Illinois Extension Program In Pain

Well, politics and money are at play in Illinois, my home state. Governor Rod Blagojevich is withholding nearly $18 million in funding from the state's Cooperative Extension program. Why? According to the Mt. Vernon Register-News, it's because the state's General Assembly will not give him more money to cover a $750 million dollar deficit.

In my opinion, the Governor is simply playing bad politics. How is withholding $18 million going to help him cover that much of a shortfall? It's not. He is using education, health and welfare, and community support structure of the good people of Illinois as a simple political bargaining chip. How disgusting.

BEEP...BEEP...BEEP...
THIS JUST IN...

According to the Pantagraph, the Governor has had a change of heart, and has decided to release the funds. Good idea, Rod. Illinois' Extension program, like most states' extension programs educate and help the public and small businesses, especially in the field of agriculture. In most cases it is money well spent and has a directly positive impact on the state's and its businesses' bottom line.

Please don't play politics with the Extension Services. They are too valuable to hobble.

www.register-news.com
www.pantagraph.com

Looking for Reader Comments

I am just more than a little curious what the readers of this blog think about the reported global food shortage. Is it real? It the shortage engineered for some purpose? Is it poor media and reporting?

I really am curious. Please post your comments on this. It's free and easy. Exercise that First Amendment & let me know.

"Family Farms in an Era of Global Uncertainty"

I happened upon this title today and felt it apropos. It is written by John Ikerd, Professor Emeritus at the University of Missouri. He didn't simply write it, this was a presentation at the 2008 Shivvers Lecture series, at the Iowa State University. Given recent news about the possibilities of food shortages and the ever important issue of energy, I just thought this would be a good read. And for me, it is.

Just go over to my website: http://www.radstream.com/pmwiki.php?n=Farming.Farming and follow the links. Comments?

What can WE do?

So... There is going to be, or is a food shortage. Millions and millions of people may suffer, including you! For the last year or so, food prices at the grocery stores has skyrocketed. This is due to many factors, but the result is the same. People are paying more and more for food, and more and more people are going hungry. What can the general public do? A lot.

• Buy local produce at farmers markets and CSAs. It minimizes transportation costs and supports local farmers and businesses.
• Don't waste food. I was appalled by the story of an associate's spouse who will buy food for one or two days, and if it isn't eaten, it is thrown out. Whole loaves of bread, bottles of peanut butter, fresh meat and vegetables all tossed in the garbage.
• Grow your own. Even if you grow a single tomato plant, or one of those sub-miniature fruit trees, it helps.
• Plan your meals and shopping lists.
• Watch for coupons and special sales.
• Learn to can or otherwise store or preserve food. When vegetables or fruit is on sale, buy in bulk and preserve it for later.
• Eat more raw food. Not as much energy is used to prepare raw food items, and their nutrients are not lost due to the cooking process. (Beware - some food items cannot safely be eaten raw!)
  
• Recycle. It is generally less expensive for food processing companies to purchase recycled Aluminum, steel and/or plastic for packaging.
• Buy in bulk. It is typically less expensive and reduces packaging.
• Compost your food wastes. Less waste in landfills is a good thing.
• Conserve energy and simplify your life.

Every little bit you can do, helps. Of course, the more you do, the better.

Upcoming Food Shortage..

Ya Think??? For decades the general public in developed nations have taken advantage of the farmers and inexpensive food. Are things going to hit home now? I just bought small box of oatmeal and spent $3.50. And that was on sale!

Unfortunately, it seems some of the anti-biofuel folks are grabbing on this newfound public awareness of a possible food shortage. Yes, they are blaming biofuels again. Until I have some time to read more on this, here is a link to the Google News search on the food shortage. After digesting some of this, I will do a bit more writing.

This whole uproar makes me want to get a small piece of land in the MidWest and be self sufficient all the more.

Farms & Flood Preparation

Sitting here in a dry Las Vegas, I see the national weather radar on my computer screen. As I write this, there is pretty heavy rain in Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas and Michigan. The mid-west has certainly had an issue with flooding already this spring, and this little weather event is certainly not going to help matters any.

I remember my brother serving with the Illinois National Guard, helping people in Keithsburg, Illinois in 1993 when the Mississippi River broke through the banks and flooded most of the town. According to the National Weather Service, the river at Keithsburg is at 12.7 feet. Flood stage is 14 feet. The NWS and NOAA predict the river will almost reach flood stage on Monday, April 14.

What can a farmer or other rural resident do to prevent loss from a flood? Here are a few good ideas.

