Random Ag Facts. February 29, 2012

Here are some random, interesting facts.  These will give you a little perspective on just how BIG the ag industry is…

-In 1960, 1 farmer fed 19 people. Today, 1 farmer feeds 155.

-2.2 million farms dot America’s rural landscape. About 97 percent of U.S. farms are operated by families – individuals, family partnerships or family corporations.

-Today’s farmer grows twice as much food as his parents did – using less land, energy, water and fewer emissions.

Corn: Farmers today grow five times as much corn as they did in the 1930s — on 20 percent less land. That is still 13 million acres, or 20,000 square miles, twice the size of Massachusetts.

Soybeans: One and a half gallons of biodiesel and 48 pounds of soybean meal can be produced from one bushel of soybeans.

Cotton: A bale of cotton weighs about 500 pounds.

• One bale of cotton can make…
  • 215 Pairs of Jeans
  • 249 Bed Sheets
  • 409 Men’s Sport Shirts
  • 690 Terry Bath Towels
  • 765 Men’s Dress Shirts
  • 1,217 Men’s T-Shirts
  • 1,256 Pillowcases
  • 2,104 Pairs of Boxer Shorts
  • 2,419 Pairs of Men’s Briefs
  • 3,085 Diapers
  • 4,321 Mid-Calf Socks
  • 6,436 Pairs of Women’s Knit Briefs
  • 21,960 Women’s Handkerchiefs
  • 313,600 $100 Bills

Farmers have always been going green… this isn’t a “new concept”

-Each year, hundreds of thousands of trees are planted on farmland.

YAY AGRICULTURE! 🙂  It’s amazing.  Support farmers.  Please try to understand how important they are in your everyday life. 🙂

 *please and thank you. – the farmer’s daughter. ❤

*All my facts came from the Farm Burea website and Americanfarmers.com.

There is no such thing as a vegan… February 23, 2012

Reality Check

While agriculture is much more than farming, farming is much more than producing food. So farmers not only feed us, but biofuels, pharmaceuticals, adhesives, detergents, soaps, crayons, chalk, toothpaste, lotions, tires, plastic, glass, fireworks, rubber, gum and countless other things that “make the world go ’round” including the clothes on your back are produced from plant AND animal byproducts. (from FarmBureauFactBook)

There is no true “vegan.”

This is just interesting “food for thought.”

The Hudson Family Farm Case February 20, 2012

Kristin and Alan Hudson are fourth generation family farmers located in Berlin, MD on the eastern shore They live on a farm growing corn, soybeans, hay, and raising cows, but their main operation is raising chickens.  The Hudsons have two chicken houses, 500 feet long each, which house 80,000 Cornish chicks.  The Hudson family is a contract grower for Perdue Farms.

The Hudson family is in a legal battle with “the New York-based Waterkeepers Alliance, the environmental group that is not only affecting their resources, but could affect the way poultry farmers across Maryland operate.”  “The lawsuit accuses the Hudson family and co-defendant Perdue Farms of creating a “longstanding manure pile” that discharges pollutants via “trenches” into a field ditch in violation of the Clean Water Act.”  The Waterkeepers Alliance had mistakenly accused them of chicken manure, which was actually sludge delivered from Ocean City.  The activists had identified the pile from a small plane as they flew over the Hudson’s property. The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) investigated this and the Hudsons moved the pile.  MDE declared that “no further action is required on [the Farm’s] part other than to spread the [biosolid pile] in the spring for the next crop growing season.”

The Waterkeepers have been persistent and are now claiming the Hudson family runs a “factory farm operation” and that the “pollutants from poultry manure have entered local waterways (Pocomoke River) via the exhaust fans in the poultry houses, and through ordinary foot traffic as people enter and exit the houses in the daily care of their animals.” The Waterkeepers claim that the Hudsons are in violation of the Clean Water Act.  There is no credible scientific evidence to support this accusation.

The Hudsons are faced with over $130,000 in legal fees, and recently, “the Waterkeepers claimed more than 51 violations of the Maryland Clean Water Act against the Hudson farm and proposed more than $2 million in fines.”

The whole situation is absurd because the Waterkeepers Alliance are getting free legal counsel from the University of Maryland Law School Environmental Law Clinic, which means taxpayers, including the Hudsons themselves, are paying to sue the family.  Students at the University of Maryland Law School gets 30 percent of its annual $46 million budget from state taxpayers.

This is the most ridiculous situation EVER!  Please show your support for the Hudsons, whether it’s educating yourself on the topic and teaching others or go to SaveFarmFamilies.Org to make a donation to help pay their legal fees.

