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Farmers Subsidies: Should They Be Stopped?

admin — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The United States Government pays out approximately 20 billion in farm subsidies annually. The direct subsidy program does not take into account the financial need of the farmer. There are various reasons for the subsidies one of which is cost control. Inventory control is essential in controlling consumer costs. Farmers in some cases are asked not to raise a particular product. This is considered unfair, so the subsidies are paid out to compensate.

Agriculture and the definition of farming have changed since the subsidies acts where passed in the 1920′s and 30′s. Today virtually, any parcel of land not zoned commercial or residential can be called a farm. The owner of the property may not intend to produce anything. The subsidies act allows payment to the owner not to produce any agricultural products. The current law leaves the door open for less than honorable intentions.

The number of farms owned by individuals has shrunk dramatically since the laws inception. Large corporations now own many farms and run them as a corporation. The corporation has already tallied in the subsidies as income. Their intention was to make money by doing nothing. As far as stopping all subsidies, that may be over kill. Farmers should be allowed to raise crops as demand dictates. The inventory and pricing can get out of control though. Farming is a tough business, but as with any business, supply and demand should play a role. Do not produce something that will not sell.

Subsidies should be based on supply and demand. The farmers should be given the option of using the free market system, or be paid not to grow if certain conditions are in place. Individuals that buy land to call it farm should not be eligible for subsidies. Individuals should be asked to prove they have a history of agricultural production on land they own.

History Of Sheep Shearing Methods And Tools

admin — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

People have been shearing sheep for hundreds of years and the methods and tools used have changed quit a bit. In the early 1800′s people washed their sheep in creeks before shearing. Then just before the 1900′s they realized that it was easier to wash the wool after the sheep was sheared. They also found that they could use hotter water to clean the wool more thoroughly.
There are 2 ways to shear your sheep. One is to use blade shears which are more like scissors and work well by leaving some wool on the sheep if it is in a colder climate and needs protection from the weather. Another option is to use machine shears which are more like human hair clippers. Using machine shears is more practical than using blade shears because they take a lot less time to do the same job.
Sheep shearing tools have improved in speed and performance over the years. Many years ago people had to use blade shears, then the hand crank shearing machine was invented and now we have the more conventional sheep shearing tools. The modern shearing tools have been proven to be faster and more convenient for sheep owners.

What is Corn Fed Cattle And Chicken?

admin — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Farmers corn feed both cattle and chicken for many reasons. Corn fed cattle and chicken are the animals that are used for food that are fed on a strictly corn diet. Farmers prefer to feed their animals corn because it is affordable food and it benefits their business and well as their consumers.
Corns fed cattle are more cost effective to produce and benefit consumers because corn fed cattle gain weight more quickly than grass fed cattle. Americans expect a certain type of beef with a certain taste and that is the taste of corn fed cattle.Didn’t catch that? This explains it. Corn feeding produces beef with a consistent flavor and texture. Ranchers feed their cattle with this diet because that is what consumers want to buy. They produce the meat that sells well.
Corn fed chicken is also something that consumers prefer. Farmers corn feed their chickens because it makes tender well flavored poultry. Everyone that eats chicken likes for it to taste a certain way and they want it to be flavorful and juicy. That is what corn feeding does. Chickens are also corn fed because they gain weight more quickly.
Overall corn fed cattle and chicken produces better tasting meat that consumers love.

Historical Farms to Visit

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Modern farms are works of art, they’ve all got 4-wheel drive vehicles and directstarTV but what about the farms of old? Some of them are still preserved around the country and here are a few of the ones we think are worth visiting.
Ardenwood Historic Farm: If you’re interested in the history, head to Ardenwood. There’s a lot to learn at this Freemont, CA plantation and it’s a great place for kids to explore, too. Check it out year round as the temperate climate here allows.
Wheeler Historic Farm: The cool thing about Wheeler is that they host a farmer’s market every Sunday to sell produce still grown at the farm. If you’re in the Salt Lake City area this one is definitely worth a visit.
Waterloo Farm: It’s a living part of Amish country and there are people still loving and tending to this farm today so make a point to get some great experiences here at Waterloo. While you’re there, stop by the farm history museum to learn even more.

