Soil moisture ratings: Topsoil: 2 percent surplus, 82 percent adequate, 15 percent short, and 1 percent very short. Subsoil: 1 percent surplus, 81 percent adequate, 16 percent short, and 2 percent very short. GDD summary: Concord 2088, -568 from average; West Point 2239, -488 from average; and Mead 2331, -467 from average.
Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 6 poor, 21 fair, 55 good, and 16 excellent, above last year’s 55 percent good or excellent condition.
Field Crops Report: Corn conditions rated 3 percent very poor, 6 poor, 15 fair, 50 good, and 26 excellent, even with last year’s 76 percent good or excellent rating. Irrigated fields rated 79 percent good or excellent, below last year while dryland fields rated 71, above year ago levels. Corn in the dough stage was 89 percent, behind last year’s 91 and six days behind the 94 average. Corn in the dent stage was 53 percent, behind last year’s 60 and five days behind the 66 average. Corn mature was 1 percent, near last year’s 2 but behind the 5 average.
Soybean conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 5 poor, 15 fair, 57 good, and 21 excellent, well above last year’s 67 percent good or excellent condition. Soybeans turning color was 12 percent, ahead of last year’s 4 but behind the 15 average.
Alfalfa conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 5 poor, 23 fair, 60 good, and 11 excellent, above last year’s 58 percent good or excellent condition. Third cutting was 79 percent complete, behind last year’s 83 and the 87 average. Fourth cutting was 9 percent complete, ahead of last year’s 3 and 7 average. Sorghum conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 3 poor, 24 fair, 56 good, and 17 excellent, near last year’s 74 percent good or excellent condition. Sorghum headed was 94 percent, behind last year and the average of 97. Sorghum turning color was 16 percent, behind last year’s 28 and ten days behind the 44 average.
Dry bean conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 10 poor, 21 fair, 58 good, and 9 excellent, near last year’s 69 percent good or excellent condition. Dry beans turning color were 15 percent, well behind last year’s 45 and a week behind the 38 average. Dry beans dropping leaves was 1 percent, behind last year’s 7 and 11 average.
Wheat seeded was 2 percent complete, behind last year but even with the average.
Nebraska Weather & Crops County Comments
CEDAR
The cooler and wetter summer is showing up as corn and soybeans maturity is later than normal. Pastures and wild hay are above average as a result of the cool, wet growing season. Good quality dairy alfalfa hay will be hard to find in the north half of the county, most all had rain on the windrow.
COLFAX
Some hail in areas caused the corn to be in the fair condition range otherwise corn is in good shape.
CUMING
We had nice August moisture in the area. Heat units are needed to assist the crops to maturity.
DIXON
The week was more open for field work. Hay harvest continues to be a challenge with the cool nights and foggy mornings. Producers indicate crop maturity is still two to three weeks behind.
DODGE
Cool, wet conditions are slowing crop development. Getting equipment ready for harvest is the main activity.
KNOX
Crops continue to mature but are about 10 days behind normal maturity for this date. Producers are concerned about the probability of drying crops this fall.
LANCASTER
Most of the county received some rain over the last two weeks. Amounts received varied from zero to over 2 inches. Nearly all corn was dented so the moisture came too late to make much yield difference. The rain did help soybeans, grain sorghum and forage crops.
NEMAHA
Crops are looking good as they mature. Soybean aphids and bean leaf beetles are increasing in soybeans.
SAUNDERS
Heavy rain last week (over 2 inches in most portions of the county) should be enough to finish out the soybeans. Corn conditions overall continue at good to excellent in much of the county.
THURSTON
One-half to three-quarters of an inch of rain fell this past week. Maturity of corn and soybean crops are still a concern, especially with corn which is slower to dry down than soybeans. Some farmers still spraying for aphids in soybeans.
State by state data can be found here... http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/CropProg/CropProg-08-31-2009.txt .