I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Hudson at a recent MD Farm Bureau event and he is an extremely nice guy with an obvious passion for agriculture and a heart of gold.  Nobody deserves to go through what he and his family are going through, especially an individual with great character such as him.  (He reminded me of my father– just a down to earth, friendly, nice, respectable, grateful guy doing what he loves and trying to make a living. This situation breaks my heart.)

{All of my information and more can be found from My Maryland Magazine and SaveFarmFamilies.Org.}

Maryland Farm Bureau Day in Annapolis <3

February 14 is Valentine’s Day- A day dedicated to love, and the exchanging of candy and gifts.  This year, for the Maryland Farm Bureau, it was a day to demonstrate their love and passion for the Agriculture industry while exchanging handshakes, ideas and conversation.

About 150 farmers gathered in Annapolis on Tuesday February 14, 2012 to lobby with legislatures and to voice their opinions on current issues.

There are about 200 bills currently under review that could affect the lives of farmers all over Maryland.

MD Farm Bureau supports a few bills including SB 294/ HB 444 – Family Farm Preservation Act of 2012, SB 240/HB 446 – Environment- Bay Restoration Fund- Fees, SB 142 – Secretary of Agriculture – Farm Food Safety, SB 193– Agriculture – Maryland Standard Identity for Honey.

A few of the bills that MD Farm Bureau oppose include SB 635– Environment- Water Appropriation or Use Permits-Fees, SB 594– Agriculture- Nutrient Management – Application of Nutrients, SB 207 – Agriculture – Commercial Feed- Arsenic Prohibition.  One of the biggest bills in question by the Farm Bureau is SB 236/ HB 445– Sustainable Growth and Agriculture Preservation Act of 2012.  This bill restricts the resubdivision and further subdivision of parcels and tracts in all but priority funding areas.

For more information, consult the MD Farm Bureau Website Government Affairs Tabs: Policy, Hotlines, Issues, Government Relations.

(Every Senate Bill/ House Bill are linked to the site where you can read the whole thing.)

I learned a lot on this trip and had the opportunity to actually sit in on a session in the Senate House.  I was surprised by the lack of focus of the Senators throughout the sessions. Many were on their cell phones, laptops and talking with one another.

The bills that MD Farm Bureau Government Relations staff, Val Connelly and Kurt Fuchs, brought to our attention are ridiculous and could either be a great advancement for farmers or a huge set back.

Prayers and Persistence are what the Farm Bureau and members need to keep the agriculture industry alive and well in Maryland!

Delegates Kelly Schulz and Patrick Hogan listen to the concerns of Farm Bureau members

Senator David Brinkley and members of the Farm Bureau converse before session

This is National FFA Week!

This is National FFA Week! 

The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

There are 540,379 FFA members, aged 12‒21, in 7,489 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The letters “FFA” stand for Future Farmers of America; however, in 1988 the official name of the organization was changed from “Future Farmers of America” to “The National FFA Organization” to reflect the growing diversity of agriculture.

<– {The FFA Emblem represents what FFA is all about: 1. Colors: National Blue and Corn Gold. 2. Corn: Corn is historically known as the foundation crop of American Agriculture and is grown in every state of the nation. 3. Sun: The sun signifies progress and holds a promise that tomorrow will bring a new day glowing with opportunity. 4.Plow: The plow signifies labor and tillage of the soil, the backbone of agriculture and the historic foundation of our country’s strength. 5. Eagle: The eagle is a national symbol which serves as a reminder of our freedom and ability to explore new horizons for the future of agriculture. 6. Owl: The owl, long recognized for its wisdom, symbolizes the knowledge required to be successful in the industry of agriculture. 7. “Agricultural Education” and “FFA”: These words are in the center to signify the combination of learning and leadership necessary for progressive agriculture.}

I joined FFA my junior year and it was one of the best things I ever did. I loved everything about it!  It allowed me so many opportunities  to network and learn about the agriculture industry.  I was active in my chapter, serving on many committees and as Chapter Secretary.

I was able to participate in many leadership conferences and competitions such as Talent, Ag Communications, Floriculture and more.  In 2008, I auditioned and was a member of the National FFA Choir. (National Convention is annually and held in Indianapolis, Indiana in the month of October.)

Being in FFA allowed me to learn more about myself and to pursue and deepen my passion for agriculture.  I would not have gotten where I am now if it weren’t for this amazing organization and great advisors and members.  I am now a lifetime FFA Alumni member.

*All of my information and more can be found on the National FFA Website.

**If you do not know anything about FFA, you need to research it, because it is one of the most amazing organizations EVER!  (If you are in high school or will be soon, JOIN IT!– You won’t regret it!)

