It was a real treat to introduce you to a variety of farmers from across the country last week in the Kitchen Stewardship Farmers’ Panel.
Personally, I learned a lot and continue to as the comments thread keeps running with some Q&A with certain farmers. The bottom line in my mind is that farming and food is rarely a black and white issue, with the good guys on one side and the bad guys on the other.
Read all the interviews with the panelists:
- Mid-sized farmers (Ohio and New York)
- local (to me) grassfed, organic farmers (Michigan)
- big farm 1: Liz in Iowa
- big farm 2: Debbie in Kansas
- big farm 3: Big L in Wisconsin
I presented the interviews as stand alone posts for a couple reasons. First, each questionnaire is quite lengthy and really didn’t need my commentary to flesh out what you had to read for one day. Second, I really like to let people form their own opinions before I jump in. Now I’m jumping in.
One active commenter, Cirelo, pointed out that it might be too easy to interpret the intended takeaway from a single interview as something like this: “Well, CAFO beef is not as bad as I thought, so I guess I can let the pressure off myself on finding that good beef source.” She felt that it’s a dangerous proposition for me to allow KS to propagate such opinions.
I do my best to be all about balance here. I hate to present only one side of the story, and although I don’t want to justify anything that is inappropriate, unhealthy, or downright dangerous, I’m also a realist. The ideal in many situations isn’t always the possible, at least not all at once. That’s why I wanted to open the doors to the way 95% of CAFO farms operate – family owned and not nearly as big and ugly as Food, Inc. portrays.
Also, in my opinion, not as natural or appealing to me as as another family farm dedicated to raising cows as God intended – on grass.
Scientific Rations vs. Grass and Hay
In nature, what do cows eat? They graze on grass. Their 4-part stomach is designed to digest such roughage, whereas our poor stomach would suffer if we ate grass. (But we can eat cows – isn’t the food chain amazing! Almost as if it was perfectly designed to capture energy from the sun and allow everything on earth to subsist…ahem…)
Finding exclusively grassfed cattle, particularly dairy cattle, is actually very difficult in some locations. Here in Michigan, both local farmers I interviewed said that the cows they have would not be nourished enough to give good milk without some grain to supplement the dried hay rations. A helpful correction in the comments stated that there are U.S. standards that require the label “grassfed” to be equated with “exclusively” – no grains allowed.
Some breeds, generally heritage breeds like Jerseys and Guernseys, are well-fitted for grass alone and milking. We’ve hybridized our cattle to give more milk, and dairy breeds like Holsteins are no longer fitted for exclusively grassfed. One more reason it pays to ask lots of questions of your farmer.
Modern larger dairies and beef operations usually have scientifically balanced rations for their stock, consisting of haylage, silage (sometimes made from whole corn plants), distiller’s by-products and other industry by-products, vitamins and minerals. It’s pretty cool to hear about the fact that some of this food is fermented (see how cow food is made in pictures), since we all know how healthy fermented foods are.
However, reading that list, particularly the fact that industrial by-products are used, makes me cringe. The “green and crunchy” gal in me does appreciate the fact that something that might otherwise go to waste is turned into food, but there’s the vital question about the nutrition of the food and whether it’s a good fit for the digestive system of cattle.
When I make croutons from old bread or stock from vegetable trimmings and chicken bones, it’s a way to harness garbage and use it for food. However, if I make croutons from old white hamburger buns or use goitrogenic vegetables (like broccoli or kale) in my stock, I’m doing more harm than good for my family’s nutrition. Better to just throw them away, or compost them.
There’s a strong sense in me, backed up by science (some sources here), that cattle should be eating real food, just like people. Real food for cows is grass, which includes dried hay and alfalfa in the off-season.
A reader who has a milking cow sent some photos of her 100% grassfed cows.
“Here are two pictures of our Milking Shorthorn, Hannah, from last summer and one picture of her calf from last year, Amos. We bought Hannah when she was a 500 lb heifer. She has had two calves for us and she will be calving again very soon. These pictures are from last summer. All our cattle are 100% grass-fed. We drink the milk raw.”
I’m no cattle judger, but I’d love to hear from people who are. It sounds like cattle judging (deciding if a cow looks healthy, basically) has simply changed its standards to fit grain-fed instead of grassfed cows over the last few decades. That makes sense to me, but I’m pretty happy with beef that might not make Grade A if it’s been raised more naturally. I might not make Grade A myself, you know, but I’m okay with the no makeup look, even if the culture is not.
