RAIN RAIN GO AWAY

This just in!! Harvesting silage much?

Corn Belt

"It's been 28 degrees for about an hour in north-central Iowa. In the low-lying areas, it has a coating of frost. I would call it a killing frost there," says Agriculture.com Marketing Talk senior contributor BA Deere. "My corn is black layered, beans have all turned and dropping leaves here and there, so this frost has to ding 'em a little. There are green soybeans in the area. I hear of corn in the Dakotas that hasn't dented yet. This cold snap has to grawlix the yield overall a little."

The cold is ending crop growth in the region, although damage to soybeans is occurring in well less than 10% of the Corn Belt.

Who would think with the recent weather throughout the country this once again would occure. Sweet corn prices last year were 40 dollars cwt, now this year will the prices drop considerately or will they continue to rise as the worlds population elevates. "American agricultural exports are expected to increase 23 percent this year to $101 billion, a record. The world's grain stockpiles have fallen to the lowest levels in decades."- New York Times.

Over 55% of Iowa corn goes to forgein markets, with the weather the farmers are facing now its time to saddle up and chrage the mountain. Thanks for reading today :)

One of my many paper I have been writing and are in progress :)

Ag is Everything

            It real early in the morning, say around 5 o’clock, farmers all over the world get up and begin there day supplying the world with products and services we need to live.  Not only is it 5 o’clock but its also snowing, or its going to be another hot day, possibly chances of severe storms, dose that stop them? No way! As the world continues to grow, so dose the supply and demand needed to feed human civilization and livestock. Those producers don’t hit the snooze button for 10 more minutes, they can’t have sick day and no matter what the weather is like, they still get up and go to work because they know how important they are to the lives of millions.

            Driving down the road in a little small town, where I live, looking out the window I notice a field of green tall stalks of corn. It is summer time and I love to watch the things growing that were planted back in the spring. To think that out in that field is the livelihood of many, and all the products that will comes from those acres of hard work and tillage. But Mother Nature has no mercy on these fragile crops and washes away the entire field and the hope of a good harvest, that person that planted that food, kept checking to make sure there was enough moisture and nutrients see’s their hard work washing away before their eyes but yet, you see them out there looking forward and finding a way to make the most out of disatereous conditions.

            School has started, and FFA actives already have begun, SAE trips, State Fair work days and let alone if you have a 4-H project you are pretty tired but also extremely pumped for this year in FFA. August, very first FFA meeting, friends and faces you missed over summer sit across from you from a long table that you would sit at home eating supper with your family. All talking about things that interest you and the hopes and goals you have this year in the FFA Chapter. Agriculture is one of our favorite words, and you could recite the creed frontwards, backwards, side to side and upside down if you really wanted to, because you know that is a important part of being an active FFA member.

Agriculture is a dangerous occupation, which most people don’t know, between heavy machinery, working with thousands of chemicals and not well-tempered livestock. Society dose not realize how dangerous it is to be a producer. Many farmers, ranchers and operation workers want to get everything they can from whatever they are producing.  

Break Time

Hey there! I am back and thriving like crazy with my passion for ag! New post coming soon!! 

One Day Left!

As school is coming to an end so happens to my blog, this summer I will be working like crazy with 4H to FFA projects too trying to enjoy my summer! But no worries next year I will have the same blog, I will update it more, and do my best to drop in some interesting Ag facts through out the year! Have a great blessed summer!

Education

More than 11,000 FFA advisors and agriculture teachers deliver an integrated model of agricultural education providing students with innovative and leading-edge education, enabling them to grow into competent leaders.


•92% offer agriscience; 71% offer advanced agriscience and biotechnology; 59% offer agricultural mechanics; 49% offer horticulture; 43% offer animal science; and 24% offer environment-related

•In 2001, 59% of qualified agricultural education graduates pursued teaching, 35 agriculture programs closed due to lack of qualified teachers and 365 agriculture teachers teach in more than one school

•23% of teachers have five or fewer years of teaching experience

•The shortage of qualified agriculture teachers is the greatest challenge facing FFA and agricultural education.
 
Thease statics which a drew directs from the National FFA Websites, are recently updated. Ag teachers, ar hard to find, so think twice about you job path and see where it leads you! Step up and Stand OUT!

PALS

PALS mentors teach young students about the science and business of agriculture. They also serve as positive role models, helping their mentees learn to set goals, and build positive self-esteem.


Yesterday, I spent about an hour and a half with my “PAL” Austin. We started off the year shy, quiet and would barely look at me. Austin is your typical 2nd grader, loves sports, hates math and his favorite class is lunch. What I didn’t know about Austin until yesterday, is his excitement for agriculture.

