All blog posts in Agriculture.com Community

Re: Cherries and a Microphone: Remembering Summer Jobs

freeconsult71 — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 11:42:08 GMT

Dear Anne, I am Really impressed to learn about Cherries by reading your post! I pray to almighty that you can grow up more and more and share your knowledge among us. Looking forward to your reply in my Agricultural Blogs

Re: Meet a few Young Farmers from Oregon

kmusarurwa — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 10:52:14 GMT

This is very inspirational. We are trying to get exposure for some of our farmers in Africa and this site has been great.

http://www.emergingfarmer.com

Re: Media Tips for Avian Influenza and Beyond

MNGobbleGal — Thu, 07 May 2015 16:12:00 GMT

Thank you for your comments ... and what you said is so true. This truly is an awful situation for the farmers dealing with avian flu. We will get through this, but it's certainly a very big challenge.

Lara

Re: Media Tips for Avian Influenza and Beyond

turkey feather — Wed, 06 May 2015 23:12:44 GMT

Excellent information. The public has no idea of the long hours of hard work that has been expended to raise these turkeys nor the investment in terms of dollars lost. The lost income and watching the birds die is devastating to a farm family.

Searching For A Play Farm

Heather_Barnes — Sat, 02 May 2015 21:31:42 GMT

Who knew trying to replace a childhood toy could be so expensive?

Media Tips for Avian Influenza and Beyond

MNGobbleGal — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 00:14:22 GMT

My work life and in many regards, my personal life, has been consumed by avian influenza these days.

Avian flu. Bird flu. Call it whatever you want - it's certainly in the news in a big way.

This dreaded virus - a super potent strain new to the U.S. that is deadly to poultry - has been making the rounds through Minnesota turkey flocks since late March, and has since hit various midwest states and latched on to egg layer hens and backyard flocks as well. All with devastating effects.

One of my roles as Communications Director of the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association is to handle all initial media requests and inquiries that come in. I talk with reporters and editors, get a handle on what they are looking for, and schedule interviews (as needed) with the appropriate people.

During this avian flu surge, this has been no easy task and I'm sometimes amazed, actually, at how much time I spend on a daily basis handling these requests. Not surprisingly, the media has been relentless in the pursuit of this story. The coverage, overall, has been very fair and mostly accurate - but multiple requests come in daily, even on weekends, and reporters everywhere want to know the same thing poultry farmers want to know - how is this virus infecting flocks?

While we don't have a definitive answer yet, we do have teams of experts on the ground, studying and questioning everything that is going on. I have no doubt that in Minnesota - #1 in the U.S. for turkeys raised - we have the finest team of experts in the country trying to figure this virus out. And we will get to the bottom of it.

Until then, I can share a few media tips from my hundreds of interactions with reporters from all over the U.S. during this avian flu outbreak:

Tips for Farmers

Don't be afraid to talk with reporters - but know the talking points you want to get across, and also don't be afraid to decline interviews if you aren't comfortable or ready talk about a difficult situation. Your priorities are your farm, your animals, and your family's well-being. The rest can wait.
Rely on commodity/agricultural organizations (like mine!) to help you through the media process. Many of these organizations have staff people who can act as go-betweens, ask questions of the reporters, and provide you with talking points and tips for interviews. That's why we're here!
Talk about what you know. If you are asked about your on-farm biosecurity measures to combat avian influenza, for instance, you can speak about what you do on your farm and why. Never feel you must speak on behalf of other farmers or your industry as a whole. Your commodity organization can do that for you. What reporters want from you is your personal perspective.

Tips for Reporters

Respect for farmers and what they're going through will get you a long ways. Speaking specifically about avian influenza (or any similar crisis situation), please understand this is a difficult time for the industry. Farmers, especially those impacted directly with avian influenza, are not ready to talk about what's been happening on their farms and to their flocks. This is very emotional for them. To witness this dramatic loss of life with nothing they can do about it is devastating and goes against everything they believe in when it comes to providing care for their animals. (I also realize this is exactly the story you want to convey; please have patience.)
When we say there are no visitors allowed on farms, we mean there are no visitors allowed on farms. In the case of highly pathogenic avian influenza, we believe this virus can be tracked in by tires and feet, for example, so farmers are doing whatever they can to keep what is outside the barn, outside. That means no photographers or reporters walking around trying to get their photos and stories. Period. (This is where knowing a commodity organization or agency with good file photos and b-roll comes in handy.)
Play nice. I have met many seasoned reporters who approach interview and information requests in a very professional manner. They understand they are asking for my time and assistance and are as gracious and patient as their deadlines allow them to be. I've also met young reporters who interrupt me when I'm answering their questions and don't take the time to really listen to what I'm saying. Can you guess who is more apt to get the story - and who is trusted to get the story right?

