Every day is Earth Day for ag producers
Posted: Wednesday, Apr 21st, 2010
By Jeanie Wright
Earth Day is tomorrow, April 22. The day was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970 and is now celebrated in springtime in 175 countries around the globe. Some countries have Earth Week and focus largely on environmental issues and activities.
Taking a day or a week out of the year to focus on the earth and our natural surroundings is a good thing, especially for those whose feet and tires don’t usually touch the dirt. But for farmers and ranchers in Wyoming, who work outside in the dirt, wind, and all types of weather, every day is earth day. Now, I’m sure that some liberal news anchor could find a talking head “expert” to tell us that run-off from fertilized fields and farting cattle are the root of all evil, and in some extreme cases they may have a point. In general, though, agriculture producers in America, and especially in Wyoming, are great stewards of the earth.
Wyoming’s ag producers don’t need a government study or a new law passed to know the importance of taking care of all things natural. These are people who need water as much as they need the blood in their veins. They pray for rain, and when it comes they store it to water fields, livestock and wildlife. Their dirt reservoirs provide riparian areas for water fowl, fish, trees and other plant life. Read More
Earth Day: Time for beef and thanks
By JACK REICH Zap Posted: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 2:15 am
On April 22, millions of folks interested in protecting the environment will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. Earth Day is a great time to evaluate how our existence impacts the environment and how we can incorporate environmentally friendly strategies.
Protecting and preserving the environment is something North Dakota farmers and ranchers do every day. Being good environmental stewards is not a new concept for us. It is, and has been for generations, an absolute necessity for our survival on the Northern Plains.
In fact, several North Dakota ranchers have been recognized nationally for their efforts. These families manage rotational grazing systems that make the best use of available forage, while improving the soil and the root structure of plants. They manage their land to provide wildlife habitat. They recycle nutrients, converting sunshine, rain and forage into beef and recycling the nutrients found in manure as fertilizers. Read More
With this being the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, many farmers and ranchers this is a great opportunity to help teach people about what they do and why their work is so important. Standing on the sidelines while anti-ag groups also use Earth Day to claim farmers and ranchers are destroying the environment is a disservice to the agriculture profession and especially to the consumers who deserve to hear the real story from the real people doing it. There are opportunities every day to introduce yourself and educate someone about food production, we can’t be afraid to take advantage of them.
Showing posts with label Earth Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Earth Day. Show all posts
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Sharing Your Earth Day Message
Area ranchers to share Earth Day message at schools
April 17, 2010 6:20 PM
BY JOYCE LOBECK - SUN STAFF WRITER
In celebration of this year's Earth Day observance, Yuma-area farmers will be going to school.
They're be bringing the message, Every Day is Earth Day on the Farm and Ranch, to elementary schools throughout the community.
Among their props will be a new kind of packing peanut made out of corn and wheat starch that takes a matter of seconds to dissolve instead of the 1,000 years its counterpart made from petroleum oil lasts in the landfill.
The farmers also will read the book, "Amazing Grazing," by Chris Peterson. The book tells of three Montana ranchers who are committed to being good stewards of the land and water.
These ranchers have won a number of awards for their innovative approaches to raising cattle and managing the western ranges and providing a healthy environment for wildlife.
They've done this by rotational grazing, using water tanks to detour cattle from rivers, restoring steams and growing grass that holds down the soil and protects river banks. Link
With Earth Day happening tomorrow, many of agriculture’s critics will shouting their anti-ag messages. In the forty years since Earth Day started, ag producers have continued to improve their efficiency and output in order to be more sustainable. In fact, it was happening long before the buzzword “sustainable” was being used everywhere. Abandoning the last century’s worth of innovation certainly won’t preserve our resources for future generations. So, what will you be doing tomorrow to tell the truth about modern food production?
April 17, 2010 6:20 PM
BY JOYCE LOBECK - SUN STAFF WRITER
In celebration of this year's Earth Day observance, Yuma-area farmers will be going to school.
