Here is a letter to the editor that was published in the West Yellowstone News. This is a perfect example of the lack of knowledge about agriculture that some of our consumers have. He shares a host of misconceptions in this letter that all of us need to try eliminating. Livestock production will always be a key component to feeding the world. There are a few of us writing rebuttals to this letter. Please join us in doing so by going to the following website. http://westyellowstonenews.com/
To the Editor:
Cows, cowboys and cattle ranchers are obsolete. Only they don't know it. A kilogram of grain fed beef takes 100,000 liters of water to produce; thirty times as much as a kilo of chicken meat. Feed prices are now sky high because America is burning grain in its cars. The same kilo of beef takes fourteen times the fossil energy input as chicken. What's the price of gas?
Our supply of hamburger often arrives contaminated. Beef itself is not a healthy food for those prone to heart and vascular disease. Feedlots generate enormous ground water, river and estuary pollution from animal waste, hormones and antibiotics. Cows are susceptible to brucellosis, for which there is no effective vaccine. Many cattle ranchers say they can't operate profitably without subsidies in the form of cheap grazing rights on our public lands. Then, because they can't protect their cows and calves out on the range, they want to wipe out whole species of carnivores.
If I were in the cow business, I would stop corrupting our political system, stop asking the government to stifle the competition, stop lobbying the DOL to kill more bison, stop stonewalling the life cycle tracking of individual cows, stop raising artificially fattened animals, stop shooting wolves and start looking around for a new occupation. Sell the ranch and retire. Open the range to free roaming bison. Set up a wind farm. Lease land to the Hutterites. Or, take a look at a land trust.
If I were in the cow business, I would do some strategic planning, for the sake of my family, before I miss the boat completely. When the market can no longer hide the true price of beef, the only option will be to turn toward Washington and pray for a taxpayer bailout. By then, the investment banks will have beat me to it.
Jay Moor
Bozeman
Friday, April 11, 2008
Cost of the Beef Recall
Footing the bill for the beef
FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2008
Someone has to pay for the largest beef recall in U.S. history. The federal government wants a California slaughterhouse to do so and has billed it $67 million for expenses related to the recall of 143 million pounds of beef in February. Read More
The cost of this recall continues to mount for Westland/Hallmark. It will be difficult for them to be able to pay the entire tab, and I agree that the government will end up paying some of the costs.
FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2008
Someone has to pay for the largest beef recall in U.S. history. The federal government wants a California slaughterhouse to do so and has billed it $67 million for expenses related to the recall of 143 million pounds of beef in February. Read More
The cost of this recall continues to mount for Westland/Hallmark. It will be difficult for them to be able to pay the entire tab, and I agree that the government will end up paying some of the costs.
Animal Activists Hurt Their Cause
Animal activists often hurt their own causes
By KERRY DIOTTE
I love critters as much as most people.
I've grown up with cats and dogs and hamsters - and treasured them all.
Having been raised in northern Ontario where we owned a cabin (or camp, as it was called there), I also hunted grouse at an early age.
I've since lost my love of that and now prefer to photograph wildlife rather than see it dead on my plate.
Stories of animal abuse make me feel sick to my stomach. I truly admire people in the field of animal welfare who try to improve the lot of our feathered and furry friends.
What I don't understand, though, is why some animal advocates become so strident in their cause that there's a backlash and they wind up crippling their case. Read More
I attribute the success of the HSUS to the point made in this piece. Wayne Pacelle figured out that they needed to seem very mainstream, especially compared to other animal rights groups, in order to be successful in accomplishing their agenda.
By KERRY DIOTTE
I love critters as much as most people.
I've grown up with cats and dogs and hamsters - and treasured them all.
Having been raised in northern Ontario where we owned a cabin (or camp, as it was called there), I also hunted grouse at an early age.
I've since lost my love of that and now prefer to photograph wildlife rather than see it dead on my plate.
Stories of animal abuse make me feel sick to my stomach. I truly admire people in the field of animal welfare who try to improve the lot of our feathered and furry friends.
What I don't understand, though, is why some animal advocates become so strident in their cause that there's a backlash and they wind up crippling their case. Read More
I attribute the success of the HSUS to the point made in this piece. Wayne Pacelle figured out that they needed to seem very mainstream, especially compared to other animal rights groups, in order to be successful in accomplishing their agenda.
