Teenagers, lawmakers and otherwise-sane-adults sounded a collective ‘gasp’ when more than 10,000 websites shut down in protest of the Stop Online Piracy Act bill. Millions of signatures and petitions were gathered in a single day because Americans wanted Congress to get this point: we need technology.

Well, here’s my point: we also need to embrace technology in farming. It seems farming is the only industry that people want to remain unchanged from the 60’s, 70’s or 80’s. Maybe that’s because the last time many Americans were on a farm, it was before the Internet. Back then, weeds from soybean fields were removed by roving bands of hoe-swinging, sweaty teenagers. Back then, corn was put in the fields with six row planters (if you’re lucky) and it took three days to harvest a 100-acre field and all that work would bring a farmer less than $2 per bushel. Yields were a fraction of what they are today. There weren’t a lot of choices in production; farming was labor intensive and fewer farm kids went on to college because that’s just the way things were.

Today, tractors are bigger, yields are bigger, and corn prices are twice what they were in the 80’s. That’s not all that’s gaining ground in rural Iowa today; college education levels, which once hovered around 10 percent in the 1980’s, are now over 30 percent. There are more choices in food production; you want organic? Iowa farmers grow it. You want conventional? Iowa farmers grow it. What you want depends on what you are able and willing to pay.

Clearly, technology in farming has brought more choices to you and me. I, for one, am glad for those choices, and the progress that made them possible. It’s food for thought; as you wheel your cart down the grocery aisle, armed with your iPhone-enabled QR-code price scanners, there’s no going back. And, for that matter, who would want to?

Written by Laurie Johns
Laurie Johns is Public Relations Manager for the Iowa Farm Bureau.

Rob Gordon, senior advisor for strategic outreach for the Heritage Foundation (http://www.heritage.org/about), says being environmentally-sustainable is important, but too often regulations are put in place which go beyond common sense. “Science has to be ‘good science’ which means it must follow scientific method. That means if you conduct an experiment and write down how you do it, I should be able to replicate your results. Right now species are added to endangered lists based on ‘best available data,’ which doesn’t mean rational, duplicated, sane or even scientific.”

Gordon then went on to illustrate that point by way of the Pleistocene Snail.

The Pleistocene snail (http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/Snails/iops_fct.html) is a tiny snail that lives on rocky outcropping areas in Iowa and was declared ‘endangered’ in 1978. So, the government took over land and created the National Wildlife Refuge near Dubuque to protect the snails. But, there were snags in maintaining the tiny creature’s population because, according to Gordon, the biggest threats remained: the lack of an Ice Age and humans. It seems well-intentioned environmentalists who went out to ‘count’ these tiny snails were killing them by accidentally stepping on them. Since these tiny snails thrived in glacial conditions, the government deemed that the next best ‘savior’ for the Pleistocene is to keep the National Wildlife Refuge near Dubuque in place, and wait for the next Ice Age.

“Clearly, this is a case of speciesism and regulation run amok. We have to remember that environmental policy can’t be good environmental policy if it doesn’t take people into account,” says Gordon.

In an age when snails are deemed more important than farming, feeding people or employing them, something is wrong. That’s why folks like Gordon are out there reading the fine print, calling for people to ask questions and demand conservation efforts be based on repeatable, scientific results that take human beings into account. Waiting for the government to realize this however, could take…until the next Ice Age.

Written by Laurie Johns
Laurie Johns is Public Relations Manager for the Iowa Farm Bureau.

Thankfully, eating healthier doesn’t have to mean snacking on celery sticks or enduring a cabbage-soup diet. Today, dieticians are encouraging Americans to add more variety to their meals by choosing colorful fruits and vegetables, as well as lean meats and dairy foods. Even a decadent piece of dark chocolate is now considered a health food, when eaten in moderation, of course.

Healthy eating has never been as easy as it is today. Walk through the produce aisle of your local grocery store, and you’re likely to find a bounty of good-for-you convenience foods. I especially love the pre-cut broccoli florets that you can pop in the microwave and steam in the same bag they are packaged in. Who has the time, or the knife skills, to cut up a head of broccoli? Definitely not me.

