Rotten apples....at HSUS

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has garnered media attention, once again, with an undercover video, filmed over month ago and pieced together bit by bit. To date, they have not released the entire footage.

But despite this fact, this time there are no scientific explanations for the behaviours of the employees at the Wyoming pig farm, they are clearly abusive, and not just “every day” activities.  

But at the same time, there are no explanations coming forth from HSUS.

I would love to ask them a few questions….

Why did it take a month for your undercover person to report the abuse? How long did it take you to plan that press conference that you held the day after the announcement was made regarding the hog facility? Did you start the planning the month before, when you sent in your undercover, fraudulant employee? Why was the last thing on the press conference agenda the health and well-being of the animals?

“We raise cattle on our farm. We do the best job we can, and have to deal with elements that aren’t always ideal. The weather, the animals, the landscape…it’s all subject to change and cannot be rationalized with our reactions guaranteed. And yet, if someone were to abuse our animals, I would not wait a month or more to take care of the situation,” rancher Val Wagner  writes.

HSUS’s does not really care about the health and well-being of animals. If you saw someone abusing an animal, would you wait a month to report it?  Your local animal shelter wouldn’t! But they don’t have an “agenda.” I just can’t help but wonder…. “What is wrong with these people?”

Rumors behind the BS…e

The fourth U.S. case of BSE (a.k.a. Mad Cow) was found in a central California cow this week, and I must say, we’ve come a long ways! In a few short weeks – I think the industry learned from the “pink slime” fiasco.

In December of 2003, when the USDA announced the first BSE case in the U.S., beef markets plummeted and exports saw a $3 billion drop in 2004. Those exports just fully recovered in 2011. In 2003, the U.S. set a record, exporting $3.19 billion with 9.6 percent of beef produced in the U.S. exported. In 2004, the U.S. only shipped $631 million, according to USDA data. The other two U.S. BSE incidents appear to have had little effect on the markets.

While the futures market did take a huge dive on Wednesday, based off rumors alone since USDA had yet to make an announcement, the overall fallout on this has been relatively uneventful. The nightly news I watch gave it all of 30 seconds….to my surprise.

I have seen a few articles, mostly blogs with an anti-meat slant, adding to their list of reasons the world should give up beef. But for every one of those, there are probably five counters from others, posting the facts about BSE.

My favorites have to be from the ag women. One “mad cow” doesn’t stand a chance against “momma rancher” when someone tells her, “your beef isn’t safe.”  

Many of you remember Mrs. Stanko from elementary school in Steamboat.

"You may hear that today BSE was confirmed in a dairy cow in Central California. What does that mean to you at the meat case? It means that the meat you choose is nutritious and safe. I buy my meat at the store just as you do because I am confident that my meat will be safe to not only eat myself but to serve to my two grandchildren. In 2007 the World Health Organization classified the US as a controlled risk country; that means that the controls in place here is the US are so effective and that fresh beef and beef products regardless of age are safe enough to be sold at home and traded with other countries," she wrote after the news came out.

My hope is over the next few weeks, reporters and consumers do their research, and find out the facts if they decide to add more to the BSE story. I know – I’m probably wishful thinking!

BSE facts…

The cow detected on April 24th with BSE never entered the food supply.

You cannot contract the human form of BSE from eating meat such as steaks and roasts.

The current case of BSE is Atypical, meaning it is sporadic and NOT from the cow eating contaminated feed.

Atypical BSE cannot be transferred from animal to animal, so the cows herd mates are not at risk.

BSE is only found in central nervous tissue and not in the actual meat of the animal.