Animal rights fight to ballot
Animal rights fight to ballot
Egg-laying hens, pregnant pigs and calves raised for veal could not be confined in restrictive enclosures in California that did not allow them to extend their wings or limbs, under an initiative that qualified Wednesday for the Nov. 4 ballot.
Sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States, the Treatment of Farm Animals statute is likely to generate spirited debate between animal rights activists and farmers who contend it would raise prices for consumers. Read More
The California bill to eliminate confining farm animals has made it onto the November ballot. Millions and millions will be spent on this ballot measure. Thousands of jobs and reduced welfare for farm animals will result with the passage of this law.
Egg-laying hens, pregnant pigs and calves raised for veal could not be confined in restrictive enclosures in California that did not allow them to extend their wings or limbs, under an initiative that qualified Wednesday for the Nov. 4 ballot.
Sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States, the Treatment of Farm Animals statute is likely to generate spirited debate between animal rights activists and farmers who contend it would raise prices for consumers. Read More
The California bill to eliminate confining farm animals has made it onto the November ballot. Millions and millions will be spent on this ballot measure. Thousands of jobs and reduced welfare for farm animals will result with the passage of this law.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Hightower compares CAFO to concentration camp
Hightower rallies crowd against corporate agriculture
Anita Weier — 4/05/2008 5:28 pm
Progressive author and columnist Jim Hightower energized a gathering of 160 people at a conference about the impacts of large livestock operations in Wisconsin with homespun humor and sharp wit.
"You, who are taking on the CAFO (Confined Animal Feeding Operation) giants, you are showing the guts and gumption to pioneer and to challenge the conventional wisdom, to confront the corporate order, to crash the bureaucratic barriers," he said.
Referring to huge farms with thousands of animals as "the concentration camps of agriculture," Hightower accused corporate agriculture of turning food production into an assembly line using genetic engineering, antibiotics, sex hormones, irradiation and cloning so that "every cow and every tomato will have the same texture, taste and composition."
The fight against such operations will not be easy, Hightower said, because opponents are challenging the money and power of the agribusiness establishment and its effect on politicians. He added that those present should follow the example of three Wisconsin groups - the Organic Valley Family of Farms, Union Cab and Fighting Bob Fest - that he said all developed their own way of taking back power for the people. Read More
When people such as Jim Hightower suggest that the way we raise farm animals is the same as how people were treated in concentration camps in WW II is utterly ridiculous and offensive. In fact they are treated quite the opposite. The animals are fed a balanced diet everyday, have access to clean water and have health professionals looking after them their entire lives. That’s not what Anne Frank and millions of other human beings experienced in concentration camps.
Anita Weier — 4/05/2008 5:28 pm
Progressive author and columnist Jim Hightower energized a gathering of 160 people at a conference about the impacts of large livestock operations in Wisconsin with homespun humor and sharp wit.
"You, who are taking on the CAFO (Confined Animal Feeding Operation) giants, you are showing the guts and gumption to pioneer and to challenge the conventional wisdom, to confront the corporate order, to crash the bureaucratic barriers," he said.
Referring to huge farms with thousands of animals as "the concentration camps of agriculture," Hightower accused corporate agriculture of turning food production into an assembly line using genetic engineering, antibiotics, sex hormones, irradiation and cloning so that "every cow and every tomato will have the same texture, taste and composition."
The fight against such operations will not be easy, Hightower said, because opponents are challenging the money and power of the agribusiness establishment and its effect on politicians. He added that those present should follow the example of three Wisconsin groups - the Organic Valley Family of Farms, Union Cab and Fighting Bob Fest - that he said all developed their own way of taking back power for the people. Read More
When people such as Jim Hightower suggest that the way we raise farm animals is the same as how people were treated in concentration camps in WW II is utterly ridiculous and offensive. In fact they are treated quite the opposite. The animals are fed a balanced diet everyday, have access to clean water and have health professionals looking after them their entire lives. That’s not what Anne Frank and millions of other human beings experienced in concentration camps.
PETA: Killing Kids the same as Eating Meat
PETA touts vegetarian meals for Underwood
The Norman Transcript
Members of the organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent an "urgent" letter to Oklahoma State Penitentiary Warden Marty Sirmons Tuesday, urging Simmons to provide convicted murderer Kevin Ray Underwood with exclusively vegetarian meals to prevent him from "being involved in any more senseless killing" while in prison.
