Random Thoughts on Some Issues in Agriculture

It has been awhile (again) since I have posted anything on this blog.  I don't know why, but, I feel compelled to write something agriculturally related!

Perhaps it is the approach of Spring that has me thinking agriculture.  I flew over the Flint Hills today as American Airlines took me from DFW to Omaha and saw several burned places as well as burning grasslands.  It is the time of year when ranchers are preparing for Spring rains and the renewing of the grasslands.

Burning the prairie to control the noxious weeds and brush is still commonly practiced in the Flint Hills.  It should be practiced in a lot of other places too, but, it isn't.  Brush has invaded much of the former grazing lands where buffalo once roamed -- from Texas to the Dakotas.  There does seem to be renewed interest in controlled burning though.  I'd really like to see it happen.  The problem is, the uninformed will complain about the smoke in the air.

It is amazing to me how people have lost touch with the land and the source of their food supply.  Urban sprawl and misguided government programs have cost much of the land that used to be the home to beef cattle.  That land today is growing houses or invasive weed, brush and tree species because it is in a "conservation" program of some sort.  Ranchers generally do an exceptional job of managing land the way it should be managed.  Using grazing species of animals to harvest grass and control invasive species is the way God designed it.  Instead, it now takes an army of people to do what a good rancher can accomplish by himself and maybe a couple of hired hands.

I guess when the price of beef gets too high, people might start to see things differently.  But, I guess that's the agenda of the Vegans and Vegetarians anyway -- cause the price of beef to increase until people can't afford to eat it.  Doesn't that make a lot of sense?  Make high-quality protein unaffordable to people who need it.  Sounds like a pretty elitist attitude to me.

But, there is the argument that the world can't feed itself if so much of the agricultural capacity is utilized for producing protein from inefficient sources like cattle.  I have several problems with that.  First, cattle are extremely efficient utilizers of forage that is unusable by humans unless converted to meat first.  Second, the reason people are starving in the world has nothing to do with beef cattle in the U.S. or other places.  It's more about corruption and poor governance.  Third, the force driving food prices and availability, etc. is fuel prices and policies.  Oil is the energy choice most easily utilized for producing food.  Or, we could go back to human and animal labor if you prefer (and some think we should).  So, what does our government do?  It uses some of that food produced using oil to create an additive (alcohol) to add to the oil used to produce it.  How does that make sense?  Talk about inefficient utilization!

Arrgh....too many interwoven issues -- all of them created by misguided people with misguided policies.  If I didn't know better, I'd think the Devil himself was trying to make it as difficult as possible for farmers and ranchers to do their job.  Malnourished people are much more likely to fall for his schemes than are healthy, happy ones.  Besides, misery is his stock in trade.....

Conservation Tactics Resource

Increasingly, landowners are interested in managing their properties in a manner that is beneficial to wildlife. This is due not only to the aesthetic values they provide but also because of the income potential. The article linked below will lead to a bibliography of published works available for best management practices for various species. Intended for wildlife professionals, it is also valuable to landowners seeking to maximize the wildlife potential of their properties.

Conservation Tactics to Help Fish and Wildlife Thrive Featured in New Bibliography

Summary of Poznan Climate Conference

The following is a link to:

COP14—Poznań Climate Conference Summary

Whatever your thoughts on climate change, it has definitely become a part of our world economic situation.

BLM Rules on Oil Shale Development

It will take all forms and sources of energy to achieve energy independence. This one will be more controversial than some of the others, but needs to be part of the solution.

Bureau of Land Management Finalizes Rules That Could Add Billions of Barrels of Oil to U.S. Supply

The Reason Wild Horses are a Problem

The real problem is the horse slaughter ban passed by Congress. The BLM is being overrun by feral horses -- horses that people have released into the wild because they no longer wanted to care for them. Our country has a serious problem with these feral horses -- and that's just what they are -- the glamorous "wild mustang" of the Old West is a fiction today. Most of the horses running wild across our country were from poor stock to begin with. The better animals are kept and the worthless ones released into the wild because there is NO MARKET for them! To fix this problem we MUST allow domestic horse slaughter plants to operate.

