As you all know, I will be graduating this May. As this is the last week of April, I only have a few classes and a couple of final exams before I walk across the stage as a college graduate. Over the past year, I have done some serious soul searching trying to figure out which path I should choose in order to reach my future goals. With that being said, my priorities danced between my career, my passion for production agriculture and my love of family. I’m sure some of you are wondering what my plans are post-graduation, but you will have to tune in next week to get the scoop. Looking back over the past few months, I really wasn’t sure where I wanted to end up. I was a mess as I listed the pros and cons of every job opportunity and every career path I could potentially pursue. There is a quote that I hung above my desk to help me out during those times when I questioned myself and my abilities, and I think it might help you, too!

“God helps those that help themselves. Act as if everything depended on you, and pray as if everything depended on God.”

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You don’t have to have a barn full of hogs to worry about the implications the recent swine flu epidemic will have on consumer confidence in agriculture and food safety. While it’s safe to say that this flu strain doesn’t come from pork products or live pigs, the misconception is there, and our friends in swine production are taking the heat. Yesterday, I kept close watch on the media coverage of the swine flu, and I have compiled a list of headlines worth taking a look at. Find out how the Humane Society of the United States is capitalizing over the growing panic of this flu, similar to their fear-mongering tactics with SARS, BSE and bird flu. Read how pork producers are keeping their hogs safe from this consumer illness. Educate yourself with the facts to avoid catching this flu. Finally, say a prayer for those that have been infected with this illness and that public health officials continue to keep us safe. What are your concerns about the swine flu, both as a producer and as a consumer? What is the word in your area about this outbreak?

Animal Activists Capitalize on Swine Flu Hysteria…For animal rights activists at the Humane Society of the United States, the opportunity to use “swine flu” to scare American meat-eaters was apparently too tempting to resist.

Swine Flu Fears Hit Wall Street …Economists talk about the implications of a swine flu outbreak on the U.S. economy and other market issues.

Hog farmers fear: not germs, but consumers…The swine flu has filled the area’s hog farmers with fear — not that they will catch a deadly disease from their animals, but that grocery shoppers will become needlessly afraid of buying their product.

Pork Producers Protecting Precious Livestock…No Reported U.S. Hogs Infected By Swine Flu

Indiana State Veterinarian says Swine Flu Not Affecting Pork Products…It’s been originally dubbed swine flu, but unfortunately that may have some unintended consequences for our swine industry.

What is swine influenza? Flu mutates constantly, so it is common for new strains to emerge. Pigs can also be infected with both human and avian influenza, and the current circulating swine flu strain appears to contain genetic elements from all three.

History Says Avoid Virus Hysteria… Let the public health experts freak out about swine flu. The rest of us should relax.

Quick BEEF Daily Fact: Still looking for more information on the North American Flu? The Center for Disease Control has the facts to answer all of your questions and concerns. Example Q&A: Can people catch swine flu from eating pork? No. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food. You can not get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products.

For college students at the university in my hometown, Dakota Wesleyan University, last Wednesday marked a day to celebrate meat eaters. In a cookout meal that coincided with Earth Day, 30 plus students gathered to mark DWU’s Second Annual (PETA) People Eating Tasty Animals Cookout. In recent studies, one in three students have tried vegetarianism, but for this crowd, eating meat is the cool thing to do. I think events like these take minimal planning with outstanding results. While there weren’t a huge amount of students in attendance, it was a great way to stand up and show support for agriculture, wildlife and the environment.

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At our operation, it’s that time of year to start breeding replacement heifers. This means selecting compatible A.I. sires to complement the females’ genetic traits. In an economy where every cent counts, many producers are working to keep input costs down. Don’t let this interfere with strong management decisions, especially breeding superior genetics into your cowherd. I believe both purebred and commercial cattlemen can profitably utilize quality bloodlines to increase their bottom line and reach their goals for genetic improvement. Producers should ask themselves what traits they aim to improve with their sire choices. Of course, high performance, calving ease, milking ability, etc. are all traits to keep in mind. However, producers should also remember the end product in their breeding decisions. Look for sires with strong carcass traits and high efficiency numbers. Choosing a bloodline, whether through an A.I. sire or a breeding bull, is a huge decision that will have a big impact on your operation. I found an article by Oklahoma State University’s Extension Service that provides helful hints for best management practices during breeding season. What traits are you looking for in a bloodline? What are you selecting for this year?

Many producers of purebred and commercial beef cattle can profitably utilize artificial insemination (AI) on virgin heifers or on the cowherd or both. Success with artificial insemination requires attention to detail in all areas of herd management. One of the most important factors affecting the success of the program is the manager’s attitude. He or she must totally desire to make AI work and instill this commitment into each link in the chain of management decision. The weakest link sets the level of success of the operation.

To read the entire article on artificial insemination, link to OSU Extension Extra.

Quick BEEF Daily Fact: Artificial insemination has been around since 1939, for over 65 years. However, less than five percent of the nation’s beef cows are bred AI, with the majority of these breedings taking place in the seedstock and the club (show) calf sectors. As a point of comparison, about 66 percent of the nation’s dairy cows are bred AI, and the use of AI by commercial swine producers is currently 70-75 percent. At one time, AI was considerably more expensive than natural service. This is no longer the case in today’s beef industry and market. (To read more about the benefits of artificial insemination, link to Cattle Today.)

