Comments on: Farmers dump [yellow tail] in protest

By: Cate Lee

Cate Lee — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:56:32 +0000

Way to go Yellow tail wine! I will go out tomorrow to buy a couple of bottles exported by Yellow Tail Wine even though I usually don’t drink wine.

By: Larry Perrine

Larry Perrine — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:06:35 +0000

All:

This is a worthy discussion. In addition, just how is it that Yellow Tail and Charles Shaw (Two Buck Chuck)can source, produce and seel wine for little? It isn’t just scale efficiency. A significant portion of their product is purchased from growers and wine producers on the edge of going out of business. They are desperate, in foreclosure and will sell their grapes and wine for cents on the dollar. Cheap wine is made at somebody’s expense. Like cheap food.

Thanks, Larry Perrine

By: Mike Haley

Mike Haley — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 04:36:56 +0000

Vickie,
I disagree with your statements that issue 2 is all about big ag. I personally, along with several other farm families in my area invested time and money speaking up for need for an Ohio Livestock care board last fall. It was a very familiar scene last fall to see farmers across rural Ohio share their stories on why this would be a good thing for their family farm. I am sure that there where supporters from out of state as well, but locally I saw support from my local farm co-ops, restaurants, groceries, and even my local human society.

Farmers large and small care about the health and well-being of their livestock. There is nobody that is more outraged than fellow farmers when they see or hear about abuse that occurred on another farm. There is no excuse for abuse. The assumption large livestock farmers are less than responsible is using a broad brush to paint dim light on numerous great farm families. Farmers today do use modern efficiencies to make sure that each animal receives the proper care that it deserves. If abuse occurs its because of poor management, this can happen on small farms just as easy as large. This farmer explains his approach to some of the different choices that may be better suited to different farms quite well: http://bit.ly/bse8HO

Thanks, Mike Haley

By: Vickie

Vickie — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:55:28 +0000

Mike wrote ” Last year the agriculture community in our state [Ohio] decided to step up and increase the animal welfare standards by creating a livestock care standards board. This will allow our state to move past accepted industry standards and establish a new set of superior animal standards to move forward.”
While Ohio voters may have been misled to believe that a vote for this Livestock Care Standards Board would actually help animals, the sad fact is that this board should not be part of our constitution. Most Ohioans didn’t know that Issue 2 was mainly financed by big, out-of-state agribusiness industries. These agribusiness industries support extreme confinement measures under the guise of “excellent animal care.” Therefore, it’s highly unlikely that this board will result in true livestock-care best practices.
I think when the truth comes out – there will be many family farmers who are outraged that they will be forced to pay for this bogus board and there will be many other citizens who will be grateful that the HSUS will help phase out the extreme cages and crates used by factory farms in our state.

By: Wilf Krutzmann

Wilf Krutzmann — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:21:34 +0000

Below is a direct quote from a veterinarian who is involved in veterinary ethics.
“I’m not surprised at the negative feedback regarding the donation. HSUS has been hedging towards abolition of animals for food and has been labelled an animal rights group and very powerful in their lobbies against agricultural practices.

Although HSUS might deserve some of the negative press, I wish the agricultural groups would have a good look in the mirror. The only reason they have (slowly) started to change some on their atrocious practices is due to pressure by groups like PETA and HSUS”

By: Dan McGrew

Dan McGrew — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 11:37:47 +0000

The video brought back memories of the old Bartels & Jaymes commercials. That said I’ll continue to support any group that fights HSUS (and PETA).

By: Former Ag Teacher

Former Ag Teacher — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 04:47:45 +0000

Bea Elliot,many of us have considered the things you bring up and have decided to continue eating meat. So why is it you consider your moral paradigms to be superior?

Obtaining adequate nutrition via a vegan diet is very difficult since plant based foods are not as nutrient dense as is meat. And the usual vegan demand that food be local and organic results in much higher costs. So a vegan lifestyle results in undue economic stress.

On top of all of that, most all vegans are pagans. So again, why do you consider your self so morally superior?

By: Bea Elliott

Bea Elliott — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 04:27:05 +0000

@Pro Libertate – I would agree that sustainability is an urgent issue… But beyond that – as you pointed out by linking to
http://www.abolitionistapproach.com/video/ – The treatment of animals is certainly an ethical factor as well.

I’m certain most in animal agriculture think they are treating their animals with “care”… But if we don’t “need” to breed and slaughter them (which we don’t) – All the “care” in the world makes for spit.