Consumers today are demanding healthier foods to serve their families. And American farmers are listening. Down in the South, farmers are reportedly planting more sweet potatoes, a nutritional “superfood” that is growing in popularity.

Here in Iowa, farmers are focused on raising healthy livestock to provide the lean proteins that consumers demand. Did you know that a pork tenderloin is just as lean as a boneless, skinless chicken breast? In addition, more than 29 cuts of beef are considered lean by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Iowa is also home to more than 200 farmers markets offering a wide assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables. Many Iowa farmers are building “hoop houses,” or unheated greenhouses, to extend their growing season into the winter months.

At the recent Des Moines winter farmers market, vendors were offering cool-season crops such as kale, another “superfood” that has become a trendy vegetable among foodies, according to a recent NPR article (http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2011/12/07/143304131/superfood-kale-in-the-limelight).

The choices really are endless when it comes to healthy eating. It just takes a commitment to making these better choices, and a willingness to try the nutritious foods that our farmers provide.

Written by Teresa Bjork
Teresa is a features Writer for the Iowa Farm Bureau.

Written by Joe Murphy
Joe is a photographer and writer for Iowa Farm Bureau.

The 85 trees that were collected by the Iowa Christmas Tree Growers Association were going to be delivered by FedEx free of charge to Minot Air Force Base in Minot, North Dakota to give holiday cheer to servicemen and women that can’t be home for the holidays.

It’s the busiest time of year for Iowa Christmas tree farmers. But they don’t hesitate to give back to those who do so much to protect our freedom.

“It means an awful lot to soldiers and their families and it means a lot to families back home here knowing that we are remembering those that are in the military and away from home during Christmas time,” said Jan Pecovsky, Executive Director of the Iowa Christmas Tree Growers Association.

Each tree is carefully adorned with a tag that has the “Trees for the Troops” logo on it and a handwritten message from the grower wishing the recipient a great holiday season. This year the national “Trees for the Troops” campaign is hoping to ship its 100,000th Christmas Tree since starting the deliveries in 2005.

“It’s a very honorable thing that we have troops who are willing to sacrifice for us and keep the USA protected, so this is the least I can do,” said Bob Strohbehn, a grower from Brooklyn, IA who has been donating trees from his farm for six years. “We’ve received tear-jerking letters from families telling us how much they appreciate the trees and wreaths we have donated.”

There are just over 100 Choose and Cut Christmas tree farms in Iowa, with close to 1,500 acres in tree production. Approximately 39,000 trees are harvested annually across the state. Real trees are renewable and recyclable, they produce oxygen, prevent soil erosion, filter water, and provide wildlife habitat.
For more information about the Iowa Christmas Tree Growers Association and to find a grower near you,follow this link: http://www.iowachristmastrees.com/

Written by Joe Murphy Joe is a photographer and writer for Iowa Farm Bureau.

Thanksgiving is truly an all-American holiday. And there’s no better reflection of American agriculture and its diversity than the Thanksgiving table. The traditional Thanksgiving dinner features foods grown across the United States, from sea to shining sea.

Here’s a closer look at where your Thanksgiving favorites likely came from, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture:

- Turkey – Our neighbor to the north, Minnesota, is the top turkey-producing state. Iowa ranks ninth nationally in turkey production and is home to two turkey processors, Sara Lee Foods of Storm Lake and West Liberty Foods, which supply deli meats to Subway restaurants, among others.

- Cranberries – Wisconsin is number one in cranberry production. Wisconsin cranberries are grown in marshes, which are flooded at harvest so the berries can “float” for easier collection.

- Sweet potatoes – North Carolina ranks above all others in sweet potato production. Fun fact: Sweet potatoes are native to North Carolina and were grown by American Indians when Columbus discovered America.

- Pumpkin and pecans – Another neighboring state, Illinois, is the nation’s leading pumpkin producer. Prefer pecan pie over pumpkin? The pecans likely came from top-producers Texas and Georgia.

- Bread and stuffing – One-third of the country’s wheat crop, the primary ingredient in breads, stuffing and pie crust, is grown in North Dakota, Kansas and Montana.

