A Barn Called CAFO **Part One**

Standing in my basement staring at the abundance of frozen, plastic wrapped hunks of pork, wondering what to fix for dinner, it occurs to me how blessed we really are. We live paycheck to paycheck like most Americans, we don’t have anything more than the next person does, and money gets tight around the holidays especially; but I still consider us happy, blessed, and overall well off. It is so easy to forget how fortunate my family is during these rotten economic times. I take for granted, like most, the abundance of food we enjoy, not just as a family, as a nation. I don’t think about where my next meal is coming from. I don’t wonder how I am going to feed my children. I just stare into the frosty abyss and wonder, “Which hunk of meat should I defrost or should we order out for pizza?”

In this country, where people have grown accustom to having plenty but wanting more, we have lost sight of what is really important. Food on the table is expected, plastics, make-up, even weed killer and insecticides are considered necessities instead of luxuries. But does anyone stop to wonder how those things get to your table, home, or even the stores? Does anyone stop to think that maybe, just maybe animal agriculture has something to do with it? Has anyone thanked a farmer lately? Maybe they should.

****

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations better known as CAFOs, notoriously known as “factory farms” seem to be the devil these days. Look at the media and you’ll find mostly negative articles, biased information, or flat out misinformation. We have radical vegans shouting that we don’t need animal agriculture. We have radical animal rights groups seeking to legislate agriculture out of this country. Have any of these groups, these people considered what CAFOs truly are or how they actually operate? Have they considered what they contribute?

If you want a technical definition, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, has one to offer: Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations are farming operations where livestock, greater than a specified number, are kept and raised in a confined situation and on a small land area. Feed is also brought to the animals rather than the animals grazing or otherwise seeking out food. Unfortunately, that doesn’t really define anything. The EPA’s definition is a bureaucratic way of saying there are a lot of animals in a smaller area. But everyone already knows this much.


So, what is a CAFO?
 
Find out tomorrow...

Porky Products

With all this talk about Prop B, "The Puppy Mill Bill," or whatever name it wants to go by, I've lost site of what month we're in. Not only does October hold one of my favorite holidays, no it's not Columbus Day, it also happens to be National Pork Month. I'd like to take a little break from the "Vote No to Prop B" campaign to discuss my favorite farm animal...Pigs.

Many, but not all, vegans, veggies, and animal activists believe we do not need to consume animal flesh. To them, consuming animal flesh is morally wrong and down right icky. Those same folks go on to proclaim that we don't even need animal ag, we should rid this country of animal business all together. Well, that is all fine and good with me if they don't want to eat meat but what about the other stuff?

What other stuff? you might ask. Well, pigs aren’t just for ham and bacon. There are over 500 byproducts that come from pigs that has nothing to do with their meat. This is true for more than just the pork industry, every animal industry has a slew of byproducts that we use in our everyday lives.

If you are one of those that wish the animal ag industry to fail or at least tuck tail and run, then you better be prepared to lose many common items or at least be willing to pay through the nose for them. Because we would have to come up with another way to produce these products without the animals and that would require man-made replacements that most likely will come from fossil fuels.

Here are just a few of the 500 plus products that use pork in either the manufacturing process or in the making of the product:

Glass              Chalk                 Glue                              

Crayons          Buttons              Fertilizer                       

Insulation        Weed Killers       Plastics                         

Fabric Dye      Ornaments          Insecticides

Matches          Upholstery          Floor Waxes                 

Rubber            Water Filters      Antifreeze                     

Make-up          Linoleum           Chewing Gum              

Cement         Gelatin (this includes jell-o and marshmellows)                         

Asphalt (They used this one in St. Louis)

And you thought pigs were only good for breakfast. Just think of all the products that rely on the pork industry. Then, re-think your position pertaining to the importance of animal ag in Missouri and the U.S.A.

See me on YouTube in a goofy little skit called Porky Products.



Prop B Debate Continues

The Prop B debate continues and will until November 2, where you, as an American citizen, have the right to voice your opinion by voting.  You have constitutional rights and options but if Prop B passes it will be yet another stepping-stone toward more government control in our every day lives. Little by little our rights as citizens are being eaten away by more and more government control.