Cirelo makes the perfect point on “scientifically balanced rations” vs. the grass God created as the perfect food for cows. It is very similar to the way we feed our babies as humans: do we believe that scientists have figured out the right nutrition for newborns, i.e. baby formula, or can we trust in nature’s way, i.e. breastfeeding? I’m a breastfeeding mama and proud of it, and although I know there are circumstances that warrant formula, it is still only a pale replica of breastmilk. I feel the same about cows and grass.
What About GMOs?
I haven’t done my own research on genetically modified foods, but I’m wary enough of anyone “playing God” and messing with DNA to judge them “guilty until proven innocent” instead of the opposite, which is the perspective of the government. Seems downright dangerous to me to risk our collective health with that philosophy, the same one that resulted in DDT being sprayed up and down dense neighborhood streets decades ago. DDT was finally proven guilty when cancer went rampant. I’m not sure I’m willing to wait for GMOs to have the same result.
Much of the time, crops are genetically modified so they require fewer chemicals, a good goal, but I’d rather have crops that don’t need chemicals at all.
Here’s the real danger, as I see it now, with genetically modified crops: some of them cross-pollinate openly with other crops in the area, and in a very short amount of time, there will be ZERO plants of certain species that don’t have GM genes. Alfalfa is one of those open pollinating plants, and the government just okayed GM alfalfa.
I am greatly concerned about this, because as more research on genetic modification is completed, we may find that they’re harmful to us, animals, or the ecosystem. We may not, but if we do…there’s not going to be an “undo” button.
Once all the alfalfa in the country has been taken over by the GM plants, we will have no choice. Organic cattle farmers will have no choice. And we can’t turn back the clock.
Please take a minute to read some articles about genetically modified alfalfa:
- from The Washington Post
- from The Huffington Post
- take 60 seconds to take action by writing your legislators HERE – use the red arrows to compose a quick message, and it literally won’t take more than a minute.
Confinement vs. Pastured
The three farmers from larger farms that would be qualified “confinement” operations will tell you that the animals are comfortable, clean, and healthy. That may be, but I still send my kids outside to play, even when it’s cold and their toes come in half frozen. Comfortable cows may not always be the healthiest cows, just like the argument that “cows like grain!” is faulty – kids like candy, but we don’t feed it to them as part of a balanced diet.
The farmers also use preventative antibiotics, and both local farmers who raise 100% or mainly grassfed animals have never or rarely found the need for antibiotics. I can’t argue with that.
I realize many people in America have no problem with antibiotics and welcome them to treat their own minor and major illnesses. We as a society like to feel well and don’t appreciate the value of suffering.
I am counter-cultural in this realm.
How I Feel About Antibiotics
I try to avoid antibiotics whenever possible, even when my children have to suffer for an additional day. That may sound horrible and sadistic to you, but I truly believe I have my children’s (and society’s) best interests in mind, and those decisions come with no small amount of consternation and fear on my part.
It may be that the antibiotics are fully out of the animals’ systems before milk or meat reaches the consumer. That’s great – it’s not directly affecting my health. But I value the overall health of the ecosystem called Earth as well.
One of the larger farmers pointed out that we have a LOT of work to do with humans and antibiotics if we’re really serious about combatting bacterial resistance, and she’s absolutely right. I just don’t think the farming industry needs to wait for humans to get their acts together before they worry about their own overuse of antibiotics.
I would never, ever use antibiotics as preventative medication in my own body or that of my family. I personally want to hold my meat to the same standard and am so thankful I have local farmers who feel the same way.
How About Hormones?
I admit I was VERY pleased and a little surprised that Debbie said she uses no hormones whatsoever. (Sigh of relief) There are probably a million environmental reasons, all caused by humans, for the rampant infertility and early onset of puberty that we’re seeing in our world. Whether hormones in our meat and dairy supply is one of them, I can’t say for sure…but it’s another fishy area that makes me extremely nervous.
