Last night, we all sat down across this country to watch the NFL Super Bowl. Most of the televised hype I had seen leading up to the game wasn't about the 2 teams playing, it was about who would have the best commercial, and how much food would be consumed during Super Bowl parties across the country.
At the start of the game, some people believed San Francisco would win, and some believed Baltimore would win. One thing that most everybody would agree on though, was that the Budweiser "Brotherhood" commercial would take top honors, and that is also where I put my belief.
As the game ended, Baltimore had won, and we all had our multiple news feeds from various social media outlets, "blowing up" with comments about the various commercials and everybody's varying opinions.
While watching my local news this morning the NBC Today Show had their panel of experts and they listed them as:
1: Budweiser "Brotherhood"
2: Tide "Miracle Stain"
3: Ram Trucks "God Made A Farmer"
Most of can agree on #1, and as I researched a little for this blog this morning, after #1, nobody really agrees, and I really don't care.
Ram Trucks used Paul Harvey's recording of "God Made A Farmer" which was used in a speech in 1978. We all know that Paul was an animal rights activist that some even described as a zealot, and disturbing, but we also know that Paul would also put his mouth anywhere the money was (once again..refer back to the wikipedia link).
With that being said, I'll say this, Paul had a great radio voice that broadcasted well. He always seemed to have the right pitch and tempo to tell a good story. Animal activist or not, what he recorded has been needing to be said to the general public for a while, and I hope they listened.
Because...Without #3, Anheuser- Bush would not have the ingredients needed to make your Budweiser beer. Then it would just be a bunch of horses pulling an empty wagon around.
Because...Without #3, the husband wouldn't have had the chips nor the salsa to drop in his jersey for his loving, yet Baltimore supporting to wash clean.
So....you see...as you sat around last night feasting and snaking on a myriad of foods, consuming #1, dropping food and causing someone to wash stains with #2, and watching a football game. Through out this nation there were farmers and ranchers who were out in the fields, barns and pastures working hard to make sure you had #3, and no I'm not talking about trucks.
#GodMadeAFarmer
Until next time, thank the Lord for your blessings every day,
Scooter
Monday, February 4, 2013
Friday, January 20, 2012
Keystone Calamity
Keystone Calamity
This week President Obama made clear that he would rather please environmentalists than create jobs in America.
With the rejection of the Keystone XL Pipeline, President Obama effectively killed 140,000 jobs that Keystone would have created directly and indirectly. That means 140,000 American families who could have benefitted from the certainty of a good paying job will not have the chance now.
Right here in Arkansas jobs will be lost because President Obama rejected the Keystone project. At Welspun Tubular in Little Rock, workers will be off the assembly lines and will instead be in the unemployment line because of President Obama’s action. The pipes that Welspun already built for the Keystone project are collecting rust instead of pumping oil into America to help power our homes and businesses.
To add insult to injury, not only did President Obama’s rejection of the Keystone project kill jobs, it all but guarantees energy resources in Canada will be sold to China. Recent news reports predict that gas prices this summer will be over $4 a gallon. Our country needs good paying jobs. Our economy would be more stable with an additional source of energy in North America. This week President Obama said “no” to Americans who are out of work and looking for a job and he said “no” to a common-sense energy solution.
In his reasoning for rejecting Keystone, President Obama said that his administration did not have enough time to consider the environmental impact of the pipeline. The truth of the matter is that the Keystone project has been in the works for more than three years and was on track to begin immediate construction. However, President Obama stepped in at the last minute to delay his final decision on the project until after this year’s presidential election. Late in 2011 the House of Representatives held President Obama’s feet the fire and set a deadline for Keystone’s approval. This week, over three years after the Keystone Pipeline was first announced, President Obama said that he did not have enough time to study the project’s environmental impact.
During my time in Congress I have listened to ideas from Democrats and Republicans and worked across the aisle when common interests allowed. President Obama’s overly partisan nature that cripples our government’s ability to pass meaningful legislation is inexcusable. The rejection of the Keystone XL Pipeline was a partisan political maneuver that killed 140,000 American jobs and makes our country more dependent on Middle Eastern oil.
If you have a friend or family member that would like to receive these updates, please direct them to my website.