And for more...go to

http://www.bseinfo.org/BSE.aspx

And the winner is…the war on extreme stupidity

I know, my title is a bit harsh, but really…did you know we are at war? Like a real war! Remember… Afghanistan? I just read an article today that said two-thirds of Americans believe the war in Afghanistan has not been worth fighting. But in reality, we really don’t hear much about it anymore, at least not since the killing of Osama bin Laden. We got a little on the soldier that went on a shooting rampage recently, but over-all, we don’t hear or read much.
But here at home, the wars rage on, and our media makes sure to cover everyones battles. We have the war on agriculture, the war on drugs, the war on terror, the war on guns, the war on poverty, the war on Christianity, the war on science, the war on music, the war on homosexuality, and on and on. Most can even be broken down into smaller pieces – for example there is the war on confined animal feeding operations, and the war on fur, and the war on animal antibiotics. Seriously! There’s even a website called waronbullshit.com. And a book titled The War on Moms. And now, insert drum roll, we have the war on women.
Here I am in the media business, focusing on agriculture, and was clueless to this new war on women. You would think, since I happen to be a woman, I would have gotten the memo. But apparently the message was sent via smoke signals…and got blown up someone else’s….   Anyway…
I was on Facebook, when in my newsfeed up pops a cartoon that caught me up to speed on this latest war on, none other than, “me”. It was a two screened cartoon, on one side stood a woman placing a ticket in a box – the ticket said GOP; and on the other side was a picture of someone in a giant chicken costume, placing a ticket that said KFC in a Vote box. The punch line – I guess it was supposed to be a punch line… “A woman voting republican, is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders.” It honestly took me awhile…I had to do some research. I just wasn’t drawing the connection.
But it didn’t take much searching before I got it. According to media reports, my “womanhood” was being attacked and I needed be very wary…of big bad wolves (aka Republicans).
War is defined as “a state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups within a nation or state.”  It’s all about interpretation, right?
Just for the record – as a woman – I don’t get it. I actually feel more empowered than I ever have. Do we live in a perfect world? I’m sure there will always be room for improvement, but if we are going to create a fictitious war to wage, can we, as women, ban together and pick something important!
I have a sneaky suspicion this war on women idea was created by male politicians, against male politicians, and is really just an undercover ploy to see if they can’t suck us in so they can watch a cat fight! All I can say is…don’t cave ladies!
And I think maybe we all need to take a moment for a reality check –there is really only one meaning of the word war, and the majority of us in the U.S. are incredibly fortunate to be living in a free country, protected by those willing to go to “war” for our rights to stay home and fight over silly things.
Did you know?
In 1900, men outnumbered women in the U.S.: 38.8 million versus 37.2 million, a ratio of 95.9 women for every 100 men. By 1999, it had reversed: there were 139.5 million women versus 133.4 million men, a ratio of 95.5 males per every 100 women.
In 1900 a woman's average life expectancy was 48.3 years. By 1998 women on average could expect to live to 79.4 years.
In 1900, 23 PhDs were awarded to women. In 1998, 515,000 women received doctorates.
In 1900, 63 homicides were committed by women. In 1998, the figure was 1,241.
Between the start of the women’s movement in the 1960s and the beginning of the 21st century, women in the workforce grew astronomically. But during the 21st century, there has been a withdrawal of women in the workforce. Why? So many possibilities here…But I’m just going to go with….
We’ve come a long way, ladies! ;)

Pink slime hysteria

Pink slime - must be something out of a horror flick, right? I can see it now, chasing me as I run across the field, a big blob of pink rolling after me, as I scream hysterically and watch in horror as it gobbles up my basset hound. 

Pink slime is at the top of the search engines this week. It's the new cry of "fire" in the crowded movie theater!

From my former elementary teacher, friend, and huge beef advocate, Jo Stanko - "Mark Twain said, "If you don't read the paper, you're uninformed; if you do read the paper, you're misinformed." This seems to apply to modern forms of media also. It seems "investigative reporter" doesn't mean that the reporter actually investigates but just repeats what he/she has heard."

This week’s media fire is blazing with pink slime bites, after ABC News’ March 7th investigative report on the use of the beef filler. According to their report, the low-grade beef product, dubbed pink slime, is present in 70 percent of ground beef sold at supermarkets. Actually, that's a possibility. It's the term pink slime that is the problem, and the misinformation that is coming along with it. 

According to a former USDA employer, it's going to kill us all. 

“Not only is this product a potential source of killer pathogens if the ammonia levels are not controlled properly, but that the overall protein quality of the beef hamburger is compromised by the inclusion of LFTB,” former US Department of Agriculture microbiologist Gerald Zirnstein said.

Zirnstein, who worked in the agency’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, coined the term “pink slime” after touring a BPI production plant. (LFTB = lean, finely textured beef)

Beef Products Inc. (BPI), is doing their best to counter the wave of pink slime hysteria, pointing out that it is used in a number of products, including baked goods, cheeses, gelatins, chocolate, caramels, and puddings to slightly increase the pH level to improve a product's safety.

BPI pointed that they produce lean beef from trim or the meat and fat that is trimmed away when beef is cut into steaks and roasts. LFTB, which includes ammonium hydroxide, dubbed pink slime, is used in hamburger, sausage, and ground beef. 

According to reports, the federal government plans to buy ground beef that contains 7 million pounds of the product in the coming year.

“Including LFTB in the national school lunch program’s beef products accomplishes three important goals on behalf of 32 million kids,” BPI spokesman Rich Jochum said. “It 1) improves the nutritional profile, 2) increases the safety of the products and 3) meets the budget parameters that allow the school lunch program to feed kids nationwide every day.”

Critics claim BPI has made millions off “pink slime” over the past decade, and that its safety and nutritional claims are lacking. How dare them make millions - on anything! That's just down right criminal. On a side note, it's my understanding that this product not only helps utilize more of a carcass, it also helps keep the price of a pound of hamburger down. I know, if BPI wasn't hogging all the money, we would all be rich and we wouldn't need to buy "cheap" meat. Right? And our schools would be rolling in the dough, and our kids could have choice steaks for lunch. And we could just toss out those trimmings to all the "free range" dogs that will be roaming the neighborhoods when HSUS has their way. 

But all sarcasm aside ... let's look at some facts that Jo found for us at Foodinsight.org....

Questions and Answers about Ammonium Hydroxide Use in Food Production

Q: What is ammonium hydroxide?

