Genetically Modified: Why farmers use GM Technology

        I absolutely love the refreshing taste of watermelon on a hot summer day! One thing I don’t love about watermelon is all of those annoying little seeds that you have to pick out before you indulge in the fruit!

Did you know that thanks to GMO’s or genetically modified organisms and hybrid breeding, seedless watermelon is a possibility! Other foods, such as bananas and broccoli have also been changed from how they are found in nature to how you see them on the store shelf.

Top 3 Reasons why Farmers use GM Technology:

1.) Keeping prices low!

GM technology, such as the BT(bacillus thuringiensis) gene has allowed farmers to decrease the use of pesticides and other management practices. This in return keeps costs low for the consumers.

Farmers are recognized at the Iowa State
Fair for their environmental leadership.

2.) Protecting the Environment:

GM Technology allows farmers to use fewer chemicals, such as pesticides. By spending less money on pesticides, farmers have made great strides in protecting water quality, and preventing soil loss.

3.) Feeding the World-Solving Hunger:

In the world today, one in eight people don’t have enough to eat. Growing GM products allows farmers to improve their yields, providing more food across the nation.

Today in the US, 70-80% of the foods that American’s consume contain Genetically Modified Organisms.

So is it safe for your family to eat? Absolutely! Groups such as the American Medical Association, and the World Health Organization, as well as the FDA have concluded that they are safe foods!

Still have questions about if you should be feeding your family GMO foods? Check out this video!

http://discover.monsanto.com/conversation/question/is-it-safe-to-feed-my-kids-gmos

GMO’s aren’t just in foods, many other every other day products include, such as cotton swabs, clothing, printer ink, moistures, etc.

Do you still have questions about genetically modified organisms? Check out some of these awesome resources to learn more!

http://factsaboutgmos.org/

http://discover.monsanto.com/conversation/

http://www.iowacorn.org/documents/filelibrary/education/corn_fact_sheets/GMO_C6DF86483B650.pdf

 http://factsaboutgmos.org/sites/default/files/AMA%20Report.pdf

My Top 5 Pork Crock Pot Meals!

            Does this cold weather make you miss grilling season? I’ve gathered a few of my favorite pork recipes that are all made simple in the crock-pot!

As a busy college student I usually don’t have much time between class and night meetings. Crock-pot meals are my favorite! They are so simple to throw together during the morning, leave for class and have them ready to eat when I get home!                    

Before we start, here are some great guidelines and tips when it comes to cooking pork!

·      Pork is known as the other white meat, but a little pink in the meat leaves you avoiding a dry meal!

·      The USDA recommends that pork be cooked to 145 degrees.

 1.) Pork Loin- I love pork loin in the crock pot, it makes it so tender! I thaw out the loin the

night before I plan to throw it in the crock pot. The next morning I make several cuts on the top of the pork loin, and the place pineapple rings in between the cuts. The pinnaple, gives it great additional flavor! Keep your crockpot on low for the entire day.

2.) Pork Ribs- My all time favorite! Nothing beats smoked ribs, but these sure come close!

Place your frozen ribs in the crock-pot, I also like to add BBQ sauce. My favorite is Cookie’s Sweet Hickory sauce. Set your crock pot on low, and then on high for the last hour of cooking.

The cooked carrots add amazing flavor
to the ham! 

     

     3.) Ham- So first of all, make sure to take a good look at the ham before purchasing! Make SURE you look at the water content of the ham you are buying! Coming from the farm, and usually eating our own ham that we raise, this was new to me when we had our “Friends-giving” this year! I ended up buying a ham with high water content, which left the ham with a mushy taste that no one liked!

Thaw your ham out the night before you are planning to cook it. You can choose to slice the ham before you place it into the crock pot, or after, whatever your time allows! Along with the ham I like to add cut up potatoes, onions, and baby carrots! Cook your ham on low, and then on high for the last two hours of cooking.

4.) Bacon- This soup is great for taking a meal out to the field in the fall and one of my dads favorites! 

Start by mixing up a package of Bear Creek Creamy Potato soup as the directions state on the package. I have cooked this soup in the crockpot, and it really gives it a thicker texture!

After mixing up the soup and letting it cook on warm all day, I like to add a half cup of sour cream, four-five slices of bacon cut up into chunks, and also one cup of shredded cheese.  Adding these three ingredients leaves your soup with an amazing loaded baked potato taste!

These grilled pork chops are great with
a side of mashed potatoes!

5.) Pork Chop- Here is a great recipe to throw in on Sunday morning, and have ready to eat after church! With only four hours of cooking time, it makes a perfect Sunday lunch! Check out this recipe from Allrecipe.com that has amazing flavor in it! http://allrecipes.com/recipe/slow-cooker-pork-chops-ii/

                          So here are my favorite pork recipes! 
Do you have a favorite that I missed? Be sure to share it with me!