Prop B limits dog breeders, despite the level of care they have given their dogs in the past, to a specific number of breeding females and dictates how many times those females can be bred. This would, by law, limit breeders to how much they are allowed to earn per year making it impossible to earn a living and stay in business. Would you stand for the government dictating how much you are allowed to earn and controlling your business? That fact alone goes against our constitutional rights. Missouri already has laws in place that protect these animals. Furthermore, Prop B lowers the standards of care required while increasing punishments for such non-offenses as a piece of food in a water dish or a single scratch on a painted surface. How many of you have had your pet eat some kibble then take a drink and oops, there is some food in the water. Should you too be charged with a Class C misdemeanor crime? Do you have all the cobwebs out of the corners of your ceiling? If not, according to Prop B, that is another misdemeanor charge. Prop B also makes it nearly impossible for puppies to survive given the new "environmental" requirements.

By lowering care standards, imposing severe income limits, and making non-offenses into misdemeanor crimes Prop B would close most of Missouri's properly operated, inspected, licensed and reputable facilities, while doing NOTHING to increase state resources to close unlawful kennels. In other words, the breeders that are following the rules and filling out the paperwork are being punished while the unregulated and unlicensed facilities remain just under the radar and in business. Even the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association calls Prop B "unfair and misguided." The MVMA goes on to state, "We don't need more laws and more governmental limitations on those that follow the rules...the answer lies in adequate funding for inspections and better enforcement of unlicensed facilities."

Coincidentally, HSUS and certain "favored" organizations are exempt from this law if it should pass. Even HSUS, who is responsible for pushing Prop B on the ballot, wants nothing to do with this law. Shouldn't that be a red flag unto itself? Get the facts before you vote! Don't put thousands of Missourians out of work and out of business. Vote NO on Prop B.



See my video on YouTube

Vote NO on Prop B

For more information visit:

http://www.thealliancefortruth.com/

http://www.mofb.org/

http://www.missourifac.com/

Vote NO on Prop B

I heard a frightening statistic today. Currently, voters are sitting at a 70/30 mix on Prop B. That is 70 percent wish it to pass and only 30 percent wish it to fail. I am one of those 30 percent; in case the title of this blog wasn't obvious enough. That tells me that an overwhelming amount of people do not understand the consequences of Prop B, also known as "The Puppy Mill Bill." This bill is playing on peoples emotions while conveniently clouding over the facts.

Click to enlarge.

This proposition states it is for "domestic animals," livestock are domestic animals. The language is vague enough that if passed, all it would take is one little amendment to change "dogs" to "livestock" and good-bye animal ag in Missouri. This bill, if passed, will put licenced, legitimate breeders and farmers out of business and only leave unlicensed and substandard breeders that stay just under the radar in business. Tell me, how does that help animals? This proposition, if passed, will lessen the required care for animals compared to the current law and regulations. Tell me, how does that help animals? This proposition, if passed, will eventually put tens of thousands of people out of work and out of business; not to mention, the prices at the grocery store will sky rocket just as they are doing in California right now because of a similar proposition.

Prop B limits how many animals dog breeders can have which would limit their income. Is that fair or right? Is that even American? Would you stand for someone telling you that you are only allowed to earn $10,000 a year by law? Because if Prop B passes that is what will happen to legitimate dog breeders. Not all dog breeders are "puppy mills." This is a derogatory slang term that is in the same category as "factory farms." The term is used to conjure the mistreated animals you see on TV but those few that mistreat their animals are not the norm. In fact, we, as farmers and breeders, want those places to be put out of business. We want those people to suffer to the fullest extent of the law. We own large confinement barns that are classified as CAFOs but we do not run them like an assembly line. Nor do we mistreat our pigs like HSUS and other radical groups would lead you to believe. We are not a "factory farm," we are a family owned hog farm.

Those 70 percent of you that wish Prop B to pass, have you read it and compared it to the current law? If you haven't you should. Please, do your research before you step up to the voting box. Please, look at the facts instead of letting HSUS use your emotions against us all. Animals are already protected by state laws. Prop B is not about protecting puppies, it is about putting animal ag and breeders out of business.

For those of you that think that we should all be vegans and abolish animal ag, remember this is a free country. No one is forcing you to eat meat so do not force us to not eat meat. Also remember that over 500 products are made from pork alone. From plastics to make-up. Stay tuned for my Porky Products post on Tues., which is about pork byproducts and re-think where you stand on animal ag.

Prop B is only a stepping-stone toward a meat free society. Do the following quotes sound like something that would come from a person who loves and cares for animals?