Respectfully,
This week President Obama made clear that he would rather please environmentalists than create jobs in America.
With the rejection of the Keystone XL Pipeline, President Obama effectively killed 140,000 jobs that Keystone would have created directly and indirectly. That means 140,000 American families who could have benefitted from the certainty of a good paying job will not have the chance now.
Right here in Arkansas jobs will be lost because President Obama rejected the Keystone project. At Welspun Tubular in Little Rock, workers will be off the assembly lines and will instead be in the unemployment line because of President Obama’s action. The pipes that Welspun already built for the Keystone project are collecting rust instead of pumping oil into America to help power our homes and businesses.
To add insult to injury, not only did President Obama’s rejection of the Keystone project kill jobs, it all but guarantees energy resources in Canada will be sold to China. Recent news reports predict that gas prices this summer will be over $4 a gallon. Our country needs good paying jobs. Our economy would be more stable with an additional source of energy in North America. This week President Obama said “no” to Americans who are out of work and looking for a job and he said “no” to a common-sense energy solution.
In his reasoning for rejecting Keystone, President Obama said that his administration did not have enough time to consider the environmental impact of the pipeline. The truth of the matter is that the Keystone project has been in the works for more than three years and was on track to begin immediate construction. However, President Obama stepped in at the last minute to delay his final decision on the project until after this year’s presidential election. Late in 2011 the House of Representatives held President Obama’s feet the fire and set a deadline for Keystone’s approval. This week, over three years after the Keystone Pipeline was first announced, President Obama said that he did not have enough time to study the project’s environmental impact.
During my time in Congress I have listened to ideas from Democrats and Republicans and worked across the aisle when common interests allowed. President Obama’s overly partisan nature that cripples our government’s ability to pass meaningful legislation is inexcusable. The rejection of the Keystone XL Pipeline was a partisan political maneuver that killed 140,000 American jobs and makes our country more dependent on Middle Eastern oil.
If you have a friend or family member that would like to receive these updates, please direct them to my website.
Respectfully,
 |
Rick Crawford
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
My experience at the 2011 ACA Convention
After 20 years in primarily one industry, circumstances beyond my control caused me to change directions in my life. Actually, it has allowed me to spend more time with my true passion, cattle.
But we're not talking about my philosophy of ranch life, we're talking about "Convention". Whatever your career may be, you belong to at least one trade organization that has an annual convention somewhere in the state.
I went to my first ACA convention 3 years ago, shortly before "the wreck", so my memories are a little splotchy, I missed last year due to recovery, but was back again this year.
Folks, if you're thinking of conventions as a "party place" where attendees drink all day, and party all night, you're wrong when it comes to the cattlemen of Arkansas. Now, I'm not saying we didn't consume a barley pop, or scoot a boot, but that was not the goal of anyone there.
The Arkansas Cattlemen's Association is one of the purist associations I have ever belonged to. It is run by the members of the association, and we all have the same goal to achieve, to do what's best for the cow. Not what's best for a corporation, political party, or individual, but for the animals in our care, and the land under our stewardship. After all, if we care for the animals and the land, the land will nourish the animals, the animals will nourish the people, and the cycle will repeat. That is why you see multiple generation farming and ranching operations in this country.
Every August, we are afforded the opportunity for all of us to come together under one roof. Even though it's just for a few days you will make lifelong friends, and gain a little more knowledge about the cattle industry than you had a week before. For me that is what it's all about, my 3-4 day break for the year, but I'm still working, and I'm still learning.
For the staff in the ACA office, Adam, Autumn, and Cody, thank you for all you do, and to all the volunteers who took time out of their schedules to pull this off...BRAVO, you did an excellent job.
I'm already looking forward to next year.
Until next time, thank the Lord for your blessings every day,
Scooter
Until next time, thank the Lord for your blessings every day,
Scooter
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Watch Cattle For Heat Stress
US - With summer just starting and temperatures already approaching 100 degrees earlier this spring, cattle producers need to take steps to ward off heat stress in their herds, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln beef specialist said.
Late spring 80-degree days with rain are always welcome, but the current abundance of moisture in the Central and Northern Plains will certainly contribute to elevated relative humidities in the near future, which can be disastrous for cattle that have not had a chance to get adapted to hot conditions, said Terry Mader, beef specialist at UNL's Haskell Agricultural Laboratory near Concord.