SOYBEAN DISEASE AND COOL TEMPERATURES CAUSE CONCERN IN IOWA
Iowa again experienced cool temperatures and widespread rainfall last week. Soybean diseases such as sudden death syndrome and white mold have been reported throughout the State. The cool temperatures continue to keep crops from reaching maturity and increase the chances for fungal disease. While heat units are needed, corn and soybeans are still rated in mostly good to excellent condition. Livestock welcomed the cool temperatures, although feedlots continue to struggle with muddy pens.
There were 3.9 days suitable for fieldwork during the week, compared to the five-year average of 4.9 days. Topsoil moisture rated 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 22 percent surplus across the state. Subsoil moisture rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 23 percent surplus.
Field Crops Report: Corn at or beyond the milk stage reached 95 percent, 3 percentage points ahead of last year, but 5 days behind the five-year average. Corn reported at or beyond the dough stage reached 74 percent, 2 percentage points ahead of last year, but 6 days behind the five-year average. Corn reported at or beyond the dent stage reached 28 percent, 2 percentage points behind last year, and 10 days behind the five-year average. Corn condition was rated 3 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 15 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 27 percent excellent.
Nearly all the soybeans are at or beyond the blooming stage with 97 percent setting pods. Soybeans setting pods are ahead of last year by 3 percentage points, but 1 percentage point behind the five-year average. Soybean leaves turning color reached 5 percent, 3 percentage points behind last year, and 13 percentage points behind the five-year average. Soybean condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 17 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 20 percent excellent.
Nearly all Alfalfa second cutting is complete. Alfalfa third cutting has reached 55 percent complete, 16 percentage points behind the five-year average, but 8 percentage points ahead of last year. All hay condition was rated 3 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 11 percent excellent.
Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range condition rated 1 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 16 percent excellent. Cattle on pasture continue to gain well as cool temperatures reduced stress levels and abundant rainfall kept forage growth steady throughout the summer.
IOWA PRELIMINARY WEATHER SUMMARY
Provided by Harry Hillaker, State Climatologist
The major weather story of the past week was a period of heavy rain over much of the southeast one-half of Iowa from Tuesday (25th) night through Thursday (27th) evening. Widespread flooding occurred, particularly in the Cedar Rapids area with storm totals of 8.50 inches of rain at Monticello and 7.07 inches at the Cedar Rapids Airport. However, little or no rain fell across parts of northwest and north central Iowa where Algona, Mason City, Cresco and Osage had only sprinkles. After a few isolated showers on Friday (28th) night over the north the rest of the weekend was dry statewide. The statewide average precipitation was 1.74 inches or nearly double the weekly normal of 0.91 inches. Temperatures were near normal on Monday (24th) and Tuesday (25th) but became increasingly cool through the remainder of the week. Afternoon highs were mostly in the mid 70’s to mid 80’s on Monday and Tuesday but only in the 60’s on Saturday (29th) and Sunday (30th). Sioux City reported the highest temperature for the week with an 88 degree reading on Monday (24th). On the other extreme Sibley reported a morning low of 37 degrees on Sunday (30th) while Spencer dropped to 36 degrees on Monday (31st) morning. These were Iowa’s lowest temperatures for so early in the season since August 21, 2004. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 4.2 degrees below normal.
Senate Ag Committee to Explore Future of Biofuels at Iowa Field Hearing
U.S. Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, chairman of Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, announced that he will hold a field hearing in Iowa entitled "The Expanding Role of Biofuels for America". The Committee will meet on Tuesday from 1 to 3 p.m. at Western Iowa Tech Community College, located at 4647 Stone Avenue in Sioux City. The purpose of the hearing is to explore the future of biofuels in America, including the prospects for expanding production and use, the outlook for developing and commercializing advanced biofuels, emerging biomass feedstock production and processing, and associated sustainability issues. Harkin has long been an advocate for expanding the production and use of renewable, home-grown sources of energy such as biofuels.
The witnesses include:
-- Steve Corcoran, CEO, KL Energy Corporation, Rapid City, S,D.
-- Bill Couser, Couser Cattle Company, Nevada, Iowa
-- Ed Olthoff, Cedar Falls Utilities, Cedar Falls, Iowa
-- Anna Rath, director of business development, Ceres, Thousand Oaks, Calif.
