The local Farm Bureau put on a luncheon for government employees- federal, state, and local. The menu consisted of tri-tip, cheesy potatoes, homemade bread, salad, and dessert. It was wonderful. The interesting part was the income off of this meal to the actual farmers. $2.05 The cost of this meal if it were bought in a restaurant- between $15 and $18.
What a stark comparison! It is amazing how little people are paid for how much work and effort goes into raising food. Guess those money grubbing farmers and ranchers better get better at business because they are not getting what people are paying.
Thanks to FB for putting on such an eye-opening meal.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Weather
As I watched the first day of spring be engulfed by snow "showers" I am amazed at the circle of life. There are daffidols trying to push through the snow and baby calves bucking all over the place. Snow is good this time of year for ranchers, as long as it is not followed by wind. Rain is bad because it equates to mud. Mud doesn't have the insulative properties that snow does.
While I wish for warmer weather, it would be dire for ranchers in this area. The snow would melt, causing issues in the valley along with receding the snow pack which represents next winter forage. That mountain snow pack is the life blood for many ranchers that have to feed stockpiled forage to sustain througout the winter.
I wish we could graze year round but due to weather conditions that is improbable on most years. So, fossil fuels must be used to create winter feedstuffs.
While I wish for warmer weather, it would be dire for ranchers in this area. The snow would melt, causing issues in the valley along with receding the snow pack which represents next winter forage. That mountain snow pack is the life blood for many ranchers that have to feed stockpiled forage to sustain througout the winter.
I wish we could graze year round but due to weather conditions that is improbable on most years. So, fossil fuels must be used to create winter feedstuffs.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Moisture
Moisture and I have a love-hate relationship. It is the same relationship I have with my contacts, dog, and tractors. I know rain and snow mean grass but on the flip side, I hate mud, I hate snow drifts, and I really hate being limited in what I can do outside.
I was driving the feed pickup and trailer this weekend. I got stuck~ following my husband's directions of try and stay as close to the fence as possible. He then proceeded to tell me he didn't mean it literally and couldn't I see the mud hole. Well, yeah but you said... So, then he used the tractor to push me out with explicit instructions on going to the third bale from the end before returning to the road.
Oh the woes of communication. The differences between men and women in conversation and moisture. Oh yeah, then he cussed my dog for being in the way on the feed pickup. :)
I was driving the feed pickup and trailer this weekend. I got stuck~ following my husband's directions of try and stay as close to the fence as possible. He then proceeded to tell me he didn't mean it literally and couldn't I see the mud hole. Well, yeah but you said... So, then he used the tractor to push me out with explicit instructions on going to the third bale from the end before returning to the road.
Oh the woes of communication. The differences between men and women in conversation and moisture. Oh yeah, then he cussed my dog for being in the way on the feed pickup. :)
Monday, March 14, 2011
Tenderness Verfied
A new marketing technique or is science helping us out? Harris, a Eastern grocery store, is using tenderness verified beef. One of the biggest complaints about many cuts is the lack of consistency and tenderness. This may well be a chance to verifiy the tenderness of individual steaks and market them accordingly.
I worry, this will lead to more consumer distrust. You can take the most tender steak but if it is cooked to well done it loses many of those properties~ hence the reason for ordering steaks medium rare. Most meat will be tender and flavorful is cooked properly. It is getting the word out on how to cook cuts in the most appetizing manner that is difficult. Especially, when consumers today spend less than 30 minutes cooking most suppers.
I am as guilty as the next person of rushing through supper. There are chores to do, horses to ride, and SUPPER. Thank goodness for a crock pot!
I worry, this will lead to more consumer distrust. You can take the most tender steak but if it is cooked to well done it loses many of those properties~ hence the reason for ordering steaks medium rare. Most meat will be tender and flavorful is cooked properly. It is getting the word out on how to cook cuts in the most appetizing manner that is difficult. Especially, when consumers today spend less than 30 minutes cooking most suppers.
I am as guilty as the next person of rushing through supper. There are chores to do, horses to ride, and SUPPER. Thank goodness for a crock pot!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Nevada
Dang it! The state of Nevada is in trouble again. Between Harry Reid spouting off about the Cowboy Poetry Gathering and the basic demolish of the extension service, Nevada is on the naughty list this week.
Last year about this time, University of Nevada-Reno gutted their College of Ag. Now, they are gutting the extension service. All the while, they are giving the football coach a raise over the half a million mark. Sad... Athletics above education.
The extension service, whose budget last year was about $7 million from the state, is scheduled to be reduced to $2.2 million. This will effectively cut out most specialist positions, remove travel monies for those left, and complete the disconnect of the rural/urban interface. Most of the Nevada legislature is from Las Vegas and doesn't have the connection. The other 90% of the land mass of the state is left helpless.
Last year about this time, University of Nevada-Reno gutted their College of Ag. Now, they are gutting the extension service. All the while, they are giving the football coach a raise over the half a million mark. Sad... Athletics above education.
The extension service, whose budget last year was about $7 million from the state, is scheduled to be reduced to $2.2 million. This will effectively cut out most specialist positions, remove travel monies for those left, and complete the disconnect of the rural/urban interface. Most of the Nevada legislature is from Las Vegas and doesn't have the connection. The other 90% of the land mass of the state is left helpless.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Wednesday March 9th
Wear green for ag day is Wednesday March 9th. Show your support for agriculture, the week before St. Patty's Day. This is the second annual awareness of Agricultural day using this tactic. Don't forget to speak about why you are doing it. Why ag matters to you!
This is a great idea to raise awareness during budget discussion. Agriculture needs to be in the forefront of everyone's mind. There is a reason why we have not had to go hungry in this nation. It is because of the Agricultural Industry and what it provides.
This is a great idea to raise awareness during budget discussion. Agriculture needs to be in the forefront of everyone's mind. There is a reason why we have not had to go hungry in this nation. It is because of the Agricultural Industry and what it provides.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
The article came out.
Awhile back I wrote about talking to a reporter. The article came out~ guess what? She didn't use anything in our interview only a quick question from a meeting I was running. GRRR... She portrayed me as a horse hater. All I asked was if the water was privately owned on the allottments which horses were present is the BLM capable of zeroing out that area and moving the horses. She got the part about zeroing out the herd. That was it. I wish I had some reprecussions but the good news is~ I have been biding my time and the public is speaking out against the reporter and her whimsical articles.
I don't think the editor is going to stop printing her articles because they sell papers. On another note, there has not been one letter to the editor supporting the reporters stories. Guess, it shows what a little emotion and some science can do. Hopefully, we have convinced some people on the fence that horses need to be managed like other livestock.
I don't think the editor is going to stop printing her articles because they sell papers. On another note, there has not been one letter to the editor supporting the reporters stories. Guess, it shows what a little emotion and some science can do. Hopefully, we have convinced some people on the fence that horses need to be managed like other livestock.
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