I sincerely hope that your farm never has to go through what some of the poultry farmers are experiencing right now. But if you do, please know there are many people who work in agriculture that have your back - and we will help you through both the best and worst of times.

#TeamEffort - that's what it's all about in agriculture.

Apple Orchards are A-Changin

Heather_Barnes — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 11:49:06 GMT

Apple orchards in western North Carolina are getting a new look that equals more apples.

Happy Earth Day

Brenda_Frketich — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 03:55:48 GMT

The saying goes that "Every day is Earth Day for farmers and Ranchers."

Helpful Links to Avian Influenza Information

MNGobbleGal — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 21:42:06 GMT

I feel like I'm a bit of a broken record in my last few blog posts - most have been related to the highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza (HPAI) that has hit turkey flocks in Minnesota. Since early March, HPAI has caused the deaths or the required euthanization of over 1.6 million turkeys, and the strain has also been confirmed in South Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa (along with earlier confirmations on the West Coast and in Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas).

Turkeys are not the only birds susceptible to HPAI - chickens are, too. And this is not only a problem for poultry raised commercially. We've also seen cases in Minnesota and Wisconsin in backyard chicken flocks.

This highly virulent strain of HPAI has never been seen before in the U.S., and in Minnesota alone we have teams of folks from USDA as well as state agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Department of Natural Resources, and the Department of Health working together to stop the virus from spreading further.

My usual workload at the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association has essentially been put on hold and HPAI is pretty much all I am working on right now. Our organization is trying to make sure the communication lines stay open between farmers, poultry companies, and vendors - not only in Minnesota but in our neighboring states as well. We also looking long-term at what we need in terms of research, infrastructure and more, as USDA tells us we can expect this strain to be around for the next 3-5 years.

Fighting HPAI is truly a team effort.

That said, it is important to note there are two key messages that consumers should know and feel confident about:

The turkey products you purchase are completely safe to eat:

This is NOT a food safety issue. All flocks are tested for this virus, well before going to market. Any flocks tested positive for the virus are NOT allowed to enter the food supply.
All poultry identified with HPAI are prohibited by law from entering the marketplace.
As a reminder, all poultry and eggs should be handled properly and cooked to an internal temperature of 165° F to kill bacteria and viruses.

There is also very little human health risk:

The risk of human infection is very low. To date, the HPAI strains that have been found in the United States have not been detected in humans.
Risk of infection is limited to people in direct contact with affected birds.

I hope soon that I will be able to write a blog post about something other than avian influenza. The experts tell us that these outbreaks should slow down as the weather warms up and the migratory birds make their way to their spring/summer homes.

Until then, I have compiled a list of web links that might be helpful if you are looking for more information about HPAI - or if you are raising poultry in your backyard. If you have any questions, please feel free to respond in the comments section below and I'll do my best to find answers for you.

USDA Websites on Avian Influenza

Updates on Avian Influenza in Minnesota

Minnesota Board of Animal Health - www.MNAIResponse.info
Minnesota Turkey Growers Association
Frequently Asked Questions

Backyard Flock Biosecurity Information

What Hunters Should Know

Guidance for wild turkey hunters (MN DNR)

Human Health Information

Minnesota Department of Health

Emotional Impact on Farmers (blog posts)

Six Apps I Can't Live Without

Heather_Barnes — Sat, 18 Apr 2015 19:42:11 GMT

I'm slowly coming around to technology, one app at a time.

A Little Paint Goes a Long Way

Heather_Barnes — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 13:17:38 GMT

It's amazing the difference a few coats of paint can make.

Sometimes It's About Stress Relievers

MNGobbleGal — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 02:55:01 GMT

My last few posts have been pretty serious, touching on the highly-pathogenic avian influenza virus that is hitting Minnesota turkeys pretty hard right now. (Check a couple of them out here and here.) It's certainly a stressful time for everyone involved, and my office (the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association) is doing everything we can to help the farmers and the industry get through this rough patch.