“We have no problem with the extinction of domestic animals.”-Wayne Pacelle, President, HSUS

“In fact, I don’t want to see another dog or cat born.”-Wayne Pacelle, President, HSUS

“Our goal is to get sport hunting in the same category as cock fighting and dog fighting. We are going to use the ballot box and the democratic process to stop all hunting in the United States.”-Wayne Pacelle, President, HSUS

If you love your pets, if you love to eat meat, if you hunt, or if you want to keep your constitutional rights

Vote NO on Prop B.

http://www.thealliancefortruth.com/

http://www.missourifac.com/

http://www.mofb.org/  

(click on "Animal Care Toolkit")



Prop B Meeting

Last night my husband and I pulled into a full parking lot in front of Mexico's 4-H building. We were greeted by Mr. Middleton (he and his wife are Missouri dog breeders) who graciously held the door for us. Through the wide white door and off to the large room on the right we found rows of people tentatively listening to Cathy Griesbauer, President of Professional Pet Association, discuss the truth behind Proposition B. PPA President Griesbauer gave frightening HSUS statistics; for example, less than half a penny is spent on hands-on care and HSUS does not help or participate in any spay and neuter program. Yet they're suppose to be helping animals. Another interesting aspect to Prop B is the fact that current regulations on dog breeder are actually more strict and Prop B reduces the level of care for the animals. What Prop B is actually doing is creating it harder to have an animal-based business in Missouri.

One of the key points made is here in one of Cathy Griesbeaur's slides.

The next speaker to take the stage was Chris Chinn from the Farm Bureau. She explained how Prop B is a stepping stone for radical groups to change animal agriculture like they did in California. One of the major goals of HSUS is to create a meat free society and to give animals the same rights as people. Prop B is only step one of this initiative. Another key point made during her speech was that we as farmers need to tell our story. Radical groups are busy telling our story for us but it is the wrong story. We need to "put a face on agriculture" and make our voices heard. 

After Chinn's presentation the floor was opened to questions and comments. One of the audience members who presented his view on Prop B was Senator Bill Stouffer. Another political figure present was state representative candidate Linda Witte. This meeting was a success however it's not over. Another meeting will be held Tues. at Coach's Pizza in Mexico and we need every ones help to spread the word about Prop B's lies.

Prop B doesn't help animals, it hurts the economy, hurts local and legitimate businesses, and it is the first step to reducing if not removing your rights as an American citizen.

Vote NO on Prop B

http://www.thealliancefortruth.com/

More on "The Puppy Mill Bill"

Here are some scary statistics concerning the Humane Society of the United States:

• HSUS is a national factory-fundraising nonprofit organization preying on the public's emotional attachment to pets; yet, gives less than 1% of their millions to local animal shelters.

• $31 million of the public's contributions to HSUS goes for salaries and over $20 million is spent on litigation, lobbying, campaigns and legislation, even though HSUS is registered as a charitable organization--This information is from the Center for Consumer Freedom's analysis of the latest IRS paperwork filed by HSUS for 2008.

• HSUS collected over $86 million in contributions in 2008 and in that same year spent $24 million on fundraising. In other words, 28 cents of every dollar contributed is used to raise more money.

• HSUS is a radical group trying to abolish animal agriculture, sport hunting, and the ownership of pets. They are wanting to take away our rights not to mention the thousands of jobs created by agriculture, hunting, and pet breeding.

Bottom line, HSUS has already infiltrated Florida, Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, California, Maine, Michigan, and Ohio with their radical animal rights agenda. Do you want them in Missouri too?

I know I want to maintain my right to own my beautiful and beloved pure breed English Shepherd, Mina, that I bought from a breeder.


I want to keep my right to own and operate any business that I see fit on my own property because this is America. Better and braver men and women have died for the freedom we enjoy and I'm not about to let HSUS take those rights away from me all because they feel that "The life of an ant and that of my child should be granted equal consideration."
Not in my town, Bub!

Vote NO on Prop B!

Don't forget to mark your calender for the Prop B meeting. A speaker from the MO Farm Bureau will be there to answer questions and give the details on this issue.

Prop B Meeting

Thursday--October 7 @ 7 p.m.

