Monday, March 29, 2010

Agvocating to the modern consumer...

I read an article in my Smithsonian magazine this month and realized that there may be people advocating for agriculture in this world that are not aware they are. There is an article about The Cowboys of the R.A. Brown Ranch in Texas that really gets to the heart of modern cattle farming in America. It explains very technical issues like Expected progeny Differences (EPDs to those in the know) and freeze branding with a very non-biased and informative approach. It gave me heart to realize that there are journalist in the world who are not out to sink modern Agriculture.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/multimedia/videos/The-Cowboys-of-RA-Brown-Ranch.html

Most farms are still a family farm, especially beef farms like we own. And lord knows that I now know that EPDs are like air to my husband. We live and breath birth weights, weaning weights and all those other numbers that look like a stock report to me.

I hope the above link can help us all realize that there are other people telling our story in a positive not negative light. So, if you get the chance you might want to read this months Smithsonian magazine story about a red Angus bull named Revelation and his ranch in modern Texas. Cowboys with Blackberrys - Its a brave new world...

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Speaking up and Speaking out...

If you haven't figured out by now there are two issues that I am passionate about... agriculture and medicine. I want to make sure that my Husband and I have a farm to leave our three children, and I want to be able to practice medicine in my rural hometown in the way I was trained to provide it. Sometimes keeping these two goals together is hard like when I was bottle feeding a calf on Christmas Day and had to stop to talk to the Nursing Home, but that is the life I have chosen. And it is the life I love. many of the blogged that I have posted in the last few days have been somewhat negative, and overall I'll admit my outlook on our nation has been grim, but as I was reading and studying the word of our Lord last night after the kids were in bed I found hope and comfort that I wanted to share...

In Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who streghtenthens me."

Yes, that made me feel better at the time, but then I thought that maybe even our Country, founded on the words, "In GOD we Trust" can still do all things through him as well. We are not supposed to understand the overall plan for us, just believe, work, and have faith.

So along those lines, I wanted to share some positive things some fellow AGVOCATES are doing to get the word out about the positive impacts American Farmers have on our Country.

My personal favorite agvocacy example is about being an example. Ray Bowman served at the soup kitchen in Kentucky. He said “Didn’t hear much discussion about food ethics. Guess they were just happy and grateful to have something to eat. Thank a farmer.”

A farmer in Nebraska, Ryan Weeks, spent a morning on a food panel for the local MOPS (Mothers Of Pre-Schoolers). “We had a great conversation about where their food comes from. The feed back afterwards was great, and many myths were dispelled.”

I’ll also tip my hat to Zweber Family Farm in Minnesota for knowing that connecting people to agriculture is so important. “Agvocacy is included in our budget and in our daily schedules. Check our blog to see how we agvocate four to six days a week.”

Michigan farmers rallied to defend Ag Day after Gov. Granholm declared Saturday Meatout Day in Michigan. On top of numerous ag week activities many farmers hosted “meaty” cookouts in response to the Governor’s decision to turn her back on one of Michigan’s only economic bright spots.

Andy Kleinschmidt, an agronomist in Ohio, spent time with 3rd graders with an Ag in the Classroom program, toured with Ohio Governor Strickland to Cooper Farms in Van Wert and had a meeting with the top supplier of honey to Wal-Mart.

Florida Extension was encouraging teachers to teach their students about agriculture this week through reading, experiments, field trips, anything to get them to bridge the knowledge gap of farm to fork according to mom and artist, Katherine Swift, also a DVM.

What better way to learn than through appreciation? Teacher Robin McLean said her seventh & eight graders in Introduction to Agriscience class are working on “Thank a Farmer” cards. They have picked a state and or commodity they want, found an address to send to and are designing their cards to send, she reports.

It’s heartwarming to see young people get in on the action, too. Miranda Bye reports she was part of a young group of college people representing 4-H, FFA, and AFA by doing Capitol Hill visits spreading the great story of agriculture in Washington DC.
Dairy farmer Chris Sukalski said “We host a neighborhood picnic each summer on our dairy farm inviting not just neighbors but also people from the community. We introduce and recognize our employees & family members, serve a meal with malts and the finale’ is a farm tour. The best part is when someone brings along their visiting relatives from out-of-state – we’ve had guests from Florida to California at our “neighborhood” picnic.”

LuAnn Troxel in Indiana said “Our county farm bureau is making plans to host 200 Michigan City children. Most have never been near a farm. We will teach them how their food is produced, we will feed them and then we will let them see live animals. This is always a wonderful hands-on learning experience for the students, the teachers and even the parents who come along!”

