What is Propostion 2?  In a nut shell, Proposition 2 is a law that would prohibit the use of confinement for veal production, egg production, and pregnant pigs so that they could not turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs.  The worst part:  a violation of this law could lead up to a $1,000 fine and imprisonment for up to six months!

Where do people begin to draw the lines that animals are not people?  Where do they begin to really grasp that we as farmers and ranchers care about our animals?  Where, if any, will they begin to realize that groups such as the HSUS have hidden agendas to put animal agriculture out of business?

Maybe, it starts right here.  Now that you have heard their version of my story, let me tell you the real story.  I watched Oprah’s show today, and probably the worst part was, they portrayed farmers and ranchers as just being in the business to make money.  Well, I would like to know which agricultural business they are looking at.  As far as I know, for a job that requires you to be there from sun up to sun down, and every hour in between regardless of holidays or weekends, farming is not the business to be in to make money.  What the producers on the show were really trying to point out was that people could not afford to pay for their food if main stream agriculture all went free-range, cage-free, or any other way of “sustainability.”  In a world of economic crisis, we are lucky to live in a country where the average consumer only has to use 10% of their disposable income for food. 

Plus, this term of “sustainability” is often misleading because it would not lead to us being more sustainable.  Today, the average US farmer can feed 130!  Compare that to 1960 when that number was just barely 25.  With a combination of growing population and diminishing resources, our current production practices are looking pretty good.  If we were to be forced under law to revert back to the older ways of production, I simply do not see how farmers could continue to feed an ever growing population.

But, aside from numbers, look at the people.  What American agriculture is all about is the people that are in it to provide you, the consumer, a safe, affordable, wholesome product.  I know from my own personal experience that the agriculture community holds true to our primary duty:  proper care and maintanence of our animals.  From a young age my parents instilled in me a desire and passion to take care of the animals with my utmost respect.  I also know that generations before me have worked hard to continually innovate how our ag products are produced. 

Does a farmer know his animals?  Yes, undoubtedly so.  I think the real question is, “Does a consumer know the farmer?”

What is this COOL that we speak of?  Country of Origin Labeling has been simmering on the back burner for quite some time now.  The first successful stride taken in its effort was made in 2004 when the USDA finally began implementing its National Animal Identification System (NAIS).  The National Animal Identification System is a voluntary program that allows producers to register their premises.  Once registered, it helps track and maintain animals as they move off the farm more effectively.  Though the program has had its setbacks, there has been some progress.  Currently, 33 percent of livestock farms have been registered. 

So where does MCOOL tie into this?  These first few steps proved that American beef producers could in fact produce a product that makes it possible to trace meat products on your dinner table back to the ranch that it came from.  Although we are still a long way from achieving this, with the passing of the 2008 Farm Bill we came one step closer.

On August 1, 2008, in a 233 page report, the USDA published its final ruling on MCOOL.  This mandated that on September 30, 2008, all meat items produced for retail will be required to have one of five labels telling consumers where the meat was produced.  However, it’s not only the beef industry that has been affected by this, but also meat coming from lamb, pork, chicken, and goat and perishable commodities such as fruits and vegetables, and macadamia nuts, percans, ginseng, and peanuts all have to abide by the new law.  On your next visit to the grocery, you will find meat products sporting one of five labels.

These five labels are:

1. US Country of Origin.  This label will be used for animals that were born, raised, and slaughtered in the US. 

2.Multiple Countries of Origin.  Products with this label came from animals that were born and raised in a different country or countries and slaughtered in the US.  The labeled product will specify those countries involved.

3.Imported for Immediate Slaughter.  Animals that are raised in one country and slaughtered in the US qualify for this label.

4.  Covered Commodity that is foreign country of Origin.   Meat products that are entirely from another county.  The labels for these products will specify from where they were derived.

5.  Ground meat products with product of multiple origins.  The label on these products will list all the countries or possible countries from where the meat was raised and processed.

Feeling a little overwhelmed?  The United States is not the first country to test out a form of animal identification.  The cattle industries in Australia, Brazil, and Canada have all been testing, innovating, and enforcing animal identification systems for several years.  Has it worked for them?  With a few bumps and trials, yes, it has.

This new MCOOL mandate is not going anywhere.  While it will only affect beef that is sold through grocery stores, or about 33% of the beef produced in the country, it is something that is going to reshape the way we produce our beef.  Bottom line:  You, as our consumer, have even more options when it comes to buying the beef you want to feed your families.