KS readers had a good conversation about hormones on Facebook recently, which you can read HERE. I think it’s another place where we need to say “guilty until proven innocent” and “if not necessary, don’t do it.” We Americans don’t need to eat more meat than we do, and I firmly believe that we don’t have a deficit of meat or a food supply crisis. Show me empty grocery store meat counters and I’ll admit that we need to figure out how to raise more meat…maybe. I do not support artificial hormones, for people or for animals. Period.
The End
I’m sure there are a few points I didn’t address, but I encourage you to read the conversation in the comments at the Farmers’ Panel posts, particularly the ongoing discussion at this one, which cover some really fascinating points.
I’d love to hear more from readers! What do you think? What kind of beef and milk do you buy? Do you consider what the animals eat? Did you learn anything from the wide spectrum of panelists who were so kind to answer my questions? Do you have any more questions for them?
Two Upcoming Events
I expect the soaked grains FREE recipe eBook to be released on Monday in lieu of the regular Monday Mission. It’s almost 90 pages long and packed with great recipes and information! I can’t wait to share it with you!
I’m also working on the next eBook for purchase, which just received its title thanks to Jen Pagano and the wonders of Facebook. Introducing…
Better than a Box: How to Transform Convenience Recipes into Whole Foods Favorites
The subtitle is still tentative, but the goal of the book is to be a teaching tool so that you can take those old Kraft Food & Family recipes that use canned and boxed ingredients and re-make them to use real foods and great nutrition. I’m excited to keep plugging away at it and hope it will be an awesome resource for anyone who wants to use more whole foods and avoid those inner aisles of the grocery store.
Have a great weekend!
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I’m entered in Fight Back Friday at Food Renegade.
Katie, you stated, “Once all the alfalfa in the country has been taken over by the GM plants, we will have no choice. Organic cattle farmers will have no choice. And we can’t turn back the clock.”
I think we may have a choice. Alfalfa is great, but it is not the only thing. It is just the only thing most of us know. Years ago, the buffalo and other grass animals did not have alfalfa to eat in the winter. Our natural prairies had the nutrients to sustain them. Pa Ingalls animals seemed to do fine with the prairie grass he and Laura put up for winter.
There is a misson called Caritas in Alabama that went to all natural forages. That is natural to their area of the Alabama. People told them they were crazy and it would not sustain their animals. The people were wrong. They have been so successful, that those people now want the hay they raise.
I am just beginning to research the natural forages for my part of the country. (If anyone has had any luck with this line of thought, I would love to hear from you.) My husband and I would like to get to a point were we are growing and using only natural grasses. Then we would not have to rely on alfalfa as GMO alfalfa is a real threat to what we believe.
I believe this is the way to go for organic farmers and others who do not want the GMO’s. Is this how God really intended it anyway?
[Reply to this comment]
Katie Reply:
May 8th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
Amy,
Great insights – you’re right, there will be choices other than alfalfa, but I hate to think of destroying an entire crop, regardless. A lot of people take alfalfa supplements, too, because the tap root goes SO deep it can pick up minerals and nutrients from the soil unheard of in most plants.
Would you believe I just finished reading The Long Winter (which you referenced with the hay) 5 minutes ago to my son? It’s amazing that any of them got through that winter, really….
Thanks!
Katie
[Reply to this comment]
I have used antibiotics as a preventative in my family twice and I don’t regret it. Actually, probably three times. Once, for myself when I had my c-section. Once for the first 2 years of my daughter’s life – she has severe kidney reflux and a UTI could very quickly become a kidney infection putting her in danger. And then she had antibiotics during and directly following her surgery to repair the condition. I personally feel those times were worth it.
That said, we do currently eat commercial meat. I haven’t been able to find a place that sells grassfed beef cheap enough for me to stomach it yet! Right now we are paying between $2-2.50/lb of ground beef. That’s hard to beat. And let’s not even mention pastured chickens. I get my whole chicken for about $1-2/lb and I couldn’t find pastured chicken for less than $5/lb. Pretty big difference. So,for now, it’s how we eat. I’m just happy to be on a diet that doesn’t contain many processed foods – I feel like that’s a big step in the right direction. *shrug*
[Reply to this comment]
Katie Reply:
May 8th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
Baby steps! Definitely a step in the right direction!
Katie
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So tickled you like my title – can’t wait for your new e-book!
