Coffee anyone ?

[Mini Horses]

I like as much natural growing as anyone, in my garden. My animals -- not watching them die when meds can help & cure should they be sick. Careful, selective & timely use eliminates issues with meat when butchered or milk from the girls. The food they received can be a greater issue than meds they might need....if the feed contained certain chemicals. IMO.

The processing of much of our public food is problematic to me -- chems to grow, treat; colorings, additives to preserve, flavor, etc, those are issues that concern me. Care in handling, storing, shipping, more possibilities for contamination.

Yeah, give me that home grown tomato I raised with goat poo fertilizer & soap/soda/vinegar sprayed for bugs!! It's worked so far -- haven't had any recalls yet

 

[Blue Sky]

It looks like I’ve had some Salatin kool aid. I was hoping antibiotics would become available again. I’m hoping more scrutiny falls upon farm bills lined up for votes and that future legislation is carefully crafted.

 

[farmerjan]

I do believe that alot of the allergies from food are from the chemicals that are used in the growing, and more in the processing... food is so processed and altered that it does not offer the health benefits of food from years ago that was not near as processed. On top of that, food grown in healthy soil...with organic fertilizers and more natural minerals in the soil, has more nutrition..... that is the key to much of the problems with today's food...the nutrition is not there because there is not the micro nutrients in the soil to feed the plants grown in it.

So, besides that, the over processing, and the added chemical "enriching" of the food is more likely the causes of some of our health problems and the allergic reactions.

And the whole thing with the antibiotics being available again is not going to happen. It is the third part of the directives put in place with the Vet Feed Directives... VFD.... and the safeguards put in place to stop the overuse and such of drugs that are used in human medicine. Taking the antibiotics off the shelves was the third and final part of the VFD and all the rules that were established in the beginning... I think it was 1996 it was started.

I think that Salatin will bring a different view and possibly push some scaling back of some of the wholesale practices used on some farms and feedlots. He is not all bad and his ideas are good in many ways. There need to be a balance between things.. and hopefully he will add enough of a "different" perspective to the ag dept... But in day to day life, he does cater to many in the communities where there is alot of money, and they do not have the practical insight to the nitty gritty of day to day farming that we have had experiences with. He paints a very good picture, and they have bought into it; without seeing the "dirty side" of day to day farming...

 

[rachels.haven]

X2 on FarmerJan's sentiments. I fear more forced changes-like the antibiotic unavailability-are coming, even for small farmers...unless you can somehow follow his methods to a t and stay well connected and lucky. Most of us do not have an army of unpaid interns and accolades at our disposal so that would be impossible.

 

[Margali]

I'm sure all the big AG chemicals based advisors aren't going to be dismissed. So I'm happy there will be at least one voice stating another option.

I agree that antibiotics will never be over the counter again. I'm hoping some of the big vet companies will start remote vet service aka Tell-a-Doc. There are a lot of illnesses that can be diagnosed with temp, videos of symptoms, and potential stethoscope. There are several FDA approved apps to use smart phone as stethoscope. That would allow you to develop the required vet patient relationship for prescribing meds. If a farmer could learn to draw blood that would cover most things for people without a large animal vet nearby.

 

[murphysranch]

Very well put, FJ.

 

[Mini Horses]

Coffee & cornbread -- butter & red pepper jelly . Baking took chill off, as did a sweatshirt. Sun is out bright. I'm gonna make this a good day outside. So far, still looking like I'm home all week.

 

[SageHill]

I'm all on the soapbox with @farmerjan and everyone. I think taking the best of both worlds (or however many) is a better route to go. Again - all boils down to common sense which seems to be so lacking, esp in those who are blind followers of whatever method.
I look at all the gluten "intolerance" -- sometimes I think it's a product of people blindly jumping on the gluten free diets, once doing that most seem to not be able to do gluten again. Then I think, well maybe it's not a gluten thing, but whatever the crops are treated with, or some combination. What is it exactly? Heck if I know, but this problem didn't exist when we were kids.
AND --- it's fall, the weather is getting cooler and cooler YIPEEEEE! Translate there are fewer and fewer lizards out and that means ---- fewer snakes. AND that boils down to going out and grazing!! OHHHHH YAY happy dance. Next week highs only in the 60s!!!

 

[Weldman]

Warmer than usual weather today and the past few days. Won't hear me complaining.
Wife wants me to wear this shirt to work.

 

[Blue Sky]

Well the chickens are rounded up and in the coop. 3 adults and 5 chicks. Henhouse is 8 x8 with a 8x 10 covered front yard and a 6 x 8 uncovered backyard. I may start Wyandottes next spring.