A: Ammonium hydroxide is ammonia combined with water. Ammonia (NH3) is a compound consisting of nitrogen and hydrogen. Both ammonia and ammonium hydroxide are very common compounds, found naturally in the environment (in air, water, and soil) and in all plants and animals, including humans. Ammonia is a source of nitrogen, an essential element for plants and animals. Ammonia is also produced by the human body – by our organs and tissues and by beneficial bacteria living in our intestines.

Ammonia plays an important role in protein synthesis in the human body. In brief summary, all living things need proteins, which are comprised of some 20 different amino acids. While plants and microorganisms can synthesize most amino acids from the nitrogen in the atmosphere, animals cannot. For humans, some amino acids cannot be synthesized at all and must be consumed as intact amino acids. Other amino acids, however, can be synthesized by microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract with the help of ammonia ions. Thus, ammonia is a key player in the nitrogen cycle and in protein synthesis. Ammonia also helps maintain the body’s pH balance.   

Q: How is it used in food processing?

A: Ammonium hydroxide and other ammonia-containing compounds are used extensively in food processing. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations affirm ammonium hydroxide as safe (“generally recognized as safe” or GRAS) for use as a leavening agent, a pH control agent, and a surface-finishing agent in food with no limitation other than current good manufacturing practice. 21 C.F.R. § 184.1139. See also National Academy of Sciences, Food Chemicals Codex, 5th Ed. (2004), p. 24.  

Q: Has FDA determined that use of ammonium hydroxide in food processing is safe?

A: Yes. FDA affirmed ammonium hydroxide as GRAS in 1974 after extensive review of the scientific literature and a rulemaking process. Ammonium hydroxide was one of 235 substances that were subjected to a full safety review by the Select Committee on GRAS Substances (SCOGS), an independent committee of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) that reported its findings to FDA. The SCOGS report to FDA concluded that:

“Ammonia and the ammonium ion are integral components of normal metabolic processes and play an essential role in the physiology of man…. the Select Committee concludes that: There is no evidence in the available information on…. ammonium hydroxide….. that demonstrates, or suggests reasonable grounds to suspect, a hazard to the public when [it is] used at levels that are now current or that might reasonably be expected in the future.” Select Committee on GRAS Substances (SCOGS) Review, Report No. 34, 1974.

GRAS status means that a substance is generally recognized, among experts qualified by scientific training and experience to evaluate their safety, as safe for its intended use. See generally 21 C.F.R. § 170.30.

Ammonium hydroxide is also recognized as safe by other countries’ and international food safety agencies. The Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) of the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) also recognizes ammonium hydroxide as safe for use in a wide variety of foods. Ammonium hydroxide is approved for use in food in most countries including the European Union.

Q: In what foods is ammonium hydroxide used in processing?

A: The list of foods in which ammonium hydroxide is used as a direct food additive is extensive and includes baked goods, cheeses, chocolates, other confectionery (e.g., caramel), and puddings. Ammonium hydroxide is also used as an antimicrobial agent in meat products.  

Ammonia in other forms (e.g., ammonium sulfate, ammonium alginate) is used in condiments, relishes, soy protein concentrates/isolates, snack foods, jams and jellies, and non-alcoholic beverages.

The World Health Organization has listed hundreds of food types that may be processed using ammonium hydroxide when used in accordance with good manufacturing practices. These include dairy products, confections, fruits and vegetables, baked goods, breakfast cereals, eggs, fish, beverages such as sports drinks and beer, and meats.

Q: If ammonia is safe, why do I think of it as a harmful chemical? 

A: Probably because ammonia is also used as a sanitizer in many household and industrial cleaners. Although necessary for life, too much ammonia is harmful. Ammonia vapor at levels higher than those found in common household cleaners is an irritant to the eyes, mucous membranes, and lungs. Consuming ammonia orally can cause burns to the mouth, throat, and stomach. Theoretically, it is possible to estimate a lethal oral dose of ammonia based on animal studies, but the amount would be so high that ingestion would be inconceivable. Ammonia has a strong odor and taste, so amounts that would be harmful are unpalatable and highly unlikely to be ingested. 

Q: Is ammonium hydroxide in food processing a safe substance?

A: Yes, provided it is used in accordance with good manufacturing practices (e.g., only food grade ammonium hydroxide is used). It has been used safely for decades. As noted above, FDA affirmed ammonium hydroxide as GRAS after extensive study back in 1974, and it had been used in food processing long before that date.

Q: How does it work to kill pathogens in meat?

A: Many food pathogens, including dangerous forms of E. coli can be found in the intestines of cattle. They are able to survive and grow in the high acid tissues of animals. Ammonium hydroxide and other compounds can damage these organisms and lower the acidity of meats and other foods, making it difficult for these pathogens to survive.

Q: What about use of ammonium hydroxide in meat products?

A: Ammonium hydroxide can be used as an antimicrobial to control pathogens, such as E. coli O157:H7, which may be present in beef. In the treatment, naturally occurring levels of ammonium hydroxide in beef are increased slightly to create a pH that eliminates harmful bacteria. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), after consultation with FDA, has determined that this use of ammonium hydroxide is safe. [FSIS Directive 7,120.1 Attachment (Substances accepted by FSIS as safe and suitable for use in the production of meat and poultry products)].

