Gene Baur pushed my limit today with his blog entry. I have a short fuse because Mabel stopped running this morning and I'm liable to not take anti-livestock agriculture sentiments well today.
My apologies, but my blog comment will be a summary instead. Gene, you spend so much time trying to pin livestock agriculture as the proverbial tail on a donkey of fault for the world's problems. You'd probably do better if you weren't distracted by the ass in your own mirror.
It didn't take me long to find some reputable information about the waste produced in the US. 4 lbs. every day x 300.000.000 people in the US adds up to a lot of waste every day. The waste production is a much larger problem than that of manure production in the US, besides the fact that manure is recycled by farmers whereas garbage is just dumped. Per a news article this summer about the mess the Mississippi River is experiencing, and topped by a slight BP spill this summer, I think Gene is out of turn in accusing the Gulf of Mexico's problems as the fault of livestock agriculture. The gulf has a significant problem, but this is the combined fault of many factors not the least of which is the wastefulness of Americans. Spend your time figuring out how to better reduce and reuse your own impact on the earth and please spend less time pointing fingers at environmentally responsible, governmentally regulated and audited farmers. We are doing our part to feed the world and care for the environment, what are you doing?
Do livestock farmers use a lot of water? Sure, but the water is recycled (something the Columbus Dispatch also conveniently neglected to mention in their despicable article on Sunday). Farmers are some of nature's recyclers and they use their water over and over again to help feed America and the world. Is the same true for that ridiculous oasis in the desert, Las Vegas?
For your mild entertainment I have included a video of some farmers who had a unique approach to telling people about their care for the environment.
Showing posts with label BP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BP. Show all posts
Friday, October 15, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Week 2, Post 3
Updates today come mainly from Sara Long up at MSU and her weekly e-newsletter. If you'd like to subscribe to her newsletter just email me and I will give you the appropriate information.
First on my list today is an article discussing arguments between animal rights groups related to spending and usage of fundraising. It is harsh on HSUS and their spending, so it is worth including.
Also, for those of you who know me longer term, you will remember my specific interest in BSE. Well, this article discusses new research related to identifying the disease earlier through the glow of cattle's eyes when they are infected. It is quite interesting to me.
Don't expect fish products to get any cheaper in the near future, as devastation from the oil accident in the gulf spreads.
Animal welfare and the origin of animals for consumption has topped the list of consumer concerns in Great Britain.
And finally, a company has started producing billboards with a new taste, well, more literally smell to them. As you drive past this billboard, you will smell grilling steak.
First on my list today is an article discussing arguments between animal rights groups related to spending and usage of fundraising. It is harsh on HSUS and their spending, so it is worth including.
Also, for those of you who know me longer term, you will remember my specific interest in BSE. Well, this article discusses new research related to identifying the disease earlier through the glow of cattle's eyes when they are infected. It is quite interesting to me.
Don't expect fish products to get any cheaper in the near future, as devastation from the oil accident in the gulf spreads.
Animal welfare and the origin of animals for consumption has topped the list of consumer concerns in Great Britain.
And finally, a company has started producing billboards with a new taste, well, more literally smell to them. As you drive past this billboard, you will smell grilling steak.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Week 1, Post 5
As this week draws to a close, I have a few other notes worth mentioning.
Thunderstorms came through again today, and the garden remains wet. It's been a rough week for getting stuff in, but Mom found some volunteer tomatoes in the peas and beans so I transferred them over yesterday before they were choked out. Otherwise, I'm trying to stay out of the garden as much as possible. I feel bad for the farmers that I've been talking to and driving past. They have so much invested and the weather has been pretty rough this spring.
Also. Katherine mentioned finding a sheep of ours chained up about a month or two ago, even though we've never chained an animal before. Apparently we have some neighborhood non-neighborly intruders and we're going to have to do a better job of watching the place. For anyone else trying to raise livestock of any species or quantity this year, please keep an eye on them and protect them from the crazies roaming about.
Apparently silage causes high amounts of GHGs which we should be worrying about. Although it pales in comparison to the BP fiasco, at least this is something that we can research and fix here on the homefront. I heard Obama today say some harsh things about BP, but you would've figured he'd have said those a while back? This is definitely something that has my dander up.
It doesn't look like a weather break anytime soon. Out on the hog farms the last two days, the breeze has been quite a nice break. The muggy afternoons have been pretty irritating though.
Thunderstorms came through again today, and the garden remains wet. It's been a rough week for getting stuff in, but Mom found some volunteer tomatoes in the peas and beans so I transferred them over yesterday before they were choked out. Otherwise, I'm trying to stay out of the garden as much as possible. I feel bad for the farmers that I've been talking to and driving past. They have so much invested and the weather has been pretty rough this spring.
Also. Katherine mentioned finding a sheep of ours chained up about a month or two ago, even though we've never chained an animal before. Apparently we have some neighborhood non-neighborly intruders and we're going to have to do a better job of watching the place. For anyone else trying to raise livestock of any species or quantity this year, please keep an eye on them and protect them from the crazies roaming about.
Apparently silage causes high amounts of GHGs which we should be worrying about. Although it pales in comparison to the BP fiasco, at least this is something that we can research and fix here on the homefront. I heard Obama today say some harsh things about BP, but you would've figured he'd have said those a while back? This is definitely something that has my dander up.
It doesn't look like a weather break anytime soon. Out on the hog farms the last two days, the breeze has been quite a nice break. The muggy afternoons have been pretty irritating though.
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