Final Post

In 1978, a radio broadcaster named Paul Harvey gave this speech to millions of people tuned in to his radio show at the Future Farmers of America Convention: “And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, "I need a caretaker." So God made a farmer.

God said, "I need somebody willing to get up before dawn, milk cows, work all day in the fields, milk cows again, eat supper and then go to town and stay past midnight at a meeting of the school board." So God made a farmer.

"I need somebody with arms strong enough to rustle a calf and yet gentle enough to deliver his own grandchild. Somebody to call hogs, tame cantankerous machinery, come home hungry, have to wait lunch until his wife's done feeding visiting ladies and tell the ladies to be sure and come back real soon -- and mean it." So God made a farmer.

God said, "I need somebody willing to sit up all night with a newborn colt. And watch it die. Then dry his eyes and say, 'Maybe next year.' I need somebody who can shape an ax handle from a persimmon sprout, shoe a horse with a hunk of car tire, who can make harness out of haywire, feed sacks and shoe scraps. And who, planting time and harvest season, will finish his forty-hour week by Tuesday noon, then, pain'n from 'tractor back,' put in another seventy-two hours." So God made a farmer.

God had to have somebody willing to ride the ruts at double speed to get the hay in ahead of the rain clouds and yet stop in mid-field and race to help when he sees the first smoke from a neighbor's place. So God made a farmer.

God said, "I need somebody strong enough to clear trees and heave bails, yet gentle enough to tame lambs and wean pigs and tend the pink-combed pullets, who will stop his mower for an hour to splint the broken leg of a meadow lark. It had to be somebody who'd plow deep and straight and not cut corners. Somebody to seed, weed, feed, breed and rake and disc and plow and plant and tie the fleece and strain the milk and replenish the self-feeder and finish a hard week's work with a five-mile drive to church.

"Somebody who'd bale a family together with the soft strong bonds of sharing, who would laugh and then sigh, and then reply, with smiling eyes, when his son says he wants to spend his life 'doing what dad does.'" So God made a farmer.”

What Paul Harvey said in 1978 continue to hold true today. Unfortunately, a lot of people in the United States don’t understand or appreciate what farmers do. I believe that farmers are the most under appreciated group of people in the US and that everyone’s opinions would change if they knew what a farmer has to do so people can drive their cars, eat their meals or get their medications.

You may not think about it, and honestly, I forget it too, but most of the things we use in our daily lives come from the farm. On Mondays when we wake up for class and struggle to leave our comfy bed sheets, we forget those sheets may come from the cotton fields of Georgia. Or on Wednesdays when drive home from work, we forget that the ethanol gas in our cars and trucks may have come from the corn fields of Iowa. Or on Fridays when we make some memories, or in this case, forget some things and drink liquor or beer, we forget that the barley and rye could have been grown on the plains of The Dakotas. And after Netflix bingers get done watching the entire Grey’s Anatomy series, they might forget that prescription meds and x-ray film come from the farm. Along with all those things, tires, ink, crayons, strings on instruments, lumber, paint, drywall, baseballs, footballs, leather, surgical sutures, latex gloves, packaging materials, upholstery, antifreeze, textbooks, adhesives, polymers and way too many more to name all come from the farm.

The very basis of farming is simple: plant and harvest a crop to feed people and animals. The US produces over $50 billion in corn, $40 billion in soybeans, $11 billion in wheat and $5 billion in cotton. The average American farmer feeds about 155 people a year. In the 60s, that number was closer to 25. I wrote a post in January that explains more.

Like another post I wrote, I talk about how technologically advanced the agricultural industry is. Contrary to popular belief, farmers don’t chew tobacco and gawk at tractors all day. They use satellites to map the fields so they don’t overlap on fertilizer and pesticide application, thus saving money and preserving the environment. Along with a lack of overapplication of fertilizers and pesticides, these same maps can inform farmers how much what must be applied if they use irrigation sprayers. Furthermore, farm equipment (tractors, combines, etc.) how become much more gas efficient thus releasing less carbon dioxide into the air.

Just like parents, teachers and police officers, farmers make sacrifices, just in a different way. Not only is farming one of the most dangerous professions in the world with 26 fatalities for every 100,000 workers. On top of that, farming is an extremely financially stressful occupation. If someone were to start their own farm, I would suggest they open up their wallets and withdraw some loans. The average price of a single acre of farmland in the US is more that $4000. Most farms need a few hundred acres to be profitable and the average farm size in the US is 435 acres. Therefore, the average farm costs $1.7 million dollars. And that’s just for land. Factor in the cost of machinery (tractors, combines, plows, balers, grain trucks), seed, animals, fertilizers, diesel and more. Whether or not you’re born into a profitable system, farming is a financial strain. The agricultural industry causes a lot of problems even after their crop has been harvested because crop prices fluctuate a lot. Sometimes they get a lot of money for their crops, and other times they lose money after the season is over. But money aside, a farmer has to hope for good rain and steady sunlight. Those two things are always guaranteed.