Mommy dearest....

Trying to get my creative juices flowing here...so I thought I'd share all the reasons I should probably retire as a mom. ;) It's a miracle Jadi still loves me.
When she was little, like really little, I pulled her toenail off with the door. NOT ON PURPOSE! But she was walking in front of me, and we were going into the swimming pool room at a hotel. The door swung towards us, and her big toe got in the way. Off it came. Make you cringe? She barely cried.
A year or so later, she broke her wrist at school. There was a new PE teacher  - first day on the job! And he had the kids playing kickball. Jadi was on one of the bases, and a boy fell on her, and "snap". I was working in Denver, and luckily my roommate was able to go get her...but she wasn't even crying when I got home. It was a super long night, so we went to the doctor the next day, and sure enough...broke.
Then there was 8th grade, when she broke that wrist again, in two spots. I was out to dinner, and she fell off the couch...at least that's what I understand from the story. But I think her version may be a little different, but that's besides the point. I got home, and she was crying, and I said, "It's prom night. We will have to wait forever at the emergency room. Are you sure it hurts!!??" We went, and waited forever, and it was broke, in two places. hmmm...
Just a couple of days ago, Jadi wasn't feeling good, and her fingers were numb, and she felt clammy, and said her heart was racing. I told her to go to sleep, and see if she felt better in the morning. Well, she didn't. And I finally said, "ok, make a doctor's appointment" - and her blood pressure was 154/94. She's fine! It was a bad reaction to some migraine medication she started taking.
Luckily, she's 18, and it looks like she's going to make it. :) And I get to retire soon??

Running the small producer out of business

The big “evil” corporate farms, or “factory farms”, as so many love to call them, just got another boost up the ladder with McDonalds recent announcement to end the purchase of pork from producers using gestation crates.

So for everyone chasing the all-natural, free range, antibiotic free, hormone free meat, you can point the finger at groups like HSUS when it becomes a little harder to find. The small to medium size pork producer doesn’t have the overhead to make the expensive changes necessary to revamp their entire system.

I recently read an great article, written by a pork producer. He pointed out that there are times in the business, that it just ain’t pretty! “With livestock, you get dead stock.” It’s just part of life.

The author pointed out that he wasn’t going to blow smoke up anyone’s ass, that in between scratching his pigs behind the ears, he was also carrying buckets of still born baby pigs out. Life and death happens on the farm and ranch.

But life on the small farm and ranch is getting pushed out – but not by the big corporate farms, as some would like to believe. There is a market for home grown, small family farm products. It’s out there. The problem is that anti-ag groups are successfully pushing their agendas, putting the small and even medium farmer out of business, because of the regulations and costs.  

Le Mars, Iowa pork producer and current president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association, Bill Tentinger, says it all comes at a cost.  And it will eventually be the consumer’s cost.
 “We’re just going to see some producers who are going to say, ‘you know, I’ve had enough—and I’m not going down that road’,” Tentinger says. “We’re going to see larger units. That’s where the sows—the farrowing business–is going to go,” Tentinger says, “because the smaller producer is just probably not—if he needs to make that switch, he’s not going to do it.”
Because he can’t afford it!
There seems to be this huge misunderstanding between ranchers/farmers and the general public.
I was up in the mountains a few summers ago, the Salida area, and had an interesting conversation with a young man working at a gas station about “the greedy ranchers selling all the land for money.” He didn’t seem to have any concept on the costs of running a ranch, and trying to survive in the business. All he cared about was the fact that the land was being developed and the “greedy ranchers” were running off with their hordes of money.
The anti-ag groups of the world are on task, making sure the small and medium producers are put out of business….which is what they really want.
 “My goal is the abolition of all animal agriculture.”— HSUS grassroots coordinator John “J.P.” Goodwin
Back on the pig note – in a couple of months, Jadi will have two new pigs at our place, for her 4H project. She typically tries to get barrow – male fixed pigs, instead of gilts – female brats. The females are typically pushy and mean, and in the years she’s had one of each, it has not been unusual to go out and find one or both bloody and beat up from fighting. That’s what happens when pigs are housed together. They fight…and they bleed…and they make a horrible noise, sometimes just when you touch them. But does that make Jadi and I animal abusers?

Ag wars in Park County

I’ve had the pleasure of working in the cattle industry off and on for several years. I have been shocked more than once by anti-ag groups, and their tactics to put producers out of business, but every now and then, I am shocked by the tactics imposed on an individual in the industry, by the industry.

My introduction to Dr. Amy Mason, a veterinarian from Guffy, CO. came after I ran a press release from the Colo. Dept. of Ag (CDA), reporting that Mr. Vern Wagner was found guilty of animal cruelty. Mr. Wagner was the first to call me, a bit miffed, and rightfully so, that I hadn’t investigated it more before printing.