When I was 13 years old, I wrote a speech titled, “America’s Beef Cattle: The True Unsung Heroes.” Based off the old brochures, “When is a Cow More Than a Cow?” and “Wow, That Cow!” my speech discussed the benefits of cattle in our everyday lives. When I presented that speech in 4-H that year, I had no idea how far it would take me. Over the years, the speech grew and matured as I did, and when it was time to compete in the district FFA Public Speaking contest and the South Dakota Beef Ambassador contest, I knew that I wanted to take this speech me to the national level. Looking back now, I have realized that this five-minute speech was a stepping stone to the big world of food production that I was ready to explore. As I prepare to graduate in a few weeks, I’m a bit sentimental about my childhood years, and this speech was a big part of those years. First, I hope that my personal stories spark old memories and remind you of your passions in food production. Second, this speech has some great talking points to use in casual conversations with others. Here is a little piece of an old memory to help you advocate for the agriculture industry…

Today we are going to pay tribute to our nation’s unsung heroes. Everyday we fail to realize that there are heroes right under our noses. For example: There are policemen, war veterans, ranchers, teachers, friends, and even our families who are always there for us. Yet they don’t always get their glory. Another group that I am going to point out to you is also commonly taken for granted and is never called a hero. I am talking about America’s beef cattle, the true unsung heroes! I know it may sound a little far fetched to say a cow is a hero, but beef cattle really are heroes as they enrich our lives and enhance the planet.

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It’s Earth Day, and while farmers and ranchers don’t need a special day to appreciate nature, I truly believe this is a day of celebration. Food producers work hard every single day as stewards of the land and caregivers to livestock. There is going to be a lot of talk in online forums about this big day, and I hope that agriculturalists aren’t left out of the discussion. My challenge is for each and every one of you to step out of your comfort zone to talk to someone outside of agriculture today. Tell them about your role as an environmentalist. Correct a few misconceptions about agriculture and the environment. Reach out to make a connection with someone new. Finally, share your stories in the comment section. As a cattle producer, what do you do to care for the planet every day? In the meantime, I have compiled a few great examples of folks that are getting out to share the agriculture story on Earth Day. Also, check out Earth Day tweets in real time to hear what others have to say. Happy Earth Day, BEEF Producers! We are the original environmentalists!

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Recently, I attended a documentary, sponsored by the South Dakota State University Film Club, titled, King Corn. Produced by Bullfrog Films, King Corn tells the story of two college graduates from Boston, who decide to uproot their lives to move to Iowa and plant an acre of corn. Their goal was to plant this crop and trace it to an end product. Sometimes corn goes to high fructose corn sugar that is used for sweeteners. Other times it is used in cereals and breads. Most often, corn is utilized for energy and livestock production. These two men were bound and determined to trace their corn crop to its finally destination.

The documentary was created to portray an innocent story of self-discovery and education on agriculture. Instead, the documentary craftily twisted and turned to make farmers and ranchers seem like ignorant, greedy barbarians. The film even featured the infamous Michael Pollan (the inspiration behind the film) from the University of California. His notorious writings that criticize the food system include books such as The Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food. Pollan shared his thoughts throughout the film, blaming our environmental and health problems on corn.

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I think the Miss America pageant has found a real gem with their 2009 crowned winner, Miss Katie Stam. As a past 4-H member, Katie gives credit to this youth program for her passions in community service. In fact, that is the topic of her platform: Passion for Service: Promoting Community Service and Involvement As a former farm girl and 4-H member, Stam believes in the power of agriculture and giving back. As a past 4-H member myself, I personally know the power of this organization, and I truly believe it was a stepping stone for my future career in agriculture.

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Yesterday’s commentary about saving calves during a tough season sparked the interest of many of you. Emails and comments poured in througout the day, and I thought it would be perfect to end the week by sharing your favorite testimonies to prove your passions for agriculture. With your stories, we will have compiled the trials and tribulations of passionate individuals in food production. In the spirit of things, I will share a few highlights of my childhood years on the farm. With only a few weeks left of my college career, I’m feeling a little bit sentimental about my time growing up on a cow/calf operation. I’m looking forward to hearing your stories. Simply leave them in the comments section, so others can read your stories, too! To kick things off, here are a few pieces of my agriculture story…

My earliest memories of living on a farm included a lot of daydreaming. Sometimes I would pick blades of grass and sneak it to the bulls through the fence. Other times I pretended to do chores, carrying an icecream bucket half full of corn to feed it to the calves. Often, I would sit in the hay feeder and let the curious heifers come sniff my coat and my boots. As I grew older, I didn’t quit daydreaming, but I did become more involved in the family operation. As a teen, I helped Dad select A.I. sires, talk with our seedstock customers, monitor for sick calves and even made time for waterfights with my little sisters. All of these things became a part of my life, and these are memories that I cherish. However, looking back now, life on a cattle operation didn’t come without great sacrifice.

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Today, I wanted to share a story that will certainly pull on your heart strings. It’s a powerful piece that everyone in agriculture can relate to. My new friend Cyndi Young Puyear, Farm Director for Brownfield Ag News, is a seventh generation livestock producer at Rocking P Ranch Simmentals near Jamestown, Missouri. Take the time to read her story this morning. It should be in every major newspaper across the United States. After reading, I think you’ll agree. Take it away, Cindi! -Amanda

Calving season is wrapping up at Rocking P Ranch. Although breeding season has begun (through artificial insemination) we have two cows that for one reason or another were scheduled to calve later than the others. One of the cows was due to calve Monday, so my husband vigilantly watched for signs that the cow was nearing parturition.

As her time drew near Sunday morning, Jim knew by the cow’s behavior that something wasn’t quite right. He called our veterinarian with a “head’s up” that we might need his help if there were indeed complications with the birth. A friend who is also a cattleman came by to see if he could be of assistance. By 9:30am, it was time to stick an arm in to determine the position of the calf. When a tail was felt instead of front legs, it was obvious the calf was breech and we would need more help.

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