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A Rotokawa-sired bull….
….right here at Thistle Hill….he’s one of Rotokawa 243’s sons…. …as good a young bull as we’ve ever seen. We do believe we’ve found next year’s herd sire. W18 has an equally promising brother in a nearby pasture and you’re always welcome to drop in and check them out. We think 243 has never gotten the credit he deserves. His career was interrupted by the sale of Rotokawa as Ken McDowell cut back his active schedule. Right now, he’s serving in a commercial herd in New Zealand but Ken maintains semen rights.
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A Rotokawa update….
Famed New Zealand breeder Ken McDowell is spending several months in the States, currently enjoying a reunion with his Rotokawa herd. He’s doing more than visiting, though, he’s working with the new owner of Rotokawa, Henry Hauptmann, making breeding decisions. It’s a fine art for Ken as he draws out his plan, matching bulls to the needs of the cows. And Ken is soldiering on despite a painful cyst that has developed on his kidney. He does plan to be at the NADA meeting in New York next month. And we’re looking forward to his visit here in October, right after our own next trip to England.
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Mea culpa….
Again, the press of outside business well away from Hume has limited (alright, eliminated) posting recently. As a way of apologizing, there will be several updates today to catch up. But first a big thank you and hug to Wooz for all she has done to keep our mob grazing and the water tank filled. And all that through the tears of a terrible loss here. And a big thank you to grandson Church (he’ll skip the hug, I’m sure) for abandoning the bright lights of the city to be Wooz’ strong right arm and companion during my absence. We used to pretend he was helping, but now he really…
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Don’t look at me….
….that’s the government’s attitude to the startling news that we’re all fat, and getting fatter. The study comes from the Center for Disease Control and documents the weighty news and what obesity is doing to our health (and health costs). But, of course, the tone is “tsk tsk” and no recognition that government programs such as the menus of school lunches, food stamps, the farm program, and food pyramids have been almost as much to blame as Coke and McDonald’s. Here’s the report: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/08/cdc-everyone-fat/ Being forced to travel a lot recently, I have been a reluctant draftee into the army of Americans who eat out half the time. It is essentially…
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Nothing ever happens in our little county….
….and we like it that way. But now “mass” protest has struck and it’s farmers with pitchforks. Seems the zoning people have gone downtown on us and want to crack down on roadside farmers’ stands who are engaging in what economists call “line extension”. The problem apparently is that some folks want to stretch the definition a bit and are also selling crafts and cakes and other “contraband” supplied from off the farm. The word is someone even had a kids’ birthday party at the farm. Horrors! So Fauquier county, about as farm friendly as a county, cracked down. That provoked a “pitchfork protest” by some of our neighbors….and that drew…
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Gerrish at 75%….
…at least, that’s what he says. Jim Gerrish was in a serious ATV accident about six weeks ago and was seriously injured. He tells us this morning that he’s much better—that is the 75%—and has resumed a limited schedule of work….both in his pastures and on the lecture circuit. Good to hear!
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All that glitters….WARNING….
Normally, we don’t comment on your comments but we hope you’ll check out the input from one of our readers in the “All that glitters” post below. It may be that there is reason to think…or at least be extremely careful in the application of glitter to animals as a fly control measure. Thanks to Nora Whelan for the input.
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As if we didn’t know….
….it turns out that an important arm of Big Ag (and Big Chemical) is the Farm Bureau. This non-profit giant, basing much of its clout on its insurance business, claims to represent the American farmer. In fact, it is a mouthpiece for some of the worst farming practices. Here’s the link: http://thefern.org/2012/07/farm-bureau-gets-a-closer-look-in-new-report/
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Rub a little dirt in it….
….or better yet eat it. I’ve read things like this before, but never in so august a journal as the New York Times. Turns out those chemicals we spray on things or rub on our hands to prevent disease are (guess what) leaving us more vulnerable to disease. Microbes may cause disease but it’s also microbes that fight the bad bugs and you don’t want to wipe them out. Here’s a link to the full story: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/opinion/lets-add-a-little-dirt-to-our-diet.html?_r=2&emc=eta1&utm_source=August+2012+Enews&utm_campaign=FCA+August+2012+Enews&utm_medium=email This isn’t exactly a scientific breakthrough. I remember some years back (okay, like maybe 50) when as horrified parents we saw one of our progeny eating dirt and ran to the pediatrician. Compounding…
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A terrible tragedy….
A car crash has claimed the life of the son of Kim and Ann Seeley. Kim is a dairy farmer and the former, longtime president of PASA, the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture. The Seeley’s 29-year old son, Shon of Troy, Pennsylvania was killed when his SUV ran off the road Tuesday night. As though not tragic enough, the young man was on the way to the hospital to visit his wife and their brand new baby girl. This is heart breaking news and we can only send our condolences and prayers to the entire Seeley family.