4-H Center

21509 Hwy D

Mexico, MO

For questions call 573-581-0971 or 573-581-6433

For more information, visit:

http://www.humanewatch.org/

http://www.missourifac.com/

http://www.mofb.org/

(click on "Animal Care Toolkit")

It's National Pork Month

October is National Pork Month! So, today I wanted to talk about pork nutrition. How healthy is pork? Read on to find out...



 Loin cuts like pork chops and roasts are the leanest cuts of pork. When comparing these lean cuts of pork to the lean cuts of beef and chicken guess which one is healthiest next to fish. You got it...Pork!

Here's the skinny on how each averages:

                  Calories            Fat          Saturated Fat          Cholesterol

Chicken        160               6.5g                1.8g                      78mg

Beef             160                6g                   2.1g                      69mg

Pork            154                5.8g                1.8g                      66mg

Fish             107                2.9g                 0.5g                     63mg

Check out Pork and Health for a detailed chart.

Not only is pork among the healthiest meats, it is also a great source for Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Potassium, Zinc, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, B-12, B-6, and of course Protein.

Eat Pork!

Pork Trivia

 Missouri ranks 7th among all the states in pork production producing 6% of the U.S. Pork.


 In 2006 the pork industry created nearly 25,000 jobs.

 The pork industry contributes more than $1 billion dollars to Missouri’s economy.

 The biggest pig ever recorded was 5 feet tall and weighed over 2,500 pounds! That’s as big as a car.

 Pigs can’t sweat. They don’t have sweat glands.

 It only takes around 160 days to raise a pig to market weight of 220 pounds. That’s just over 5 months.
They sure grow up fast!

 A pig’s Squeal Can Reach 115 Decibels–that’s as loud as a supersonic jet engine. You better cover your ears when they start squealing!

 Pigs, both wild and domestic, eat fruits and veggies but they will also eat eggs, birds, rodents, even snakes. Maybe that’s why they’re called pigs.

Where's the Family Dog?

Who doesn't love a cute, innocent, big eyed puppy? What jerk would vote against a bill that would save these adorable creatures from a life of abuse? That is what HSUS wants you to think but "The Puppy Mill Bill" is a LIE!

If Prop B goes through the family dog won't be with the family anymore. If HSUS gets their way we won't have pets...or rights. Proposition B or better known as "The Puppy Mill Bill" is going to be on the ballot this November. So, what is Prop B?

Prop B has been pushed on the ballot by the Humane Society of the United States (not to be confused with your local animal shelter). This bill was designed to eliminate all dog breeding in Missouri. It will allow authorities to charge licensed breeders with a misdemeanor crime of "cruelty" if they have a cobweb in their kennel, a piece of food in a water bowl, a scratch on a painted surface, and this is only the tip of the iceberg.

Think I'm exaggerating? Read the fine print.

Prop B even reduces current regulations from 2 feedings per day to 1 feeding per day. These regulations pushed on us by the HSUS have already successfully shut down legitimate pork businesses in Florida, the egg industry in California, and now they are coming after Missouri. HSUS is shutting down legitimate businesses across this "free" country during a time when unemployment is skyrocketing. This radical group isn't for the greater good, they are for their own radical, selfish, illogical and irrational agenda that only hurts us all--including animals--and takes away our God given rights.

HSUS is a radial animal rights group, NOT an animal welfare group--BIG difference. Animal rights means they want animals to have the same rights as people do, i.e., you are charged for murder if you shoot a deer or charged with involuntary man(animal)slaughter for running over a squirrel. Just a tad on the radical side? I think so but if you're not convinced let's look at some quotes straight from the horses mouth--so to speak.

Wayne Pacelle, President of HSUS, Associated Press interview:

"If we could shut down all sport hunting in a moment, we would."

Another quote from Wayne Pacelle:

"I don't ever want to see another dog or cat born"

John Goodwin, HSUS grassroots coordinator, statement made on AR-Views:

"My goal is the abolition of all animal agriculture."

Michael W. Fox, HSUS senior scholar, Associated Press interview:

"The life of an ant and that of my child should be granted equal consideration."

Vote NO on Prop B on Nov. 2

To learn more about Prop B visit TheAllianceforTruth.com and join us at a town meeting in Mexico, MO

Prop B Meeting

Time & Date:

Thursday--October 7 @ 7 p.m.

Meeting Location:

4-H Building

21509 Hwy D

Mexico, MO

Speaker:

Missouri Farm Bureau

Questions:

573-581-0971 or 573-581-6433