-- John Sheehan, scientific program coordinator for biofuels and the global environment, Institute on the Environment, University of Minnesota
-- Mark Stowers, vice president for research and development, POET, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Why Time Magazine Got It Wrong About America’s Pork Producers
This is the letter National Pork Board President Tim Bierman sent to the editor of Time magazine:
A recent Time magazine article titled “America’s Food Crisis and How to Fix It,” makes many false statements and draws indefensible conclusions about modern pork production. To set the record straight based on facts, I offer a few comments and corrections on behalf of America’s pork producers, who continue to work diligently to provide safe, affordable and high-quality food every day.
First of all, what food crisis? The drought in sub-Saharan Africa is a food crisis. Americans have access to abundant, safe and affordable food that is the envy of the rest of the world. It is produced by caring farmers using methods that are supported by science and backed by experience.
Unfortunately for your readers, the food plate of the article’s author, Bryan Walsh, is half empty. He blames modern pork production for much of what he considers to be today’s environmental concerns. He says pigs eat too much corn-based feed, which in turn, relies on too much commercial fertilizer. Walsh fails to credit pork production for its contribution to a recyclable and completely organic system that provides animal nutrients for crops. He also fails to mention no-till cropping methods, greenways and the land set aside for erosion control and wildlife areas—all of which occur regularly on America’s farms and go a long way in preventing soil erosion and nutrient runoff.
Walsh’s harangue drowns the many positive steps American farmers have taken over the past decades to become better stewards of all resources entering and leaving America’s pork operations. Had he taken the time to call to me or the professional staff at the National Pork Board, he quickly would have learned how pork producers – through their own programs as well as through governmental regulation – have made environmental stewardship a way of life.
It baffles me how Walsh could write: “Our food is not only bad for us, but even dangerous.” This clearly is not only false, but reckless. The author surely must know the importance that American farmers place on food safety. Their families, after all, eat the same food. I wish I would have had the opportunity to tell Walsh how pork industry programs such as We Care, Pork Quality Assurance Plus® (PQA Plus®), Transport Quality Assurance® and others help producers engage daily in the quest to ensure safe, abundant and high-quality pork. Instead of talking about any of those positive efforts, Walsh relied on the negative and tired agenda-driven talking points offered by predictable opponents of modern food production.
Walsh is no kinder to pork producers’ animal husbandry, using loaded terms such as “prison-like conditions” and inferring that modern livestock production is directly responsible for antibiotic resistance. Again, where to start? Walsh is just plain wrong. Today’s pork producers, together with their veterinarians are managing herd health through time-tested best-management practices. They use medications strategically and judiciously—all under the careful eye of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates all antibiotic use in agriculture. The pork industry’s We Care initiative, adopted last year, reiterates what producers have always done by focusing on superior animal care, herd health and technology to produce safe food. This is quantified by the more than 38,000 producers who have already been certified in the PQA Plus program.
Finally, the author urges us to “Eat more greens, less meat.” Perhaps this is the real crux of the story. He concedes that meat can be produced sustainably, but in his opinion not in conventional farming’s quantities. Therefore, he advises, “We should cut back on meat in favor of greens and fruits—which are better for us and the planet.” Perhaps this parting thought from Walsh uncovers his true intent—to get Americans to stop eating all meat.
Time magazine gave Walsh its cover and eight pages inside to deliver his message and to denigrate America’s farmers, including pork producers. Where was the other side of the story, the balance? Unfortunately, we can’t change that. Instead, we must continue to let the public know that we are working hard to produce safe, affordable, high-quality food in the most responsible way possible.
Tim Bierman
Larrabee, Iowa
President, National Pork Board
Agricultural Summary: For the week ending August 30, 2009, a cool week slowed crop maturity, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. Some producers were harvesting corn for silage in southern counties. A few fields of proso millet have been harvested in the Panhandle and the first fields of winter wheat are being planted. Other producer activities included preparing
wheat ground for seeding and getting ready for fall harvest.