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You know, the argument about cows and grains vs. humans and formula…. You could take that even further. We’ve changed the standards for babies, too, so that the growth charts are based on formula fed babies instead of breastfed babies. We can change the standards all we want and think that we have “normal” babies, or cows, or whatever…but we don’t. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard babies need formula and cows need grains…to fatten them up. Why do we want either of them “fat” anyway?
We definitely eat 100% grass-fed beef and meat. I don’t care how “safe” it is, or how much “science” there is, or how much the farmers care about their animals…I do not want to grain-fed, antibiotic-filled meat. Period.
[Reply to this comment]
Katie Reply:
May 8th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
Thank you for extending the analogy, Kate. Perfect. Dead on.
Katie
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Tonya Reply:
May 8th, 2011 at 8:19 pm
no meat is antibiotic filled when it reaches the consumer Kate.
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Katie,
I agree with your line of thinking.
Cattle and ruminants were made to consume grass and although they may enjoy grain like a child enjoys candy there are consequences. Just because an animal will eat something and it won’t kill them right away does not mean it should be fed to them. There are CAFO’s feeding waste products like chicken feather meal and urine to get that extra pound of flesh. I read about a study to see how much bubblegum waste a cow could eat without killing them to take advantage of bubblegum and aluminum papers from a candy factory. What are they thinking?
GMOs will probably come back to haunt us. Bt corn that is engineered with a toxic bacteria gene and is toxic to the insects that try to eat it, is beyond scary. There are other GMOs that have been shown to cause disruptive and inflammatory problems in the gut of animal that are fed them. If given a choice animals will not eat the GMO in favor of the non engineered grain and many would completely refuse to eat the GMO.
Horses are showing more and more signs of feed intolerances and there is an increase in ulcers and cancers.
Ponder this: 1 in 133 people have a gluten or wheat intolerance. That is staggering. If that were some other disease like cancer or heart disease it would be considered epidemic. But no one says anything about it….Why? Because of big agribusiness?
If we were to spend more attention to our food maybe we could spend less on health care and pharmaceuticals, but that would affect big business and corporate profits.
I am willing to upset the apple cart. You are what you eat.
[Reply to this comment]
Katie Reply:
May 8th, 2011 at 4:08 pm
Roll them apples, Rosann!
I’m in the depths of exploring a possible gluten intolerance in my husband and son, and I’ve been curious about what is (and is not!) being done about that 1/133 figure, of which I was aware and surprised. How we grow and process our food has changed SO MUCH over the past century; of course we’re seeing dramatic effects… Thanks, Katie
[Reply to this comment]
Amy Reply:
May 8th, 2011 at 4:33 pm
Rosann, You are so right. They are feeding such junk to these animals. My husband was the next in line to unload at the feed mill. The truck that was unloading in front of him had on what they call bakery waste. It came out of the Twin Cities. It was ground up, past expiration date candy, candy bars, gum, doughnuts, etc. To speed things along, my husband helped the driver to scoop/push the contents of the trailer through the hooper. He said it smelled very stale, yet sweet. It was a bit sticky and this was a few months back when it was cold out. It was not good enough for humans to consume, but it was okay for the animals to eat. Do we really want to eat pork, beef, or chicken that has consumed this? Why would any animal need that much sugar?
[Reply to this comment]
Rosann Reply:
May 8th, 2011 at 5:28 pm
I have a friend whose son raised a pig for the county fair and FFA auction. I made a comment about bidding on it and the father said I would not if I were you, you would not believe the junk food he fed that pig to get it to weight… Cake mixes, bakery goods, waffles and high sugar foods. Ugh! What are we teaching the next generation of farmers?
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Great follow up! It could sound disheartening hearing from some that think it is impossible to grass feed alone, so I really appreciate hearing from you.
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Appreciate your balanced perspective, as always. I read many blogs, but posts/series like these are what makes you one of the best. Thanks for sharing and for all your hard work
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great summary
I agree with everything you said-I’m still very new to eating local, but now that I’ve researched it these past few month, it just makes sense to me.
As for us-we’ve just started getting our beef from Grassfields farm. I’m hoping other farmers will have their meats at the farmers markets this summer, so I can try other local options.
Milk-me and the kids drink almond or coconut milk, and hubby drinks the regular stuff at Meijer. He has no interest in organic or raw milk, and right now I’m not going to make an issue of it.