"While you can't stop all violence, you do have the power to prevent Underwood from contributing to any more suffering and death by placing him on a healthy, humane vegetarian diet," the letter states. Read More
PETA is suggesting that if you eat meat, it is no different that beating, sexually assaulting, and suffocating a 10 year old child. It just goes to show you how little value is placed on human life and welfare by PETA. They care more about furthering their agenda than the life of our children.
The Norman Transcript
Members of the organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent an "urgent" letter to Oklahoma State Penitentiary Warden Marty Sirmons Tuesday, urging Simmons to provide convicted murderer Kevin Ray Underwood with exclusively vegetarian meals to prevent him from "being involved in any more senseless killing" while in prison.
"While you can't stop all violence, you do have the power to prevent Underwood from contributing to any more suffering and death by placing him on a healthy, humane vegetarian diet," the letter states. Read More
PETA is suggesting that if you eat meat, it is no different that beating, sexually assaulting, and suffocating a 10 year old child. It just goes to show you how little value is placed on human life and welfare by PETA. They care more about furthering their agenda than the life of our children.
PETA Investigates Cat Death
PETA wants investigation at UConn
By News Channel 8's Bob Wilson
Posted April 9, 2008
The University of Connecticut is responding to PETA's call for a federal investigation into research conducted on cats.
Justin Goodman investigates labs for PETA. He says an anonymous whistle blower came forward saying a cat was killed prematurely during medical research on hearing at UConn.
"These people are supposed to know what they are doing, and here they are drilling a hole into a cats head and she bleeds out, and has a brain hemorrhage before they can even conduct their experiment," Goodman said.
It is an experiment which is legal and funded by the government. UConn released a statement that says, "The PETA account, provided to the media, has several serious inaccuracies: the truth is that the cat in question was never paralyzed and did not bleed to death and the head veterinarian was present." Read More
While it is unfortunate that this cat died, I think this is a perfect example of how important it is that we continue to be able to use them in life-saving medical research. It is apparent by the outcome of this experiment that this procedure may have some dangers that need to be addressed. This research may have already saved a human life.
By News Channel 8's Bob Wilson
Posted April 9, 2008
The University of Connecticut is responding to PETA's call for a federal investigation into research conducted on cats.
Justin Goodman investigates labs for PETA. He says an anonymous whistle blower came forward saying a cat was killed prematurely during medical research on hearing at UConn.
"These people are supposed to know what they are doing, and here they are drilling a hole into a cats head and she bleeds out, and has a brain hemorrhage before they can even conduct their experiment," Goodman said.
It is an experiment which is legal and funded by the government. UConn released a statement that says, "The PETA account, provided to the media, has several serious inaccuracies: the truth is that the cat in question was never paralyzed and did not bleed to death and the head veterinarian was present." Read More
While it is unfortunate that this cat died, I think this is a perfect example of how important it is that we continue to be able to use them in life-saving medical research. It is apparent by the outcome of this experiment that this procedure may have some dangers that need to be addressed. This research may have already saved a human life.
Four Packing Plants Cited
Four plants that supply meat to schools cited
By Julie Schmit, USA TODAY
Four of 18 beef slaughterhouses that supply the nation's school lunch program were cited for inhumane treatment of cattle in a recent federal audit, and one was temporarily shut down.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released the results Tuesday to Congress, which asked for the audit in February after the shutdown of Westland/Hallmark Meat in Chino, Calif., a school lunch supplier cited for egregious violations of federal rules on humane handling.
The USDA didn't name the suspended plant. But a letter from the USDA to Sen. Herbert Kohl, D-Wis., chair of an agriculture subcommittee, said the plant failed to effectively stun cattle on the first attempt before slaughter, a somewhat common humane-handling violation. The plant corrected the problem and lost about a half day of production, says Amanda Eamich, USDA spokeswoman. Read More
All of us in livestock production are going to be under a microscope in the media, because of the beef recall. It is important for everyone, up and down the production chain, to realize how important it is that we handle our livestock in the proper ways. Groups like HSUS would love nothing more than to find anything they could sensationalize and use it to deal another blow to the livestock industry’s reputation.
By Julie Schmit, USA TODAY
Four of 18 beef slaughterhouses that supply the nation's school lunch program were cited for inhumane treatment of cattle in a recent federal audit, and one was temporarily shut down.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released the results Tuesday to Congress, which asked for the audit in February after the shutdown of Westland/Hallmark Meat in Chino, Calif., a school lunch supplier cited for egregious violations of federal rules on humane handling.