Mr. Wagner is a third generation rancher. After he shared this with me, I had to wonder if someone abusing their animals could stay in business that long. Common sense tells me probably not!

But the release came from CDA. It had to be good. It’s our elected, paid, government, in agriculture. They’re on ag’s side…right?  As I learn more and more about this case, I’m not so sure.

Dr. Amy met me, loaded with pictures, videos and information, that clearly sheds reasonable doubt on Mr. Wagner’s case. Actually – it was pretty black and white after hearing and seeing the details. Something went terribly wrong in Park County.

The photos, taken at several different times over the past 2 years, don’t show starving, neglected cattle. Well, at least not most of them. There are a series of pictures of overcrowded pens of cows and calves, calves that look unhealthy or ill lying in manure, scours, heavily molded hay, empty water troughs, 4 wheelers running cows, and a bull tangled in twine around his neck and legs. There are also videos of some of the above, including a video of a calf trying to get water out of the trough and another licking drops of water from a dripping water spicket, with several cows crowded around, and another of a calf appearing to have respiratory problems. And cows that looked as if they may have aborted calves, with blood and afterbirth hanging from them. Obviously, all could be considered potentially damaging in an animal cruelty case.

But, here’s the kicker, these pictures were taken after Mr. Wagner’s cattle were confiscated, by CDA. He actually had a restraining order on him, and was court ordered to stay away from them. Several of the calves died, while under CDA’s care, and Mr. Wagner had to pay the rendering fee.

So, as I’m listening to Dr. Amy, and earlier to Mr. Wagner, and others familiar with the case, the “why” question is haunting me, and I just can’t get my head wrapped around it. It seems as if it’s ag fighting ag.  

But there’s more to the story. It’s like a present-day, good old black and white western, where everyone is fighting over the land. Several years ago, Mr. Wagner started a grazing association. Within that association, there are thousands of acres, and he has the leases. The property owners get the benefit of paying ag property taxes. I’m betting the county doesn’t like that much – just a hunch. And then there are his state leases. Mr. Wagner isn’t a small time, 40-acre, hobby cattle man. There appears to be several parties that will benefit from his loss. A quick side note on this, apparently a BLM representative testified on Mr. Wagner’s behalf, saying he was a good land tenant and did not over graze. Hmmm…but yet his cattle were deemed malnourished and starved by CDA.

But there’s more…things that bring up the “why” again. Mr. Wagner’s cattle were confiscated in two different runs. In the first, the cattle were taken and the court order was for the sale of 379 animals. Two weeks after they took the animals that Mr. Wagner had allegedly abused, they ran them through the sale barn. The starving, malnourished cattle had a remarkable comeback in two short weeks. They sold the 379 court ordered, plus a few more that magically appeared (450 total – despite a court order of 379), for top dollar, with a clean bill of health.  

The money was put into an escrow. For the next 18 months, Dr. Amy documented and took pictures of Mr. Wagner’s remaining cattle. All of his financial assets were gone. He used his social security checks to take care of his cattle. During those 18 months, according to Dr. Amy, he lost one cow. After another hearing, the courts ordered the seizure of the rest of his cattle, despite the photos and videos, and testimony from a vet that actually body scored the cattle using 3 different state body score systems and deemed them healthy. The cattle sold, and were the top sellers at the auction.

Other photos Dr. Amy shared with me, included some taken in April before the first group were taken. Several of the cows had big healthy calves at their sides. There was also a photo of a pile of hay that she said the county had taken to the starving cattle. There were no cattle in sight eating it. They were grazing the pastures. There were also a few pictures of heifers that looked thin. They showed signs of a long winter. My assumption that maybe Dr. Amy only took pictures of the “fat” animals was wrong. She took pictures of groups of cattle. She also took pictures of neighbor cattle – some of which looked much much thinner!

So – my why question is still unanswered. In the meantime, Mr. Wagner is cattleless, and preparing for an April hearing. If he loses, he will spend time in prison. While I’m no vet, and no expert, I believe that would be a huge injustice!

And on another note – if he is convicted, I think there are a lot of ranchers out there that better be concerned. It appears that the “animal cruelty law” has some hidden twists. And look out for Dr. Amy – you all may think she’s just a poodle vet…but she’s not!

HSUS undercover videos illegal

I remember when I was going through my ugly divorce with my kids' dad, and I would tape some of our conversations, only to be told they couldn't be used in court, and that it might even be illegal. I'm reminded of this again today, as HSUS releases yet another "undercover" video that, this time, is making false accusations, as has the potential to cause major damage to these producers.

HSUS has a history of sending one of their activists in to companies, to get these undercover videos. While I don't by any means condone animal abuse, ever, I also don't condone these activists methods.

I have to question the tactics of HSUS, when they send someone in under false pretenses (isn't illegal to lie on an application), who is supposedly witnessing this abuse, and does nothing about it when they see it, and then they wait, sometimes months, before reporting it.

Why would the "employee" not be held responsible for watching, and not reporting it immediately? Are they exempt, because they lied on their resume?