Weather Summary: Temperatures averaged 4 degrees below normal across the state. Temperatures ranged from the mid 90’s to lows near 40. Widespread precipitation fell with amounts of one to two inches common in the southeastern third of the state. Soil moisture ratings: Topsoil: 2 percent surplus, 82 percent adequate, 15 percent short, and 1 percent very short. Subsoil: 1 percent surplus, 81 percent adequate, 16 percent short, and 2 percent very short. GDD summary: Concord 2088, -568 from average; West Point 2239, -488 from average; and Mead 2331, -467 from average.
Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 6 poor, 21 fair, 55 good, and 16 excellent, above last year’s 55 percent good or excellent condition.
Field Crops Report: Corn conditions rated 3 percent very poor, 6 poor, 15 fair, 50 good, and 26 excellent, even with last year’s 76 percent good or excellent rating. Irrigated fields rated 79 percent good or excellent, below last year while dryland fields rated 71, above year ago levels. Corn in the dough stage was 89 percent, behind last year’s 91 and six days behind the 94 average. Corn in the dent stage was 53 percent, behind last year’s 60 and five days behind the 66 average. Corn mature was 1 percent, near last year’s 2 but behind the 5 average.
Soybean conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 5 poor, 15 fair, 57 good, and 21 excellent, well above last year’s 67 percent good or excellent condition. Soybeans turning color was 12 percent, ahead of last year’s 4 but behind the 15 average.
Alfalfa conditions rated 1 percent very poor, 5 poor, 23 fair, 60 good, and 11 excellent, above last year’s 58 percent good or excellent condition. Third cutting was 79 percent complete, behind last year’s 83 and the 87 average. Fourth cutting was 9 percent complete, ahead of last year’s 3 and 7 average. Sorghum conditions rated 0 percent very poor, 3 poor, 24 fair, 56 good, and 17 excellent, near last year’s 74 percent good or excellent condition. Sorghum headed was 94 percent, behind last year and the average of 97. Sorghum turning color was 16 percent, behind last year’s 28 and ten days behind the 44 average.
Dry bean conditions rated 2 percent very poor, 10 poor, 21 fair, 58 good, and 9 excellent, near last year’s 69 percent good or excellent condition. Dry beans turning color were 15 percent, well behind last year’s 45 and a week behind the 38 average. Dry beans dropping leaves was 1 percent, behind last year’s 7 and 11 average.
Wheat seeded was 2 percent complete, behind last year but even with the average.
Nebraska Weather & Crops County Comments
CEDAR
The cooler and wetter summer is showing up as corn and soybeans maturity is later than normal. Pastures and wild hay are above average as a result of the cool, wet growing season. Good quality dairy alfalfa hay will be hard to find in the north half of the county, most all had rain on the windrow.
COLFAX
Some hail in areas caused the corn to be in the fair condition range otherwise corn is in good shape.
CUMING
We had nice August moisture in the area. Heat units are needed to assist the crops to maturity.
DIXON
The week was more open for field work. Hay harvest continues to be a challenge with the cool nights and foggy mornings. Producers indicate crop maturity is still two to three weeks behind.
DODGE
Cool, wet conditions are slowing crop development. Getting equipment ready for harvest is the main activity.
KNOX
Crops continue to mature but are about 10 days behind normal maturity for this date. Producers are concerned about the probability of drying crops this fall.
LANCASTER
Most of the county received some rain over the last two weeks. Amounts received varied from zero to over 2 inches. Nearly all corn was dented so the moisture came too late to make much yield difference. The rain did help soybeans, grain sorghum and forage crops.
NEMAHA
Crops are looking good as they mature. Soybean aphids and bean leaf beetles are increasing in soybeans.
SAUNDERS
Heavy rain last week (over 2 inches in most portions of the county) should be enough to finish out the soybeans. Corn conditions overall continue at good to excellent in much of the county.
THURSTON
One-half to three-quarters of an inch of rain fell this past week. Maturity of corn and soybean crops are still a concern, especially with corn which is slower to dry down than soybeans. Some farmers still spraying for aphids in soybeans.
State by state data can be found here... http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/usda/current/CropProg/CropProg-08-31-2009.txt .