That said, I'm going to switch it up a bit with this post and talk about how I relax after a particular busy and/or stressful day. When I go home at night, sometimes I need to decompress and not think about turkeys for a little while. To do that, I have a few tried-and-true methods that help me relax for a while and focus on life with my family:

I cook. This especially helps on weekends, when I have more time, but I will admit even just getting into my kitchen on weekdays and getting on with supper helps bring me back to "normal family life" after a busy day at the office. (This is also related to my love of baking, which I love to do often. My office mates can attest to this, as I often bring treats in after a baking session at home.)

I blog. Not every day, mind you, but as often as I can carve out time. This probably seems counter-intuitive; after all, I often write about turkeys so how can that help me decompress? The truth is, writing has always been cathartic for me. In fact, I've been a journal writer from the time I was a little girl. Writing helps clear my mind and make sense of life - or sometimes just allows me to laugh at life.

I work out. When the weather is decent, I put my headphones on, play my current favorite playlist of songs, and hit the streets around my neighborhood for a run. If the weather isn't cooperating, then I'll head downstairs to our basement to use the dreaded elliptical machine. (It's not my favorite, but it works in a pinch.)

I read to my son. Every night before bed I read to my son, Joe, who is 11. He still loves this ritual and right now, we're on book #4 of the Harry Potter series. It's one of our favorite times of the day!

I watch mindless TV. I fully admit it - I am Real Housewives and HGTV obsessed, so please don't judge me.

I do a load of laundry. I know - weird, right? But I actually don't mind doing laundry and I think it helps me feel caught up a little on the housework every night. Personally, I'd pick laundry over vacuuming any day!

I goof around with my family. Tonight, for instant, we all did our picks for our annual family pool for the upcoming Masters Golf Tournament this weekend. My son and I have also been known to take silly selfies!

I give my dog a belly rub. There's just something inherently relaxing about sitting down on the floor by my dog (Earl the Pug) and giving him a nice, long belly rub - it's his favorite.

None of these stress relievers are especially remarkable in any way, but they don't need to be. These just work for me.

What are your stress relievers when life on the farm or at your job gets busy?

Border Spraying

Brenda_Frketich — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 15:19:28 GMT

Border spraying is a job on the farm that is a little bit like cleaning the toilet at home. You know it has to be done, and yet it always falls to the end of the list of things to do.

The Most Important Tool on the Farm

Heather_Barnes — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 22:01:30 GMT

Today I'm sharing my thoughts on what the most important tool on our farm is - and the one I choose may surpirse you.

Avian Influenza: A Few Questions and Answers

MNGobbleGal — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 00:52:23 GMT

You may have seen in the news, recently, that a virus called "highly-pathogenic avian influenza (or HPAI) has hit three turkey farms in Minnesota. This is definitely no April Fool's joke - and it's most certainly not good news for the turkeys, the farmers that care for these birds, or the industry as a whole.

This particular strain of HPAI appears to be very lethal - once a turkey comes down with the virus, mortality comes quite swiftly and before the farmer and his/her farm workers can do anything about it, thousands in a flock die. Beyond the financial ramifications of losing so many birds, the emotional toll on farmers cuts deep. As livestock farmers know, it is never easy to see the animals you care for suffer, especially in this case when there is nothing that can be done once the virus hits so quickly.

Because this is such a dangerous strain of HPAI, the news media in Minnesota has been very on top of covering the story and our office at the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association has taken numerous requests for media interviews.

We have also updated our website with a page on avian influenza with helpful information and a link to delve more fully into the topic, if you so choose. You can find this here: http://minnesotaturkey.com/farmers/hot-topics/avian-influenza/.

Through all of this, I've been tracking some of the comments on social media (Facebook, especially) with the idea that I can jump in and correct inaccuracies, as needed, and hopefully provide consumers with a sense of calm if they are worried about the turkey they are purchasing. Most comments have been well-received, with just a few bordering on the typical craziness we might expect from a few on social media.

I thought I'd take some of the questions I have seen and answer them right here because if there's one thing I know after the past few weeks of dealing with HPAI, it's that people want more information on this.

