Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Who would ever think   August 

temperatures  in Arkansas would be less than 90 degrees

 with little humidity! Cooler summer temperatures make 

every job on the farm a little easier.

It was perfect weather for bringing this group of

 dairy cows to the  pasture by the house so we can 

observe them closely and assist with delivery if needed.

I love to watch them graze in the late afternoon.

I'm thankful for these first days of August that 

have increased the comfort of our cows, 

                    
 

calves,

and farmers.

Happy August!

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

January 1 started a new year and a new term of serving in the 

position of Justice of the Peace, District 9 in Benton County.

Although this was the fourth time I have been sworn into office,

I am very thankful 

for the experience and opportunity to continue  representing 

the citizens of Benton County,

  

and

to share this moment in time with my Mother,

who encourages, supports and provides a wealth of knowledge 

from her years of service in city and county government.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

The book Barns of Benton County,Arkansas became available just before Christmas. 

It was the perfect surprise gift for a native Benton County farmer.

As I looked at each page and read the history that was carefully collected

 about the barns and their owners, I found myself  filled with pride 

just thinking about the farming families of Benton County.

Little did I know that dairy barns would get their own chapter

 when I gave the authors a tour of the dairy many months

 before the publication of the book.

As our county continues to become more urbanized and more barns disappear, 

I'm thankful to the authors, Melba Shewmaker and Monte Harris,

for their dedication to documenting the barns of Benton County

and 

                       providing the history about life on the dairy farm in Benton County.

                                       

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

 

 

After spending two days in Hot Springs at the Arkansas Farm Bureau Officers and Leaders meeting this week, we made a quick stop in Little Rock before returning home to the farm. I'm thankful for the beauty all around us--whether it's the bright coneflowers around the Confederate Women's Statue at the Arkansas Capitol 

 

or

 

                                                                         
                                                                   home on the dairy farm!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

 

Last Friday we had our first and only  May snow in Northwest Arkansas!

 

 

 

I'm thankful that my Lily of the Valley (May's flower)

 wasn't one bit shocked by the sudden return to winter!

Raw Milk Freedom

I've given up trying to understand how freedom connects with allowing the sale of raw (unpasteurized) milk in Arkansas but it has been the theme for a majority of the Arkansas House of Representatives this session. It shouldn't have surprised me after witnessing one of the committee hearings in Little Rock at the Capital last Friday when I was told that the legislators chanted "Freedom,Freedom,Freedom" inside the House of Representative chambers when they passed the bill to legalize the sale of raw milk. (I'd call that a chant of ignoramus!)

Although all Grade A dairy farmers work to produce safe milk by following proven production methods and caring for our animals to keep them healthy, pasteurization of milk is scientifically proven to be the key to providing a safe product for consumers. The reason we don't have raw milk illness very often is that out of all the milk produced in the United States, only 1% of milk is unpasteurized.

This new law does provide the freedom to sell raw milk but it doesn't offer any protection to Arkansas consumers or Grade A dairy farmers. Grade A dairy farms are permitted by the Arkansas Department of Health, inspected monthly to make sure barns and equipment meet standard and the milk is tested each time it is picked up at the farm.

A thirteen year study by the Center for Disease Contol and Prevention on Nonpasteurized Disease Outbreaks found that :

• Raw milk was much more likely to cause outbreaks than pasteurized milk.
• Outbreaks caused by raw milk tended to cause more severe disease.
• Younger people were affected more in outbreaks caused by raw milk than in outbreaks caused by pasteurized milk.
• States that allow the sale of raw milk had more outbreaks caused by consuming raw milk.

This new law increases the opportunity for raw milk illness by just legalizing raw milk sales. Raw milk illness can impact Grade A dairy farms because this damages the image of all milk. This puts Arkansas Grade A dairy farmers at greater economic risk even though we have produced safe milk because the public will have fear of all milk.

All this new law requires of anyone wishing to sell raw milk is to post a sign at the farm stating you know you are purchasing raw milk and accept the liability. There is no provision in the law for oversight by the Arkansas Health Department or any other state agency to provide any measure of protection to the consumer.