SOYBEAN DISEASE AND COOL TEMPERATURES CAUSE CONCERN IN IOWA
Iowa again experienced cool temperatures and widespread rainfall last week. Soybean diseases such as sudden death syndrome and white mold have been reported throughout the State. The cool temperatures continue to keep crops from reaching maturity and increase the chances for fungal disease. While heat units are needed, corn and soybeans are still rated in mostly good to excellent condition. Livestock welcomed the cool temperatures, although feedlots continue to struggle with muddy pens.
There were 3.9 days suitable for fieldwork during the week, compared to the five-year average of 4.9 days. Topsoil moisture rated 1 percent very short, 6 percent short, 71 percent adequate, and 22 percent surplus across the state. Subsoil moisture rated 1 percent very short, 7 percent short, 69 percent adequate, and 23 percent surplus.
Field Crops Report: Corn at or beyond the milk stage reached 95 percent, 3 percentage points ahead of last year, but 5 days behind the five-year average. Corn reported at or beyond the dough stage reached 74 percent, 2 percentage points ahead of last year, but 6 days behind the five-year average. Corn reported at or beyond the dent stage reached 28 percent, 2 percentage points behind last year, and 10 days behind the five-year average. Corn condition was rated 3 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 15 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 27 percent excellent.
Nearly all the soybeans are at or beyond the blooming stage with 97 percent setting pods. Soybeans setting pods are ahead of last year by 3 percentage points, but 1 percentage point behind the five-year average. Soybean leaves turning color reached 5 percent, 3 percentage points behind last year, and 13 percentage points behind the five-year average. Soybean condition was rated 2 percent very poor, 5 percent poor, 17 percent fair, 56 percent good, and 20 percent excellent.
Nearly all Alfalfa second cutting is complete. Alfalfa third cutting has reached 55 percent complete, 16 percentage points behind the five-year average, but 8 percentage points ahead of last year. All hay condition was rated 3 percent very poor, 10 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 49 percent good, and 11 percent excellent.
Livestock, Pasture and Range Report: Pasture and range condition rated 1 percent very poor, 8 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 16 percent excellent. Cattle on pasture continue to gain well as cool temperatures reduced stress levels and abundant rainfall kept forage growth steady throughout the summer.
IOWA PRELIMINARY WEATHER SUMMARY
Provided by Harry Hillaker, State Climatologist
The major weather story of the past week was a period of heavy rain over much of the southeast one-half of Iowa from Tuesday (25th) night through Thursday (27th) evening. Widespread flooding occurred, particularly in the Cedar Rapids area with storm totals of 8.50 inches of rain at Monticello and 7.07 inches at the Cedar Rapids Airport. However, little or no rain fell across parts of northwest and north central Iowa where Algona, Mason City, Cresco and Osage had only sprinkles. After a few isolated showers on Friday (28th) night over the north the rest of the weekend was dry statewide. The statewide average precipitation was 1.74 inches or nearly double the weekly normal of 0.91 inches. Temperatures were near normal on Monday (24th) and Tuesday (25th) but became increasingly cool through the remainder of the week. Afternoon highs were mostly in the mid 70’s to mid 80’s on Monday and Tuesday but only in the 60’s on Saturday (29th) and Sunday (30th). Sioux City reported the highest temperature for the week with an 88 degree reading on Monday (24th). On the other extreme Sibley reported a morning low of 37 degrees on Sunday (30th) while Spencer dropped to 36 degrees on Monday (31st) morning. These were Iowa’s lowest temperatures for so early in the season since August 21, 2004. Temperatures for the week as a whole averaged 4.2 degrees below normal.
Senate Ag Committee to Explore Future of Biofuels at Iowa Field Hearing
U.S. Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, chairman of Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, announced that he will hold a field hearing in Iowa entitled "The Expanding Role of Biofuels for America". The Committee will meet on Tuesday from 1 to 3 p.m. at Western Iowa Tech Community College, located at 4647 Stone Avenue in Sioux City. The purpose of the hearing is to explore the future of biofuels in America, including the prospects for expanding production and use, the outlook for developing and commercializing advanced biofuels, emerging biomass feedstock production and processing, and associated sustainability issues. Harkin has long been an advocate for expanding the production and use of renewable, home-grown sources of energy such as biofuels.