Nevada: Costs Threaten Wild Horses

The Cost of Greening California

Someone else is finally seeing the big picture of renewables. California is "broke" already. Now, they will ask their taxpayers to make the "Green Moguls" wealthier.

California study shows high cost of renewable power

New EPA Requirements for Livestock Operations

Most confined animal feeding operations do an excellent job of controlling manure and wastewater. State permitting processes require management plans that protect water resources. Now, the EPA has joined the process making it even more expensive for livestock operations to become permitted.

New Requirements for Controlling Manure, Wastewater from Large Animal Feeding Operations

Better Air and Consistent Growth Through Partnership

Texas often gets a bad rap from other parts of the nation due to the stereotypical image of oil-guzzling rednecks that is often associated with the state. In reality, Texas is leading the nation in development of alternative energy technology and in reducing pollutants in our atmosphere. The free-enterprise, private-initiative attitude of the state in which private industry and government entities can partner to achieve common goals is a model that should be emulated by the rest of the nation. Cooperative efforts, rather than burdensome regulation, are key to the successes.

As North Texas grows, air becomes cleaner

Release date: 10/28/2008
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Tressa Tillman at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov

(Dallas, Texas – October 28, 2008) As the Dallas-Fort Worth area’s economy has grown to one of the nation’s most vibrant, its citizens have also enjoyed improvements in air quality. This summer saw the lowest levels of ozone in three decades, thanks to a campaign to reduce air pollution led by the...(complete news release here).

DOI's Bison Conservation Initiative

The American Buffalo or Bison is an important species native to much of the North American continent and is an icon of the nation. I enjoy seeing them in various places as I travel around the country. Most of them are in small herds on private lands. I would not like to see them restored at the expense of private property rights or at the expense of the important use of some federal and state lands for cattle and sheep, however, a balanced approach that includes conservation of the species is important. They also make for pretty good eating....

Secretary Kempthorne Launches Bison Conservation Initiative

New Jersey: Garbage to Fuel Source

Good for New Jersey. All of the large metropolitan areas need to be utilizing their decomposing garbage for fuel.

Green Garbage: Trash Becoming Key Power Source in New Jersey

Increasing Deer Numbers Provide Surprising Benefits

The article linked below discusses some surprising new findings regarding high deer populations and their effect on other creatures within their ecosystem. It provides more evidence that we don't know what we think we know....

High deer population may benefit forest critters

Deer are often blamed for damaging forest habitats by overgrazing

Biofuel Waste to Riches

Potential new bi-products from biofuel waste may revolutionize the biofuel industry.

Adding Value to Biofuel Waste

What do you get when you cross E. coli with biofuel waste products? A new process that may revolutionize the economic development of the growing biofuel industry.

Biofuels represent the best sustainable, secure, and renewable alternative to fossil fuels. Unfortunately, biofuel production is beset by the same problem as traditional petroleum refining – excess waste. In traditional refining, only about...(complete article here).

Ecosystem Approach to Preservation

It is important that critical habitats be reserved for endangered species. This new ecosystem approach might speed the process.

Feds Propose Putting 48 Hawaiian Species on Endangered List at Once

HONOLULU — The federal government took a new, ecosystem-based approach to the endangered species list on Tuesday, proposing an all-at-once addition of 48 species, including plants, two birds and a fly, that live only on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.

The action by the Interior Department would designate about 43 square miles as critical habitat for all the species rather than considering each species' habitat separately, which has been the practice for three decades. Officials said considering...(complete article here).

National Hunting and Fishing Day, Sept. 27

Hunting and fishing are important aspects of American culture as well as critical pieces of managing our wildlife species. They both are also excellent family recreational activities.