The USDA didn't name the suspended plant. But a letter from the USDA to Sen. Herbert Kohl, D-Wis., chair of an agriculture subcommittee, said the plant failed to effectively stun cattle on the first attempt before slaughter, a somewhat common humane-handling violation. The plant corrected the problem and lost about a half day of production, says Amanda Eamich, USDA spokeswoman. Read More
All of us in livestock production are going to be under a microscope in the media, because of the beef recall. It is important for everyone, up and down the production chain, to realize how important it is that we handle our livestock in the proper ways. Groups like HSUS would love nothing more than to find anything they could sensationalize and use it to deal another blow to the livestock industry’s reputation.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Is eating beef safe?
Is eating beef safe?
By NANCY LUNA
The Orange County Register
In 2006, Seattle food safety attorney Bill Marler advised produce packers and growers to look at the beef sector for tips on reducing food borne illness outbreaks.
At the time, a series of E. coli outbreaks had rocked the industry – sickening more than 200 people who ate tainted spinach or lettuce. In the meantime, the beef industry, plagued in the 1990s by similar food scares, had made great strides in reducing food poisoning cases.
Now, the pendulum has swung.
Since 2007, federal health officials have documented 67 beef recalls, up from eight in 2006. At least 20 recalls are linked to E. coli tainted meat. Read More
Consumers are asking a lot of questions about our food supply right now and this article addresses several of them. All of us in agriculture should be prepared to answer any of the questions that are raised in this article.
By NANCY LUNA
The Orange County Register
In 2006, Seattle food safety attorney Bill Marler advised produce packers and growers to look at the beef sector for tips on reducing food borne illness outbreaks.
At the time, a series of E. coli outbreaks had rocked the industry – sickening more than 200 people who ate tainted spinach or lettuce. In the meantime, the beef industry, plagued in the 1990s by similar food scares, had made great strides in reducing food poisoning cases.
Now, the pendulum has swung.
Since 2007, federal health officials have documented 67 beef recalls, up from eight in 2006. At least 20 recalls are linked to E. coli tainted meat. Read More
Consumers are asking a lot of questions about our food supply right now and this article addresses several of them. All of us in agriculture should be prepared to answer any of the questions that are raised in this article.
Keeping Animals Healthy
New AHI Website Focuses on the Importance of Healthy Animals
PR Newswire
Comtex
WASHINGTON, April 8, 2008, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Highlights Policy Important to Protect Animal, Human Health
The Animal Health Institute (AHI) today launched its newly designed "Keeping Animals Healthy" website to help consumers and policymakers better understand the important role of public policy in providing animal medicines to keep both animals and humans healthy.
"Americans are becoming more aware of the relationship between animal health and public health," said AHI President and CEO Alexander S. Mathews. "Thoughtful public policies are needed to manage the risk of diseases that can be spread between animals and humans." Read More
Check out this new website, Keep Animals Healthy, put together by the Animal Health Institute. There is a lot of good information on there that you can use when telling the positive story of agriculture.
PR Newswire
Comtex
WASHINGTON, April 8, 2008, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Highlights Policy Important to Protect Animal, Human Health
The Animal Health Institute (AHI) today launched its newly designed "Keeping Animals Healthy" website to help consumers and policymakers better understand the important role of public policy in providing animal medicines to keep both animals and humans healthy.
"Americans are becoming more aware of the relationship between animal health and public health," said AHI President and CEO Alexander S. Mathews. "Thoughtful public policies are needed to manage the risk of diseases that can be spread between animals and humans." Read More
Check out this new website, Keep Animals Healthy, put together by the Animal Health Institute. There is a lot of good information on there that you can use when telling the positive story of agriculture.
PETA's Online Games
PETA's Campaign Against Burberry Through Online Game Proves Successful
Game Featuring "Animal Avengers" Storming Burberry HQ, Gains Popularity amongst Youth
(PRWEB) April 8, 2008 --
PETA (http://www.Peta.org.uk) has taken a different approach to its anti-fur campaign against leading clothing retailers by launching an online game. The game called "Bloody Burberry" has been released on FreeOnlineGames.com (http://www.FreeOnlineGames.com) to reach out to the youth.
In the game, a player can choose an "Animal Avenger" and start the first level where the character runs around a Burberry store spraying all the fur clothing with blood! Read More
As I have mentioned before, PETA is has made it very clear that it is going to try to brainwash your kids with their agenda. They have Peta2, which is a website geared towards kids, online videos, and a point system for kids to keep track of their animal rights activities. Now they are making online games where kids are encouraged to commit vandalism. This group continues on the extremely radical path, dangerously making groups like the HSUS seem mainstream.