In addition, there is the issue of defining abuse - just like with children. There is clear cut abuse, that no one can deny - the calves in Texas, the cows in California - but then there are practices that some may consider abusive - like branding, or lifting a pigs tail or pulling their ear to get them moving, or prodding a steer forward.

So when HSUS, or other groups like them, go in and make these videos, they are playing a role that is subject to opinion, as opposed to laws that are already in place. They make accusations, and send out releases and videos, and the company is condemned in the public eye, and often costs millions of dollars.

Several states have introduced legislation that would, in different ways, make it illegal for these "covert  operations" to continue.

Disappointingly, Florida just shot theirs down this week.

An Iowa bill currently on the table would make it illegal to take a job or gain access to an animal facility under false pretenses.

In addition, the bill, known as the “ag gag bill,” if passed would become the nation’s toughest legislation against animal rights activists who use what they call "covert operations" to take videos and photos of alleged animal cruelty.

Other states with similar pending legislation include Indiana, Nebraska, New York and Minnesota.

Iowa’s bill passed the House last year, but stalled in the Senate after the attorney general’s office pointed out potential legal challenges the bill would create. Based on freedom of speech, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that films exposing animal cruelty are legal.

Iowa’s Senate rewrote the bill in late 2011, eliminating the false pretenses language that prohibited animal activists from lying to employers. The rewritten language makes it a crime to enter or remain at an agricultural operation or to have a recording device without express permission from the owner.

According to HSUS, the Florida bill brought up discussion of first amendment rights, food safety, animal welfare and workers’ rights. But what about employer rights?

Sen. Tyson Larson filed the Nebraska bill. It would require people who suspect animal abuse or neglect to report their suspicion to authorities within 12 hours, instead of the current two-day window allowed in Nebraska. They also would have to surrender all video, photo and audio evidence immediately to investigators, instead of using them to promote their cause.

The videos released on the swine farms, according to veterinarians, do not show abuse, but rather normal injuries and sores association with animal behavior. My daughter's 4-H pigs typically look like they have been abused, when in fact, sometimes they git into fights - and even draw blood. I know, it's one of the crazy animal behaviors - that sets us apart from the animal world...right?

In 2007, an HSUS activist worked in the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company for approximately six weeks, obtaining video that, four months later, would run rampant through media outlets and create the largest meat recall in history.

According to testimony from HSUS President and CEO Wayne Pacelle, “HSUS conducted a thorough investigation that took several months, with our investigator undercover at the plant for six weeks during October and November 2007, and then the investigation continuing after he left the site as we analyzed documents and compiled further evidence. These are long-term investigations, and we don’t parachute in and know everything there is to know in a single day. If we are going to accuse a company of wrongdoing, with broader implications for the public, we want to make sure we collect as much evidence to support our claims as possible, and we want to be sure to present a fair and accurate picture of what went on at the plant.”

While animal activists are typically the ones with the hidden cameras, the media also has a track record of sending in their own undercover spies.

In 1994, CBS was in court in South Dakota on charges that a video the network filmed secretly inside a meatpacking plant in Rapid City was illegal. The packing plant tried to stop the video from being aired, but an emergency order by a Supreme Court justice allowed it to run.

Circuit Judge Jeff W. Davis barred the network from using the footage during a “48 Hours” segment, titled “Bum Steer.” Concluding that the First Amendment did not apply because the network obtained the videotape through “calculated misdeeds,” Davis ruled that Federal Beef would suffer “irreparable harm” if the tape were broadcast. In an appeal hours before “Bum Steer” was to go on the air, CBS got permission from a Supreme Court judge to use the disputed videotape.

Current state photo shooting, audio recording and video tapping laws vary.

Something is wrong with this world when a crime is committed, and is not reported for days, or even months. And when we can't recognize the difference between animal rights and animal welfare. The first, until my dog can speak English, is not even possible.

Beef lies uncovered

Did you know that beef smuggling is big business? Beef has become the moonshine of beef prohibition in India. Where they were once free to wander the streets, surrounded by their veggie loving friends, treated like Gods, now they are watching their butts….literally! Estimates say that as many as 1.5 million cows, valued at up to $500 million, are smuggled annually, providing more than half the beef consumed in Bangladesh.

Beef demand isn’t going away – no matter how many people go vegetarian!

And since we’ve all come to an understanding on that, let’s clear up a couple of lies -  not myths –  big fat lies!

Number 1....Cows are a major contributor to global warming and greenhouse gas emissions.

If you have fallen for this BS, it’s ok, you’re not alone. But let’s lay the facts out, in basic every day English: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the entire agriculture sector produces just “6% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.” That is the “entire agriculture sector”- not just cows. And EPA data also show that domestic livestock production is only responsible for 2.4%. I personally think those numbers are a bit high, but for the sake of discussion, we’ll go with them, and save the EPA rant for a later blog. So if we take those numbers, and eliminate them – completely, get rid of ag all the way around – let’s all go vegetarian…oh wait…that’s still ag! And accounts for as much as half of that 6%...so that won’t work.

