July Issue

Down the Dusty Lane
3.5%. During the same period total U.S. in processed foods such as corn starch or
meat production has increased 50%, milk corn syrup, whether it is fed to cattle and
Ohio’s Source for Ag Information
production has increased almost 20% and other livestock, or whether it is used as
Vol. 17; Issue 19; July 2009
egg production has increased about 32%. ethanol or fiber. Its versatility as a safe and
Woohoo! Let the people shout our inexpensive ingredient is second to none,
table of Contents
successes from the rooftops, while which is why demand for it persists.
doing so cheaply and safely on a full “This film’s producers don’t like the
stomach, right? steps government, the food industry and
Sadly, that doesn’t seem to be the case, commodity groups like NCGA have
features
and the mainstream media and numerous taken to keep food prices low and help
fear-mongering authors and publicists are feed the world’s hungry. We have the
doing their best to achieve financial gain least expensive food of any nation, and
News
from the general public’s increasing loss of for that we’re grateful.
touch with where their food comes from, “Further, the movie’s producers offer
CleanWaTeRaCTRefoRM . . . . . . . .5
or how it is produced. no large-scale workable solution, just
Enter the latest example — Food, Inc. more outdated practices that will reduce
opiNioN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
kyle sharp, editor
— a “documentary” produced by film- yield and drive up costs — in effect,
BuCkeYe Briefs . . . . . . .9
Today’s average American farmer
maker Robert Kenner, and authors Eric making sure fewer mouths are fed at a
feeds about 144 people worldwide,
Schlosser (“Fast Food Nation”) and higher cost.”
Markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
according to the International Food
Michael Pollan (“The Omnivore’s Here’s a little blunter opinion.
Information Council. The products of
Dilemma,” “In Defense of Food”). The “Food, Inc., is trash. It has less value
Crops
the U.S. food system are the safest in the
movie promises to “lift the veil on our than the raw feedlot fertilizer farmers
world, and also the cheapest. We spend
nation’s food industry” and contends that spread on the land,” said David Fremark,
CRops enViRonMenTalsTeWaRd . . .15
only 9.5% of our income on food today
“our nation’s food supply is now con- president of the South Dakota Corn
in the United States, half of what we
trolled by a handful of corporations that Utilization Council.
LivestoCk
spent in 1960.
often put profit ahead of consumer health, To help offset any misinformation
And with all the current interest in
the livelihood of the American farmer, the spread by the film, an alliance of meat and CoVeR sToRY:
“carbon footprints” and being “green,” it’s
safety of workers and our own environ- poultry industry groups has created a new
great to know that U.S. farmers are more
ment,” according to materials on the film- Web site, SafeFoodInc.org. liVesToCkenViRonMenTalsTeWaRds .
than holding their own.
makers’ Web site, “U.S. meat and poultry is among the
Proof of this comes from Field to
www.foodincmovie.com. safest, most abundant and most affordable
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1, 21-24, 27
Market, a broad-based alliance including
The film opened June 12 in New York, anywhere in the world,” the site states.
food and agriculture interests tasked with
Los Angeles and San Francisco, obvious “We have achieved success through
farM equipMeNt . . . . .31
defining and measuring the sustainability
bastions of the U.S. agricultural industry research, technology and plain hard work.
of food and fiber production. The group
where plenty of farm folks could be avail- Our members are large and small, urban
CouNtrY Life
recently released the Environmental
able to tell people the true success story and rural, old-world and modern cutting
seRbian faRM VisiToRs . . . . . . . . .32
Resource Indicators Report, which looks at
that is U.S. agriculture … yeah right. More edge. Despite this, the makers of ‘Food,
the 20-year period from 1987 to 2007. The
like a good place to make a buck off plen- Inc.’ and the subjects they interview seek CLassifieDs . . . . . . . . . . .37
report cites growth in sustainability by
ty of people who don’t know any better. to paint our industries as big, bad and
corn farmers across five areas including
After leaving the coasts, the film was mechanized. They seek to prove their
CaLeNDar . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
water use and quality, land use and biodi-
to be gradually released further into the point though a selective use of the facts.”
versity, soil loss, energy use, and climate
heartland. Scheduled screenings in Ohio The site aims to “set the record
impact. Findings included:
are July 3, Cleveland Heights, Cedar Lee straight” with fact sheets, brochures,
Theatres; July 10, Cincinnati, Esquire charts, video tours and lists of third-party
CoLuMNs
• Land use per bushel of corn
decreased 37%.
Theatre; and July 24, Athens, Athena experts who can offer more information. It
Cinema 3. Why not theaters in Hillsboro, details what the ag groups call 34 myths
ManaGinG The MaRkeT . . . . . . . . .12
• Soil loss above a tolerable level has
decreased 69% per bushel.
Greenville, Napoleon or Wooster? in the film and the corresponding facts
Perhaps those audiences wouldn’t be that should have been included. Sadly, the
CounTRYCRossRoads . . . . . . . . . .16
• Irrigation water use per bushel has
decreased 27%.
quite so accepting. site won’t get nearly the press that “Food
• Energy use per bushel decreased
Yet admittedly, I have not seen the film Inc.” garners.
appliedenGineeRinG . . . . . . . . . . .31
37%.
yet, so I suppose I can’t be too critical. Why? Because the media loves scan-
• Greenhouse gas emissions per
Hence, I’ll leave that up to others within dal, controversy and negativity to plas- foodChaT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
bushel decreased 30%.
the agricultural community. ter upon the front page or lead off the
On the livestock side, all of animal
National Corn Growers Association primetime news. “Americans enjoy buCkeYe spoRTsMan . . . . . . . . . . .34
agriculture’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emis-
President Bob Dickey had this to say: world’s safest, cheapest, most sustain-
sions from 1990 to 2005 have remained
“The fact is, conventional U.S. field able food supply” is a headline that just
CaRinG foR The land . . . . . . . . . .35
nearly constant, increasing by only about
corn is a safe product, whether it is used doesn’t fit that description.
YOUR 2 009
Be there.
Tuesday and Wednesday,
BALE OUT.
September 22, 23, 24, 2009
8:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M.
Thursday, 8:00 A.M.–4:00 P.M.
Surviving in the current economy can be challenging.
Molly Caren Agricultural Center
Buy Your Tickets today.
Wondering where your bailout is? London, Ohio
$5.00 in advance and $8.00 at the gate.
It’s at the 47th annual Farm Science Review.
Children 5 and under are admitted free.
Explore 83 acres of exhibits, 600 exhibitors,
Tickets are available from OSU Extension
more than 4000 equipment brands and more
offices and local agribusinesses.
than 750 acres of field demonstrations.
visit us at: fsr.osu.edu
If your business is agriculture…our business is you! If you ur business is agricultu ure…our business is you! ou!

4News • Ohio’s Country Journal • July 2009

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