Game Featuring "Animal Avengers" Storming Burberry HQ, Gains Popularity amongst Youth
(PRWEB) April 8, 2008 --
PETA (http://www.Peta.org.uk) has taken a different approach to its anti-fur campaign against leading clothing retailers by launching an online game. The game called "Bloody Burberry" has been released on FreeOnlineGames.com (http://www.FreeOnlineGames.com) to reach out to the youth.
In the game, a player can choose an "Animal Avenger" and start the first level where the character runs around a Burberry store spraying all the fur clothing with blood! Read More
As I have mentioned before, PETA is has made it very clear that it is going to try to brainwash your kids with their agenda. They have Peta2, which is a website geared towards kids, online videos, and a point system for kids to keep track of their animal rights activities. Now they are making online games where kids are encouraged to commit vandalism. This group continues on the extremely radical path, dangerously making groups like the HSUS seem mainstream.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Reduced meat eating can help save environment
Reduced meat eating can help save environment
April 7, 2008
Kate Rosettie
As an active athlete, I rely on meat as a source of protein, but just how much meat do we need and at what cost to our bodies and the environment?
Meat consumption is soaring worldwide, especially in newly industrializing nations. The destructive consequences of the spread of the 'Western diet' include environmental damage, water scarcity, animal cruelty, global warming and health issues. Moreover, as meat consumption increases so does the competition for food sources that go to livestock rather than to people who already suffer from hunger in the world.
The adverse consequences of widespread livestock production are becoming increasingly problematic. According to the Compassion in World Faming Trust (CIWF), livestock production uses the greatest percentage of agricultural land, and it is depleting water supplies. Read More
The major fallacy of this argument is that everyone assumes that every acre that is grazed by animals could be converted to cropland. If we eliminated livestock production, a vast majority of the western half of the United States would become a wasted resource. Livestock are the reason we have as much food as we do. They convert sunshine into protein, which is something that the human body can not do. Unless the human body can evolve to the point that we have a rumen, livestock will be key to feeding the world.
April 7, 2008
Kate Rosettie
As an active athlete, I rely on meat as a source of protein, but just how much meat do we need and at what cost to our bodies and the environment?
Meat consumption is soaring worldwide, especially in newly industrializing nations. The destructive consequences of the spread of the 'Western diet' include environmental damage, water scarcity, animal cruelty, global warming and health issues. Moreover, as meat consumption increases so does the competition for food sources that go to livestock rather than to people who already suffer from hunger in the world.
The adverse consequences of widespread livestock production are becoming increasingly problematic. According to the Compassion in World Faming Trust (CIWF), livestock production uses the greatest percentage of agricultural land, and it is depleting water supplies. Read More
The major fallacy of this argument is that everyone assumes that every acre that is grazed by animals could be converted to cropland. If we eliminated livestock production, a vast majority of the western half of the United States would become a wasted resource. Livestock are the reason we have as much food as we do. They convert sunshine into protein, which is something that the human body can not do. Unless the human body can evolve to the point that we have a rumen, livestock will be key to feeding the world.
Global Warming & Cannibalism
Ted Turner: Global warming could lead to cannibalism
Failure to address global warming will have us all dead or eating each other by mid-century.
So says Ted Turner, the restaurateur, environmentalist and former media mogul whose controversial comments have earned him the nickname "Mouth of the South."
If steps aren't taken to stem global warming, "We'll be eight degrees hotter in 30 or 40 years and basically none of the crops will grow," Turner said during a wide-ranging, hour-long interview with PBS's Charlie Rose that aired Tuesday.
"Most of the people will have died and the rest of us will be cannibals," said Turner, 69.
"Civilization will have broken down. The few people left will be living in a failed state — like Somalia or Sudan — and living conditions will be intolerable.
"One way to combat global warming, Turner said, is to stabilize the population. Read More
The idea that the world is overpopulated is an old one. Several decades ago there were some that said this very thing and yet the population of the earth is much larger than even fifty years ago and we are still here. The fallacy in this argument is a variable, which most don’t consider when making these statements, called the human brain. We continue to develop new technology that supports more and more human life, and agriculture has always been at the forefront. We continue to produce more food, more efficiently and that is just one of the great stories that ag can be proud of.
Failure to address global warming will have us all dead or eating each other by mid-century.