This is a bird flu but it's only affecting turkeys in Minnesota right now - how safe are the chickens?

While in Minnesota this particular strain of HPAI has only hit turkeys thus far, it is true that chickens are also susceptible to it. The Minnesota Turkey Growers Association is urging all poultry farmers - whether commercial, organic or backyard flock owners - to be vigilant. Some advice even suggests folks might consider keeping poultry indoors if they can - safe and away from possible carriers of HPAI, such as waterfowl. This is definitely not unreasonable advice. There's a reason most commercial turkey farmers keep their turkeys in barns - the birds are much safer from disease and predators.

Are farmers insured against such losses?

If turkeys die because of HPAI, the farmer absorbs all the losses. For any turkey that has to be euthanized at the farm, USDA does have an indemnity program that compensates farmers.

How do they determine no diseased bird goes to market?

Poultry flocks in Minnesota are routinely tested for avian influenza. If an HPAI strain is confirmed positive, a flock is immediately quarantined and it is protocol that all remaining birds on that particular farm - whether sick or healthy - be euthanized to reduce the risk of infection spreading. Absolutely no birds are shipped off the farm to go to market - it's illegal to do so.

In other words, you can be assured the turkey you purchase in supermarkets and restaurants is completely safe. As is always the case, please make sure you cook your turkey to 165 degrees as measured by a meat thermometer.

How does HPAI spread?

We know the virus strain can be spread through droppings or nasal discharge of an infected bird, which can, in turn, contaminate dust and soil. This is how the virus can be picked up by people on their shoes and clothes or on equipment and vehicles. We also know that migrating waterfowl are carriers of avian influenza. Beyond that, experts in Minnesota aren't exactly sure yet how HPAI is getting inside turkey barns. This is why tight biosecurity in and around barns is so important.

How does this affect the health of people?

It doesn't. The threat of humans contracting HPAI is very low and in fact, there are no confirmed cases of this happening in the U.S. When HPAI is confirmed in a flock, the people who work closely with the birds day in and day out are monitored for several days by the Department of Health as a safety precaution, but for the general public, there is no risk.

Maybe locking a bunch of birds up in tight cages isn't such a good idea?

First of all, it's important to note that turkeys are never put in cages. (Can you imagine the size of the cages needed for 15,000, 25-pound turkeys in a barn?!)

Second of all, most avian experts and turkey farmers will tell you that poultry raised indoors is considered safer from avian influenza than pastured or backyard flocks that are wide open to the threats from waterfowl and other disease sources.

Funny, I thought there were entire departments of the federal and state government dedicated to monitoring and preventing this sort of stuff from happening.

It's true that our industry has always worked closely with the Minnesota Board of Animal Health on a state level and USDA nationally to monitor diseases. Our avian health experts at the University of Minnesota, as well, track avian influenza and work with our growers to make sure they have the latest information about disease prevention and biosecurity. Still, unfortunately, it doesn't mean that the threat of HPAI can be 100 percent eradicated. We're not sure yet where this particular strain in Minnesota has come from, but there are teams of experts working nearly around the clock to figure this mystery out and make sure the poultry industry - and our turkeys, chickens and laying hens - in Minnesota remains strong and healthy.

The Cost of a Slug

Brenda_Frketich — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 16:09:31 GMT

You know those little gray or black colored slimy creatures, they run about an inch long, they are gross. You may have them in your flower beds, they may bother your garden a bit. Well those darn sleezy slugs are causing more and more of a headache for us grass seed growers here in Oregon.

Re: Shark Tank the FFA Way

evelynmtz821 — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 03:58:15 GMT

I was in FFA and I learned oh SO MUCH (I could go on forever)! I never miss an opportunity to talk about how incredible this organization is. I learned a lot, but I enjoy sharing the story of how I found my voice the most! When I was a freshman in high school not a single word would come out of my mouth for the entire school day (not exaggerating). When I joined FFA my agricultural advisor, a superb man, kinda forced me to do the Creed Speaking competition, where I had to recite the 5 paragraphed, FFA Creed in front of a crowd of members and judges! I got to tell you my coach, an ex-Toastmaster, wasn't easy on me! For once someone did not feel pity for the shy freshman I once was. So yes I did that, didn't win, but realized public speaking wasn't so scary after all. Sophomore year I was the head of an agricultural issues team (won district) and volunteered to be the Reporter, a leadership position. The chapter members were so enthusiastic about my development that I won the office by a land slide! Later I began to represent my chapter not only at my school, but in my city as well! It was great to see people learn about FFA and I loved teaching them about it! Today, I'm in college as a freshman with a full ride scholarship. Although the shyness hasn't quite left it's incredible how much I grew. No longer am I afraid of speaking or being outgoing, I honestly love it. Thanks to FFA I became a leader with a voice! The reason I like to share my experience is so that people can realize how big of an impact extracurricular programs can have on someone's life! If it wasn't for FFA I know I wouldn't be where I am today.

