One of Those Days

Ever had one of those days when try as you might, you just can't finish anything on your plan of work?

I started my morning working on writing a white paper for local control of natural resources. My son awoke, I fixed him breakfast and settled back in. No sooner had I sat down, I received a call from a gentleman with unbelievable scientific knowledge. Needless to say, the call lasted an hour and fourty three minutes. I got my son dressed and dropped off at his grandparents. The white paper was stalled.

When I got home, I fired up the chainsaw and dropped three dead oak trees for winter fire wood. Before I could finish getting them de-limbed, I had gone through three chains. I took the chains in to be sharpened and bought a fourth chain. Shortly after re-starting my woodcutting I blew a hole in the diaphragm of the carb of the chainsaw. Wood cutting stalled.

I called to see where the swather was to pick it up to finish cutting third cutting here at home. Left to pick it up and got a call that it won't be ready until tomorrow. Hay cutting stalled.

I went to pick up the trailer at my parents to haul weaned heifer calves to the scale and get weaning weights. After hooking up to the trailer I realized it had a flat and the spare was flat. Weighing calves stalled.

I've resolved to go back to fixing fence. I have plenty of clips, wire and posts.

I'm certain their is a song that can be written about this experience, perhaps even a rap, but I'm to tired to think about it. LOL

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GMO Discussion

Recently, there have been many tweets regarding GMO's. I would like to offer an opportunity for both sides to post their arguments with scientific support. This is intended to be a civil discussion.

Fact 1: The world population is growing.

Fact 2: Production farm land is disappearing urban sprawl, development and environmental buffers.

Fact 3: We have a social responsibility to feed people.

Fact 4: GMO plants and livestock provide the opportunity to grow more on less acres, using less herbicides and insecticides and having longer shelf life.

Question: What is your strongest argument PRO or CON regarding GMO's?

Directions:

1. Lead your post with either "PRO GMO" of "CON GMO.

2. State your argument.

3. Post a link to your arguments SCIENTIFIC support.

4. You may also ask (polite) questions of the posters.

** ANY POST THAT DOES NOT HAVE SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT WILL BE DELETED. **

** ANY POST THAT IS A PERSONAL ATTACK ON ANOTHER POSTER WILL BE DELETED. **

Maine Senate enacts animal welfare plate bill - Fosters

Maine Senate enacts animal welfare plate bill - Fosters: "Maine Senate enacts animal welfare plate bill


Wednesday, April 29, 2009
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A bill to create a new specialty license plate to raise money for animal welfare programs has won unanimous approval in the state Senate and now goes to Gov. John Baldacci for his signature.

Democratic Sen. John Nutting of Leeds, who sponsored the measure, said Tuesday the new plate provides a great opportunity for people who want to support the cause of animal welfare.

Money raised from the special plates are to be divided between the state's animal welfare and sterilization funds.

Nutting said that despite the poor economy, the bill's supporters managed within 78 days to raise the $50,000 needed to guarantee a minimum of 2,000 plates."

Other states are sure to follow this example. As diligent members of society ensure your state keeps the money directed to LOCAL humane society activities. DO NOT allow this to become a contribution to the Humane Societey of the United States. Family farmers and ranchers cannot afford to have States become conduits of revenue for the HSUS's war against agriculture.

Animal Welfare - Part II, Equine Cruelty Act of 2009

Horses are livestock and should not be classified as “companion animals.”

Ranch horses are valuable tools for gathering and cutting, roping and sorting. Certainly, a good dog is beneficial when working cattle as well. However, I have never seen a cat push cows out of the brush, head a bull, or heal.

Draft horses and mules are valuable tools for farming. Working alone, in teams and hitches they are very effective for plowing, discing, drilling, cutting, baling, hauling hay and grain. When was the last time you saw a team of Dobermans pulling a plow, or a four up of Chihuahuas running a hay rake? Perhaps it was a team of Persians pulling the hay wagon to feed cows in two feet of snow in Eastern Oregon?

Horses are livestock and are raised to perform a job or service. Are they a valued part of the ranch or farm? Definitely. However, they are not, and should not be considered as “companion animals.”

Public policy, being forced upon private property and family farms and ranches is wrong. Without argument, Americans do not commonly consume horse meat as some do in Europe and other parts of the world. Yet, animal rights advocates feel it necessary to get legislation and initiatives passed to abolish all processing of horses and transportation of horses to processing facilities.

All horses are not created equal. Family farmers and ranchers that breed, train and utilize horses responsibly are being negatively impacted by flawed policy and mis-information. Horses that are unsafe or too old to perform should be humanely disposed of. If the Equine Cruelty Act of 2009 passes, these horses will likely injure themselves, other horses, humans or endure unnecessary pain and suffering. That is not humane.

Horses used to have a salvage value. Recently, due to a weak economy, high feed costs and legislation and initiatives, many small horse owners are abandoning their horses at shows, rodeos, and even in the high dessert, home of the wild mustangs. These actions have resulted in overcrowding at shelters, a reduction of the wild mustang’s natural forage and even starvation of the domesticated horses. These are the truly inhumane acts.

Work to ensure safe and humane transportation of horses, but allow horses to be processed again in the United States. Help save the family farmers and ranchers and join in defeating the Equine Cruelty Act of 2009 and supporting safe transportation and the construction of domestic horse processing facilities.