Mallarie (our chapter president) brought 2 baby calves and one cow to the school where our PAL program is. As lightning struck and thundered growled, we didn’t think we would be able to take 2 classes of 35 kids each outside to see a livestock. For some this would be there first time seeing a cow and calves others, this was just another awesome learning experience to go home and tell their parents. Slowly, the frivolous weather came to a halt, and we grabbed the kids and headed outside. Austin grabbed my hand and was pulling me outside with a grin on his face. That is when I realized how excited he was.

Once everyone was outside the kids ooo’ed and awed at what they saw, felt, smelled, and experienced. As our last PALS day came to an end I couldn’t help but feel sad to see my new friend Austin, become a 3rd grader. But what I do know is that we taught them a lot, and but mouth they will teach others. That is why we need to educate the public on agriculture! No age is too young or too old to learn.

Encouter with the storms!

Last night in my neck of the woods, farmers, where scurrying around doing there best to finish up plowing and planting. As the clouds over head started to tumble as my brother and I watched, I saw 3 tractors speed by down the road heading back home to take cover. While taking pictures I sort of felt like a storm chaser not gunna lie, but when I saw the deer along the fence row start to run I knew I better head inside. About the time we started to walk back a huge gust of wind blew me over! My brother and I hi-tailed it inside our house and watched the storm move faster. With the windows all open in the house I smelt the rain start pounding our house.

This morning as I walked outside to do chores I notice 3  tractors sitting at the edge of the field. Dear everyone, please take cover when it storms! Tornadoes cause an average of 70 fatalities and 1,500 injuries in the U.S. each year. Lightning occurs in all thunderstorms; each year lightning strikes the United States 25 million times. Is the #1 cause of deaths associated with thunderstorms...more than 140 fatalities each year. Causes more than $1 billion in damage to property and crops each year.

Wild Horses

They where the first to discovery land out west, hitting the ground running with and appetite for adventure. Many say that the first pioneers where humans and technically Adam and Eve where, but before them was animals that God created two by two. They where the first pioneers, many wild horses today are not protected. They are very important part of agriculture.

Free-Roaming             Number of
State        Wild Horse Population   Wild Horse Adoptions

Arizona                275                   217
California           3,492                   623
Colorado               943                   309
Idaho                  669                   156
Montana                189                   114
Nevada              24,321                    39
New Mexico              70                   483
Oregon               2,635                   329
Utah                 3,420                   257
Wyoming              7,615                   438 

This was a statistic taken in 2000, think about the numbers now in 2011. 

http://wildhorsepreservation.com/

Let's protect the unprotected! 

another experience

I haven't worked with cattle long and I have only shown in two shows. So far I love it! The very first time I worked with leading around my heifer, things didn't go well. I was drug across the ground and then lost her. As she was going in circles trying to get free, I had fallen and she almost stepped on my head since she was jumping around.  Then I had to hold onto my steer while my cow guy chased after the heifer. He was spooked and I was stressed and then he jumped over a pile of hay and took me into the straw too. Luckily I didn't let him go. I definitely learned from that and I know to never let a calf step on your foot as your walking it because all it does it cause chaos! To this day I still have a scar from the burn that I got from the halter. When I look at it, it reminds me to always be prepared and to show them who is the boss! ha ha  I am sure that I will encounter many more things as I continue to work with cattle!

Their Experiences...

• My daughter was walking two herself (heifer and steer) on Sunday as dad was too tired to walk the difficult one and we were just about in the home stretch when the heifer got spooked by something and daugher got pushed to the ground by the steer and then ankle stepped on.  She can walk on it but was very sore in softball today. Think she will be okay but you can definately see a hoof print in her ankle.  Mayo clinic is a awesome place.

• I can remember like it was yesterday, when i was 9 years old, my dad stuck me running a grain cart for the first time. Being so young it took all my might to press in the clutch. The first day went relatively smooth, unloading on the truck sure was a hassle, but i got the job done. The second day on the other hand, i wasnt so lucky, with a full load on the cart i went in to unload on the truck, all that weight and my lack of strength on the clutch, i plowed straight into the side of the semi trailer, putting a huge hole in the side and spilling about 200 bushels of wheat already loaded on the truck. My luck returned though in the form of my mom being on the combine with my dad. Needless to say his angry wrath was weakened a bit when my mom reminded him that he was the one that stuck me on the tractor at 9 years old.

