Agriculture: More than seeds, weeds and feed...

BLOG RELOCATION

2011-03-23T13:48:00.000-05:00

Hello! I started a new blog called Rural Route Review at:

http://ruralroutereview.wordpress.com.

There are tons of entries about organic verse conventional

farming, food verse fuel, and tons more ag-related topics.

Please check it out today, I promise you won't be

disappointed!!!

Livestock Biotech Summit

2010-10-13T10:11:00.000-05:00

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — As the first transgenic animal seeks approval from the Food and Drug Administration to join the American food supply, bioethics has become the center of attention. Raymond Anthony, University of Alaska-Anchorage assistant professor of philosophy, addressed bioethical concerns on September 30 at the first Livestock Biotech Summit.

The idea of “playing God” or tampering with evolution is one philosophical viewpoint on “introducing novelty into the genome” said Anthony. Another viewpoint considers risks to humans, animals, and the environment. The fair distribution of benefits and harms is another factor.

Ethical conversations based on different perspectives must occur between the scientific community and the public said Anthony.

Scientists in New Zealand are leading conversations with the indigenous Māori who place significance on human lineage. Most Māori introductions include their tribe and the tribes of their parents.

Vish Vishwanath of AgResearch Limited said, “We as scientists had to go explain to them and have this conversation to show what we are doing doesn’t really disrupt that lineage, because anything that modifies genes, or modifies the integrity of those genes, the Māori considers a disruption.”

Some Māori view placing human genetics in other species as breaking human lineage. These transgenic animals are made more like humans when humans are meant to be sacred said Vishwanath.

Anthropocentrism, a philosophical approach where animals “don’t count directly,” was also discussed by Anthony. Anthony described a philosophical approach by animal welfare utilitarian Peter Singer, “There can be no moral justification for regarding the pain or pleasure animals feel as less important than some pain or pleasure felt by human beings.”

Anthony suggests using the “Ethical matrix” as a guide for analyzing bioethical issues. It is a “structured way of working together through some of the ethical issues” said Anthony. The matrix promotes “rational thought and democratic deliberation.”

“Biotechnology has recently caught the imagination of practical philosophers, like myself, who are interested in how some of these new techniques, like genetic modification, is impacting not only human safety, the environment, but also animal well-being,” Anthony said.

A majority of the summit was devoted to the discussion of the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Training, a tool for scientists to ensure animal well-being. The guide addresses animal healthcare, husbandry, housing, biosecurity, transport. Proper care for beef cattle, dairy cattle, horses, poultry, sheep/goats, and swine is included.

This guide is one of three used to gain Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) International accreditation. The AAALAC website states accreditation is a “bridge between progress and animal well-being”. Gaining accreditation is voluntary through the private, nonprofit organization.

“We are AAALAC accredited and have met all the requirements. We are very concerned about animal welfare and health and so we meet and try to exceed those requirements so the animals are well taken care of,” said Exemplar Genetics president John Swart.—“If you live in the Midwest you will know there is that opportunity to find those people who care about what they do and care about the animals too.”

Take Time for Reading

2010-09-15T15:31:00.003-05:00

Interested in genetic engineering... don't know where to start your research on this fascinating topic?

Try this book.... or this book.... or even this book!!

Soybeans Make Better Pigs? Who knew?

2010-09-15T13:07:00.001-05:00

Interview with University of Illinois Associate Professor of Animal Sciences Hans H. Stein, PhD discusses with WJBC Agribusiness intern, yours truly, Claire Benjamin the mutually beneficial relationship between the soybean and pork industries at the Illinois Soybean Association 2010 Research Tour.

CLICK HERE TO HEAR THE INTERVIEW

**Please note interview is on page 5, entitled:

AG - Soybean and pork industries continue to build mutualistic relationship .

Salmon: Up a Creek?

2010-09-15T10:43:00.000-05:00

Genetically engineered Salmon may be up a creek when it comes to approval not from the FDA but from the public. AquaBounty, based in Waltham, Mass, has combined genes from two other fish, a growth hormone from the Chinook salmon and a genetic on-switch from ocean pout, to create salmon that mature four to six times faster. The gene allows salmon to grow all year long whereas ordinarily their biological clock would inhibit growth as winter approaches. The FDA has determined genetically engineered salmon are just as safe as the salmon we know and love today. This decision by the FDA was ten years in the making as this maturation phenomenon waited for approval.

