Celebrating farming’s history, but not getting trapped in it

If you didn’t see it on the Super Bowl telecast, you may have heard about the “God Made a Farmer” commercial. The commercial, by Dodge Ram trucks, was the hot topic in farm country and was one of the most talked about commercials after the big game.

The commercial delivered a poignant message to hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide. It told of the American farmers’ incredible work ethic and care for the land, for livestock and for their communities. With audio from the late, great Paul Harvey, the outstanding commercial stood in stark contrast to the rest of the ads during the big game, mostly silly ads peddling beer.

Please tell your family and friends to view the Dodge commercial here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sillEgUHGC4. With each view, Dodge will make a contribution to FFA.

With only a small percentage of the U.S. population involved in agriculture and food production today, the Dodge commercial was truly a great way to highlight farmers’ hard work, environmental legacy and contributions to their communities. That message came through loud and clear to the enormous television audience.

But the “God Made a Farmer” commercial could also stir more nostalgia for the way things used to be in farming. There are many Americans who think that food, and farming, was better in the old days than it is today.

But that’s not really true. Agriculture has never seen breakthroughs like those that help today’s farmers produce safe food and protect the environment.

Farmers use high-tech seed genetics which help crops resist drought and pests. They rely on satellite-guided global positioning systems to place fertilizers and crop protection products exactly where they need to be and not where it can harm the environment. And farmers today employ improved methods of handling livestock that keep animals more comfortable and make food safer.

Those innovations, coupled with hard work and deep love of the land, are helping farmers raise bigger harvests and food that is healthier and safer for consumers than ever before. And they are allowing today’s farmers to conserve the soil, protect water and care for the environment better than their ancestors ever could.

Celebrating agriculture’s rich history is a good thing and something worth doing. But, it’s important to know that American agriculture continues to move forward to an even better future of serving people, animals and the planet.

Written by Dirck Steimel
Dirck is the news services manager for Iowa Farm Bureau

The 2012 drought will have far-reaching consequences

It’s not hard to see the immediate effects of this year’s hot, dry weather in rural Iowa—the worst drought since 1988, weather experts say.  Corn and soybean fields are withering in the hot summer sun.  Ponds, creeks and rivers are drying up. And towns and counties are instituting watering bans to preserve their precious water reserves.

But farmers are likely to feel the effects of the 2012 drought for years to come. And the long-term pain will almost certainly be felt the most by farmers who raise livestock.

Crop farmers can expect to earn higher prices for the corn and soybean they are able to raise this year and most have purchased crop insurance to help buffer the impact of the drought. Meanwhile, farmers who raise pigs, cattle and poultry typically have little protection when drought sends the price of corn rocketing higher, as it has in 2012. And unlike a manufacturer, they have no way to raise the prices of the animals they send to market to offset their higher costs.

Those higher corn costs are likely to force many livestock farmers to cut back their production or exit the business entirely.  That’s a bitter pill for Iowa and its economy, because raising livestock is a prime source of economic development for rural communities.  For example, the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers recently noted that a new hog barn in Washington County would have a $1.5 million positive impact on the area’s economy in the first year of operation. It’s also tough because, in an era of rising land values, livestock production is a very good way for young people to get a foothold in farming.

And what’s the pain in the livestock business mean for consumers? They will likely see lower prices at first, as farmers send more animals to market. But down the line, probably later in 2013 economist say, the tight supplies will push meat prices higher.

As the drought settles into Iowa, I’m reminded of something an older farmer once told me early in my farm reporting career. “It will start to rain again sometime, “he said, “but a drought always has a long tail.” I didn’t know at the time how wise he was.

Written by Dirck Steimel
Dirck is the news services manager for Iowa Farm Bureau.