New Research

I try to keep up with some of the new research that is out there but UGH. It can be so irritating? disheartening? conflicting? exciting?

So when I found this article that links red meat to cancer I was disappointed.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6A43IG20101105
I was thinking here we go again. They have linked dihydrogen oxide to cancer also. You know that thing called water! And there is also evidence that meat high in conjugated linoleic acids will help prevent certain cancers. http://www.mercola.com/beef/cla.htm

Then Harvard came out with a study about eating unprocessed red meat and how it is not linked to heart disease or diabetes.
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/2010-releases/processed-meats-unprocessed-heart-disease-diabetes.html

But they said the heart health benefits were not covered by processed red meats.

Then, this study http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/449747/nitrates_and_nitrites_may_increase.html?cat=5

Says the nitrites in processed meats are good for heart health and may help overcome heart attacks.

I guess it just depends on what you like to eat what you want to believe. For me- I think I will stick with bacon and hot dogs in moderation- you know like only one meal per day. I will also continue doing what I think is the best form of exercise- feeding the livestock that feeds America.

Blessings

As I watched my daughter feed the kittens one handful at a time I was reminded of why I live 120 miles from the nearest Wal-Mart. She is able to grow up roaming, doing chores, and enjoying the great outdoors. We don't have satelite, dish, or cable just a dvd player and some great old westerns. It is sad but I think we have more in black and white than in color. Who knew when all else failed to go back to the standards of Roy Rogers for a one year old? It is great. She doesn't like Dora the Explorer but Trigger comes on and captures her attention.

Hopefully, I can pass on the same values of work ethic and connection to the land to her as my parents did to me. The same values I would love to pass on to those people who have Wal-Mart in their backyard.

Grazing on a Refuge

I am in the midst of a research project on a wildlife refuge. It involves grazing cattle both late spring and late summer. The late spring grazing is not something practiced on most wildlife refuges because of antedoctal concern for nesting habitat.

We went out and took our first measurements last week. Wow! It was amazing. The cattle created mosaics in areas of that are typically monocultures of grass. These mosaics in turn, create both nesting and brood rearing habitats. Though the data is preliminary-- I have high hopes that this project will help convince other refuge managers to use grazing as a tool. I also hope it will help ranchers be able to graze their cattle on these areas when the grass is at higher quality. Creating a win-win situation with producers and public lands.

I know it is an anomaly. In addition to the grazing component. I believe this project is going to create some PR work for myself and the refuge. We are going to have to convince the public that the earth is no longer flat. It may be round and you don't sail off the edge.

Weeds

There is weeds everywhere. It is especially true if you look from different perspectives. Yesterday I spent time with a USFS botanist who informed me that Orchardgrass is a weed. You know that stuff that sells for $100-$150 a ton when put into bales. A weed? Wow! Once again everything comes down to perspectives. She was one of those native only types who you wouldn't change her mind.

She also blamed cows for all the problems on the forest. An unfortunate opinion but one that has to be dealt with continually. She is one of those that I chalk up to hopeless but still try and mitigate the effects of. She spreads her thoughts readily, and I try to discount what is being said.

There has been a similar situation happen on the South Dakota State University campus. Where a animal rights/vegan activist was spreading propaganda and the students from the college of Agriculture banned together to discredit the sensationalism from his literature and eventually the University police removed the activist. Good for those young adults putting their education to work.

Torn about what to write.

I am torn about what to write about today. Do I type out my disgust with California politics, Californians in general, or Prop 19 which would have at least given food farmers a break. Or I could go on a more positive note. So, we are stuck with it what do we do know. I think I will combine the whole deal.

Eight percent of Californians are happy with the current government. California is on the verge of bankruptcy and is traveling precariously closer to it every year. So, what do the voters do? Vote back in Barbara Boxer for a fourth term! Vote in Jerry Brown as the governor for a third term. I guess they weren't that anguished over the whole situation.

THEN, to top it all off. The voted down proposition 19 which would legalize marijuana. I know, it is scary that I am for the legalization of pot but... but... why not. They could tax the sales, require the farmers to follow the same Air Pollution Control, EPA, and pesticide standards are food farmers and would help out a whole lot of livestock producers. The same producers who fear for their cattle and sheep out on public lands along with the employees and family members that have to gather them. Nothing is more eerie than following a cow trail and hearing the tinkling of cans. It means you have just crossed somebody's homemade alarm system for a pot field. Not a good feeling.

The same voters, voted no on a proposition that would hold off environmental regulations until the unemployment rate reached 5.5% and stayed there for a year. Those environmental regs that are pushing business out of California into Arizona, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, and Mexico. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense does it.

Now what do we do? It is time for food producers to unite and get to educating the general public and our lawmakers. This is true anywhere but Cali really needs more educating than some.

Voting

We might have a chance to get some real change during the midterm election. It will be interesting to see what comes about after today. Hopefully, there will be some differences and the newly elected people will not just sit on their laurels but do something.

I am not against saving the environment but I am against doing it at the cost of common sense. EPA regulations against farming and dust? Come on! Where do you want our food to come from? I would much rather grow it and deal with the dust than import it and deal with the lack of regulations in many countries.

There are several states where Animal Rights Initiatives are on the ballot. Proposition 2 in California was just the beginning for H$U$. Watch out Missouri, Illinois and other states. Hope the voters use science.

I'm Back!

Sorry all. I had to take the month of October off. I was swamped and this was the easiest task to give up. Good news is- Cows are off the permit, weaning is almost done, meeting in Davis should slow down and the Greater Sage Grouse hasn't been listed yet. So on with the blogging.

I was at a meeting last week for the Agricultural Sustainability Institute. That is a mouthful. They were doing wonderful things for urban areas- setting up victory gardens, school gardens, and establishing fresh fruits and vegetable programs for welfare recipients. However, the most important aspect in my opinion is missing. Where is the protein? There was nothing mentioned about teaching these people the value of lean, red protein in the diet.

I was asked where they could help beef producers. The director was thinking water quality, waste management, and other environmental issues. I think producers have these aspects covered. Between those of us in the University and the others from the government that are here to help, they have been inundated with information about environmental sustainability. What beef producers need help with is reaching an urban audience about perception!

The perception of turning lands that are not suitable for crop production into a wholesome, nutritious product. Which in turn increases the amount of land we can use for food production. The director started kvetching about the lack of organic vs. traditionally raised food and how he doesn't have the resources about organics' benefits. I candidly asked is there any?