Another farmer, Bill Rowekamp, in Wisconsin, reports opening his doors to an elected official. “We had our State Senator, Sharon Ropes, out to the farm two weeks ago. She is on the Ag committee. Next time she comes out I hope she brings one of her urban legislative friends with her.

Shawn Turner, a florist in Kansas, said “Franklin County Farm Bureau Association hosted a coffee with the Ottawa Kansas Area Chamber of Commerce this morning to celebrate Ag Week! Great attendance, crowd surprised at what it takes to bring food to the plate, soft gasps as we discussed problems with HSUS.” Sometimes just the conversation is education enough.

Wisconite Barb Durtche reports, Roundy’s supports agriculture. ”I referred our local grocery chain to the yellowfail site. They’re great – they actually took the time to review it. AND… below is the email I received from them, ‘Barb,We contact the vendor and they will make sure the promotional material is changed out. ‘”

Kansan Sarah Goss found a national conservative women’s blog site, American Maggie, willing to take a chance on a piece from a rural, agricultural perspective. Goss said she was “Pleased and humbled to have made a small contribution to the ag advocacy movement.”

A college student and farm girl, Kelly Rivard, discusses several farms/people who agvocate for ag on her Midwestern Gold blog (including yours truly). (These are Quotes from Michele Payne-Knopers Blog - Gate to Plate)
http://causematters.wordpress.com/

And the Above items represent just a small fraction of the good positive things that are being done every day by American AGVOCATES...

So keep your chin up America. Get out there. Be passionate about your ideas. No, they may not be they same as mine, but that's what makes this a great nation. For now, we can at least still debate the merits in different opinions.

Thanks for listening...

Monday, March 22, 2010

Death of Personal Freedom?

I meant to blog this weekend but two things kept me from it... one I was on call and that always keeps me hopping and two I have been a fox news junkie. When I have not been at the hospital I have been glued to the radio or to my TV. I felt like I was watching the death of personal freedom in the country. When an elected lawmaker can be caught on national TV saying that "there ain't no rules here, we're trying to get something accomplished" and by the way the gentleman in question is the Chair of the House Rules Committee and a Democrat, I want to cry for my children's future. Last night I was proud to be a conservative, a republican, and fiscally responsible.
No, I don't think I should have to work my butt of so someone else can sit all day long on theirs. Yes, I believe that health care needs reform in this country. Yes, I believe that their should be no limits on preexisting conditions. Yes, there should be more emphasis on primary care. Yes, there needs to be insurance company reform, but I work with government ran health care everyday and they cannot run the two plans they run now. Remember the Doctors fussing about the SGR well that is how the Federal government thinks to run Medicare - they are paying us physicians at 1993 rates and keep putting off how to fix the problem, making the eventual fix worse. However, I don't think that Illegal Immigrants deserve health care just like American citizens do. I live in Tennessee and every day Mexican nationals get put on TN care when they are pregnant and for childcare, but hard working Tennessee farmers with Diabetes and high blood pressure get told that they are out of luck and this makes me angry. Thanks to Marsha BlackBurn and TO Lamar Alexander and to Lincon davis for Voting "NO"
SHAME on those Tennessean Congressman who voted yes - Bart Gordon better be glad he is not running for relection cause he certainly failed to represent his county.
President Obama has made it very clear that he does not care what we the American people support. Despite numerous polls to the effect that we don't want this bill, he force and bribed Congress to pass it. Congressman Stupack traded his stance of Pro life for some new Airports in his district - hope he thinks that an Executive order that can be overturned at the Drop of a hat is worth it.
Americans stand up and speak out. If you want to have an America of We the people and personal freedom - Stand up and Speak out. Vote these Liberal Democrats Socialist out of Office. Then lets vote some real health care reform that won't cost millions of American jobs, raise taxes, and bankrupt our children's future.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Animal Welfare Questioned in Tennessee...

Well, its happened, then news and animal rights activist have decided that Tennessee needs to be the next target - at least middle Tennessee where I live is feeling the strain. There is legislation in the state at the moment to change the laws that we have dealing with animal cruelty that were written by people that do not understand the current system of legislation that is in play. These same people have been quite vocal in denigrating farmers and the Tennessee Farm Bureau in our lack of sponsorship of these bills. These are poorly written legislation that do little to protect animals, Tennessee already has some of the strictest animal cruelty laws in the nation if they were enforced.