Sorting out Avian Influenza at the Midwest Poultry Federation Convention

MNGobbleGal — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 21:07:22 GMT

An early morning look at part of the 2015 Midwest Poultry Federation Convention show floor last week, just before the event opened.

March, for me, was consumed with putting the final planning touches on the Midwest Poultry Federation Convention. This is an event that my office spends a good chunk of the year getting ready for. It's also the largest regional poultry show in the U.S. - with a heavy emphasis on education for poultry farmers and two exhibit halls full of companies showcasing their latest equipment, services and technology.

While we definitely had a successful event, something did get in the way of the attendance we were expecting: Highly-Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or HPAI for short. (You can read about this more fully in my previous blog post here.)

About three weeks prior to the convention, HPAI broke in one turkey flock in Minnesota, putting the turkey industry on high alert and nerves on edge for many farmers. A week or so later, the same strain was found in Missouri and Arkansas.

While this news can sound like a death knell for poultry farmers - this strain of HPAI quickly devastated the entire flock of turkeys in Minnesota within days - it does NOT pose a human health threat or food safety risk. This is a virus that can spread from wild birds to commercial poultry, but it does not enter the food supply and no humans with close contact to infected birds have gotten sick.

Nevertheless, poultry farmers are concerned and the entire industry is watching things closely this spring. That concern led some people to bypass attending the MPF Convention, choosing instead to stay close to home.

As the show organizers of MPF, our office immediately contacted avian health experts to get their take on whether or not it makes sense to limit traveling to a show such as ours because of the HPAI threat. Their take? It doesn't make sense. By following a few common sense biosecurity rules (that farmers should be following already), people could rest assured that attending the MPF Convention would not elevate the threat of HPAI.

But despite that message, some people did stay away. It's unfortunate because they missed hearing all the latest information about HPAI from a whole passel of experts, whom we brought in last minute to calm fears and provide education on what farmers can do to ensure the safety and health of their flocks. That's really what meetings like the MPF Convention are all about - bringing together farmers, poultry companies, industry folks, and experts to learn from and network with each other.

Nevertheless, I am fully aware that HPAI is a serious threat and I do understand why farmers may have chosen to stay close to home and close to their birds. This is scary stuff that has the potential to impact livelihoods.

Still, I have to admit on a personal level for me, it's a little frustrating that the very industry that prides itself on believing in what good science tells us would run nervously away from a meeting when standard biosecurity measures (such as showering before arriving and upon getting back home, and not wearing barn clothes or shoes to the event) would go a long way in keeping everyone (and their birds) safe.

I am happy to say, though, that we were able to make the best of the situation by bringing in a local Twin Cities television news station to broadcast live from our show floor, talking to a farmer and an HPAI expert. They spoke about how so many people, organizations, companeis, and government agencies are working together to alleviate the threat of HPAI; they reassured consumers that there is nothing to worry about from a food safety standpoint (keep eating your turkey, people!); and they showed that the poultry industry values events like MPF because of the education and networking offered to farmers. It was encouraging to see these positive, proactive messages of substance on our local news.

Minnesota Turkey Growers Association President John Gorton spoke to KARE-11 TV, live from the MPF Convention show floor last week.

Time To Make the Bed

Heather_Barnes — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 23:33:38 GMT

Farmers in North Carolina are making beds for sweet potatoes.

Meet a few Young Farmers from Oregon

Brenda_Frketich — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 16:51:17 GMT

Meet some of Oregon's Young Farmers and Ranchers through a video series put out by Oregon Farm Bureau. You will hear them speak about why it's important to be involved and what they are up to on their farms all over the state of Oregon.