For more information on MCOOL, click here.

“How can this be,” I thought, as my mind drifted back to our summer conference in Denver over the summer.  It was here that our program passed its initial test of approval.  I remembered sitting in our committee meeting room and stepping up with my advisor, Carol, and fellow ambassador, Jenny, ready to defend our program to a room full of CBB members.  It wasn’t easy.  In fact, I was a little intimidated and held my breath for a minute as they debated whether or not to approve our program.  As our program passed, I thought, “For sure, it can make it the whole way through.”

Then our advisor sent us the news last week.  I was shocked, and I didn’t know how I should respond to it.  Unfortunately, it took me a week and some motivation from my team member Caitlin to get a move on it.  But after listening to the arguments, I believe that our program can prevail!

While rarely am I a pessimist, with news of the economy, a cut budget, and hard times facing the beef industry, at first I thought that there was no way out.  As Carol told us, if there isn’t a solution, our program will have to phase out by this December.  I believe that it is no coincidence that as I sat down to write this blog, Merle Haggard’s “If We Make It Through December” started playing.  So our solution:  Do what Beef Ambassador do best, work to make a difference.

Amanda Nolz is the head of the pack, where she is encouraging writing letters and fight for what you believe is right.  The National Beef Ambassador Program I believe has benefited the beef industry in two ways:  It is helping make future leaders while at the same time working to promote beef where the beef community has traditionally had no foot hold.  Thinking about losing this program, I am reminded of the American Cattlewomen who have worked so hard to push this program through.  I am reminded of the work of those dedicated individuals such as Carol Abrahamzon and Trent Loos who have poured hours into keeping this program growing.  I am reminded, everyday when I look into the mirror, of students just like me who have grown through this program by becoming more passionate, educated, and proactive towards the beef industry.  We can’t let this program get away from us.  Please, help us make a difference.  It’s often been said that the best investment we can make is in our future, and that’s exactly what the National Beef Ambassador Program is.

For information on how to get involved, visit Amanda Nolz’s blog.

“I believe in the future of agriculture…” my little shaky voice begins to recite to the 40 plus students in my class.  The first seven words of the creed start out as a bright look to the future.  Why do I believe in the future of agriculture?  Well, for several reasons.  First, and foremost, I have full confidence that we as agricultural producers are working as hard as we can to ensure that we deliver the highest quality product to our consumers that they can enjoy.  Although beef has been a constant, the product line has grown extensively.  Look at how dedicated Certified Angus Beef is to serving their customers.  Through research and integrity, they have remained on the cutting edge of innovation to ensure that demand for their products will not only remain stable, but continue to grow.  Their leadership has set the bar on how the beef community will continue to grow and serve our consumers in the future.

“I believe that to live and work on a good farm is pleasant as well as challenging…”  As I move into the second paragraph, the words that flow out of my mouth, written decades before, relate to directly to my life today.  Growing up on a cattle ranch, I am well aware from first hand experience about the good, the bad, and the ugly that ranchers experience on a daily basis.  I have yet to experience a greater feeling of accomplishment and awe than that of helping a first time heifer through a calving.  Then, we have those days that feel like everything that could go wrong, will go wrong.  Just like that one day that it took us eight hours to pull a water well that should have taken two hours to pull, or the day that all of the fresh cut hay got ruined because a sudden rain shower.  What did we have to gain from these hard days of labor?  How about an appreciation for clean, fresh water coming out of the pump or the promise of a green pasture.  I’ve learned that no matter how hard or how bad the situation at hand may seem, at the end of the day, we can lay our heads down knowing that we worked hard to make the best difference we could.

“I believe in….uh….leadership from ourselves and respect from others.  Hmm….I believe in my own ability to work efficiently and think clearly…”  I stumble through the beginning of the third paragraph which talks about agricultures role.  Through its leadership, the beef industry has worked hard to serve “the public interest” when it comes to delivering a safe, quality, enjoyable product.  It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what the “public interest” is because it varies from day to day and year to year.  What I do know is that beef producers have always worked hard to provide you with the information you want and need to know about beef.  It may be information about safe handling of beef, or the role that beef plays in your life, whatever the questions are, we are sure to give you an answer because we are dedicated to being efficient in serving you.