Cattle can begin to experience some level of heat stress when the heat index approaches 80 degrees, with most cattle being severely stressed when the heat index exceeds 100 degrees.
Also, when early morning temperatures and/or the heat indices are in the mid-70s, chances are cattle did not adequately cool down at night, and feedlot managers should be prepared to provide as much relief to cattle as possible during the day.
Water is probably the best avenue to dissipate heat, Mader said.
Cattle normally take in about five to eight gallons of water per day. However, when temperatures rise, that amount can double or even triple.
"It's important to have plenty of available water," he said. "When there is competition for water, it creates problems because the dominant animals will occupy waterer space and not allow other animals access."
If cattle are crowding around the watering trough, add more waterer capacity or move a portion of the animals to pens that will allow the animal to have adequate access to water, Mader said.
In an emergency, cattle can be sprayed with water to cool them down. However, once producers do that, they need to repeat or continue spraying until the heat subsides. Spraying cattle with water will allow the animal to rapidly dissipate heat through evaporative cooling processes but this may limit the animal's ability to adapt to the heat.
If the pen surface is dry, then wetting the pen will also provide relief to confined animals. It is always beneficial to start the wetting or cooling process in the morning prior to the cattle getting too hot.
Another suggested heat stress mitigation tactic is to use bedding to decrease surface temperatures animal's are exposed to, Mader said. Generally it's thought bedding is for insulation against cold stress. However, straw can aid in breaking up or diffusing the solar heat load that often contributes to heating up dry, bare ground. The degree bedding is effective in doing this is unknown. However, if used, it is suggested bedding be placed in the pen early in the morning when the ground has cooled, otherwise heat will be trapped in the pen surface. Also, wetting the bedding would allow for additional cooling to occur when the animal uses it.
Producers should avoid handling cattle when it's hot and never after 10 a.m. Cattle body temperatures can rise an additional 0.5 to 3.5 degrees during handling.
Cattle yards also should be free of any structures that restrict airflow. Cutting down vegetation around pens and moving cattle away from windbreaks can all help. Building earth mounds in pens also can increase airflow by preventing cattle from bunching together. Other heat stress mitigation strategies include: providing shade, controlling biting flies and other parasites, keeping very current on cattle marketings and being mindful of heat effects on personnel as well.
Cattle can begin to experience some level of heat stress when the heat index approaches 80 degrees, with most cattle being severely stressed when the heat index exceeds 100 degrees.
Also, when early morning temperatures and/or the heat indices are in the mid-70s, chances are cattle did not adequately cool down at night, and feedlot managers should be prepared to provide as much relief to cattle as possible during the day.
Water is probably the best avenue to dissipate heat, Mader said.
Cattle normally take in about five to eight gallons of water per day. However, when temperatures rise, that amount can double or even triple.
"It's important to have plenty of available water," he said. "When there is competition for water, it creates problems because the dominant animals will occupy waterer space and not allow other animals access."
If cattle are crowding around the watering trough, add more waterer capacity or move a portion of the animals to pens that will allow the animal to have adequate access to water, Mader said.
In an emergency, cattle can be sprayed with water to cool them down. However, once producers do that, they need to repeat or continue spraying until the heat subsides. Spraying cattle with water will allow the animal to rapidly dissipate heat through evaporative cooling processes but this may limit the animal's ability to adapt to the heat.
If the pen surface is dry, then wetting the pen will also provide relief to confined animals. It is always beneficial to start the wetting or cooling process in the morning prior to the cattle getting too hot.
Another suggested heat stress mitigation tactic is to use bedding to decrease surface temperatures animal's are exposed to, Mader said. Generally it's thought bedding is for insulation against cold stress. However, straw can aid in breaking up or diffusing the solar heat load that often contributes to heating up dry, bare ground. The degree bedding is effective in doing this is unknown. However, if used, it is suggested bedding be placed in the pen early in the morning when the ground has cooled, otherwise heat will be trapped in the pen surface. Also, wetting the bedding would allow for additional cooling to occur when the animal uses it.