Pigs 101-The Basics of Pork Production

       Have you ever wondered why most pigs are raised indoors? Today Iowa woke up to a winter wonderland outside their windows! We received close to 7 inches at our house. But while our family was outside scooping snow, and snow-blowing the drive out, our pigs were enjoying the constant temperature of 65 degrees. Must be nice!!

       In 1970, a new way or producing pork emerged. A new confinement system would allow pork producers to have better control over their production, leading to a safer quality product for the consumer.

So here are the basics of Pork Production:

Time: Pork production usually takes between 5-6 months from birth to a finishing weight of 250 pounds.

Heat: Barns are kept between 45-80 degrees depending on the size of the pigs at the time.

Curtains help producers maintain a
consistant temperature. 

Curtains: Outside curtains can be raised or lowered to the varying Iowa temperature.                                    

Ventilation: Systems are put into barns to keep pigs from dying from the fumes coming from the below manure pits.

Our family owns a custom manure
hauling operation to spread hog manure
on farmland as a nitrogen source.

Manure Pits: All those pigs in a confinement can accumulate a whole lot of poo! Farmers use hog manure to apply to their farmland as a source of nitrogen. Farmers test soil types and conditions so that they are careful to apply the correct amount per acre.

Concrete Floors: Pigs are almost identical to humans, except for the fact that they don’t sweat! In the summer the concrete floors help absorb the heat out from the pigs bodies.

Feed: Pigs usually consume 6-8 pounds of feed per day, and gain approximately 2 pounds per day. So what is in that feed? A mixture of mostly corn and soybeans supply energy and protein to the hog.

Water: Pigs have continuous access to fresh water in confinement barns by source of a nipple water.

Pigs always have continuous water
to keep them hydrated, just like humans!

Biosecurity: By keeping pigs indoors we are able to prevent disease by limiting the people who are allowed inside the buildings. This practice dramatically cuts down on the spread of disease in the industry.

Antibiotics: A hot button item in the media today. 

I will keep this topic simple, and ask you to ask yourself what do you do when you come down with the flu or even a simple cough or cold? Pork producers take advice from trained veterinarians, just as humans consult their doctors when sick.

Pig Terminology:

Sow: Female hog who has had birth.

Gilt: Young female hog.

Boar: Un-castrated male hog.

Barrow: Castrated male hog.

Farrowing: The time period where the sow gives birth to her piglets.

Nursery Barn: Pigs that are weaned from the sow, and kept here until they are between 30-80 pounds

Finishing Barn: The final weight gaining process of a pig. Market weight varies, but is usually around 250 pounds.

      I grew up helping my dad in our hog buildings, and learned how important it was to take great care of the livestock that we were producing. The bottom line in pork production on our family’s farm is the wellbeing of the animals, and meeting the consumer’s satisfaction. Without consumer satisfaction and demand for our product, there is simply no longer a need for the pork industry.

Have more questions about how pork is produced!? Check out #realpigfarming or comment below my blog!

United we stand, Divided we fall

-American Proverb-

Women-Changing the Face of Agriculture

       “Opportunity is often missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” This quote by Thomas Edison shapes the world of agriculture that we live in today. When most people stop and think about agriculture the common idea is generations of hard working men who are passionate about providing for their families and communities. People often miss the importance of women in the agricultural industry. Women have played a vital role in agriculture in many ways such as stepping out into the business world, studying new plant and technology traits, and even owning their own farms.

Helping out with FFA judging at
Pork Congress.

         Women have always had to face a certain adversity in agriculture. I believe that the hardest part about being a woman working in the agricultural industry is that you are always having to prove yourself twice as hard as you would if you were a male in the agricultural industry. Sometimes women in agriculture aren’t always credited to the same knowledge and performance abilities that males are in the industry. For women looking to pursue careers in agriculture stereotypes such as these make them work harder at their jobs and to work harder at showing the consumers that they are devoted, and knowledgeable about the agricultural industry and want to help them thrive in the industry.

Teaching other ISU students how to show hogs at Block &Bridle's
Little North American Showmanship contest. 

         Today in the agricultural industry there are more opportunities then ever before, and this is especially true for women who want to pursue careers in agriculture. There will always be a need for people who are passionate and willing to step out of the norm and take the opportunities that agriculture has to offer.

           

        Now more than ever before, I am excited to be pursuing a career in agriculture! I know that there may be challenges that come with pursuing a career that is male dominated, but I am excited to pursue a career in the agricultural field that I grew up loving!

 Remember that I have commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

                                                        --Joshua 1:9--