- Green beans – It isn’t Thanksgiving without green bean casserole. Wisconsin ranks first in the nation in snap (green) bean production.

You may notice that Iowa isn’t listed as a top producer of our favorite Thanksgiving foods. But that doesn’t mean our state isn’t invited to the table.

Iowa is the nation’s leader in corn, soybean, egg and pork production. The eggs in your pumpkin pie likely came from Iowa, as did the bacon in your green bean casserole. (Everything is better with bacon.)

Iowa farmers also grow the corn and soybeans used to feed turkeys in Minnesota and across the country.
Our highly-productive farms make U.S. agriculture the envy of the world. It’s why we Americans should never take our food, and farmers, for granted.

So let’s raise a glass of wine (yes, many Iowa farmers grow grapes), or milk if you prefer (got to support those Iowa dairy farmers), to the U.S. farmers who fill our plates on Thanksgiving and year-round.

Written by Teresa Bjork
Teresa is a features Writer for the Iowa Farm Bureau.

Food choice is important. But does it really make sense to condemn safe, nutritious food just because you don’t agree with how it is raised? That’s especially true today, when surveys show there are more people around the world—and right here in Iowa—who just don’t have enough to eat.

With the intense clamor these days about food, it’s easy to lose track of the fact that food is essentially about nourishment. That fact was driven home to me recently when my wife and I helped serve a meal at a homeless shelter in downtown Des Moines.

The shelter, only a few blocks from the bustling and pricey restaurants in the city’s restored Western Gateway area, was full on a Sunday evening. Men and women of all ages waited patiently as the volunteers warmed the food, which was prepared that afternoon.

The evening’s menu was simple: baked chicken, roasted potatoes and broccoli. “We wanted to serve a good meat and potatoes meal,” one of volunteers said.

Nearly every patron of the shelter stopped to thank us for the home-cooked meal and for volunteering our time to help them out.

Amid the appreciation for a good meal, I didn’t hear any inquiries about whether the chicken was raised in a free-range environment. Nobody asked if the potatoes were locally grown or if the broccoli was organic.

My experience that night made me wonder why certain food production methods are often being pushed by people who have always had plenty. Researchers refer to this as the “silver spoon” mentality of consumers who have never had to worry about having an abundant supply of safe, nutritious food.

If that’s their choice, that’s fine. But their choice should not dictate or diminish someone else’s choice.

That was really brought home to me that cool November night as I helped serve to people who don’t have plenty and really appreciated a hearty, home-cooked meal.

As the holiday season approaches it’s good to remember those in need. A good place to donate is Iowa Food Bank Association at http://iowafba.org/ or (319) 272-2180.

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

My kids are now 13 and 10 years old and the days when I analyzed and controlled every item of food that went into their growing bodies is long gone. I still scrutinize their food when we sit down to dinner and when they lethargically inhale their breakfasts before school, but they are making lots of choices on their own now. From choosing items at the a-la-carte line at lunch to gnawing on snacks after school, they know what they want to eat and drink and can go for it.

And while not every selection is a healthy one, they do know that they need to use food to fuel their bodies. My daughter is a dancer. My son plays tackle football. And all of us run together, too. (And yes, they both beat me at the last 5k we ran together.)

I’ve been running races for years and my kids have watched me carefully choose my meals before a long run and down chocolate milk when I’m finished. They understand the power of protein and realize that sugar isn’t the way to wake up their tired bodies before a practice. We’ve had a great summer of searching for fresh sweet corn from our favorite farmers at area farmers’ markets and local food stands. And we’ve enjoyed our own harvests of tomatoes, zucchini and carrots from our garden. (And no, the picky eater at my house doesn’t eat most of those things, but we’re working on it…every day.)

No question that obesity is a hard problem to fix as a whole, but not impossible. Not when you break it down. Make sure that you eat more healthy foods such as lean meats, and lots of vegetables and fruits. Build up those bones with milk and dairy. But you can’t simply dictate these instructions and expect them to ‘get it.’ As parents, we need to work to set good examples and teach healthy habits to our kids.