However, others raise important concerns that should be properly addressed by FDA and AquaBounty. Some worry that this salmon may enter natural populations and natural selection may take its toll. This seems unlikely as salmon are produced inshore and those that are sold to fisheries are infertile. Other causes for concern are how little research has been done to see the effects of trans-genetic on food alergies. While I am far from an expert, I doubt that these fish would effect one any differently from regular salmon as the genes are not promoting the production of any new proteins but rather encourage a salmon's regular growth process to continue. An article by the European Federation of Biotechnology states, "Of the hundreds of thousands of different proteins we take up with food and drink, only very few, perhaps one in 100.000, could actually be allergenic," and goes on to say, "a new protein can only be an allergen if it remains stable for a long time in a solution that is both acid and contains digestive enzymes, a liquid similar to the one present in the stomach. This test is applied to new transgenic crops to be put on the market and has proven reliable with all the
transgenic plants that are widely commercialized today." As a plug for a trans-genetic crops, the article als sates,"Conversely, genetic engineering will, in the future, be able to remove specific genes from crops which may lead to less allergenic foods and thereby improve the life of those suffering from food allergies."

That being said, for biotechnology enthusiasts like me, delaying this product from reaching supermarket shelves seems ridiculous. These trans-genetic salmon would protect dwindling wild varieties from entering our food supply. Not only are they more efficient in regards to time but also in regards to feed conversion. AquaBounty salmon gain thirty percent more weight per gram of food than ordinary salmon. Besides providing enough food to feed a growing population, these salmon produce thirty percent less waste which would ordinarily pollute the water column or the bottom of the ocean. See this super salmon for yourself!!! (refer to part five as well).

And what else do we have to look forward to? According to GMO journal:

If GE salmon is approved it will pave the way for ABT’s GE trout and tilapia. There is also Enviropig, a pig engineered with a mouse protein that affects its saliva, and, as the name suggests, the animal is mutated to create more environmentally friendly manure by reducing the amount of phosphorous the pig excretes after eating cereal grain.

Development is also underway for Mad Cow Resistant Cattle that would be resistant to “mad cow” disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy). The GE cow is said to be developed by “knocking out” the prion protein gene that can trigger the mad cow disease.

GM Goats were approved in February 2009 to produce an anti-clotting therapy for people with a rare disorder called hereditary antithrombin deficiency. The drug, Atryn, is made with human protein from female goats bred to express it in their milk.

And finally, there is Glofish, a zebra danio genetically altered with fluorescent colors developed using a fluorescent protein gene that occurs naturally in other marine organisms. The FDA said it had no reason to regulate as it was not intended for food and allegedly caused no environmental threat.

Informal referencing: http://www.efb-central.org/images/uploads/allergiesGMfoods.pdf, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/04/health/policy/04salmon.html, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/26/business/26salmon.html

WANTED: Barn Owls

2010-09-12T21:26:00.001-05:00

Talking about barns, has anyone seen a common barn owl recently? If the name "Common Barn Owl" doesn't register with you, it also goes by: White Owl, Silver Owl, Demon Owl, Ghost Owl, Death Owl, Night Owl, Rat Owl, Church Owl, Cave Owl, Stone Owl, Monkey-faced Owl, Hissing Owl, Hobgoblin or Hobby Owl, Dobby Owl, Golden Owl, Scritch Owl, Screech Owl, Straw Owl, Barnyard Owl and Delicate Owl, as stated by everyone's favorite encyclodia, wikipedia. My own barn experiences have never included a barn owl and thus my knowledge of the elusive creature was minimal. However, several helpful articles changed all that.

Anna Brendle, for National Geographic news, states that the barn owl does not have the quint essential "hoot," rather it communicates through raspy screeches and hissing. I figure the whole nocturnal thing would make that characteristic more appealing to barn owners seeking new residents, which is exactly what this species needs. Not to mention the fact that a barn owl's resume includes pest control! According to the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection's Wildlife Division, a single family of two adults and six young can consume more than 1,000 rodents (including detested rats) during a typical three-month nesting period, which is turn means less mice in your pantry or winter clothes storage.