So let’s get rid of livestock, all of it, including horses – and eliminate that 2.4% - gone….what happens? We still have to eat – and supply and demand laws say something is going to increase in this equation, if one or more sources of food are lost.  More people eat tofu, right? And beans…and veggies…and fruits…and all that increases, including more plowing and transporting and fertilizing, and a new vegie utopia, and walla…we’re back up to that 6% again! And maybe even higher, because all those crazy horse nuts are going to go buy a 4-wheeler, and make noise, and pollute the air, and drive more…Ok, so maybe I’m reaching here, but it might happen.

And on a side note - A study in the Journal of Animal Science comparing the methane emissions from grazing and feedlot cattle concluded that grass-fed cattle produce about 4 times more methane than grain-fed cattle. That just puts a whole new stink on that “grass-fed beef is better for you” idea. It sure doesn’t taste better!

Number 2....Eating red meat is bad for you. Seriously? ! If that is the case...it's a miracle the human race is here!

Those pointy teeth in your mouth – those are your canines – to help you eat meat! But, it causes obesity, cancer, heart disease, and clogged arteries! Right? Wrong!

Some scientists claim that if our ancestors had not eaten red meats, the brain of humans would be 1/4 of its present size! Our adaptation to red meat and the vital protein and fats it provides, is one of the reasons behind the rapid growth in our intelligence and brain capacity.. without meat we might still be living in the trees eating bananas!

Beef contains iron, zinc, magnesium and protein – lots of each. It is also an excellent source of B-vitamins, such as vitamin B12. A recent study at the University of Pennsylvania, showed that eating lean beef actually improves cholesterol level. (For more information on the study, I’ve added the link.)

And yes, I said lean beef. I prefer that nice marbled beef also – a good piece of prime rib, with a glass of merlot –but everything in moderation. Even the wine!

But don’t fret – there are 29 lean cuts of beef to choose from!

Our government thinks our ag kids are living "sweatshop" lives

In between calls from my daughter, whose truck broke down on her way to school, I dedicated today to getting a paper out, doing my best to ignore her SOS – I know, mean mom, but she has friends. And for some reason, the broke down truck became reason to not go to school, despite the fact that she found a tow and a ride. To be 18 again!

Which brings me to my next label…. Did you know the ag industry as a whole is abusing their kids, and putting their lives in danger daily by allowing them to be on the farm or ranch? We’re right in line with the third world countries, putting our kids through the ag version of sweatshops! The United States Department of Labor is hard at work, trying to fix this apparent oversight that has been going on for 100’s of years. They have proposed regulations that will end this horrible lax in parental judgment that ag raised kids have been unjustly thrust into at birth.

From the Department of Labor website, here is a list of some of the proposed child labor law improvements they are planning:

•Strengthening current child labor prohibitions regarding agricultural work with animals in timber operations, manure pits, storage bins and pesticide handling.

•Prohibiting hired farm workers under the age of 16 from operating almost all power-driven equipment. A similar prohibition has existed as part of the nonagricultural child labor provisions for more than 50 years. A limited exemption would permit some student-learners to operate certain farm implements and tractors (when equipped with proper rollover protection structures and seat belts) under specified conditions.

•Preventing children under 18 years of age from being employed in the storing, marketing and transporting of farm-product raw materials. Prohibited places of employment would include country grain elevators, grain bins, silos, feed lots, stockyards, livestock exchanges and livestock auctions.

So – on first read it doesn’t look so bad. But … The first two – strengthening and prohibiting remains a little vague, and is open for all kinds of interpretations. But moving on to the next, my brother was fortunate to work for a neighbor for several summers, starting when he was well under 16. He was driving a tractor, cutting hay, at age 12.

Some of the basic jobs that “city folk” probably aren’t even aware of, are threatened. Have you heard of “detasseling”? They’ve been doing it in corn country for years – almost sounds kind of kinky! Probably should be banned? And it just may be! Corn growers hire crews, starting as young as 12, to come in after machines have done their detasseling job to walk down rows of corn and pull the top parts of the plant off and drop them to the ground. Ok – maybe not so kinky, but very very dangerous, I’m sure!

Lisa McNeel of Lincoln is one of five brothers and sisters who have worked together detasseling for 38 years. They expect to hire as many as 500 tassel-pullers in their area next growing season.

"I would not hesitate to say that 75-80 percent of our workforce of those 500 kids fall into the 13-, 14-, and 15-year-old age group," McNeel told Journal Star reporters.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking safety! “I’m a safety girl!” – wasn’t that a quote from Pretty Women? ;) What I am knocking, is our Government's apparent understanding of agriculture. They don’t seem to have a clue! Sorry all you kids looking for summer jobs, detassling just is too dangerous!

And you FFA and 4H kids, that college money you make off those market animals just might be over too. Thank God this is Jadi’s last year! Oh wait, she’s over 18 now….child labor laws bedamned, she’s feeding from now on!

Other changes include:

- Teenagers would be prohibited from handling non-castrated livestock older than six months, sows with suckling pigs, or cows with a newborn calf.