They're be bringing the message, Every Day is Earth Day on the Farm and Ranch, to elementary schools throughout the community.
Among their props will be a new kind of packing peanut made out of corn and wheat starch that takes a matter of seconds to dissolve instead of the 1,000 years its counterpart made from petroleum oil lasts in the landfill.
The farmers also will read the book, "Amazing Grazing," by Chris Peterson. The book tells of three Montana ranchers who are committed to being good stewards of the land and water.
These ranchers have won a number of awards for their innovative approaches to raising cattle and managing the western ranges and providing a healthy environment for wildlife.
They've done this by rotational grazing, using water tanks to detour cattle from rivers, restoring steams and growing grass that holds down the soil and protects river banks. Link
With Earth Day happening tomorrow, many of agriculture’s critics will shouting their anti-ag messages. In the forty years since Earth Day started, ag producers have continued to improve their efficiency and output in order to be more sustainable. In fact, it was happening long before the buzzword “sustainable” was being used everywhere. Abandoning the last century’s worth of innovation certainly won’t preserve our resources for future generations. So, what will you be doing tomorrow to tell the truth about modern food production?
Friday, April 16, 2010
Ranching A Green Profession
Cattle Ranching a Green Profession, Survey Finds
America's Cattle Farmers and Ranchers Highlight 40 Ways They Protect the Environment in Honor of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day
DENVER, April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- When your office is the great outdoors and your commute is on horseback, preserving and protecting the Earth is part of the job description. This Earth Day, America's 1 million cattle farmers and ranchers are being recognized as having one of the greenest jobs.
In a new national survey of American beef eaters, cattle ranchers and farmers were selected as the third greenest profession from a diverse list of jobs, with park rangers topping the list. This survey was conducted by IPSOS Public Affairs for The Beef Checkoff Program.
Generations of Earth Day Values
It's no surprise to Gary Teague, a Colo. cattle rancher and environmentalist: "We work every day to teach our three children what it means to be truly passionate about the land and the animals. Preserving natural resources is how we make our living and how we secure our family business for our children and grandchildren."
Two-thirds of US cattle farms and ranches have been in the same family for two generations or more (Aspen Media & Market Research, 2008). American cattle farmers and ranchers have embraced the values of Earth Day for generations, and Americans recognize that commitment. Eighty-six percent of Americans surveyed think cattle farmers and ranchers are committed to environmental preservation. Read More
For those that only celebrate Earth Day once a year it may be hard to comprehend that it’s second nature for farmers and ranchers. Long before Earth Day became trendy, they were taking care of the land, air and water. It was in their best interest to do so then and it still is today.
America's Cattle Farmers and Ranchers Highlight 40 Ways They Protect the Environment in Honor of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day
DENVER, April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- When your office is the great outdoors and your commute is on horseback, preserving and protecting the Earth is part of the job description. This Earth Day, America's 1 million cattle farmers and ranchers are being recognized as having one of the greenest jobs.
In a new national survey of American beef eaters, cattle ranchers and farmers were selected as the third greenest profession from a diverse list of jobs, with park rangers topping the list. This survey was conducted by IPSOS Public Affairs for The Beef Checkoff Program.
Generations of Earth Day Values
It's no surprise to Gary Teague, a Colo. cattle rancher and environmentalist: "We work every day to teach our three children what it means to be truly passionate about the land and the animals. Preserving natural resources is how we make our living and how we secure our family business for our children and grandchildren."
Two-thirds of US cattle farms and ranches have been in the same family for two generations or more (Aspen Media & Market Research, 2008). American cattle farmers and ranchers have embraced the values of Earth Day for generations, and Americans recognize that commitment. Eighty-six percent of Americans surveyed think cattle farmers and ranchers are committed to environmental preservation. Read More
For those that only celebrate Earth Day once a year it may be hard to comprehend that it’s second nature for farmers and ranchers. Long before Earth Day became trendy, they were taking care of the land, air and water. It was in their best interest to do so then and it still is today.
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