I once didn’t get it either… Till I asked myself one critical question: What is the difference between a pig and a dog? Of course there is no difference in anything that truly matters. So “using” these “food animals” really becomes frivolous and totally unacceptable to most, who dare ask and answer this query. It takes some courage to do this… I have confidence that our species will make the right choice in the end.
Go Vegan

By: kim

kim — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 03:20:18 +0000

You read porkmag.com?

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:41:45 +0000

@Pro Libertate

First, kudos to you for living out your principals. I deeply respect your commitment to what you believe.

That said, Malthusian predictions of population bomb apocalypse sway me very little. With every new person born on the planet, wether poor or rich, there is a chance for another generational genius that will lead us to new ways to transform and make use of our scarce resources. Logically, there is certainly a point where the “carrying capacity” of the earth is met, but we honestly have no idea where that threshold lies because we just can’t predict the future or the path of innovation.

Also, I love meat.

Cheers!

By: Marco Romano

Marco Romano — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:13:18 +0000

You don’t see the cattle drinking it. Do you?

By: Ronda Brooks

Ronda Brooks — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:07:23 +0000

I must say when the HSUS’s true agenda was brought to my attention a few months back that I was amazed. For those of you who think we all are making something out of nothing look at what they have done to the country in the last few years and the effects. I have been studying the issue every spare minute I can get. I am now at the point of feeling absolutely sick over what is happening in our country. To see so many believing bogus adds on tv (once you study the issue a bit you will see how vague they are) or getting the majority of their information from the HSUS website. Then to take that attitude out into the world and be allowed to make decisions that concern all of us by signing a petition or casting a vote. It is a scary thought. I was born and raised in mid-Mo. I have been around animal agriculture my whole life. To hear not only the things being implied by the animal rights activist but to see such a large part of american believing it hurts beyond words. What I would like to point out here is that all the farmers I know. These are family farms mind you. Just a few percent of animal agriculture is big business. That they always put the welfare of their animals first. I know farmers who never see a doctor but you can bet that the minute a animal is in need the vet is making a house call. Aniaml rights activist talk about people in agriculture getting rich off of animals. Believe me it is a labor of love. There are no 9-5 days on a farm. You can easily look up the cost of farm equipment then look at what cattle are going for and see this is not so. Please understand that we do it because we love it, it is our roots. IF it was a money thing we all would of left it long ago. I also want to combat a remark I read yesterday about farmers not being smart enough to get a real job. Please understand many of us are college educated. Many must work in town just to keep the farms going at this point. Like I said before we do it because we love the animals and love being with them. I ask that next time a animal rights supporter sits down for a meal you take a minute to think about what is on your plate and who worked so hard to get it to you. I would never think about going into someones office and telling them that I have no experience or education in your field but I am going to force you to do your job as I see fit. This is exactly what they are trying to do here. Please call vet and ask their opinion on the matter. Please do not sign blindly.

By: Pro Libertate

Pro Libertate — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:47:26 +0000

Josh-
Pollan lives on an island. And he misses the point entirely. POPULATION. We do not have the resources to support an ever increasing human population and furthermore, farming doesn’t have to be bloody. Farm plants not animals. A whole foods plant based diet is healthier, safer, cleaner, kinder and sustainable. If you doubt me, wait and see – farmers who stay in animal agriculture will loose this economic foothold big time. http://forksoverknives.com/

http://www.abolitionistapproach.com/video/

By: Josh

Josh — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:11:52 +0000

I think a careful reading of Pollan is in order. Look the animal in the eye. Respect the process as a farmer and a consumer. It is dirty, it is bloody, but that is life.

What HSUS is after is not something 98% of foodies would support. Which is, basically, a world of tofurky. /shudder

By: Megan...OHIO

Megan...OHIO — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:56:58 +0000

As a farmer and beef producer I am all for animal welfare…our cows are quite spoiled actually. But I am NOT for animal rights. There is a difference between the 2 and that is what HSUS is pushing for. Ultimately they want to END ALL ANIMAL AGRICULTURE. And that simply does not sit well with me. We have to react so strongly to their seemingly innocent “animal welfare” ideas b/c we know what their end goal is and they are playing on the emotions of consumers so slowly reach such a goal. If more ppl understood what groups like HSUS and PETA area actually doing, they would have quite a different opinion of them.