The witnesses include:
-- Steve Corcoran, CEO, KL Energy Corporation, Rapid City, S,D.
-- Bill Couser, Couser Cattle Company, Nevada, Iowa
-- Ed Olthoff, Cedar Falls Utilities, Cedar Falls, Iowa
-- Anna Rath, director of business development, Ceres, Thousand Oaks, Calif.
-- John Sheehan, scientific program coordinator for biofuels and the global environment, Institute on the Environment, University of Minnesota
-- Mark Stowers, vice president for research and development, POET, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Why Time Magazine Got It Wrong About America’s Pork Producers
This is the letter National Pork Board President Tim Bierman sent to the editor of Time magazine:
A recent Time magazine article titled “America’s Food Crisis and How to Fix It,” makes many false statements and draws indefensible conclusions about modern pork production. To set the record straight based on facts, I offer a few comments and corrections on behalf of America’s pork producers, who continue to work diligently to provide safe, affordable and high-quality food every day.
First of all, what food crisis? The drought in sub-Saharan Africa is a food crisis. Americans have access to abundant, safe and affordable food that is the envy of the rest of the world. It is produced by caring farmers using methods that are supported by science and backed by experience.
Unfortunately for your readers, the food plate of the article’s author, Bryan Walsh, is half empty. He blames modern pork production for much of what he considers to be today’s environmental concerns. He says pigs eat too much corn-based feed, which in turn, relies on too much commercial fertilizer. Walsh fails to credit pork production for its contribution to a recyclable and completely organic system that provides animal nutrients for crops. He also fails to mention no-till cropping methods, greenways and the land set aside for erosion control and wildlife areas—all of which occur regularly on America’s farms and go a long way in preventing soil erosion and nutrient runoff.
Walsh’s harangue drowns the many positive steps American farmers have taken over the past decades to become better stewards of all resources entering and leaving America’s pork operations. Had he taken the time to call to me or the professional staff at the National Pork Board, he quickly would have learned how pork producers – through their own programs as well as through governmental regulation – have made environmental stewardship a way of life.
It baffles me how Walsh could write: “Our food is not only bad for us, but even dangerous.” This clearly is not only false, but reckless. The author surely must know the importance that American farmers place on food safety. Their families, after all, eat the same food. I wish I would have had the opportunity to tell Walsh how pork industry programs such as We Care, Pork Quality Assurance Plus® (PQA Plus®), Transport Quality Assurance® and others help producers engage daily in the quest to ensure safe, abundant and high-quality pork. Instead of talking about any of those positive efforts, Walsh relied on the negative and tired agenda-driven talking points offered by predictable opponents of modern food production.
Walsh is no kinder to pork producers’ animal husbandry, using loaded terms such as “prison-like conditions” and inferring that modern livestock production is directly responsible for antibiotic resistance. Again, where to start? Walsh is just plain wrong. Today’s pork producers, together with their veterinarians are managing herd health through time-tested best-management practices. They use medications strategically and judiciously—all under the careful eye of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates all antibiotic use in agriculture. The pork industry’s We Care initiative, adopted last year, reiterates what producers have always done by focusing on superior animal care, herd health and technology to produce safe food. This is quantified by the more than 38,000 producers who have already been certified in the PQA Plus program.
Finally, the author urges us to “Eat more greens, less meat.” Perhaps this is the real crux of the story. He concedes that meat can be produced sustainably, but in his opinion not in conventional farming’s quantities. Therefore, he advises, “We should cut back on meat in favor of greens and fruits—which are better for us and the planet.” Perhaps this parting thought from Walsh uncovers his true intent—to get Americans to stop eating all meat.
Time magazine gave Walsh its cover and eight pages inside to deliver his message and to denigrate America’s farmers, including pork producers. Where was the other side of the story, the balance? Unfortunately, we can’t change that. Instead, we must continue to let the public know that we are working hard to produce safe, affordable, high-quality food in the most responsible way possible.
Tim Bierman
Larrabee, Iowa
President, National Pork Board