Brendle goes on to say that Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin all consider this animal to be threatened or endangered. The culprit: modernization and urbanization. The Morton buildings mentioned in my previous article devoid the Common Barn Owl of nesting options, forcing it to seek refuge elsewhere. Brendle writes, "In the Florida Everglades, pump houses dotted along the networks of canals that weave through sugarcane fields were long popular as nesting sites. But these pump houses are disappearing now that canal irrigation is automated." This is an enormous problem considering that these creatures do not construct nests like other birds but are instead dependent on existing resources. A mother will incubate the egg as soon it is laid and those thereafter. Thus, the birth of offspring is staggered, as illustrated in this charming photo provided bt the Sky Hunters Environmental Education website:

If you live in McLean County, there are people you can contact to help barn owl offspring like these! The necessary criteria include: wooden buildings like barns or cribs, 2-3 acres of grassland habitat within 1.25 miles of the structure, and a willingness to help! Some articles state that the best option is to put a nesting box on a pole in the middle of a grassland area. Please contact Anna Groves at 630.276.8679/agroves@iwu.edu or Given Harper at 309.556.3056/gharper@iwu.edu for more information about what you can do to help the Common Barn Owl help YOU!

For more information visit the quotes National Geographic article at: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/10/1030_021030_BarnOwls.html

2010 Barn Keepers Tour, McLean County IL

2010-09-12T19:58:00.001-05:00

This Saturday I braved the deary weather to attend that annual Barn Keepers Tour. This organization promotes the appreciation, preservation and rehabilitation of barns. This is no small task in the year 2010 will Morton buildings and urbanization to contend with. This year the tour included eight barns 'locally owned and operated' in Randolf and southern Bloomington, IL townships as well as historical landmarks, including Blooming Grove Cemetery. Blooming Grove cemetery features a four-sided gravestone tribute for three wives of a single man, however, the fourth wanted nothing to do with the other three. She convinced the husband to be buried with her several yards away. One could also visit the Simpkins Military Museum or the historic marker of the first brick house in McLean County.

Nevertheless, the main event was indeed the splendid barns. Most notable was the barn reincarnated from its first life as Sparta Methodist Church. The barn was relocated a fourth of a mile to its current site by teams of mules. Modifications include: raising the original flooring to create a hayloft and replacing the decorative church windows with more practical options. Another interesting barn hosted thousands as headquarters for the famous Kickapoo Creek Rock Festival. Articles on display showed the 30,000 fans that congregated on this farm and the devastation they left behind. All of the barns were exceptional examples of functional architecture.

Furthermore, it's not too late to be a part of this tour! Tour booklets may be purchased at any time for five dollars giving everyone the opportunity to experience these barns anytime. Also, past barn tour booklets from Towanda, IL or Funks Grove, IL may also be purchased. This annual event is always held on the second Saturday in September rain or shine so mark your calendars for next year! Additionally, they host four meetings a year and hold other special events like barn dances. Yearly membership is also available for only $25.00. For more information about this cause visit www.barnkeepers.org.

I am reminded of a favorite childhood television show, Reading Rainbow... so in closing I would like to quote the host LeVar: Burton "But you don't have to take my word for it..."!

Agricultrual Education

2010-09-10T14:21:00.002-05:00

When an elementary student mistakes a cow for a pig, there is a problem. This agriculturally illiterate child will soon be an agriculturally illiterate adult. No one would purchase a car without looking up the safety report and mileage, yet making blind decisions each week at the grocery store or farmer's market is socially acceptable. If organic foods are good enough for the Goslings (from the popular television show John and Kate Plus 8) then it's good enough for me. Even the Chicago Times has a word to say about how we do agriculture, http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-09-02/news/ct-met-eating-local-20100901_1_farmers-markets-food-stamps-locavore-challenge! But these are blog posts for another day...

My question is: Whose responsibility is it to take on the incredibly important task of educating the public? The agricultural industry is becoming more and more technically savvy (and I don't just mean GPS systems in tractors), utilizing twitter, facebook, and yes, even blogs to communicate our problems, successes, and passion... but who exactly are we reaching through these mediums? One must consider if the average mom or dad is going to look up "Agriculture" Tweets to learn more about where their family's meal is coming from. Especially, considering that there is always an episode of Gray's Anatomy or the highlights from yesterday's game waiting to be viewed.

Now is the time to use technology to our advantage. The Department of Agriculture spent $65 million on the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food program, but what I suggest is that the public can know their farmer personally through venues like Twitter. The general public may not realize that the same rainstorm delaying the peewee baseball game is revitalizing farmers' precious crops or that it's okay when the corn gets all brown, that's when its actually ready to be harvested. These are the questions that can be solved through social media.

There is a big difference between reading about what a farmer is doing in a publication and interacting with a true farmer online. By involving the public in this way, we can communicate our stories simply and directly. More than that, we can give them an opportunity to engage in Agriculture.