• Videotape, take pictures of, and record serial and model numbers of any and everything on your property or in your house. In the unlikely situation that you would need to file an insurance claim for flood damage, you will be prepared.
• Save your important documents in a
  
• Get flood insurance. It may not seem necessary to many people, but in most places it is typically inexpensive. Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
• If you have basements, make sure there is an operational sump-pump in each one.
  
• Anchor all fuel, water and storage tanks firmly to the ground.
• Keep gutters and downspouts clean and free from obstructions.
  
• Before a heavy rain or possible flood event, turn off electricity, natural gas or LP to buildings that do not need it.
• Have an out of state family contact.
• Make sure all implements like tractors, combines, planters, etc... are either secure in a building or sitting on high ground.
• Check and then double check that containers with dangerous chemicals are secure and not leaking.
• If significant flooding is predicted, move furniture and electronics from lower floors to upper floors.
• It is also a good idea to turn off your houses' gas supply if major flooding is a possibility.
• If there are animals on the farm, make sure they have proper shelter.
• Routinely check local levees and drainage ditches for possible problems.
• Be sure to have an evacuation plan, and that it allows for you and your family to get out before the situation becomes an immediate flood situation.

Take care & be safe!

Farm Safety Time

As this years farming season in North America gets underway, perhaps it's time to review a few farm safety items.

As you may or may not know, farming is one of the most dangerous professions a person can have. According to the National Safety Council, more that 120,000 farm accidents and other health related issues occur annually, plus nearly 1200 lost lives. What is concerning is the fact that they are nearly all preventable.

Here are some helpful tips that may help you and your loved ones be safe one the farm, even if it is one acre or a thousand acres.

1. If you use pesticides, herbicides or chemicals of any kind, know them inside and out. Know exactly what they are for, how much should be used, symptoms of exposure or over exposure, and what to do if someone is exposed.
2. Ensure that all animals are properly vaccinated by a professional.
3. Know your equipment like the back of your hand. If you don't, you might end up without a hand.
4. Don't operate equipment when you are tired. Being tired affects judgment. Poor judgment and a ten ton tractor do not get along well together.
5. Stay hydrated & keep water with you at all times. You may think that your John Deere 5003 will get you home after a long day of baling hay, but what if it doesn't? Bringing a gallon of water along for the ride is very cheap insurance.
6. Never work around powered machinery with tattered or loose fitting clothes.
   
7. Don't listen to an MP3 player with headphones or ear-buds while operating a tractor or combine or generally anything motorized.
8. Carry a cell phone or other communication tool. In a pinch, you may need it. I am partial to farmers getting their ham radio licenses and carrying a radio along with them. But then again, I am biased.
9. Keep your equipment and tools well maintained. Double check your head, tail and running lights at least once a week.
10. Watch the weather. Getting stuck on an open cabbed tractor in a small rain shower is one thing; being in the middle of a severe thunderstorm is another.
11. Don't let young kids help. I know... I know... When I was three years old I was riding on the back of my dad's John Deere Model A tractor and Caterpillar bulldozer. It's just not safe!
12. Get plenty of good rest. It may be incredibly tempting to run to the bar for a few mid-week beers with the boys after a marathon session of planting soybeans, but just take it easy. Drinking a sixer of Bud and passing out in your Chevy pickup is not classified as good rest.

Be well and be safe.

Decisions... Decisions...

It is now quite clear that my path to the rural life may not be simple. Responsibilities... Happiness... History... Relationships... Rural Life... WOW! But, I have started down a path that I think will work.

As much as I would like to simply disappear into the mist, emerging a farmer with no connections to my past, this is simply not realistic. And if the simple impossibility is not enough, I would loose all of my history. I don't care to loose all of that.

So, when I decide the time is right, I will start looking for a computer programming job in an area where there is a rural area nearby. Then, find a nice little farm and do what comes naturally... get my hands dirty.

8% Less Corn Planted

According to the USDA's 2008 Prospective Planting Report, 8% less corn will be planted overall in the United States. Yes, LESS. I remember reading, not more than six months ago, how farmers would be cutting back on other crops like soy beans and wheat, in an effort to grow more corn. Read it here.

Oh, the wailing and keyboard smashing! Predictions of drastic food price increases because of almost exclusive planting of corn was predicted. Food prices are going up, but it isn't due to farmers planting corn instead of wheat or green beans or lettuce. It is due to increased energy costs.

Watch and minimize those Food Miles. That helps reduce energy and over a longer period of time, may cause a lowering of food prices.