Feed Recipe

Just wanted to share how we feed each pen of cattle that we have. Each pen has a recipe and it changes as the cattle grow. The one we are mixing here has 4 ingredients: wet corn distillers, corn silage, alfalfa and liquid protein. We mix a full batch at a time and feed half in the morning and rest in the evening.
Farmkid3 can load his feed wagon and also helps load the big feed wagon. At age 10, he is very helpful and VERY eager to do what he can to help around our family farm.

Farmkid3

Mixing a ration for his bucket calves in his feedwagon.

Shocked and Disappointed with NE Farmers Union

I am so disappointed in the Nebraska Farmers Union for their recent agreement with the HSUS. (See it here: http://kticradio.com/news/agricultural/index.php?more=hz7j8tzn ) So rather than sit and talk to my friends I decided I should write to the board members who made the decision and point out just a few facts why we don’t want HSUS in our state or actually anywhere.

What is so unfortunate about all of this, is this action only adds to the consumer confusion and divides agriculture even more – the exact things HSUS wants to happen. So after writing this I will again turn my focus to sharing our ag story and hope the consumer can find truth from the NE farmers and ranchers (all sizes) who work every day to help put food on each of our tables. If you are a consumer looking to visit with a farmer to learn more about NE food production, I would recommend starting here: http://www.facebook.com/CommonGroundNebraska?ref=ts&sk=app_190322544333196 or here http://www.becomeafan.org/

Here is my note to the board members:

Hello, I am a farm wife (on a small 5th generation farm), mother and lover of all things agriculture. Our farm is in northeast Nebraska and we work hard to take care of our land and our animals. It's a moral obligation that we have to do it humanely and sustainable and we do. It's been happening on our farm for over 125 years, long before a well-funded DC based group started telling farmers how it should be done.

I can't believe that you supported inviting the HSUS to Nebraska and believe that you can change their track record. They want to eliminate all consumption of animal protein--why would you support elimination of animal protein from our diets?

They mislead and their track record is 'their way or no way'. Have you studied their involvement in Ohio Livestock Standards Board?

NFU needs to do their homework about this organization and I am COMPLETELY embarrassed, appalled and disappointed by your actions. Your organization may feel like it is representing the small guy, but it doesn't matter what size you are or how you raise animals. HSUS doesn't care--they want them all gone, including your pets. They say they care about pets but have you followed the money? HSUS’s advertisements employ the images of downtrodden dogs and cats to tug at the heart strings and wallets of America’s pet lovers. But a new analysis finds HSUS is a “Humane Society” in name only, sharing only $527,566, or 0.4 percent of its $120 million budget with sheltering organizations nationwide in 2010. In the same year, HSUS spent an astounding $47 million in fundraising-related costs (37 percent of its total budget) and parked $32 million in hedge funds.*

Is this the type of organization that you want to work with? I personally don't know why you would--it's not the Nebraska way.

I am a small farmer, hoping, working and praying that my children (sixth generation on our farm) can continue the family business but with actions like yours - their chances have just been reduced.

Sincerely,

Debbie Borg

farmer, mother and agvocate for all sizes of agriculture

*humanewatch.org

What does a farmer Look Like?

The other day I had the opportunity to share the 'amazing' soybean story to a little over 600 4th graders in central Nebraska at a Life on the Farm field trip. About half way through the day, I started asking them-after I introduced myself as a farmer who grows corn, soybeans, alfalfa and fed cattle, "do I look like the farmer you thought you would meet today". And every response was a a very resounding NO.
Than I started asking 'so what did you think a farmer like myself would look like?'
I was shocked, but not surprised. Most of the responses were 'overalls and a straw hat'. And I got several that said they thought I would be dirty with some hay on myself. But the one that really made my jaw drop was--they thought I would have a pitch fork.
So I pointed out that they had met many farmers at this event and no one fit that description.
I was very relieved to hear that I looked 'normal'. I did tell them that there are many dirty jobs on a farm and we do get very dirty (just check out Mike Rowe and 'Dirty Jobs')--its just part of the job.
So as usual there is much to learn from our kids, but this points out just how much work we have to do in telling the amazing story of not just how we feed our family but our part in caring for the soil that raises our crops and tending to the livestock that all contribute in helping to feed the world.

Food (3-Ounce Servings)	Estrogen (in nanograms)
Soybean Oil	168,000,000
Milk	11
Potatoes	225
Peas	340
Ice Cream	520
Wheat Germ	3,400
Beef (no supplemental hormone)	1.3
Beef (with supplemental hormone)	1.9
Beef (with supplemental hormone) serving size equal to 1.5 tons (3000 pounds)	Estrogen amount in one human birth control pill

Sources: Food and Drug Administration; Hoffman and Evers; Scanga et al.; FSIS-USDA; Dr. Harlan Ritchie, Michigan State University; NCBA

In case you're wondering whether you should spend the extra money for 'hormone' free this weekend. Check this out before you do.

Our office

I think everyday since my last post I have had something to share about our farm, but everyday comes and goes without posting , so today I made the time to share about what our office and playground looks like.
Yesterday was Sunday, and we typically try to take a day of rest, but during harvest it is really hard, so often times Sunday is the day to take care of odd jobs so that the other 6 days of week harvesting of our crops happens efficiently.
So I want to share one of the greatest advantages I see of growing food and ultimately getting dirty going to the office. On our farm, our office is wherever we happen to be. Farmer1 got a phone call asking advice about caring for new calves that are arriving all over our area from MT. Special care is taken to get these calves off to the right start. You will notice, he had a hard time hearing because in his office at that moment he couldn't just shut the door to keep out all the noise...many bin fans were running, cattle were mooing, a fence was being built and I think I might have even heard a pheasant.
While Farmer1 was on the phone, farmkid3 was enjoying a little fun in between helping hang a gate. He was having fun and thought he might be able to get a job reading bunks if he could get real fast at going down the bunks on his bike.
Well, I'ld better get busy as I am in charge of weed management in our pasture and today looks like a great day to spray.

So what a difference the sun makes and a temperature of 39--a real heat wave for our part of the country-in fact I have the window open just a crack currently (fresh farm air is one of the benefits of life on the farm).

Today Farmer1 asked me to help him back the semi & grain trailer into the shop, so that he can put new tires on the trailer. Normally this would not involve me but today due to all the snow and the trailer being empty, we had to chain it to the grain cart (because the tractor is still connected and has a radio in it so Farmer1 could tell me when to go and stop) and pull the trailer into the shop. No surprise to Farmer1 it worked just fine.

I've also included a picture of my front door, just wondering how long it will be before we can use it again.