Producers should avoid handling cattle when it's hot and never after 10 a.m. Cattle body temperatures can rise an additional 0.5 to 3.5 degrees during handling.
Cattle yards also should be free of any structures that restrict airflow. Cutting down vegetation around pens and moving cattle away from windbreaks can all help. Building earth mounds in pens also can increase airflow by preventing cattle from bunching together. Other heat stress mitigation strategies include: providing shade, controlling biting flies and other parasites, keeping very current on cattle marketings and being mindful of heat effects on personnel as well.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Enjoy Independence Day with meat. It is safe, contrary to what vegans will tell you.
You may have heard the Cancer Project's claim that processed meats cause cancer. But did you know that the Cancer Project is funded and operated by a vegan, animal rights group? And that the Cancer Project's claims are not supported by science?
FACT: The alleged link between processed meats and cancer is not supported by the full body of scientific research.
The Cancer Project cites a controversial and inconclusive report by the World Cancer Research Fund as representing "consensus" when it has been widely challenged by scientists. Studies showing no connection between processed meats and cancer were not included in the WCRF report cited by the Cancer Project. Numerous studies and experts show that processed meats are safe and nutritious and that nitrite in meats is safe and has health benefits.
The Cancer Project cites a controversial and inconclusive report by the World Cancer Research Fund as representing "consensus" when it has been widely challenged by scientists. Studies showing no connection between processed meats and cancer were not included in the WCRF report cited by the Cancer Project. Numerous studies and experts show that processed meats are safe and nutritious and that nitrite in meats is safe and has health benefits.
FACT: The Cancer Project is a Vegan, Animal Rights Group
The Cancer Project is funded and operated by the animal rights group Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a vegan, animal rights group whose views are closely aligned with PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). The widely respected American Medical Association has called PCRM's past dietary recommendations "irresponsible and potentially dangerous." The Cancer Project ad campaign is factually inaccurate and is aimed at scaring parents and school systems out of feeding children processed meats.
The Cancer Project is funded and operated by the animal rights group Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a vegan, animal rights group whose views are closely aligned with PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). The widely respected American Medical Association has called PCRM's past dietary recommendations "irresponsible and potentially dangerous." The Cancer Project ad campaign is factually inaccurate and is aimed at scaring parents and school systems out of feeding children processed meats.
FACT: Harvard Data Showing No Relationship Between Meat and Colon Cancer Not Considered
One of the largest studies ever done on red meat and colon cancer - a 2004 Harvard School of Public Health analysis involving over 725,000 men and women and presented at the 2004 American Association for Cancer Research Conference - showed no relationship between meat and colon cancer. Yet the pooling analysis used in this study, "Meat and fat intake and colorectal cancer risk: A pooled analysis of 14 prospective studies" was not factored into WCRF's 2007 report.
This federally funded data shows that red meat and processed meat are not associated with colon cancer and uses what is considered perhaps the most reliable approach to analyzing relationships: pooling original data together and analyzing it.
One of the largest studies ever done on red meat and colon cancer - a 2004 Harvard School of Public Health analysis involving over 725,000 men and women and presented at the 2004 American Association for Cancer Research Conference - showed no relationship between meat and colon cancer. Yet the pooling analysis used in this study, "Meat and fat intake and colorectal cancer risk: A pooled analysis of 14 prospective studies" was not factored into WCRF's 2007 report.
This federally funded data shows that red meat and processed meat are not associated with colon cancer and uses what is considered perhaps the most reliable approach to analyzing relationships: pooling original data together and analyzing it.
FACT: Check with a Credible Doctor, Not an Animal Rights Group, about The Cancer Project's Meat/Cancer Allegations
The causes of cancer are extremely complex. Just as consumers need to eat a healthy, balanced diet, they need balanced information. When it comes to cancer, check with credible health sources like your doctor, dietician or the U.S. Dietary Guidelines. You can be assured that they will tell you that a healthy diet can include processed meats.
The causes of cancer are extremely complex. Just as consumers need to eat a healthy, balanced diet, they need balanced information. When it comes to cancer, check with credible health sources like your doctor, dietician or the U.S. Dietary Guidelines. You can be assured that they will tell you that a healthy diet can include processed meats.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)