Dairy Truth Telling

My mother-in-law never gave any farm tours. It wasn't necessary

 because in her generation, every one she knew lived on a farm or had family

 that grew up on the farm and knew where food came from.

 Her generation didn't have fears about how their food was produced,

In fact,  many of her generation  were happy and grateful  to just  have food.

It's quite a change ninety years later.

We now have at least three generations of consumers with no direct 

connection to a farm or family that were connected to a farm. 

Opening the barn doors and inviting consumers to the farm  is now an 

important way we   farmers can share

 how we produce food for  all of our families.

It's a great opportunity for dairy truth telling!

When it comes to food,we have a lot in common, no matter what age:

We love to eat!

As I prepare for a  dairy farm tour this week, it's my hope that our visitors

 will learn the truth about dairy farming  and experience the commitment 

we have to providing high-quality milk and dairy products by taking good

 care of our cows and the land we call home.

If you can't make the tour, you can find more dairy truth telling

 at Midwest Dairy and DairyGood.

Generational Sustainability

We think it's bad when the power suddenly goes out and internet availability is gone, but can you imagine living without electricity , running water or a vehicle to drive?   Even with all the modern conveniences, I still need more hours in the day!  

Science and modern technology have improved not only our lifestyle but efficiency in food production. It's a fact that today, a farmer supplies food for more than 150 people in the U.S and abroad, compared with just 25.8 people in 1960, and on less land every year.

I don't  think the word sustainability was used  by  my mother-in-law as she worked the land with her father in the 1940's but I do know that every day, just like today,  required efficiency and careful use of all resources.

In our modern farming world, Sustainable agriculture was actually defined by the U.S. government in the 1990 farm bill.

 Here are the five elements of the USDA definition of sustainable agriculture:

• Satisfy human food and fiber needs
• Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends
• Make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls
• Sustain the economic viability of farm operations
• Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole

(More information about sustainability and dairy farming can

 be found at Midwest Dairy or Dairygood.org.)

                                                                       

   Although the look of the family farm and the technologies have changed with each generation, we still have the same values of caring for the land and animals as we work to produce high-quality,nutritious milk. 

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

     National Ag Day celebrates the fact that American agriculture is doing more and doing it better.

 I love this picture of my mother-in-law, Bonnah Lyn.  It's a reminder to me of how hard she worked, the sacrifices she made for her family and family farm, and how technology has changed the efficiency of food production.
    I'm thankful for  our agricultural heritage and for the third generation farmer she raised just for me!

Resolution for Agriculture

"The declining number of farmers in the USA ought to be a national policy issue since I don't want the USA to become an importer of food and fiber"---this was the comment I received in a letter from a Kiwanis member after my presentation about dairy promotion. During an informal question and answer session after my presentation, we were discussing the efficiency of the American farmer. Although I did not bring out the fact that the average age of the farmer is 55 years old, it was on the mind of the member. This fact does bring one to think about the importance of who will be producing our food in the future. It should be a concern for every American. As we are just days away from 2011, I am resolved to do my part in insuring the future of agriculture and the American farmer by: engaging in conversations about how we produce the safest,most abundant and most affordable food, encouraging consumers and farmers to be active and educated on issues that effect all of us and supporting all efforts of agricultural organizations to foster involvement of young women and men in agriculture. Will you support American agriculture?