- Teenagers would not be allowed to be around livestock in situations where the animals' behavior might be erratic or unpredictable like during shots, dehorning, branding, or breeding.

- They will no longer be allowed to catch chickens to take to market.

- They will no longer be allowed to herd animals either on horseback or on equipment like an ATV.

- Teenagers would never be allowed to work at heights above six feet from the floor, including on a ladder.

And I’m just skimming the surface here…the proposed changes include 100 pages!

So, this is the way it looks. “Honey, I’m just trying to protect you. No, you can not go to the barn, there’s a cow in there, she might hurt you. No, you can’t mow the lawn, you might get hurt. No dear, I love you so much, and the government told me it would not be safe for you to ride your horse on that cattle drive, so you can’t go. No, you can’t go feed! There’s bulls in the pasture! And unpredictable cows. No, honey, you won’t be showing your steer at the fair this year. Mommy is going to show it for you. Won’t that be fun? You can watch from the sidelines and take pictures. No, honey, stop asking…your making me crazy…go sit on the couch and play your video games! I’ll go help your dad cut hay. Maybe you can learn how to cook, the government hasn’t caught on to how dangerous it is to have a 14-yr-old in the kitchen yet.”

On top of the pages of changes, the government hypocracy is rampant. At the beginning of 2011 in Washington, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack addressed the National FFA officers, saying, “I would like for you to work with your fellow students and the adult leadership of the organization to develop a series of recommendations around the upcoming Farm Bill that will encourage more young people to pursue careers in farming. Over the next few years we will need 100,000 new farmers and I am looking to you for ideas, guidance and suggestions to help make that happen. If you do this in a serious thoughtful manner (which I know you will do) I will make myself and all of my Under Secretaries available to hear this report. So that we can utilize this information to guide our input to Congress, I would like to have your report to me one year from today.”

And in October in Ankeny, IA, Vilsack shared his concern about the average age of farmers in a Farm Bill discussion, “The average American farmer is 57 years of age. Nearly 30 percent of American farmers are over the age of 65, which is almost double the number of folks in the workforce over 65. Now, some of these folks want to slow down or retire; but they have no one to take over the farming operation. That challenges us to find new ways, through tax policy, through regulations, through our credit programs or other programs, to help transition farms to the next generation. We’ll need a community effort to recruit, train, and support this new generation of farmers and ranchers; and we need to make sure that it’s for operations of all sizes.”

Perhaps we can just move some of these kids right off the couch and onto the farm, when the government deems them “old” enough, and I’m sure all that couch potatoe training will prepare them for a safe and swift career move into agriculture. Once again, our government is obviously a much better parent than I will ever be! "I heard you...your truck is broke...stick your thumb out and hitch hike to school!"

Labels gone looney!
Today is another one of those days where I am reading all of the misconceptions about ag - today's hot spot is the beef industry, primarily in the processing arena - and I have decided I need a venting place...so here I "blog".
Today's "label" is a blast from the past with the horrible videos HSUS shot at a meat processing plant back in 08. The Supreme Court overturned a ruling yesterday on what would have been a duplicate law to prevent abuses, as depicted in the video, from happening. It was really a no-brainer. But the comments and articles I keep reading make it clear that the ag industry hasn't come very far in getting the message out that that wasn't the "norm" for the industry. That was a bad apple!
It's amazing how many newspapers have jumped on that story - ok, maybe not so amazing. But even more amazing is the comments on the articles.

• "Of course it was overturned. This Supreme Court cares nothing for humans. why should they give a rat's behind about animal cruelty? Not one bit surprised, and tha's why I'm a vegan. My health has improved greatly since I no longer eat contaminated meat. These poor animals are so full of steroids, hormones, and antibiotics its no wonder we are in a health care crisis! I'm so sick of this Supreme Court, and their lousy decisions that favor only the wealthy!"
• "No problem for me. Red meat is bad for you anyway (except for the prime cuts) so I don't eat it. And if you saw the pictures and videos you won't either."
• “The beef industry in California is responsible for as much greenhouse gas production as all the cars being driven in California.  Beef is bad for humans, it gives us heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.  Beef uses hundreds of times more water and land than other types of meat (such as poultry and pigs and sheep).”

Sheesh! We ag people are just short of terrorists, one would think!
While I'll save the whole HSUS rant for another blog to come soon, I will add that the Pacelle quotes in these articles just take the false "label" a little deeper. I'm floored at how the media continues to use him as a reliable source or support for any argument.
The video that comes with today's ag label was shot in 08, and HSUS did not present that video to authorities for over 4 months. The "undercover" HSUS/meat plant employee took the videos in October of 08. In late January 09, the videos came out. The plant was temporarily shut down, the legitimate/"bad apple" employees were fired, the meat was recalled, fines were enforced, and absolutely nothing happened to the HSUS employee, who was there, and didn't report the abuse for 4 months. Hmmmm.... I don't think that story got covered by CNN!
On a good note...I got some beef rub from the Colorado Beef Council booth at the National Western Stock Show. It has coffee in it. We are trying it tonight, and I'll post the recipe if it's good. :)