The world of agriculture is not without its fair share of trials and tribulations. Farmers, ranchers and anyone in the agricultural industry know that there is more to agriculture than what mainstream society tends to believe. And yes, while many of us loves trucks, chewing tobacco and cold beer, there’s more to us than most folks know or appreciate.

Ag in Media

Ag in Media

What else screams "'MERICA!" quite like plopping down on your couch, opening your laptop or turning on your TV, iPad or phone, and flipping on some Netflix? Nothing captivates people in the US quite like the continuous and seemingly unlimited amount of content that Netflix has available to us everyday. Netflix is almost like Google in terms that you can find almost any type of show on Netflix.

                                                           

Although, one would be hard pressed to find many shows or movies related to the agricultural field, except for a few documentaries that expose poor ethics or explain an on going problem in a given region. But on April 1st, Netflix released an original series titled 'The Ranch'. The Ranch is a multi-camera sitcom based on, believe it or not, a ranch. In the heart of rural Colorado, father Beau Bennett (Sam Elliott) runs a cattle ranch with his thirty something kids. Rooster/Jameson Bennett (Danny Masterson) is known as the good son who may not be perfect, but at least he isn't like his other brother (Colt). Colt Bennett (Ashton Kutcher) was a high school football star whose NFL career never panned out. Because of his failures, he is brought back to the Ranch to reunite with his dysfunctional family.

                                              

The Ranch's downfall as a show is it's extreme use of crude humor and set-up jokes. But at the same time, what makes is so interesting to watch, is watching a show much like 'That 70s Show', which many of us grew up with, and unexpectedly hearing the word "fuck" bellow out of that classic, deep Sam Elliott voice.

                                        

Aside from it's unrefined humor, The Ranch forces its mostly out-of-touch lifestyle onto the average person. These days on 2% of the US population works in the agricultural industry. A few more live in a rural setting, but to the large majority of the population, a rural lifestyle is one that we've been disconnected from. Throughout the 10 episodes in part 1, the Bennett's face many problems revolving around a lack of money. At the end of part 1 comes time to send his cattle to auction. The only problem is that the Bennett's are struggling to find the money to take care of their family and their cattle before auction. And on top of that, cattle prices are at all time lows, so if Beau were to sell his cattle, he would end up losing money. In the end, after a series of events, Beau ends up selling his cattle because of a water crisis in the area and gets a hefty profit.

We as Americans can feel for the Bennett family when we watch The Ranch. We may not be able to relate to cattle prices, but most of us have had money problems and didn't know where we were going to turn. Or perhaps we have had a strained relationship with someone we love, just like Beau and his wife. Or maybe we let a lover go and regret that decision like Colt and his long gone ex girlfriend Abby. Or maybe it's the nostalgic feeling some people get when they see the old Ford farm truck parked in front of Beau's house and it makes those viewers think of simpler times. Whatever it is, The Ranch opens the doors to a world that a lot of Americans have forgotten all about.

                                            

The Ranch may not be for everyone, but for those of us that live in or wish we lived in a rural lifestyle, it's must see TV.

Prompt 10- Recognizing Truth

Recognizing Truth

Spitting tobacco, driving old tractors and wearing overalls. I'm sure that's the image many folks have of farmers these days. It's sad that farmers get looked at like this by adults and kids. Now, that's not to say farmers don't spit chew, or drive old tractors or even wear overalls, but the sad truth is that agricultural workers don't get looked at as technologically savvy, economically fluent and some of the hardest working people on the planet. 

                                                        

I come from an agricultural background and I work on a farm. All summer I'm in touch with farmers every day. I know these people in and out. And they're quite a variable crowd. Some fresh out of college and some in their 90s. Some fat and out of shape, others lean and tone. Some smarter than others, but they're all hard workers. 

                                             

It's too bad that most folks don't appreciate the hands that feed them.

Agricultural Colleges

Agricultural Colleges

                                             
You may have heard around campus that Michigan State takes great pride in their agricultural college. And that's rightfully so. MSU was the first land grand college. The federal government created the Morrill Acts that funded educational institutions by granting federally controlled land to the states for them to sell to raise funds to establish and endow "land-grant" colleges. Prior to the universities current name of Michigan State university, it was known as the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan. 

What you may be unaware of, is that there are many other prestigious agriculture programs in the country. And you might also be surprised that many are in the Big Ten. Schools like Ohio State, Illinois and Penn State. all have elite ag programs. Purdue and Wisconsin considered to be in the top 5 nationally of most rankings.
                                         
What separates MSU from every other agricultural colleges is the size and location of their campus farms. MSU is one of only a handful of schools that has a farm on their main campus. MSU has a student run organic farm, a dairy and crop research farm and more buildings related like the soil testing labs. MSU is a pioneer in dairy and crop research. Since MSU's founding in 1855, the university discovered hybrid corn and homogenized milk. Since the beginning, MSU emphasizes research. MSU is considered a top research university still.