As I move through the fourth paragraph, I share that “I believe in less dependence on begging and more power in bargaining…”  Written during the Great Depression, E.M. Tiffany clearly shows what agriculture did to work its way out of a problem and what our agricultural producers today do as well.  Between private property land ownership rights and the implementation of endangered animals, ranchers have definitely been forced to work with the land and people pushing these laws instead of against them.  We have been able to find middle ground, where both sides can have a say and reach a mutual agreement.

Down to the last paragraph and I deliver the first part, “I believe that American agriculture CAN and WILL hold true to the best traditions of our national life…”  It never ceases to amaze me how much tradition is imbedded into the agricultural lifestyle.  For me, next to Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving, the other three huge family holidays were branding and shearing in the spring, and shipping in the fall.  These three events were occasions that brought my family and our neighbors together where we learned to rely on each other, and the ethics of pulling our own weight.  Beef plays another important role in our national holidays.  The Fourth of July and Labor are the two biggest grilling holidays for Americans.  I hope that you had your chance to fire up the grill this past weekend, and maybe even tried out some amazing new beef grilling recipes.  Don’t forget that county and state fairs play a part of these national traditions either.  As fall rolls around, I couldn’t imagine life without these expos where we can celebrate agriculture in enjoying a cattle show or something different like a hot beef sundae.  

Closing with confidence, I explain that “I can exert an influence in my home and community which will stand solid for my part in that inspiring task.”  It’s not always easy standing up for what I believe in, and yet I know that it’s the right thing to do.  This year my team mates and I have gotten both slaps on the back and slaps in the face for sharing our beliefs about the role that beef plays in our lives.  I can assure you though, that every minute has been worth it.  Just as the over 500,000 FFA members of today have stated it, there is a future in agriculture and that future starts with each of us in what we say, the products we produce, and the message we spread.

I have spent a great deal of my morning reading through chapters and verses of the Bible to best give you my response to this accusation. Let me begin by first telling you that I am not here to preach to you, but instead, I want to share with you why I believe that farmers and ranchers are not in the wrong.  The Bible is written in a language that uses a lot of imagery. In many cases, this imagery is derived from on the farm terms.  During a memorable church service at our county fair, the preacher shared a story that used an illustration that anyone involved in animal production would understand.  He shared a story with us from Isaiah 53, (which is later  repeated in Acts 8).  In the story, a man is compared to how ”…a sheep before her shearers is slient, so he did not open his mouth.”  Isaiah 53:7 NIV.  Now, anyone who has tried to clip pigs, knows just how loud and uncooperative they can be in comparison to sheep, which remain calm, still, and silent.  This is just one example of how we can relate to our Creator, who, because of our involvement in agriculture,is able to create a world of imagery and description that we can understand.

The Bible is filled with orders and laws that God wants us to follow.  He has given us the responsibility of taking care of the animals on his world.  He states this in Genesis 1:29-30.  And speaking of orders that He has given us, in Leviticus 11:3, when declaring which food is “clean” and “unclean” to eat, he includes in his orders “…that chews the cud.”  (Later, in Acts10:9-16, Jesus declares that all food is clean to eat). 

In the New Testament, Jesus shares many parables with his followers and believers.  Jesus’ parables use typical, everyday ordinary ideas that we can all associate with.  Many of these parables include animals.  In the Parable of the Lost Son, a father celebrates the return of his by clothing him in a robe and feasting on a fattened calf.  Clearly, Jesus is able to relate to people through agricultural products.  Among my favorite parables, the Parable of the Lost Sheep describes the extremes that a shepherd will go through to find just one lost sheep out of one hundred.  This provides an example to us as farmers and ranchers how we should take care of our animals.

Most people are familiar with Psalm 23.  “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not be in want…”  I believe that it is no coincidence that so many references, and some of the most recognized scriptures, are made to animal husbandry in the Bible.  When PETA and the HSUS say that farmers and ranchers can not be Christians because they fail in their commitment to the environment, the land, and people, I urge you to take a look around at the community of farmers and ranchers.  I stress the word community because recently at a New Mexico Cattle Growers meeting, someone pointed out all to often we see ourselves as an industry, when in fact, we are a community of producers, transporters, proccessors, and everything in between working to raise our cattle in the right way.  This community is dedicated to animal welfare and the environment.  Growing up, I have learned that it takes more than know-how to run a ranch.  Whether it’s surving a drought, or waiting for the weather to be just right to harvest the hay, being involved directly in production agriculture has, as my brother puts it, “tested our religion at one point or another.”  I also know that sometimes it takes a lot faith and prayer to make it through the year.  We have relied and embraced a faith that has led us to be better stewards of our land and our animals.