How Is Milk Delivered To The Home?

admin — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Milk is definitely, in demand, and farmers are constantly raising the bar to deliver quality milk to our society. Through the years a lot of questions have been been asked, concerning the process that is required to deliver milk from the farm, to our households. Well, we now have the answers.

The journey of milk delivery to our homes, is quite interesting. The dairy farmers feed the female cows a mixed diet of hay, corn, grass, and water. Which causes the cows to produce the fresh, pure milk. The dairy farmers dip the cows into iodine to kill bacteria. Afterwards, the cows are wiped clean, and milking machinery is placed on the cow’s udders for milking. Once the milk has been extracted, it is placed in special tanks on the farm. Soon, tanker trucks arrive, to fill there specially designed tank trucks, with the milk, from the dairy farm. The drivers deliver the milk to the dairy processing plant. Testing, and pasturization takes place to ensure the safety of the milk. The milk is then placed into milk jugs, and delivered to stores. We, the consumer, then purchase from the stores, our milk, and, personally, deliver it to our homes.You thought this was good? Brace yourself: Pennsylvania officials rescind change that would channel more money to dairy farmers

Latest Milk Production Methods For Dairy Farmers

admin — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Inefficient dairy farms soon fail. With profit margins hovering at 1 there is always room for improvement. Research points to new methods, and long established practices can be enhanced.

Embryo transplant methods advance yearly. Super-ovulation (by hormone therapy) of prime genetic cows produces several embryos. Transplanting to less valuable cows multiplies genetic herd quality.

Every dairy farmer will recall a day when something went wrong. The milking herd gets agitated ” production goes down. New developments have made improvements in old methods.

Udder washers have proven viable and hygienic. Regularity of the wash phase, with temperature and pressure control, minimizes excitement. Automatic take-off milking units have improved, not only minimizing mastitis, not over-milking improves production.

Fully automated milking systems, ones that really work, are now available.

Recent nutritional research integrated with computerized feeding systems improves production. New software is many times more effective than in years past.

Milk parlor design, increasing daily milkings, and dry periods have been heavily researched; all strategies must be considered.

Animal behaviorists are now weighing in. Leading edge research to increase milk production involves bovine psychology. In one example, calf vocalizations were recorded. When played in the milking barn 1-2 increases in production were recorded.

Environmentally Friendly Farm Machinery For The Future

admin — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The farming of agricultural products or livestock has fed the masses for centuries. Without farming produce the human race would simply shrivel up and perish. Farming is a way of life for thousands of hard working adults and has seen drastic changes over time. Gone are the back breaking days of harvesting crops with a pitchfork and sickle. Today’s’ modern methods of farming are more about mass production to feed an ever growing population.

Artificial chemicals ensure that the soil can produce harvest after harvest of plentiful produce. Getting the food from the field to the table has become easier through logistical developments. With the development of farming machinery, the old horse and plough has taken a well deserved retirement. Combine harvesters have now taken on a major roll at harvest times and can harvest crops at a much greater speed.

The pollution caused by these monster machines is greater than the plough. But with the development of new fuels from plants, the reduction in harmful emissions is colossal. Farmers do not waste anything, all waste is recycled and used again. Excess or spilt food is placed on the compost heap for use as a fertiliser, and any old machinery is taken away for scrap or to be used in third world countries.

Modern Farming Machinery Comparison Against Horse Power

admin — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

For farmers of the past, and even some farmers today who live in remote parts of the nation, horse power for farming was the only way to get certain kinds of farm work completed. Today, with the increases in modern technology, and the ability to use electronic devices to do farmwork, the uses of horse power has pretty much been abolished in the larger farms in the country.

The main difference between horse power and modern farming machinery, is the workload which can be completed, and the time which modern machinery can save farmers. Modern machines are much more powerful, are much quicker in completing tasks, and require much less work than does the use of horses to do farm work.

For those who are “green” or environmentally friendly consumers, the use of horse power is still popular for some. However, in the majority of farms across the nation, the use of modern farming machinery has pretty much made horse power a thing of the past. The use of horsepower eliminates the need for manual labor, cuts on operation costs, and gets alot more work done, in a much faster and much more efficient manner than was done in the past.