In no shape form or fashion do myself or any decent farmer that I know condone the mistreatment of any animal - neither does the Farm Bureau. For years farmers have been the stewards of our environment and our livestock. In years past, farmers depended on their animals not only for their food but for assistance with producing their crops. Now we depend on our animals for income and in some cases for enjoyment. I take offence when the local new media in our area choose to interview owners of 1-2 burrows and a horse as a farmer instead of a production agriculturist on this issue. Farm Bureau Members believe that whenever someone is found guilty of animal cruelty there should be swift and just punishment in accordance of the law.
Speaking of the law, lets talk a bit about Tennessee's animal cruelty laws since the news is not educating you about it... Today in our state we have two separate statutes on animal abuse.

The first is TCA 39-14-202 Animal Cruelty - passed in 2002 and Farm Bureau worked with the bills sponsors- this deals with intentionally or knowingly torturing, maiming, grossly overworking, failing to provide necessary food, water, care or shelter for an animal, abandoning and animal, or transporting and animal in a cruel manner. This law carries a punishment of up to 11 MONTHS & 29 DAYS IN JAIL AND $2500 FINE PER ANIMAL. (It is already against the law in this state to fail to feed and water your animals - it may not being enforced) This law applies to all animal including livestock. A second conviction of this act is already a felony.

The second is TCA 39-14-212 Aggravated Animal Cruelty - this deals with crimes against animals that they merited a Felony charge on the first offence as it presently stands. this deals with crimes such as setting an animal on fire, chopping an animal up, etc. This is due to the fact that persons who are willing to commit these crimes against animals will likely commit crimes against people latter in life. Again Farm Bureau worked with the bills sponsors when it was passed.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund ranks Tennessee animal protection laws in the top tier of 50 states. This Fund was founded in 1979 by attorneys active in shaping the emerging field of animal law, ALDF pushes for stronger enforcement of animal cruelty laws and more humane treatment of animals. The report is release on a yearly basis and ranks based on 14 categories of animal protection laws. BUT we did not hear that on the news.

As a Tennessee Farmer and Farm Bureau member, I am very disappointed in the one sided reported and misrepresentation to the House Ag committee and to the People of Tennessee. the local new media has chose to report that farmers do not care about animal rights when we have a record in this state of being proactive champions for animal rights.

Since 2002 Farm Bureau has actively supported every ethical bill for animal rights as is show by our high ranking to such organizations as the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Farmers want and need healthy animals. We already have good laws to this effect. We need to support and enforce the laws we have. Thanks for listening...

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Had a half in half day...


Once upon a time in America, people got up and went to work and most everyone worked a fair day for a fair days pay. Oh how far we have come. Now people are more concerned with animal abuse and neglect thanks to the Human Society of the United States then we are with child abuse. I have never seen stories on Channel 4 news talking about all the cases of children in this state being abused and miss treated every day but let there be one bill in the State Ag committee that HSUS disagrees with the wording on and here goes Channel 4 news.
We as agriculturist want to protect our livestock, but I don't want someone deciding that just because I don't feed my cows grain twice a day or my horses alfa-alfa hay instead of grass hay does not mean I am committing a felony. I have turned in 4 different parents for major instances of child abuse since the beginning of the year. Of those, only 1 set of those children have been removed from the home. But let animals be involved and people were online last night volunteering to be the animal police and "get the people hurting the defenceless animals".
Have we as a society lost our minds. I grew up as a Veterinarian's child and grandchild and maybe this has tainted my opinion but sometimes what we do to keep people and our pets alive is more cruel then when my grandfather used to go ahead and euthanize animals that were in extreme pain and untreatable. When did animal become more valuable than people.
As a farmer, I do value my stock. they are expensive animals and if they are hurt or injured we have to get them seen about quickly. They have access to fresh water 24hrs a day 365 days a year. They are fenced out of ponds for their and the environments protection. But, when we get legislation to provide good common sense rules to provide education for animal agriculturist, I hope it can be structured along the lines of Ohio's proactive stance towards animal agriculture. Because unlike the HSUS, I like my beef farm and want my children to be able to be farmers into the next generation.
No other group does as much for the American Economy with so few of people putting into the mix Less than 2% of Americans claim to be American Farmers but we provide...
"The United States exports $43.5 billion in agriculture products and important $26.4 billion in farm products, equaling a positive net trade balance of $17.1 billion." According to www.agday.org
I am proud to be an American Farmer and proud to have friends that are American Farmers... I hope that by our efforts my children will still have a farm to call home.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Its been a hard days night...

I really, really hate alarm clocks. God surely wanted us to break at least one in our lives and I really hate them on the morning of Daylight savings time when I have a meeting. Got to love health care. I really find my job a word I am not supposed to type cause while I am busting my A#$ doing it, Congress is debating on how I should do it and if they are going to pay me for it. I know you all think that MD's make a fortune but I left the house at 6:45am and did not come home till 7:30pm and did not stop for breakfast or lunch. How was your day at work compared to mine?