So says Ted Turner, the restaurateur, environmentalist and former media mogul whose controversial comments have earned him the nickname "Mouth of the South."
If steps aren't taken to stem global warming, "We'll be eight degrees hotter in 30 or 40 years and basically none of the crops will grow," Turner said during a wide-ranging, hour-long interview with PBS's Charlie Rose that aired Tuesday.
"Most of the people will have died and the rest of us will be cannibals," said Turner, 69.
"Civilization will have broken down. The few people left will be living in a failed state — like Somalia or Sudan — and living conditions will be intolerable.
"One way to combat global warming, Turner said, is to stabilize the population. Read More
The idea that the world is overpopulated is an old one. Several decades ago there were some that said this very thing and yet the population of the earth is much larger than even fifty years ago and we are still here. The fallacy in this argument is a variable, which most don’t consider when making these statements, called the human brain. We continue to develop new technology that supports more and more human life, and agriculture has always been at the forefront. We continue to produce more food, more efficiently and that is just one of the great stories that ag can be proud of.
Students Fight to Keep Dept. of Ag
Students fight farming proposal
Sunday, April 06, 2008
By Heather Simione
hsimione@sjnewsco.com
OLDMANS TWP. Students from Oldmans Township School are protesting Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposal to eliminate the state's Department of Agriculture.
In a letter written to Corzine, these 12 students who call their group the "Inside Scoop," expressed their displeasure with the governor's supposed money-saving move.
"It's New Jersey ...we're the Garden State," said seventh grader Kyle Huntington. "Without the Department of Agriculture it's pointless for us to carry that name. Don't these people understand ... with no farms how are we supposed to eat?" Read More
Congratulations to these kids for going out and telling the story of how important agriculture is to their own governor. Everybody in New Jersey will be affected by the closing of the Dept of Ag, because everybody eats. Most kids aren’t growing up even knowing anything about agriculture, let alone standing up and supporting agriculture. Again, congratulations to the “Inside Scoop”.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
By Heather Simione
hsimione@sjnewsco.com
OLDMANS TWP. Students from Oldmans Township School are protesting Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposal to eliminate the state's Department of Agriculture.
In a letter written to Corzine, these 12 students who call their group the "Inside Scoop," expressed their displeasure with the governor's supposed money-saving move.
"It's New Jersey ...we're the Garden State," said seventh grader Kyle Huntington. "Without the Department of Agriculture it's pointless for us to carry that name. Don't these people understand ... with no farms how are we supposed to eat?" Read More
Congratulations to these kids for going out and telling the story of how important agriculture is to their own governor. Everybody in New Jersey will be affected by the closing of the Dept of Ag, because everybody eats. Most kids aren’t growing up even knowing anything about agriculture, let alone standing up and supporting agriculture. Again, congratulations to the “Inside Scoop”.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Restaurant to be Hormone Free
Pollo Tropical drops hormones from Florida restaurants
South Florida Business Journal - by Alexis Muellner
Pollo Tropical Restaurants said it has made changes to ingredients in products it serves in Florida.
The company boasts that its entire menu is now "hormone free."
Miami-based Pollo Tropical serves a range of grilled fare with a Latino theme. The company sells a signature marinated chicken item, as well as roast pork, ribs, grilled shrimp and steak.
"Hormone free" means the animal was not given or subjected to artificial hormones, the company said. Read More
He we go again. Now it’s a “hormone free” restaurant. Unless they are only serving sunshine and scenery, there are hormones in the food they are serving. And the worst part is their definition of hormone free, they say it means none of the animals were given artificial hormones, but that is a long ways from being hormone free. Every bit of food they serve there will have hormones in it. Hormones are one of the reasons that life exists on this plant. They are the biological messages that the body uses to control almost everything is has to accomplish. Because of that, regardless of how the animal was raised, there will be hormones in it. Most of the hormones in a meal that will be served at this restaurant will be from the vegetables. A 3 oz serving of cabbage will have over 1000 times as mush estrogen in it as a 3 oz serving of beef from an animal that has been treated with a growth hormone.
South Florida Business Journal - by Alexis Muellner
Pollo Tropical Restaurants said it has made changes to ingredients in products it serves in Florida.
The company boasts that its entire menu is now "hormone free."
Miami-based Pollo Tropical serves a range of grilled fare with a Latino theme. The company sells a signature marinated chicken item, as well as roast pork, ribs, grilled shrimp and steak.
