Farming for the Future- A Way of Life

May 30, 2011 By

Although there may yet be some debate concerning Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect (depending on your place on the planet) one universal concern remains constant as we all look forward.
We need food to Live and no matter what you’re eating at any particular moment in time chances are overwhelming that the original source of your meal was a farm and the farmer who works it!

Modern Science is producing miracles in medicine and genetically enhanced plants and even animals but we still and will always need Mother Earth as the primary provider of our sustenance and that is the reason why farming and the Farmers who work the fields for their livelihood must remain a viable Way of Life. Whether it be by government subsidy, tax breaks or any other form of financial incentive, each nation must make every effort to support the growers, both local and national, who toil in the fields to provide us with our daily bounty of fruits, vegetables and to sustain the feed for the animals we breed and harvest for our feasts and festivals.
Farming in the United States for one example, typically involves incredibly long hours coupled to back breaking labor with an uncertain reward forever dependant on weather, soil, machinery, effort and sometimes luck. Many farms are family-owned and operated yet due to the increasing difficulties and comparatively modest rewards the younger generation of farmhands tend to seek their fortunes far away from home causing a real threat to the future of the family enterprise.

Just as we support and reward colossal financial institutions and the Goliaths of the automotive world so must we support and reward the humble, hardworking David’s of the Farming industry to maintain our economic future and our Way of Life.

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Interesting facts about

May 20, 2011 By

Farmers are often members of local, regional or national farmers’ unions or agricultural producers’ organizations and can exert significant political influence. The Grange movement in the United States was effective in advancing farmers’ agendas, especially against railroad and agribusiness interests early in the 20th century . The FNSEA is very politically active in France, especially pertaining to genetically modified food. Agricultural producers, both small and large, are represented globally by the International Federation of Agriculture Producers (IFAP), representing over 600 million farmers through 120 national farmers’ unions in 79 countries

Farmers are often members of local, regional or national farmers’ unions or agricultural producers’ organizations and can exert significant political influence. The Grange movement in the United States was effective in advancing farmers’ agendas, especially against railroad and agribusiness interests early in the 20th century . The FNSEA is very politically active in France, especially pertaining to genetically modified food. Agricultural producers, both small and large, are represented globally by the International Federation of Agriculture Producers (IFAP), representing over 600 million farmers through 120 national farmers’ unions in 79 countries

Farmers are often members of local, regional or national farmers’ unions or agricultural producers’ organizations and can exert significant political influence. The Grange movement in the United States was effective in advancing farmers’ agendas, especially against railroad and agribusiness interests early in the 20th century . The FNSEA is very politically active in France, especially pertaining to genetically modified food. Agricultural producers, both small and large, are represented globally by the International Federation of Agriculture Producers (IFAP), representing over 600 million farmers through 120 national farmers’ unions in 79 countries

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Theis is cool

May 20, 2011 By

In the context of developing nations or other pre-industrial cultures, most farmers practice a meager subsistence agriculture—a simple organic farming system employing crop rotation, seed saving, slash and burn or other techniques to maximize efficiency while meeting the needs of the household or community. In developed nations however, a person using such techniques on small patches of land might be called a gardener and be considered a hobbyist. Alternatively, one may be driven into such practices by poverty or, ironically—against the background of large-scale agribusiness–may become an organic farmer growing for discerning consumers in the local food market. Historically, one subsisting in this way may have been known as a peasant.

In developed nations, a farmer (as a profession) is usually defined as someone with an ownership interest in crops or livestock, and who provides land or management in their production. Those who provide only labor are most often called farmhands. Alternatively, growers who manage farmland for an absentee landowner, sharing the harvest (or its profits) are known as sharecroppers or sharefarmers. In the context of agribusiness, a farmer is defined broadly, and thus many individuals not necessarily engaged in full-time farming can nonetheless legally qualify under agricultural policy for various subsidies, incentives, and tax deductions.

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Its a cow, nice!!

May 19, 2011 By

The 2006 workshops were held in Chemung County, NY near the PA border on September 8th and on September 10th in Montgomery County, NY near the MASS and VT borders. We were pleased as punch to have Dr. Frank Pinkerton lead the advanced workshop. Frank is a long time meat goat expert specializing in marketing and extension and was one of the primary creators of the USDA meat goat specifications. Folks in the basic group also had an opportunity to work with him. For more information and registration forms, go t

Dr. Frank Pinkerton lead the advanced workshop. Frank is a long time meat goat expert specializing in marketing and extension and was one of the primary creators of the USDA meat goat specifications. Folks in the basic group also had an opportunity to work with him. For more information and registrationDr. Frank Pinkerton lead the advanced workshop. Frank is a long time meat goat expert specializing in marketing and extension and was one of the primary creators of the USDA meat goat specifications. Folks in the basic group also had an opportunity to work with him. For more information and registration

Dr. Frank Pinkerton lead the advanced workshop. Frank is a long time meat goat expert specializing in marketing and extension and was one of the primary creators of the USDA meat goat specifications. Folks in the basic group also had an opportunity to work with him. For more information and registrationDr. Frank Pinkerton lead the advanced workshop. Frank is a long time meat goat expert specializing in marketing and extension and was one of the primary creators of the USDA meat goat specifications. Folks in the basic group also had an opportunity to work with him. For more information and registrationDr. Frank Pinkerton lead the advanced workshop. Frank is a long time meat goat expert specializing in marketing and extension and was one of the primary creators of the USDA meat goat specifications. Folks in the basic group also had an opportunity to work with him. For more information and registration

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The one with the first post

May 19, 2011 By

Fleshy, milk fed kids with relatively light colored meat, 3 months old or younger. Suckling kids weighing less than 20 lbs are generally disappointing to buyers due to low meat to bone ratios and high carcass drying losses now that they must be marketed with the hide off. Kids gaining less than 10 lbs per month or 1/3rd pound per day after accounting for birth weight are generally not fleshy enough to be considered prime. Prime Easter kids are generally gaining at least 1/2 lb daily. There generally is a slight price (per lb of live weight) penalty for kids weighing over 40 lbs. Acceptable weights generally range from 20 to 50 lbs with 30 lbs considered optimum by most buyers.

Kids gaining less than 10 lbs per month or 1/3rd pound per day after accounting for birth weight are generally not fleshy enough to be considered prime. Prime Easter kids are generally gaining at least 1/2 lb daily. There generally is a slight price (per lb of live weight) penalty for kids weighing over 40 lbs. Acceptable weights Kids gaining less than 10 lbs per month or 1/3rd pound per day after accounting for birth weight are generally not fleshy enough to be considered prime. Prime Easter kids are generally gaining at least 1/2 lb daily. There generally is a slight price (per lb of live weight) penalty for kids weighing over 40 lbs. Acceptable weights

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