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About that “Ice Bucket Challenge”….
….our favorite farm consultant, Jim Gerrish, says “no thank you”! From his Facebook: Gerrish September 3 at 5:33pm · I agree with Jordan on my unwillingness to participate in the ALS ice bucket challenge because I do not believe sending funds to any of the so-called medical research foundations will do anything to cure these diseases. The G.A.M.P.I. (government-agricultural-medical-pharmaceutical-industrial complex) created most of our chronic health problems. Supporting them will not bring us any closer to a solution. Healthy soils and healthy foods is what creates our own health and well-being. You can better contribute to a healthier future each time you make a food purchase outside the GAMPI.
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Move along…nothing to see here….
So it’s a million pigs….not to worry. Notice that the story says the farm is owned by Smithfield’s in Virginia….not that Smithfield’s is owned by China as in Beijing! Besides, our government says the pork is perfectly safe…just like all that ground beef with USDA labels. http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/58369640-78/pedv-animal-virus-state.html.csp
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A breeding viewpoint….
….I assume that cattle breeders who read this blog, are also regulars at the Kit Pharo website. If not, I suggest you should be. This week Kit links to an article in Beef Magazine that should resonate with all pure bred breeders…though it was aimed at the commercial cattleman. http://beefmagazine.com/blog/do-you-want-progress-or-change-cattle-breeding
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Everybody knows that…..
….at least everybody who reads this blog, or any of the others that are built around grass fed meat. Turns out the government and the scientific establishment have been wrong for decades…forget low-fat diets. Cut out the carbs and eat all the healthy fats you want….particularly on grass fed beef and pastured pork! That’s the conclusion of the latest study: http://www.meatingplace.com/Industry/News/Details/52562 I couldn’t count the number of times people have told me they’ve cut down on red meat…or cut it out entirely. Worse they’ve inflicted their “diet” on their family, particularly their kids. Usually it is in the context of saying they could never use a 15-pound box of our…
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Look up chutzpah….
….and you’ll find the Monsanto logo. The evil genius of this gigantic corporation is demonstrated anew with its campaign to co-opt the National Honeybee Day. Bees, like butterflies, have rapidly been disappearing from the planet…a critical threat to growers around the world. As reported by Dr. Joseph Mercola, Monsanto moved in (as it has into the White House) to claim it wanted nothing more than to save the bees. Turns out Monsanto has as much clout with the British ag department, DEFRA, as it has with our own USDA. It’s clear that they have corrupted the entire regulatory process with the enthusiastic cooperation of universities and government bureaucrats. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/09/02/save-bees-against-monsanto.aspx
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Return of the Pork Pak….
….a last minute cancelation of a whole pig, makes it possible for us to sell 10-pound Pork Paks….again….briefly. The demand for our pigs has moved us to offering just halves and wholes….but for as long as they last, the 10 pound package is back and costs just $75! The Pork Pak includes 5 lbs of a variety of sausage, pork chops, hams steaks, and bacon. Yes, bacon. Like our beef, our pork is raised on pasture….is entirely drug free…and even the corn we feed is non-GMO! All this reminds me of two things: First, the picture. Our website is repeated on Facebook and on occasion someone posts something there that…
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Because its mine….
….continuing my occasional posting of links that I just like, there’s this: “10 things to love about Italy”. At least it’s about food. Turn up the sound. (thanks to our friend, Don Kunnard, for letting us know about it) http://player.vimeo.com/video/70776419
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Nobody told me….
….seems like I’m always the last to know. Apparently the Peterson Brothers, who farm in central Kansas, have been “hot” in Ag (and not-so-ag) circles for a couple of years. Their parodies of life on the farm have been big not only on YouTube but college campuses. They’ve even taken their “act” overseas. Thanks to Barbara Matthews, our daughter-in-law, for catching us up!
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If everything else fails….
….maybe we can sell the view. Our chief-of-everything around here—Duane Ard—snapped this picture from his porch the other evening. That’s the Rappahannock down there in the haze….nearer us, a pasture we’re stockpiling for winter. Now that I really look at the picture, I’m thinking we’ll move in with Duane. He’s got “The View”!
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Looking ahead….
….most farms (not the big corporate ones) are a mix of a number of small enterprises. In our case, that includes selling heifers and cows to those starting out or upgrading their herds, selling bulls to the commercial cattlemen, meat to our own customers, and steers (pictured here) to other meat operations. And all have to be kept in balance. We have several very good steer customers. Sometimes we deliver to their farms….sometimes straight to the butcher for their own label. But since steers take just over two years to reach “finish” weight, we have to track a number of things, including keeping enough in the pipeline for almost three years….enough…