It's a food safety issue---not freedom. You can find more information about raw milk at Real Raw Milk Facts or Midwest Dairy.

Arkansas--Home,Sweet,Home

On my way to attend a meeting this morning  at  the Arkansas Association of Counties building in Little Rock , I drove by the Capitol. It was a beautiful morning full of sunshine and the promise of spring.  While enjoying the view, I thought about the state song we learned when in elementary school.  The song  "Arkansas" was written by Eva Ware Barnett in 1916.

 

 

Arkansas Song

 

I am thinking tonight of the Southland,

Of the home of my childhood days,

where I roamed through the woods and the meadows

By the mill and the brook that plays;

Where the roses are in bloom

And the sweet magnolia too,

Where the jasmine is white

And the fields are violet blue,

There a welcome awaits all her children

Who have wandered afar from home.

 

 

                                                                           Chorus      

 

Arkansas,Arkansas, tis a name dear,

'Tis the place I call "home,sweet home";

Arkansas,Arkansas, I salute thee,

From thy shelter no more I'll roam.

 

'Tis a land full of joy and of sunshine,

Rich in pearls and in diamonds rare,

Full of hope,faith,and love for the stranger,

Who may pass 'neath her portals fair;

There the rice fields are full,

 And the cotton,corn and hay,

There the fruits of the field

Bloom in the winter months and May,

'Tis the land that I love,first of all,dear,

And to her let us all give cheer.

 



 

'Tis the place I call "home,sweet,home"!

                                                                            

Mother-Daughter Arkansas Adventure

 

After attending the Arkansas Farm Bureau Women's Conference in Little Rock this weekend, Mother and I headed west for a little mother-daughter Arkansas  adventure. For the past couple of years, we had talked about going to see the daffodils at Wye Mountain. It  seemed the perfect opportunity for this pre-spring adventure   to see the daffodils in bloom.

 

 

 

Although Wye Mountain is only twenty-six miles from Little Rock, you quickly enjoy the rural flavor of this Arkansas  community when driving up to the small  Wye United Methodist Church surrounded by the seven acres of yellow daffodils.

 

 

We were astounded by the number of people that had come to enjoy these yellow beauties.

People were everywhere--blankets spread on the ground,children in their Easter outfits having pictures made, and couples just strolling around enjoying the day.

 

 Although there is no charge to visit the field, you can make a donation or spend a little money at the craft barn full of Arkansas handmade items  or purchase your favorite  food at the  concession stand. I made a contribution by purchasing a 'What's Cooking at Wye'  cookbook sold by the women of the Wye United Methodist Church.

 

From the cookbook I learned that the Wye Mountain Daffodil Field was created in 1948 by the generosity of  Austin and Bessie Harmon from a half bushel of leftover daffodil bulbs that were given to them by the owner of Hackett Feed Store in Little Rock in 1927. Sixty five bushels of bulbs were seperated and transplanted on the seven acres surrounding the Wye United Methodist Church  from that half bushel of bulbs planted in 1927.

 

 

Our visit to Wye Mountain was a memorable experience and

it was definintely  a perfect mother-daughter Arkansas adventure!

Celebrating Arkansas Rice Month on the Dairy Farm

Arkansas farmers have faced extreme weather conditions in every season this year.  Although our crops and animals have been stressed with the extreme drought and heat, we are thankful that fall is evidenced by the cooler weather and harvest time. While we are beginning to harvest our hay and corn silage crop in Northwest Arkansas, our farmer friends on the east side of the state are beginning rice harvesting.  Here are a few Arkansas rice facts:

• Arkansas ranks #1 in rice production in the United States.
• Rice is planted on 1.3 million acres in Arkansas.
• The Arkansas rice industry contributes one billion dollars to our state's economy.
• Managed rice fields and natural wetlands provide wintering habitat for migratory and wintering waterfowl.

Last week Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe declared September as Arkansas Rice Month. I'm celebrating the rice harvest  and supporting Arkansas rice farmers by trying a few new rice recipes this month.  I found Taco Ricos in a recipe booklet produced by USA Rice Federation.