"Hormone free" means the animal was not given or subjected to artificial hormones, the company said. Read More
He we go again. Now it’s a “hormone free” restaurant. Unless they are only serving sunshine and scenery, there are hormones in the food they are serving. And the worst part is their definition of hormone free, they say it means none of the animals were given artificial hormones, but that is a long ways from being hormone free. Every bit of food they serve there will have hormones in it. Hormones are one of the reasons that life exists on this plant. They are the biological messages that the body uses to control almost everything is has to accomplish. Because of that, regardless of how the animal was raised, there will be hormones in it. Most of the hormones in a meal that will be served at this restaurant will be from the vegetables. A 3 oz serving of cabbage will have over 1000 times as mush estrogen in it as a 3 oz serving of beef from an animal that has been treated with a growth hormone.
PETA Protests Shrine Circus
PETA hopes to stop Shrine Circus show coming to the city
Tb News SourceWeb Posted: 4/4/2008 8:18:47 PM
What bills itself as the 'Greatest Show on Earth' is expected to draw some protest when it stops in the city next month.
A local group is planning to take part in a national PETA campaign against the Shrine Circus and the use of animals in their shows and so far, over 120 members have joined a local Facebook group to 'fight the circus'. The Thunder Bay chapter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says its planning a protest calling for a ban on the use of animals in such shows.
However Shriner Andy Anderson, also known as Wrinkles the Clown, says he has never seen the animals harmed in any way and Anderson has been clowning since 1948. He's not taking the group seriously adding there is no truth to what they are saying.
Anderson says the circus has veterinarians that travel with them and animals are an important part of the show. The local stop has raised more than $80,000 each year for the Shriner's hospital for children. Read More
PETA has once again put animals above the welfare of children. The Shrine circus is a major fundraiser for their hospitals, which treat sick children at little or no cost. Yet PETA is willing to throw that all away because it thinks that these animals are mistreated. Children’s welfare should be more important than protesting a circus.
Tb News SourceWeb Posted: 4/4/2008 8:18:47 PM
What bills itself as the 'Greatest Show on Earth' is expected to draw some protest when it stops in the city next month.
A local group is planning to take part in a national PETA campaign against the Shrine Circus and the use of animals in their shows and so far, over 120 members have joined a local Facebook group to 'fight the circus'. The Thunder Bay chapter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says its planning a protest calling for a ban on the use of animals in such shows.
However Shriner Andy Anderson, also known as Wrinkles the Clown, says he has never seen the animals harmed in any way and Anderson has been clowning since 1948. He's not taking the group seriously adding there is no truth to what they are saying.
Anderson says the circus has veterinarians that travel with them and animals are an important part of the show. The local stop has raised more than $80,000 each year for the Shriner's hospital for children. Read More
PETA has once again put animals above the welfare of children. The Shrine circus is a major fundraiser for their hospitals, which treat sick children at little or no cost. Yet PETA is willing to throw that all away because it thinks that these animals are mistreated. Children’s welfare should be more important than protesting a circus.
Friday, April 4, 2008
National Women in Agriculture Conference
We've just returned from speaking at the National Women in Agriculture Conference in Oklahoma City. It was a tremendous event and we were fortunate to visit with people from all over the United States. Here is a picture from the conference of Stacy and I presenting.
More and more people are realizing how important our message of telling the story of agriculture is. Many states are dealing with a variety of issues involving animal agriculture, and there is no doubt that California is the front line this year.
All of us involved in production agriculture must get out and start talking to consumers and explaining who we are and what we do. There are more people involved with organizations that would like to see animal agriculture eliminated in this country than there are people involved directly with food production.
Animal welfare is a priority for producers because our human welfare depends on it.
New Hampshire says No to Cage Ban
From Feedstuffs:
A bill in the New Hampshire Legislature supported by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and would have banned cage-egg production systems failed in the state's House Agriculture Committee on a 16-0 vote. It was subsequently voted down in the full House by voice vote last month.
Meanwhile, a bill that would have banned the production and sale of foie gras in Maryland was rejected by the Maryland Legislature last month. The bill was supported by the Baltimore (Md.) Animal Rights Coalition. Link
Not only did the House Ag Committee of New Hampshire say no to this bill, they said heck no by voting unanimously against it. We will have to wait and see what the HSUS response will be.
A bill in the New Hampshire Legislature supported by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and would have banned cage-egg production systems failed in the state's House Agriculture Committee on a 16-0 vote. It was subsequently voted down in the full House by voice vote last month.