Teish and I were fortunate enough to be able to attend the fair for a few days and help out the Wisconsin Beef Council with their feature booth in the AG Products Building. We served up some delicious steak samples grilled right at the booth and had a huge selection of new recipes for fairgoers to take home and try. We also answered questions and Teish even headed up the Beef Jeopardy game, where some who took the chance came away with extra goodies including hats and pot holders.

Lots of people came by and I think many of them came away a little more informed than when they arrived. I know I had quite a few people who were concerned about their health and wanted to make sure they were putting good stuff into their bodies. While we are promoting our product, the most important thing to remember when it comes to eating right is to keep everything in moderation. And leading a healthy lifestyle is possible by including beef in your diet. Besides being the number one meat source for protein, zinc and vitamin B12, you can find 29 lean cuts in the grocery store that fall under the USDA guidelines for being lean.

I could go on all day about the good stuff that beef can give you, but for a more visual perspective as well as some of those tasty recipes, check out the Beef It’s What’s for Dinner website. The Wisconsin Beef Council also has a site with a few tips of it’s own as well as information about what they’re doing in “America’s Dairyland” to help beef producers in their state.

When I wasn’t sharing the message of beef nutrition in the AG Products building, I was sent on assignment to capture the spirit of the state fair in the eyes of youth beef exhibitors. These kids pour hours of hard work into making their animals look and feel their best, and nothing shows this better than pictures of them in action. Check out some of these hard-working kids in the photostream we’ve setup for our tour of state fairs this month.

Next stop is Minnesota and then we’re off to New York. We’ll keep you posted with piping-hot pictures straight from the scene. Stay tuned!

If you want to see all the entries so far, check out our photostream via Flickr. Let us know what your favorites are!

And if you need the rules and regs on the contest, here’s the link for the Summer Photo Contest Flyer.

Thanks again, and keep ‘em comin’!

This summer has been especially grueling on the firefighters here in California, and it’s just the beginning. Normally fire season really heats up around the end of July and continues through October. But with one lightning storm sending over 5,000 strikes down to the already drought-stricken foothills that I call home, close to 500 fires sprang to life overnight. These fires have brought in forces in from all over the country and even some from Canada and the National Guard. These guys are using every ounce of energy they have to protect our homes and keep our families safe.

But why is it so bad compared to other fire seasons? Why is it that this year has been the worst fire season in California’s history and it’s only mid-July? There are a number of factors, one of course being the lack of much-needed rain leaving even the greenest of pastures a duller shade of brown. But most of these fires are in mountain forests where tall trees tower over low-lying vegetation that has been dead and dry for years. And with few animals to feed on it, all of this dead grass and dry leaves are just waiting for one little spark to set it ablaze.

So what can be done about this? Obviously the natural wildlife that already lives in these areas are not clearing out this dry forage. Approximately 85% of the U.S. grazing lands are unsuitable for growing crops, and some of this land includes forested areas. Cattle are natural firefighters by doing what they do best: grazing! And as far as the natural wildlife goes, cattle are a huge help in a number of ways. In a California based study by the Conservation Biology magazine (Summer 2005), the results showed that grazing cattle actually helped to maintain natural wetland habitats that are home to several endangered species. Outside of the Golden State, cattle ranching has been shown to play a crucial role in the survival of native species in the Central and Eastern United States.

There’s a difference between preservation and conservation, and many people think this means the same thing. Preservation means to leave the land untouched and let it sort itself out. While this may sound wonderful and “good-natured”, letting forested land go unmanaged is what leads to many of the wildland fires that fills our skies with smoke and keeps our boys away from home. Conservation is different. This means the land is maintained using minimal interference in what’s naturally occuring in order to keep the land healthy and maintain the precious balance needed for everything to survive. Many cattle ranchers are also great conservationalists by doing their part to raise their cattle and take care of mother nature too. Taking care of the land they use is a top priority and many ranchers like to make it better than before.

So while I tip my hat and give thanks to the thousands of firefighters here doing their best to protect our homes and lives, I also thank the cattle ranchers for doing their part to make their land the best it can be. I hope conservation efforts continue in the future and perhaps one of these summers, we’ll all get to relax with clear blue skies and our loved ones with us.