• I had a not so fun experience last May while on a ladder on the feed bin at the hog house. Something I had done a few thousand times, but when I was almost to the top, grabbed the next rung, and there was a yellow jackets next on the back. I fell about 15 feet. I was lucky as the only thing I did was rupture all the ligaments and tendons in and around the ankle, but it could have been worse. I am still getting to go to therapy, but when its all done, it will be right at a year I have been in a brace or worse. Not the best experience, but I am blessed it wasn't worse.

We are those tuff kind of people...most important lesson learned it be careful around livestock. No matter where you are...the fair, a show, at a friends house or even your own house. Be cautious! 

Well...

This was an amazing weekend, sorta...

• Saturday was "Plow Day" where farmers, lovers of antique tractors bring there tractors and spend the day plowing up a huge field on State Road 15. I was blessed to see people pulling over off the road and experiencing this amazing task taking place. With camera in hand I ran out about 300 yard sand started taking pictures realizing that my 4H story for photography would be all about tractors and how amazing they are. With amazement in my eye I quickly took a challenge from a man that goes by Larry Polk. He owns a large company with tractor equipment that sell all over the united states. And there with my hands covering the wheel and my foot slowly letting the clutch up I plowed my very first row! A task I always wanted to exceed and guess what?? I did! 
• Sunday!! Was mothers day and I couldn't be more over joyed to have my mother, I hope you got to spend time with your mothers!!

Another event took place this weekend a senior at my high school hung himself. I never knew him but I hear about how amazing of a person he was. I have been affected by someone close to myself that hung themself. It gunna be a hard day but all I can do it pray for the family. Have a great day :) 

Farm Safety

I'v been working with show cattle for over 30 years.  The first weekend in April I was helping one of our kids with their heifer in the wash rack to get all the winter grime off.  This heifer had been shown last year at State Fair and our Beef Expo.  In fact Bodie won the Junior Showmanship with her at Expo.

 I reached underneath to "pull off one more mud ball" with a scotch comb.  She took offense and kicked me in the side of the knee and dropped me.  Went to the emergency room at Mayo the next day.  Had a fractured Tibia and a crater in the Tibial Plato in the knee joint.  They did surgery a few days later and spent a couple days in the hospital.  Now after a month of being at home I finally got to drive this weekend and go back to work buying fat cattle.  I will still be on crutches and a brace till the 4th of July.

So it can happen to anybody with any animal.  One less swipe of the scotch comb when I knew the heifer was getting tired would have saved us three months of grief.  On the upside I'm glad it was me and not one of the kids.  Also after being wheeled around the Mayo Clinic for a while, you realize there is a lot of very sick people there and I was fortunate to only be a little busted up.  Nothing life threatening.

Always be careful and if your calf seems to be getting tired and impatient, put them away for the day.  There is always tomorrow!

This is a story supplied by a man named Ron. 120,000 farm workers are injured, with up to 1,300 of the injuries being fatal. Most farm related injuries are with tractors, but I don't think people realize just how dangerous livestock can be too. So be safe and keep doin' what you love!

DUCKS !?!

Currently there are ducklings residing in our Ag Room at the high school! I love ducks, they are amazing and my dad won't let me have any but that doesn't mean I can't learn about them. Here are some quick interesting facts about ducks!!

• Ducks live in both fresh and salt water!
• They weigh around 8 pounds and are 16 - 20 inches in length.
• Life span is 2 to 20 years
• Males are called Drakes 
• Females are Duck

Hope you learned your ag fact for the day!! 

Texas Fires

For weeks Texas has watched, waited and worried about raging fires spreading across the Lone-star state. So far this season, wildfires have charred 1.65 million acres across the state That is twice as much as last year! People are traumatized, most of the fires are taking place on prairies, around ranches.

Police have arrested a 60 year old man who is connected to the Austin fires. He will be charged with the felony of arson. The man claims he left a campfire unattended. “We’ve had rates of spread here … up to 8 miles an hour,” Webb said. “That’s two football fields a minute.” - USA Today. With high winds and hot dry weather is becoming really hard to control the fires. Keep Texas in your prayers, because some of these people are losing their livelihood. Texas is the leading state in cattle production...

Have you ever heard of a...

The world’s total meat supply was 71 million tons in 1961. In 2007, it was estimated to be 284 million tons. As the meat industry grows so are the jobs, and awareness! A meat scientist has a very important job!  

"Meat scientists and technologists usually work in the food processing industry, at universities, or for the Federal Government. Their job is to help meet consumer demands for food products that are healthful, safe, palatable, and convenient.
Some meat scientists engage in basic research by discovering new food sources. Others analyze meat content to determine levels of vitamins, fat, sugar, or protein. Meat scientists also develop ways to process, preserve, package, or store meat according to industry and government regulations.  " (meat science 2) .