[Reply to this comment]
Katie Reply:
May 8th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
Sara,
Katie
There will be lots of meat farmers at the market this summer (Fulton, for sure, but others too) – in fact, I just realized I missed the official opening day yesterday! You’ll love it!
[Reply to this comment]
sara Reply:
May 8th, 2011 at 8:26 pm
i had the opening on my calendar, but we had so much going on yesterday that we just couldn’t fit it in. I can’t wait to go though!
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Sorry for derailing a bit — why is broccoli/kale, etc bad to include when making stocks?
[Reply to this comment]
Katie Reply:
May 8th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Julie,
Katie
Those veggies have either goitrogens or oxalic acid in them, which is neutralized when cooked – but it goes into the water. If you’ve ever had tummyaches after eating raw broccoli or spinach salad, that’s what’s affecting you. A little bit is no big deal, but it just doesn’t make sense to me to put toxins into my stock on purpose!
[Reply to this comment]
Katie, you stated, “Once all the alfalfa in the country has been taken over by the GM plants, we will have no choice. Organic cattle farmers will have no choice. And we can’t turn back the clock.”
I think we may have a choice. Alfalfa is great, but it is not the only thing. It is just the only thing most of us know. Years ago, the buffalo and other grass animals did not have alfalfa to eat in the winter. Our natural prairies had the nutrients to sustain them. Pa Ingalls animals seemed to do fine with the prairie grass he and Laura put up for winter.
There is a misson called Caritas in Alabama that went to all natural forages. That is natural to their area of the Alabama. People told them they were crazy and it would not sustain their animals. The people were wrong. They have been so successful, that those people now want the hay they raise.
I am just beginning to research the natural forages for my part of the country. (If anyone has had any luck with this line of thought, I would love to hear from you.) My husband and I would like to get to a point were we are growing and using only natural grasses. Then we would not have to rely on alfalfa as GMO alfalfa is a real threat to what we believe.
I believe this is the way to go for organic farmers and others who do not want the GMO’s. Is this how God really intended it anyway?
[Reply to this comment]
There is one aspect that you didn’t bring out in talking about the midsize and larger farmers — local knowledge of where my meat comes from. While I might be willing to buy from one of their farms because I think they treat their animals well and acceptably, how can I know that I am getting the meat/milk from their cows? Even if I trusted them absolutely to provide me with a quality product, the system itself does not allow me to know that of ALL the farmers out there. And what the government accepts is not necessarily what I accept. So no matter what, I am always going to vote for a local farm where I can visit if decide to rather than one that I cannot even identify.
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Oh, one other thing, if you are really wanting to tackle the gluten-free cooking, especially the baking, since that might help console your husband, you might check out the Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef.
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That future ebook of you sounds great! I hate it when a recipe says “one can of red beans” and has me figuring out how big their can of beans is and how much dry beans I need to get it… I could use some help with that
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Katie Reply:
May 9th, 2011 at 12:10 am
If it’s beans you want, I can help you out right now! The winter eBook was actually called The Everything Beans Book and includes all those measurements and other tips for dry beans, plus 30 recipes.
http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2011/03/01/now-available-the-everything-beans-book/ 
Katie
[Reply to this comment]
Also-just blogged about this post/series, on my blog
http://raspberrymusings.wordpress.com/2011/05/09/what-she-said-kitchen-stewardship/
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I’m a transplant from a city to a farm. As far as animal nutrition and the concern about corn and grains in a bovine’s diet in particular, there has been and continues to be a great deal of research into the nutritional needs of these animals. In the past, I have seen evaluations for some of the odd foods given to these animals but always with a nutritional analysis so that these odd foods don’t throw off an animal’s diet. I also don’t understand the concern about corn in a bovine diet. Of course, too much is not good if it throws off fiber intake or causes other problems, but corn is a product that provides certain positive things like energy, which is really needed by animals producing milk or who are pregnant or during certain growth stages of their life. I don’t understand either why people don’t think corn for animals isn’t “natural.” Wild animals have always been attracted to corn as long is it has been planted by native Indians. As far as antibiotics for animals, milk and meat producers cannot ship products containing antibiotics. There are laws to discourage that and, if a farmer did that, he may end up in huge legal and financial trouble (such as when his milk contaminates a tank load of everyone’s milk because he would be legally and financially responsible for any losses to those other people). I have similar opinion on many other things not well understood by the public, but it would take a book to clarify a fraction of them.
