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.

It's been awhile since last posting and my only excuse is harvest, rain, harvest, snow, wind, more snow and more wind. It all seems like a blur. Anyway, would like to share a few pics from life on our snow covered farm.

Encouraging more Agricultural Advocates

How to grow ag’s presence in the Social Media world and help farmers learn to tell their story....
becoming an Agricultural Advocate
(AKA activist)

Looking for a hands-on session for your meeting?
Did you have a speaker back out at the last minute?

Agriculture is under attack and must seize the opportunity to grow the presence of ‘real life’ stories. Help your members/audience learn and have the courage and know-how of telling their story.
I will lead participants through the process of starting a Twitter account and discuss the value of tweeting, Face Booking and blogging from the farm.
Plus, I will explain and give real life examples of how to ‘tell the ag story’.

What may seem mundane to aggies is exactly what needs to be
told to consumers-our customers.

Social media is a far reaching entity that can bridge the gap between agriculture and the rest of the world. By using social media, the reach and scope of that message can become much larger. It’s clear that social media is becoming an increasingly powerful way to communicate. In May 2009, the year-over-year gain in the unique audience of Twitter was 1,448% and reached nearly 20 million visitors.

Contact me at
402-369-2291, @iamafarmer2 or tdborg@nntc.net

•5th generation Family Farm operation (row crop and cattle)
•Past President of Nebraska Soybean Association

Have you commented to EPA about RFS-2

Here's my letter to any editor who will publish my concerns with RFS-2. Anyone is welcome to use the whole letter or parts--but whatever, be sure and send a comment.

Dear Editor

The future of the U.S. soy biodiesel and corn ethanol industry is at stake. I am encouraging all farmers, neighbors, and fans of renewable fuels to submit comments to the EPA regarding the proposed rule on the RFS-2 implementation. Currently it is significantly flawed and will effectively stop any future production of U.S. soy biodiesel and corn ethanol.

A loss of the domestic biodiesel and corn ethanol market will significantly add more dependence on imported oil and decrease prices paid to U.S. farmers for their soybeans and corn, which will also negatively impact the economies of rural communities.

EPA’s logic includes a faulty measure of the indirect land use; onerous feedstock certification requirements; a major error pertaining to the direct emission calculations for nitrogen in soybean production; lack of accounting for glycerin as a co-product of biodiesel; inaccurate assessment of the energy balance of biodiesel; and lack of accounting for improved agriculture yields and efficiency.

Unless the flaws in EPA’s proposed rule are corrected, soy-based biodiesel and corn ethanol effectively will be excluded from meeting the renewable energy targets established under RFS-2. Nebraska farmers would lose a source of demand for soybeans and corn, jobs would be lost, and our nation would NOT decrease its dependence on imported oil.

That’s why I am asking farmers and renewable fuel fans to contact EPA as well.

There are two online forms to submit comments with the click of a button. Comments must be submitted before the Sept. 25 deadline. Go to:

www.soygrowers.com/policy/RFS2.htm.

or

http://capwiz.com/ncga/issues/alert/

Sincerely,

Debbie Borg

Nebraska farmer