If there is anyone that doubts the severity and the far reaching ramifications of the drought and why current agricultural policy is so damaging and wrong headed, they should read this article. Heck, as far as I am aware, it is the first time that CNN did a news story based in my hometown. This is where it is on the land, folks. No farmers, no food.
Please, pay close attention to the cost of feed and the price per hundredweight on milk. FYI, that’s a tic over 12 gallons per hundred.
Thanks to John Sutter for such a good article. (Read it here)
By John D. Sutter, CNN
updated 10:46 AM EDT, Sun August 26, 2012
Trusting God will save the farm
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Missouri dairy farmers sell off cattle because of the drought
- USDA official: Legislation is needed to provide help
- U.S. is in one of the worst droughts in at least 50 years
- Dairy farmers are particularly vulnerable; most are uninsured
Mountain Grove, Missouri (CNN) — Thunder clapped and rain fell just before Bionce, Sassy and the rest of Mark Argall’s prize-winning dairy herd went up for auction.
Had the storm come a few weeks earlier, and if the drought had eased, it might have saved the cows — some of which were named with a bit of poetic license (“You can spell names however you want,” he said) for pop-culture divas and celebrities.
As it was, however, Argall’s pasture was so dry that his cattle had nothing to eat, and the farmer was losing $75 a day just trying to feed them.
Truth Farmer 
Aug 28, 2012 @ 14:35:30
Regarding Mark Argall of Mountain Grove, Missouri (cnn article):
I am very sorry about the loss of the Argall family’s dairy herd & the tremendous strain they are under emotionally & financially.
BUT….
I hope, when he is quoted saying: ” the system failed us” he isn’t referring to any of the Federal Government (USDA)programs that the Republican party wants to gut under the guise of reducing federal spending as Socialist or as advocating Socialism.
I hope that he isn’t referring to Republican House
Speaker John Baynor, who could have kept Congress in session to pass the Farm Bill currently in debate; instead of going on summer break while some of his Republican constituent farmers went broke wishing for a despised “Socialist Handout” to save the farm grandpa started.
I hope he isn’t referring to a break from the Rich Bank Owners that ultimately hold the mortgage on his farm that he’s about to lose.
I hope he not referring to the Rich Milk Buyers/Grocery Chain Owners that buy his milk, who chose not to give him what ever break they could but instead let him sink or swim on his own.
You know, the ultra rich friends Mitt Romney wants to give another tax break to while he drives around in Cadillac #3, while watching his wife Anns $100,000 horse(…actually its a $23,000 horse since they got a $77,000 tax deduction on it).
So, I am curious; exactly what “system”is Mark Argall referring to?
I’ll let Mr. Argall do some research starting back at Democratic President Roosevelts New Deal. He may find that both Republicans & Democrats compromised & worked together to help Americans instead of letting them sink or swim, as the obstructionist House speaker & Republican Congressional Representatives are doing…on vacation.
And I hope he remembers, when he fills out his voting ballot this November, that he will be voting to get rid of the “system” he counted on for help. President Obama will help improve & streamline it; Romney will dismantle it.
Sincerely,
Steve McGowan
Aug 28, 2012 @ 15:31:38
It is a bit of a thing to wonder about. I personally think the “system” they have put into place has failed ALL of us….Except for tyrants and greedy non-human entities.
Sep 29, 2012 @ 19:30:59
Move your pasture indoors by providing fresh green grass daily regardless of the weather, climate or feed costs. Very easy to operate – just add seeds and water. Eliminate drought, snow or overgrazing worries all year around while providing a nutritious diet at less cost.
Sep 29, 2012 @ 22:47:43
The scale at which you would need to run hydroponics to feed livestock of any level would be a huge expenditure. I don’t see how it would be viable for anything other than some chickens.
Sep 30, 2012 @ 02:09:09
David McBride may be referring to one of the fodder systems that are widely used in the E.U. & Australia.
60% of Australian livestock are currently fed by this system, if advertisments I have read are true.
Fodder Feeds in Bend, OR is currently building growing chambers that feed from 4 head up to 168 head of stock, be they cattle, horses, llamas, goats, sheep or pigs.
A 25head 8x 12ft trailer puts out 25 fresh 20lb. biscuits of grass every day, starting on day one with 2lbs of seed that produces a 20lb biscuit on day 6.
I visited, it really works. Had they beem in use this past summer, the drought would have had no ill effects on any family farm.
They are so cost effective that you make your money back in feed savings in approximately 18 months.
Sep 30, 2012 @ 07:41:28
I’d be very interested in seeing that. This is the first I have heard of it. Do you have any particular link that you would recommend? or should I just google it and dig through? Thanks!