[Reply to this comment]
Patty Reply:
May 11th, 2011 at 10:24 am
bk,
Welcome to the farm! Just a few quick comments –
On nutritional analysis (feed tags) – though the stated levels are guaranteed (protein, fat), the ingredients may differ depending on availability. A commodity pellet (a common ruminant feed) may be formulated differently by different feed mills even though they have the same analysis. Mixing the last old bag of feed with the first bag of new feed eliminates any belly aches or turned up noses.
Corn in cattle – The corn we produce today is very different than the maize that sustained the early settlers. Unlike today, it would have been available in very limited quantities, and only in the fall, when animals are accumulating their fat stores for winter.
Antibiotics – Though antibiotic use in the dairy industry is highly regulated, I’m not too sure about the beef side, particularly in cull (burger) cows. These old cows are usually just sold through the local sale barn, and sellers don’t know where their old cows are going, buyers don’t know where they came from. With the long withdrawal periods for some antibiotics (38 days for Nuflor) I’m not going to sit here and say that there is 100% compliance.
Keep it up, bk. We’ll get that book knocked out in no time!
[Reply to this comment]
You are exactly right. There are laws to prevent/discourage animals on antibiotics to be consumed. That does not mean that every farmer follows the law to the T.
But, my question is four-fold for you: 1)Because a certain drug has a 48 hour period (or whatever the timeframe) after usage is completed before the animal can be milked or sold for meat, can there not be some residue? Even a minute bit? Is there not some allowance? How can we know for sure that not even a bit is being stored somewhere in that animal’s body? 2)What about the the bacteria that could be in these products that was mutanted to a superbug because of the antibiotic preventation programs? 3) Do we as consumer really want to eat something that was just sick? I would rather choose an animal that was healthy from the start. 4) Why not just raise the animals in a way that does not require antibiotics? In all of our years raising grass-fed cattle, we have never needed an antibiotic. It seems much cheaper and just better stewardship to me.
I also have seen many evaluations on “odd” foods. The nutritional analysis are always there. Protein is one thing that is heavily talked about. Yes, there is protein in chicken poop. Yes, you can balance the ration of chicken poop with other odd food items. The animal will grow and fatten for market. It may not be healthy, but we have antibiotics to help us with that. It reminds me of a family that I know in my town. They feed their toddler pop because it is cheaper then milk, but it is okay because he is getting a balance diet with the other foods he is eating. Yet, he is sick quite often, but no problems because they go to the doctor and get an antibiotic. The difference in my mind between these two situations is this: The animal will be off to market in under two years if not sooner. We do not get to see what happens to that animal from eating junk long term. Our children today have the highest rate ever of diabetes, cancer, autism, learning disorders of all sorts, and every disease is up in children dramatically. From my perspective, I want to go the healthiest route possible for my food and my family.
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Katie,
Thanks for presenting more than one side. The info didn’t really change my mind on what our family has chosen to do, but it confirmed our choices. I like the open and honest remarks from the farmers and this is once again one of those things that may be different for each family.
However, GMO’s MUST go. Corn is open pollinated too, isn’t it? Up to a mile away even. It’s a problem for us because we live less than a mile upwind of a corn farm that doesn’t buy organic, so it’s likely GM. Even if we grow our own, we have no way of knowing if it’s free of GMO’s.
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I just wanted to comment on the line, “Much of the time, crops are genetically modified so they require fewer chemicals, a good goal, but I’d rather have crops that don’t need chemicals at all.”
From what I have read this is not really the case. Monsanto makes Round-Up (a powerful herbicide) and GMO plants have been designed so that they can be sprayed with Round-Up and not killed. That is why they are also referred to as Round-Up Ready Soy/Corn/etc. A farmer can plant a field of soybeans, spray the heck out of it with Round-Up, and not have to worry about it killing his crops (but it sure does kill everything else). Some of these plants also produce their own pesticides/herbicides as a result of the genetic modifications. Scientists have found that some children, who eat a lot of processed foods, are actually beginning to produce pesticides in their guts as a result.