Its pretty important don't you think? There are 22 million people working in a ag related job, so many choices, so may pathways...what have you or will pick?


By the way!! ITS FRIDAY FRIDAY :)

Ball State University Redifined (journalism) ..I think so!

Yesterday, I got to be excused from school to attend High School Journalism Day! With happy intentions, my brain gearing up to learn I was very concerned and a little outraged of my experiences. This is not against Ball State at all! What a beautiful campus, nice smiling people, lots of energy and things going on! Over all a VERY nice school full of my favorite color... RED! Anyhow, as we stepped off the bus and headed into a auditorium waiting for the key not speaker I sorta began to fidget. All around me sat kids in North Face Sweatshirts and coats. North Face is a supporter of the HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) and the HSUS is trying to basically end the livestock industry all together! All together I just took a deep breath and began to make a goal that day to tell 5 kids about North Face. My thoughts where interrupted by a very up beat man our key not speaker. To be honest I don't remember his name and I never will. He starts being a very great speaker I was so in zone listening to him until this was said..." Your generation is going to haft to decided if its okay that the president can have a finger print on the Internet (naked pictures, sexting ect ect), your generations also is going to decided weather or not its okay that a dude and another dude can get married and love one another...TRUST ME WE CAN! Also, your generation is going to have the conscious to stand up against people killing animals." How was I suppose to react to that?

As the rest of the day on, I started a conversation with anyone I came in-contact to about agriculture, North Face and the HSUS. Sharing my agriculture story, people seemed soaking up what I was telling them! I hope I impacted people yesterday. But my plan for you is take a awkward situation and run with it. Be out there and tell other about you ag story! I was in awe as I talked to adults from Ball State about North Face, a man I talked to dad owns around 300 acres and about 50 head of cattle. He said he was disgusted that North Face supports the HSUS. I told him about the Humanewatch.org which is a website that watches HSUS activity and breaking news. As I keep striving...you should to! God gave you a mouth to speak the truth and ears to listen. Have a great day!

Dirt Road Anthem

"I know the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and hold an inborn fondness for those associations which, even in hours of discouragement I can not deny." - FFA Creed 2nd paragraph.

Cowboy is his name!

There's a hundred years of history,
and a hundred before that

All gathered in the thinkin'
Goin' on beneath this hat.

The cold flame burns within him
'Til his skin's as cold as ice

And the dues he paid to get here
Are worth every sacrifice.

All the miles spend sleepy drivin'
All the money down the drain,

All the 'if I's' and 'nearly's, '
All the bandages and pain,

All the female tears left dryin',
All the fever and the fight

Are just a small down payment
On the ride he makes tonight.

It's guts and love and glory,
One mortal's chance at fame.

His legacy is rodeo
And cowboy is his name.

AG DAY!!

Wednesday was Kosciusko County Ag Day!! I was glad to see the community come out, eat some yummy free food, learn a little and become educated in my favorite topic of agriculture. I was blessed Thursday to be able to walk 4th graders around the fairgrounds to learn about agriculture. What makes me happy was a certain question that little boy asked me, "If ducks lay chicken eggs, that means that chickens lay duck eggs...right?". Extremely excited I told him no, but they both laid eggs and explained to him the difference. Also a little tid bit of info or you, it takes 28 days for a duck embryo to hatch and only 22 days for a chick embryo to hatch!! While observing I notice how smart some of the children where about parts of agriculture. Just amazing to hear the ooo's and awww's of the kids, they said that we had awesome jackets by the way!! Wednesday made me a little bit stronger on my adventure to educate and inform people about agriculture!! Thank you much 4th graders!! 

A story of a Ag student!

I was in the FFA in the 80's when Ag classes and FFA was about agriculture and not credits, we had 30 kids in FFA in a high school with 2000 students. The town we lived in had about 100,000 pepole in it. (3 High schools) We had 2 AG teachers/FFA advisers, the senior adviser had started the first FFA program in county in the 60's. I played sports and was active in school, but the only pepole I still calls friends were from the FFA, that is 25 years later.


I went to my Ag teachers grandsons wedding this year, 300 miles from home, sadly I went to that sames Ag teachers funeral the year before, 300 miles from home. More than a 1/3 of the 300 people at the funeral were his old Ag students and their families some drove over a 1200 miles to be there. The other Ag teacher (now retired) still shows up at the fair every year to support our kids, He lives 2 states away. Now these men may have just been unique, but if more Ag teachers where like them, teachers like in the other post would think twice before they berated one of the FFA members and called Ag or something involved with Ag stupid.



I would say if you let it, FFA and the pepole in it will help shape your life and be a part of you forever.