National Hunting and Fishing Day, 2008

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

From our rugged peaks and mountains to our shining seas, our Nation is blessed with remarkable natural treasures. These magnificent landscapes are places where families and friends can create lasting memories and enjoy the outdoors. On National Hunting and Fishing Day, our country honors the many contributions of America's hunters and anglers, who add to our heritage and keep our wildlife populations healthy and strong. (complete proclamation here)

Plastic From Sugar Coming Soon

Plastics from sugar is a further shift to renewables and away from petroleum.


Bacteria Ready to Make Plastic From Sugar

Eric Bland, Discovery News

Sept. 26, 2008 -- Claims of biology-based oil and plastic usually bear the caveat "in five years." But a San Diego-based company claims they will have a pilot plant for production of E. coli-based 1,4 butanediol (BDO), the base chemical for plastic products ranging from Spandex to car bumpers, next year.

"We are able to...(complete article here).

Rwanda and Healthy Development

Rwandan Researchers promoting a balanced approach to development. Attention to Ecosystems critical to success of agriculture and overall economic health.

Rwanda: Economic Development Depends on Healthy Ecosystems

Kihesi Rwaguma
Kigali

Natural resources and ecosystem services contribute significantly to economic growth and poverty reduction.

They provide us with food, fuel, natural medicines, ease flood impact, prevent soil erosion; they are a source of recreation and tourism, just to mention a few of the benefits.

Rwanda is now...(complete article here).

Manure From Washington Over Manure in Agriculture

This is an incendiary article written by someone with an agenda. The "Congressional investigators" mentioned in the article need to get out of Washington and check out the real world occasionally. But, they're too busy eating their $40 porkchops and $60 steaks.

Large CAFO's (confined animal feeding operations) are highly regulated and inspected regularly with regard to controlling runoff, etc.

Report: Manure runs too freely at factory farms

Congressional investigators question EPA proposal to loosen regulations

WASHINGTON - Some huge livestock farms produce more raw waste than cities as large as Philadelphia or Houston. But federal regulators are failing to control pollution from the gigantic operations or assess health risks from the enormous quantities of manure they produce, according to congressional investigators.

The Government Accountability Office report on the raw waste was...(complete article here).

Jobs in "Green" Industries

New industries created around emerging energy technologies as well as waste and water management will be a source of many new jobs in the coming years.

Landmark New Report Says Emerging Green Economy

New York (ILO News),24 Septembre 2008-A new, landmark study on the impact of an emerging global "green economy" on the world of work says efforts to tackle climate change could result in the creation of millions of new "green jobs" in the coming decades.

The new report entitled Green Jobs: Towards Decent work in a Sustainable, Low-Carbon World, says...(complete news release here).

Nitrogen Retention Study

This is interesting research on nitrogen retention in soils. My first question is, what is the impact to crop yields?

Getting the Dirt on Nitrogen in Agroecosystems

Results: Crop soils that are fed with biologically based nitrogen do a better job than synthetic fertilizers at retaining nitrogen, so less escapes into the air and water. Scientists from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Canada drew this conclusion after developing detailed nitrogen budgets—inputs, losses, and storage—of three agroecosystems in western Canada. Understanding...(complete news release here).

U.S. Helping Chinese Coal Mines Clean Their Act

We constantly hear rhetoric from extremists about how the U.S. is the major culprit in the production of greenhouse gases in the world. What we don't hear is how U.S. technology is leading the way in helping some of the worst polluters in the world to reduce their emissions. The project discussed in the news release below is a good example of U.S. leadership in reducing pollutants into the atmosphere.

U.S. Helps Chinese Coal Mines Find Ways to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Release date: 09/16/2008

Contact Information: Suzanne Ackerman, (202) 564-4355 / ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov

(Washington, D.C. - Sept. 16, 2008) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has committed more than $1 million to assess the economic and technical feasibility of recovering and using methane from coal mines in China. If methane recovery programs are implemented at all three project sites, up to 1.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent could be reduced each year. That's equal to the annual emissions of up to 330,000 passenger vehicles.

"Methane recovery technologies can be...(complete news release here).