Well, things are nearly back to normal with our family. Cordell's birthday party was ll messed up. His grandfather did not come and everyone in Brian's family ate and left to get to church cause I had to move it from Saturday to Sunday. Needless to say that did not go over the best. Sometimes I feel so grown up, but I mean thanks to the input of some very good friends I have given up 80's tunes (most of the time) for Fox radio and POLITICAL talk shows, and then something like that happens and I relapse to being a hurt little kid inside. Is anyone all grown up?

More news on the political front... Congress is going to work all night. Gee, I hope nobody hurts themselves or sprains their brains. It would just kill me for Nancy Pelosi to fall down and go Boom!!! I have decided that the current bunch of politicians is no longer listening to America. They want what they want and they want it NOW!!! I have a 2 year old that acts like that, we wipe his butt off and put him in the corner though.

Oh well, it has been a hard day's night and I have been working like a dog... to come home and find out that Channel 4 has vilified Farm Bureau. Guess we won't be watching Channel 4 Any more.

Friday, March 12, 2010

A very long day...

There once was a movie "The Longest Day", well today was a longest day. We each started with regular chores. Brian and I got the kids up and ready for school. Hair brushed, arguments over hair bows and baseball caps finally finished and the day starts. He takes the girls to school, I am off to make rounds and to the office for a little bit, and Mom takes Cordell to daycare. Then, Brian is off to breed a cow and feed the bulls. Check his hay protein report and a few other minor details. I have to be done with the office and we both have to be done to be at the funeral home by 12.
Oh, this is not as simple as is sounds in black and white. I barely made it and forgot to eat. And once there Brian's family and I started a very long day of thank yous and glad you could come. And I really do meant that, I was glad that each and every one of those people from young to old took time out of their lives on a Friday night to stop and pay respects to our loss. It humbled me, and tired me.
There are no great words of wisdom in a time like this. It is appointed to all of us that we each will died. I think Cordell met his time well and his family is handling his loss with grace and dignity. I have seen no fighting and no bickering. It has been a joy to share my life with this family for the last 14 years. I have learned a little more about myself by knowing them all.
Cordell was a great med and led by example. I am proud to have named my son after him and my Grandfather Wynn Easterly and hope that I have the strength to bear up for another long day tomorrow.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

In Memory...




Today was to be a happy day in our farm life. Brian was to clean out the beef stack on our farm and was knee deep in manure when he got a call that he would have rather never heard. Today started out so well. Three happy little voices came ringing into out room to sing happy birthday to Cordell, he was 2 today. But as all farmers and doctors now too well, storms fast approach often without warning, but alas we had some warning...


See, Brian's grandfather, Pa Cordell, had a major stroke on Sunday night. It left him unable to speak. Brian and the girls had seen him just hours before it happened and he seemed tired but OK. He went to church twice on the Lord's day, gave a good blessing for his last supper then the great man that was our Grandfather was no more. Yet, today is when his body had actually had enough.


Today, when Brian was happily working breeding cows and mucking out barns. Today, when I was treating strep throats and working hard to save other people. Now I wonder how much of my son's birthday will carry this mark or is he too young to be affected.


I learned valuable lessons today. I have always been the one that has to go into the rooms of the grieving family, listen for a heartbeat that I know is not there and try to offer some words of comfort. Then I listen to a few words of their grief and stories of a loved ones life. I'll tell them to take their time, the nurses will help prepare the loved one for the funeral home, and that the nurses will help them through the next decisions. Then, I am off to sign a death certificate and off to the next task in my day. Its not so easy when you cannot leave.
When you are the family with the stories off grief and hope that you want to share with this person who was responsible for their loved ones care. Its not so easy to leave them in a room with others to "prepare the body" even though you know that it needs to be done.


I learned that even in death there are patients that need the time of the physician; perhaps these patients need you more than you will ever know.


I want to thank each and every person who help my family in our time of illness and death. The staff at our local hospital went out of their way to make us feel at ease and cared for, I thank each of you for that.


I know in this time of heath care debate, not many people are valuing health care, hospitals, or their doctors; but I am glad to say that I live and work in rural America where people still care about their jobs and their friends. I wish more people could do the same. I wish more people could come and walk through our fields right now as they start to green up for spring and hear the spring frogs and crickets - cause in memory to a great man and a great farmer - he would have loved to had you over... He could have sold you some homemade furniture or a swing. Thank you for knowing me Cordell - your knowledge and wisdom have made me a better and more educated person for having known you and the world is smaller without you in it.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Why oh why...