The picture that made it into the paper for National FFA Choir in the Indianapolis Star

The Catoctin High School FFA Butchering February 13, 2012

Completed orders sorted and labeled... Ready for customer pick up

I attended the annual Catoctin High School Hog Butchering on Friday February 10, 2012. The day begins at 7 am and ends around 6 pm. This event is one of CHS FFA’s biggest fundraisers and is a very fun experience and a chance for all alumni and current students to bond.

This yea, 15 hogs were butchered.  The hogs are pre-ordered, so they arrive at the school dead and sliced in half already.  Orders are collected prior to the butchering so the whole day the meat is cut, weighed and sorted into individual orders. There were about 300 orders to fill.

The meat gathered includes tenderloins, whole hams, shoulder roasts, bacon, ribs, pork chops, loose or stuffed sausage, scrapple, puddin’, lard and more…  It is a long process and requires lots of help and a good system.  If you’re a country guy/girl, attending a butchering is always a good time!

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*Farmers bust theirs to feed yours…

My Blog <3 February 11, 2012

Hello everyone.

I failed to explain what I will be blogging about…

I have grown up on a dairy farm my entire life and I think it has helped shape me into the person I am today.  My father wakes up at 2am everyday to milk the cows and still manages to be the most loving and supporting father.   He has never missed a game or performance in my 20 years of existence.  He is the hardest worker of anyone I know and I admire his work ethic, dedication and passion. Even with the tough times such as the bad economy and droughts, my dad keeps his spirits up and works his butt off everyday.

My father tends to represent the “stereotypical” image of farmers and in my experience most farmers tend to follow that  as well.  They are kind, nice, friendly, hardworking, dependable, trustworthy, respectful people who all work together and share the same love and passion for the agriculture industry.  This doesn’t only prove true in farmers, but also in most other people associated with the ag industry.

Needless to say, I am a huge fan of agriculture.

I joined 4-H at age 8 and joined FFA in high school.  I am currently a member of the Ag PR committee for the Great Frederick Fair, where we plan the field trips for the kids to come and learn about the importance of farming.  I am an active member of Farm Bureau and Young Farmers.  I am interning with Susan Summers at Agrivisions Inc.

I am making this blog all about farming and agriculture.  I want everyone to be informed of the importance of the agriculture industry.  People do not realize the important role it plays in our everyday lives.  I will take you on a journey of all my personal agriculture experiences as well as telling you random facts and highlighting particular farms in the area.  Hope y’all enjoy it!

MD/VA Young Farmers Expo February 6, 2012

The MD/VA Young Farmers Expo was held on February 3-5, 2012 at the National Conference Center in Leesburg, VA.  The theme of the weekend was “Loading up on Local Markets.  Farming on the Urban edge.”

Young Farmers (YF) are active agriculturists between the ages of 18 and 35 and involved in production, banking, business, and many other areas of the industry. YF develop leadership skills while volunteering time as active, vital members of the county farm bureaus.

This conference is an opportunity for networking and sharing personal experiences.  There are guest speakers from universities such as Virginia Tech.

I attended the tours of Maryland farms, which included Rocky Point Farm & Creamery, Mayne’s Tree Farm, and Hedgeapple Beef Farm.

Random side story for giggles…

My best friend Mandi and I had a “special” moment on Saturday night.  Hanging out in the common rec room with our YF group, we were playing on the luggage cart.  I was pushing her around, naturally, and I joked about pushing the cart down the stairs.  I was kidding, but she said “oh my gosh, let’s do it!”  Being the supportive friend I am, I proceeded to push her and the cart down the steps, only I found out I wasn’t as strong as I thought originally and this was not a well thought out plan.  We both fell, and got up laughing hysterically.  Our friend helped us up.  I was left with a bruise on my leg and Mandi was left with a minor bump and a “strawberry” carpet mark/rash on her forehead… OOPS!  All in all, a pretty successful cart ride…

A Taste Of Maryland Agriculture…

“A Taste of Maryland” Agriculture dinner held at Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD on Thursday, February 2, 2012.  This dinner is sponsored and put on by the MD Agriculture Council.

This is an annual event attended by about 700 guests, which breaks down into about 500 farm folks from ag businesses, cooperatives, commodity organizations and farmers and about 200 legislators making all the decisions in DC and Annapolis.

This is an opportunity for a recap of the years successes in the MD Agriculture industry.   We hope to educate the legislators to help keep the farmers in business.

The majority of the food served at the dinner is locally grown, donated my Maryland farmers and producers.

I was able to be a part of the planning this year through my internship with Susan Summers at Agrivisions, Inc.  I was also honored to sing the National Anthem during the program.

Random MD Facts:

– Maryland agriculture is the state’s largest commercial industry.

– There are 12,834 farms in Maryland with an avg. size of 160 acres.

*****This was an ag-citing event!*****