When animals are offered GMO food and non-GMO food they take the non-GMO food EVERY SINGLE time. They only eat the GMO when there is nothing else available (like cows in feed lots being fed GMO corn).
[Reply to this comment]
Katie Reply:
May 12th, 2011 at 12:14 am
Gah! That is…um…scary to the nth degree. Pretty sure humans aren’t supposed to create pesticides, right?
Thank you for clearing that up for me – someone on another post this week must have talked about the GMOs/pesticides, so probably there are various kinds of GMO goals. I didn’t actually understand round-up ready corn, although I remember seeing signs for it all through Indiana…
Yikes. I’m going to have to research more about GMOs soon, especially since with gluten-free living lately, we’ve been eating a lot of corn chips.
Thank you! Katie
[Reply to this comment]
Kelly Reply:
May 12th, 2011 at 12:38 am
My understanding is that instead of pesticide use going down, as was the goal, it is WAY HIGHGER. It takes more and more chemicals instead of less and less.
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Jackie (Auburn Meadow Farm) Reply:
May 13th, 2011 at 5:48 am
I love the format you used to interview the farmers – I agree that plenty of conventional farmers are taking a beating by consumers looking for black and white solutions.
Mandi – have you read an actual study about animal’s preference for non GMO foods? I ask not to be contentious but because I’ve been wondering if anyone’s documented this and thinking that if not, someone should. I’d love to read it….
Thank you for all your hard work!
[Reply to this comment]
Amy Reply:
May 13th, 2011 at 8:11 am
I have not read an actual study, but my husband and I did our own study this past year. We noted at harvest time 2010, all the small piles of corn that had spilled over from the wagons, trailers, etc. 100% of these piles were GMO corn and in very rural settings. Most piles where near our home, which is next to a conservation area, meaning a lot of wildlife. All of these piles are still there today. They were not eaten. We dumped some organic corn out last fall to see if it would last or not. It was all gone within the week. I remember a time not long ago, any pile of grain that was spillled over on the road would have a flock of birds on it. You would see them as you drove up to it. They would fly up and away when you drove past and then land back down afterwards. Those same GMO corn spills of today have no bird flocks on them. It makes you go Hmmmm…….!
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Kelly Reply:
May 13th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
Amy, curious how you can tell that the corn is GM? Did you actually take samples and test, or are assuming it is because it wasn’t eaten? I want to avoid GMO’s at all costs, but I don’t know how to tell by looking if corn is GM or not.
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Amy Reply:
May 13th, 2011 at 4:15 pm
You can not tell by looking if it is GMO corn or not. I wish it was that simple. These piles were GMO corn. We know this for several reasons. 1) We know all our neighbors from generations of us all living together and we know what they grow. 2) Most of the farmers here post signs telling you what kind of corn/soybeans it is. It is the seed company’s way of advertising. They also often post the chemcial used as well. Example: a corn and soybean field had a Headline Fungicide sign to indiciate what was used on that crop. A lot of Roundup Ready signs are all around us. 3) My husband is a truck driver. He hauls a lot of grain off the farms and knows by talking with the farmers what they grow. He loves to ask questions and be a devil’s advocate with them. Unfortunately over 90% of our area and Iowa in general is GMO corn and soy. We just have eliminated corn out of our diet to avoid the whole GMO issue. It was a challenge, but you just get use to it.
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Kelly Reply:
May 13th, 2011 at 4:40 pm
That’s kinda what I thought, but if there was more to it, I wanted to know. Thanks for clarifying! The small farm down the road from us does not put up signs, but a friend that works at our only grocery store sees one of the employees and he said it’s not organic. I know that doesn’t automatically mean GMO, but most likely it is.
We too are trying to avoid it. I searched for soy free chocolate and found a good source. Most other things we just do without or go organic. I hate to admit it, but after a rough day yesterday we went to Quizno’s to eat and I drank a fountain soda with HFCS, also most likely GMO.
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Katie Reply:
May 19th, 2011 at 12:11 am
Wow…I am very late to see this comment, but that’s AMAZING. Thank you!
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Eating Local: Meat — Eat Local, West Michigan! // Oct 3, 2011 at 6:10 pm
[...] one’s head spin. So if you would like to explore those issues more, I encourage you to read Farmer’s Panel over at my friend Katie’s blog, Kitchen Stewardship. One of the reasons I love her blog is [...]