Well, here we are again. And still even though I am a farmers wife and very proud of our farm and all we do for agriculture, all I can think to write about is how current government issues are affecting my patients and patients in my hometown.

I have a family member who has both medicare and tricare (both of which are being affected by current government proposed cuts in medicare spending i.e. the SGR issue that I keep harping on) who drove 2 hrs to see a well know and highly respected specialist in their field about a medical issue that is very serious to them. Once they got there they waited patiently to see this doctor who came into the room upset over the recent SGR issues in Congress and according to my family member took it out on them. The doctor did a good history and physical and told the patient what they needed but that they could not do it cause they had medicare and due to the 21% pay cut they could not make enough on them to even pay their malpractice. My family member, very upset at this point, cause despite my interest in Congresses debates over Medicare they had not taken an interest in this issue - after all why should they - it had not been on CNN, just wanted the doctor to take care of them. Then when the patient ask what they were supposed to do - the doctor said he did not know - he guessed they were just out of luck.

Needless to say my family member is now very interested in the SGR debate in Congress.

But why did it take a person insult to get one interested in this issue? Why is it not NATIONAL headlines that Millions of American Seniors and Disabled patients are risking their access to health care if Congress continues to debate whether or not Medicare and physicians are a group are worth paying?

Its all over the Internet and twitter about the fraudulent abuse of health care dollars and medical mismanagement of doctors - and I am sure that there are a few bad apples in the mix - Hell, I'll even go that there are several, but I know where there is more- Politics. Most doctors I know are honest hard working people that give and give of themselves to help their patients. We don't abuse the system cause we can barely get needed test paid for anymore. I spend more time on the phone and doing paperwork begging for approval of test, medicine and procedures then I get to actual practice medicine some weeks. Since when do I need an insurance company flunky to tell me how to practice medicine - and has all of the PA procedures actually made any difference in health care cost?

I have said it before and I'll keep saying it - If you want to fix health care in this country... Spend your money to get doctors interested in primary care and then actually pay them to do their jobs. Pay for prevention and then encourage patients to actually go and get preventative test done. Encourage Decreased spending on procedures and test - Congress needs to understand that they will get more bang for their health care buck by paying to educate the diabetic about their disease then in paying for the dialysis later.

Wake up American... Call Congress - Yes we need Health care reform but not Obama's way - you do not want state paid for abortions and a board of health telling you as a patient what procedure's you do and don't qualify for...

Lets not all end up like my family Member. Why oh why are are we in this mess?

Monday, March 1, 2010

Where or Where have the Good men Gone?

When I was little, there was a good solid man that led this country out of a recession deeper than the one we are in now. He did it with Tax cuts and economic incentives to free trade and capitalist ventures - the ideals that this country was founded on. His name was Ronald Reagan and he replied to a simple crayon written letter from yours truly. He was a great American. You could like his politics or not but he never back down from them - he got our boys out or Libya when all Carter could do was sit in the White House and hide. Yes, he was a great leader and he was the man that first made me interested in the three branches of government that we have today.

Yeah, the government that we have today. Where did government of the people, by the people, and for the people go. I do know any people that I know that want Nancy Pelosi speaking for them and theirs. We like our homes and our farms and would like to keep them. As for our current President - lets just say he is no Reagan or no Clinton for that matter. He has broken one campaign promise after another and I hope to see health care reform become the Waterloo issue for his administration.

Today has been busy. 57 in the office to treat and that is why its 7pm and I'm still hear. I called both Senators offices today to tell them that they now have me working for free while they still sit in cushy Government offices and I could never get thru to Alexander and Corker's Aide said "he was not sure why so many callers believed this was a big deal - the Senator had been for the SGR fix it just failed to pass". He became a little more reasonable when I told him that I would then spend the rest of my day telling every patient that I saw Sen. Corker's views on Seniors and Disabled patients loosing access to health care due to medicare cuts.

My patient from the last blog still has no insurance and despite being in his 40's is looking at nursing home placement. His Mom is distraught over this.

My life is about the same. The farm is chugging along. Ella had a double header basket ball game this weekend that I missed cause I was on call making rounds but I heard she had a great jump shot. Her team won both games. Now she and Brie have signed up for T-ball. Such is Life. Cord turns 2 in 10 days - where has my bay gotten off to?

Back to my original question - Where have all the good guys gone - I want to know who in Congress actually cares about the people that elected them and not about getting reelected? Why can't we have term limits for these jobs?

When will the American public realize that we as a society cannot keep funding the masses from the minority of hard working souls who still believe in the American Dream?