Wow! Another semester is under my belt and I am home enjoying my first day of summer! I spent the morning sleeping in, made rhubarb crisp and even fit in a 4-wheeler ride. Life is good!
Next week I will start my internship at MaxYield Cooperative in the Communications/Customer Relations department which will keep me busy!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
Country Girl Caught Living in Town: Some Food for Thought
Country Girl Caught Living in Town: Some Food for Thought
Love this video about agricultural production and the future of the agricultural industry!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Celebrating National Ag Week
It seems only appropriate that spring break falls during National Ag Week and I have been able to go home and spend some time on the farm. I have been helping my dad with chores and rode with him to town to sell market hogs yesterday. The weather has been beautiful- today it is going to be near 60 degrees! Thank goodness the snow is finally melting and it is beginning to feel like spring.
During National Ag Week I hope you take the time to tell your agricultural story and thank a farmer. They work hard everyday taking care of the crops and livestock. Here are some facts and figures about agriculture in Iowa:
During National Ag Week I hope you take the time to tell your agricultural story and thank a farmer. They work hard everyday taking care of the crops and livestock. Here are some facts and figures about agriculture in Iowa:
Each year, Iowa farmers produce approximately ...
- 8.2 million turkeys
- 148,000 pounds of cheese
- 3.8 million cattle
- 1,230 million pounds of wool
- 2.1 billion bushels of corn
- 13.8 billion eggs
- 4.13 billion pounds of milk
- 17.3 million hogs
- 235,000 sheep
- 525 million bushels of soybeans
- Iowa has 92,600 farms, 4,000 more than the state had in 2006.
- The state ranks seventh nationally in cattle, tenth in sheep and lamb production and twelfth in milk production.
- Iowa is the top producing state in corn, soybeans, pork, and eggs
- Iowa’s 39 ethanol plants produce a total of 3.27 billion gallons of ethanol annually, more per year than any other state.
- Thirty nine percent of Iowa’s corn is used to produce ethanol.
For more facts about Iowa's agriculture check out these websites:
Monday, March 7, 2011
Different Points of View
This is getting posted a bit later than it should have. I had all the intentions to get it up earlier this week but life happens and I had been distracted by a few other things, mainly completing a project by Monday. Anyways, that is done and it's back into the regular routine for me.
Lisa Weasel was the speaker and she has traveled the world trying to understand why people are either for or against GMO is our food chain.
To give you a bit of background about GMO usage
Six European countires have banned GMO's. When I traveled to Greece last spring I noticed this as well. We were discussing with several producers about increasing yeild and the advantages of technology but non were too excited about the idea of using GMO's. Generally speaking, in America, we are willing to try anything unless it is proven to be harmful, in Europe they are not willing to try anything untill it is proven safe.
An interesting point that Lisa brought up was the fact that people have voted Monsanto (which beat out BP) as the "most evil" company. This is just what she has found through her studies.
Like I said, this was an interesting lecture and that brought up several points I hadn't realized before.
Two weeks ago I attended a lecture on campus entitled DNA at the Dinner table and the focus of this lectures was on the global politics of genetically modified food. I will admit I wasn't sure what to expect from this lecture, it was sponsored by the biology program and I was nervous that it would be heavy with biological terms. Thankfully this wasn't the case and I felt that this was a worth while lecture.
Lisa Weasel was the speaker and she has traveled the world trying to understand why people are either for or against GMO is our food chain.
To give you a bit of background about GMO usage
- 25 countries plant GMO crops
- The top three countires are:
- The US (64 million hecters of GMO crops)
- Brazil (21.4 million hecters)
- Argentina (21.3 million hecters)
- In the US
- 93% of soybeans planted are GMO
- Cotton: 93%
- Corn: 86%
Six European countires have banned GMO's. When I traveled to Greece last spring I noticed this as well. We were discussing with several producers about increasing yeild and the advantages of technology but non were too excited about the idea of using GMO's. Generally speaking, in America, we are willing to try anything unless it is proven to be harmful, in Europe they are not willing to try anything untill it is proven safe.
An interesting point that Lisa brought up was the fact that people have voted Monsanto (which beat out BP) as the "most evil" company. This is just what she has found through her studies.
Like I said, this was an interesting lecture and that brought up several points I hadn't realized before.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Country Girl Caught Living in Town: Working for a Living
Country Girl Caught Living in Town: Working for a Living: "I'm sure you have had one of those weeks where you are booked for the entire week. Well, this week is going be my week from hell. Between me..."
Working for a Living
I'm sure you have had one of those weeks where you are booked for the entire week. Well, this week is going be my week from hell. Between meetings, studying for a biology exam, and completing a rather large project that is due next Monday.It's never a dull moment in college, once you think you accomplished something, it's quickly on to the next item on that to-do list.
I'm pretty good at putting things off until the last second possible and unfortunately, Monday rolls around all to soon.(I believe this is called procrastination?) Looks like it's time to buckle down and get to work! This week will be bringing me some late night study sessions and early mornings! I've been able to handle it before so bring it on!
So if you don't here from me in a while it's not that I'm ignoring this, I just have to take care of my priorities.
I'm pretty good at putting things off until the last second possible and unfortunately, Monday rolls around all to soon.(I believe this is called procrastination?) Looks like it's time to buckle down and get to work! This week will be bringing me some late night study sessions and early mornings! I've been able to handle it before so bring it on!
So if you don't here from me in a while it's not that I'm ignoring this, I just have to take care of my priorities.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Country Girl Caught Living in Town: Faces of Food Production
Country Girl Caught Living in Town: Faces of Food Production: "Consumers are wanting to see a face of the person who is producing their food. Here is a picture of my dad and brother who work through all ..."
Faces of Food Production
Want to see who is producing some of the pork you are consuming?
Here is a picture of my dad and brother who work through all weather elements to be sure that the hogs are comfortable, safe, and well feed.
Here is a picture of my dad and brother who work through all weather elements to be sure that the hogs are comfortable, safe, and well feed.
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| Tom and Garret Heim |
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Please be Patient with Me!
Hello and welcome to my blog!
As you can imagine from the title of this blog, I am an Iowa country girl who was raised on a hog farm in Northeast Iowa (God's Country) and am now living in town while I am attending college at Iowa State University. Living in town (Personally I would consider Ames to be a city compared to the small town of Waukon, Iowa which is where I am from.) has been an adjustment, but after being here for 3 years I am slowly getting used to it. What I really miss though is the fresh smell of the country air, going for walks down the gravel road and driving the 4-wheeler with my dog Cola running along beside me.
You might be wondering what I was thinking in starting a blog. Last week I had the opportunity to listen to and meet Troy and Stacy Hadrick from Advocates for Agriculture. They were very inspirational and I realized that it is about time that I start talking about my involvement in agriculture and perspective on issues. Below is a picture of some great friends and myself with Stacy and Troy.
Agriculture has a great story and all involved have their own perspective and opinions. Not to get on a soap box and start preaching, but that is the beauty of America, we are all allowed and have been given the right to make our own opinions and speak them freely. This blog will allow me the opportunity to share with you my opinions and a chance to speak my mind about agriculture and the issues the industry faces.
Please feel free to comment and shout out any suggestions.
I just ask that you please be patient as I learn about the world of blogging!
Britney
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