Meanwhile, a bill that would have banned the production and sale of foie gras in Maryland was rejected by the Maryland Legislature last month. The bill was supported by the Baltimore (Md.) Animal Rights Coalition. Link
Not only did the House Ag Committee of New Hampshire say no to this bill, they said heck no by voting unanimously against it. We will have to wait and see what the HSUS response will be.
Colorado's Confined Animal Bill
Confined animal bill corralled in committee
By MetroWest Staff
04/03/2008
K.C. Mason
DENVER — Under threat of a petition drive for a ballot question, Colorado lawmakers and state Agriculture Commissioner John Stulp are moving forward with a bill to increase regulations on confined animals that are raised for pork and veal.
Senate Bill 201, sponsored by Dist. 6 Sen. Jim Isgar, D-Hesperus, would prohibit the confinement of gestating sows or calves raised for veal in a way that does not allow the animal to stand up, lie down, and turn around without touching the enclosure’s sides.
“My concern is to avert a ballot initiative, which I feel this does,” Stulp said during testimony last week before the Senate Agriculture Committee. “This recognizes the need … to address future husbandry issues and hopefully get out ahead of the curve.” Read More
Colorado is trying to prevent a ballot measure, proposed by the HSUS, by passing a bill through the legislature. The decision not to fight it out at the ballots was due largely to the fact the HSUS has been very successful in ballot measures and also the amount of money they had committed to the measure. While ag could not have gone dollar for dollar with the HSUS, they have something more powerful than money, and that is the positive story of modern production agriculture. I only wish they would have used that more to their advantage.
By MetroWest Staff
04/03/2008
K.C. Mason
DENVER — Under threat of a petition drive for a ballot question, Colorado lawmakers and state Agriculture Commissioner John Stulp are moving forward with a bill to increase regulations on confined animals that are raised for pork and veal.
Senate Bill 201, sponsored by Dist. 6 Sen. Jim Isgar, D-Hesperus, would prohibit the confinement of gestating sows or calves raised for veal in a way that does not allow the animal to stand up, lie down, and turn around without touching the enclosure’s sides.
“My concern is to avert a ballot initiative, which I feel this does,” Stulp said during testimony last week before the Senate Agriculture Committee. “This recognizes the need … to address future husbandry issues and hopefully get out ahead of the curve.” Read More
Colorado is trying to prevent a ballot measure, proposed by the HSUS, by passing a bill through the legislature. The decision not to fight it out at the ballots was due largely to the fact the HSUS has been very successful in ballot measures and also the amount of money they had committed to the measure. While ag could not have gone dollar for dollar with the HSUS, they have something more powerful than money, and that is the positive story of modern production agriculture. I only wish they would have used that more to their advantage.
Eco-Terrorism is Public Enemy #1
FBI: Eco-Terrorism Remains No. 1 Domestic Terror Threat
Monday , March 31, 2008
For nearly seven years, the nation has turned its terror focus on Al Qaeda and the hunt for Usama bin Laden. But there is a domestic terror threat that federal officials still consider priority No. 1 — eco-terrorism.
The torching of luxury homes in the swank Seattle suburb of Woodinville earlier this month served as a reminder that the decades-long war with militant environmentalists on American soil has not ended.
"It remains what we would probably consider the No. 1 domestic terrorism threat, because they have successfully continued to conduct different types of attacks in and around the country," said FBI Special Agent Richard Kolko. Read More
These terrorists don’t just attack research facilities and or corporations, they have also attacked family farms and ranches. No options are off the table, for this group, when it comes to violently trying to stop the things they are against. If we have an agri-terrorism event in the United States, it is more likely to have come from these groups rather than from overseas.
Monday , March 31, 2008
For nearly seven years, the nation has turned its terror focus on Al Qaeda and the hunt for Usama bin Laden. But there is a domestic terror threat that federal officials still consider priority No. 1 — eco-terrorism.
The torching of luxury homes in the swank Seattle suburb of Woodinville earlier this month served as a reminder that the decades-long war with militant environmentalists on American soil has not ended.
"It remains what we would probably consider the No. 1 domestic terrorism threat, because they have successfully continued to conduct different types of attacks in and around the country," said FBI Special Agent Richard Kolko. Read More
These terrorists don’t just attack research facilities and or corporations, they have also attacked family farms and ranches. No options are off the table, for this group, when it comes to violently trying to stop the things they are against. If we have an agri-terrorism event in the United States, it is more likely to have come from these groups rather than from overseas.
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