I want my kiddos to be athletic. I’m not saying that my kids and I don’t enjoy ice cream cones or cookies. (We do!! And do so wholeheartedly.) But they also know that if they want to get through rehearsal or practice without running of gas, they have to fill their tanks with the right fuel.

But it starts with understanding how the power of CHOICE (about what you eat and how much you move) will make all the difference. CHOOSE to balance the healthy foods and the snacks at the next meal. CHOOSE to walk the dog every single day! While the kids are at practice, CHOOSE to jog around the park. Don’t just fill up, FUEL up to match your activity and it’ll all balance out.

Written by Heather Lilienthal
Heather is a communications specialist with the Iowa Farm Bureau.

Harvest time on the farm is chaotic; especially with little kids. As the wife, you may be running a tractor and auger cart, running after parts, hauling kids around, and also fixing meals to take to the fields.

For me, I am usually keeping things going at home, hauling kids and fixing meals for about 7 guys. So including myself and 2 kids, I am feeding 10 people every other night (my mother in law gives a break). It consumes a lot of time and sometimes I try to get out of it, and tell the guys to buy food in town, but then I realize how my daughter, who is 4, and my son, age 1, are missing out on the most important reason for taking food to the field – family time.

My daughter is excited to see her daddy to tell about her day at preschool and to maybe ride with him and learn all there is to know. As many questions as she asks, I think that she could run the combine! It is a bonus for her when she sees grandpa and Uncle Jordan in the same field so she can talk to them also. My son babbles; “dada, dada” and smiles from ear to ear when he sees his dad and the combines.

This is when I know that having a “picnic” (according to my daughter) is what it is all about. The kids sleep better and all of our moods are brighter when we get the chance to eat together as a family, and at harvest we are just blessed to be able to eat outside in nature’s beauty.

Written by Jennifer Dammann
Like all families today, farmers often find it difficult to find time for a meal together. But even during the busy harvest time, Page County Farm Bureau member Jennifer Dammann has found the joy and the priceless rewards of making the effort and taking the time to eat together as a family.

This was before Big Box stores or Burger Kings came to rural Iowa, so fast-learning, ambitious farm kids like me earned spending money walking beans, herding livestock, baling hay or unloading grain wagons. But, while I see those experiences as ‘character building,’ the big arm of the Federal Government sees something else. Something darker. Something that must be legislated out of existence.

The Department of Labor (DOL) has Proposed Rules which change the kinds of jobs kids under the age of 18 can do on the farm. The goal is something everyone can agree on: it’s important to reduce farm accidents; even one is too many. But, farmers across the nation say there is more to be lost than gained by this rule.

They have many questions. How much will it cost? Who will police this? How will they crack down on teenagers using Blackberries while their combine is on auto-steer? Will inspectors pull ranch hands off their horses in Wyoming to make sure they’re over the age of 18? Some of those kids learned to ride before they can walk, but in the eyes of the (obviously ‘city dwelling’) rule writers, they aren’t mature enough to know what they’re doing.

Those who’ve grown up on the farm agree that there are risks to farming because you live where you work. The tools to farm today are bigger, faster and more sophisticated than ever before. I mean, my dad’s ‘luxury item’ in his combine was an 8-track player which blared Johnny Cash; today’s big machines have seat belts, rollover bars, auto-steer, GPS, air conditioning, even refrigerators and XM radio capability.

I would argue the kinds of risks I remember on the farm are no greater than the kinds of risks my 14-year-old daughter faces, living here, in the heart of suburbia. For example, if we were living on the farm right now, I wouldn’t worry that some yuppie on a cell phone would blow through a stoplight and run her over, or some Gomer in a white van (http://tinyurl.com/3dwbtvx) would try to kidnap her while she rode her bike down a residential street. Fast-moving traffic, distracted drivers, mall scuffles, skateboarding; there are plenty of risks for ‘city kids,’ yet there aren’t Federal inspectors pulling over 13-year-olds riding Huffy’s in West Des Moines.

Somewhere in the middle lies common sense. I’m just not sure you’ll find too many folks who believe that the Federal Government is wielding a ‘bumper crop’ of that these days.

Written by Laurie Johns
Laurie Johns is Public Relations Manager for the Iowa Farm Bureau.