Taco Ricos
1 lb lean ground beef or turkey
1 16 oz. jar prepared chunky salsa
11/2 cups precooked rice, uncooked
11/2 cups water
1 11oz. can corn,drained
1 cup (4oz.) shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
18 flour or corn tortillas,warmed

Brown beef or turkey in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; drain fat and liquid, if necessary. Stir in salsa,rice,water,corn. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low,cover and simmer 5 minutes or until rice is tender and no liquid remains. Spoon 1/3 cup mixture in each tortilla, top with about 1 tbsp. cheese; roll up and serve.

You can find other recipes and great information about rice at http://www.usarice.com/. Do you have a favorite rice recipe  for Arkansas Rice Month?

49th Miss Arkansas Rice

Although the bulk of Arkansas rice is produced in the forty counties on the opposite side of the state from where I live, I enjoy sharing information about rice production. Many consumers do not realize that Arkansas is the number one producer of rice in the United States. In 2009 forty five percent of all rice in the United States was produced in Arkansas. One of the rewarding benefits of volunteering for Farm Bureau and promoting agriculture is seeing young people learn and develop skills through promotion activities. Since 1961 the Miss Arkansas Rice contest has been used as a fun and competitive activity to promote rice. From June to November, contestants fill their schedules with activities promoting rice. At the final contest in November, they will be judged on their rice recipe, an oral presentation,individual interview, and their promotion activities. You can find more information about the contest at http://www.arfb.com/programs&activities and actually view the list of reigning Miss Arkansas Rice-Lydia Homes promotion activities. As National Rice Month and September are coming to an end, I wanted to share the rice recipe from the 2005 Miss Arkansas Rice,our very own Miss Benton County Rice-Jillian Harper. Thanks to every contestant for the great job of promoting rice and Arkansas agriculture!! Wouldn't it be fun to know the names of each winning recipe for the last 48 years?

Fiesta Rice Skillet Dinner

3 cups cooked rice (brown or white)

1 lb ground beef**

1cup onion,diced

1 can black beans,drained & rinsed

1 can whole kernel corn with red & green peppers,drained

1 cup mild picante sauce

1 tsp chili powder

1 cup Monterey Jack cheese

1 can Rotel

Brown onion and ground beef together. Drain any excess fat. Add rice,beans,Rotel,

corn,picante sauce and chili powder. Stir to mix well. Heat thoroughly. Remove

from heat and sprinkle with cheese. Serve hot as entre, a chili with Fritos or a wrap.

**Options: substitute 1 lb ground turkey or 1 lb boneless,skinless diced chicken

with 2 Tbs. of vegetable oil in skillet to brown meat.

September Transitions

The fact that seventy five percent of the nation's wildlife food and habitat is provided by farms and ranches came to mind as I was feeding baby calves this week. Informing us of their departure with their loud honking chorus, large groups of ducks flew above us headed in a southeast direction. I wondered if they were flying to the rice fields in eastern Arkansas. The ducks probably know this fact, but I love to tell people that Arkansas ranks first in production of rice for the entire United States. More than twenty billion pounds of rice is grown in the United States each year by farmers in Arkansas,California,Louisiana, Mississippi,Texas and Missouri. Rice farmers provide a great product as well as wetland habitat for many species of birds,mammals,amphibians and reptiles. Winter flooded rice fields provide resting and foraging habitat for migratory and wintering waterfowl. September is celebrated as National Rice Month. You can find more information about rice and great recipes at http://www.usarice.com/. You might try transitioning into fall with this easy breakfast recipe:

PEACHY BREAKFAST RICE

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients:

1 16-ounce can peach slices,in juice

3 cups hot cooked rice

3/4 cup milk

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

Drain peaches,reserve juice. Cut peaches into chunks;set aside.

Combine rice in medium-size saucepan with reserved juice from peaches,

heat over medium heat until liquid is absorbed. Add 3/4 cup milk,continue cooking until thick and creamy. Add brown sugar and cinnamon; stir until combined. Fold in peaches. Serve hot.