Last month was a crazy busy month on Eagle Creek Ranch, and I can’t believe that it is already July!  I don’t even know where to start telling you about the month that we had.

June started out just like it always does: hot, dry, and a lot of work to do!  We got all the branding done in the last few weeks of May and the beginning of June.  Dad decided to do it pasture by pasture, that way it would require less help.  Of course, he saved West pasture for last, since it is our biggest pasture.  It was great, some of my uncles came down, my brother, Gabriel, took a break from  farming to help, and our neighbors Frosty and Will came out, too.  The round-up was smooth, and Dad let me ride up to ’normus hill.  I love it up there, you can see the whole ranch.  I guess the last time I was there was during your memorial service back in November.  The cows gave us no troubles.  We brought in about 110 cows and branded over 90 calves-we had a pretty good calf crop this year.  And of course, mom cooked a wonderful lunch of roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, and a cobbler for desert.  Everyone had a good time.  I love branding, it always feels like Christmas! 

The next weekend we went over to one of our neighbor’s to help her mark lambs.  It was just a good reminder for me to be thankful that we don’t run sheep on the ranch anymore!  We also went over there one day to help out with a coyote drive.  She has been having coyote problems down there, but she is still staying strong.  It is true ranch women like her that have created the spirit of the American West.

The joint Stockmen’s Convention was held in Ruidoso this year where New Mexico Cattle Grower’s Association and the New Mexico Wool Growers, Inc met together to celebrate father’s day, past accomplishments, and another good year.  It was good to see old faces and meet new people.

We also had three wells that were down.  On two of them we were able to fix with no problems, but the last one really gave us some problems.  We ended up having to pull the pipe just to get to the pump at the bottom.  But they are all fixed and water is running out again.

And speaking of water, we finally had some rain!  About three weeks the rain started.  First one of the year brought us two inches!  Since then we’ve had a little over five and the hills are turning green.  It was getting pretty dry for a while.  There was a fire that burned nearly 40,000 acres just south of Hope.  All the forests were closed to camping, too, but with the recent rain they’re back open.  The creek even ran for a while, which means we have some water gaps and fencing to fix, but we aren’t complaining.

On the fourth of July we went to Capitan to watch the ranch rodeo, now those are something to watch!  The Runyan-Elkin’s Ranch team was doing a pretty good job.  It was nice to take a day from work to just relax and celebrate with friends.

Well, I won’t bore you anymore.  Sure we did more than just all this, but you wouldn’t want to read everything.  Eagle Creek sure does miss you and it isn’t the same without you, but we know you’re there.  Hope this update has made it up to you. 

 Love,

Leticia Varelas

The men and women who proudly display this message on the front of their vehicle share a common bond.  They know how it feels to lose sleep from worrying all night about calving heifers and then take pride in their healthy calves come branding time at the end of another long calving season.  They share a passion for the land, the animals, and agriculture as it is today.  Anytime I hear someone praise the beef industry or sit down to read the paper with headline news “Downed Cattle Abused at Portales Sale Barn,” I have to stop and think about the people who are working in the pastures to ensure that neither their way of life or public imagine are not harmed.

Last week, the HSUS released a new downer cow video.  This time, the attack hit me a little closer to home, if you can imagine that.  There target was the Portales Auction Barn, which is located just about two hours from where my family ranches.  I agree with Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the HSUS when he says that these actions “…turn my stomach.”  But I still have faith in the beef industry.  We have worked in recent years to encourage proper care and animal husbandry through programs such as the Beef Quality Assurance Program.  These programs work to educate producers about best management practices for our cattle herds.  It pains me to see people who treat the animals poorly, but these people exist few and far between.  John McBride, director of communications for the Livestock Marketing Association stated that, “[These are] unfortunate, but it’s isolated incidents,”   Just as there are bad preachers, teachers, and lawyers, there will be those people who ruin the image of good agriculturists.  The important thing is to listen and trust the majority who are doing the right thing.

And speaking of those who are moving to make a positive difference, just a few weeks ago, New Mexico Cattle Grower’s and New Mexico Wool Grower’s met in Ruidoso for the 2008 Joint Stockman’s Summer Conference.  The theme was “Are You Prepared?”  Here, producers learend ways to be proactive in ways to improve and protect the future of our industry.  One issue that has spent a lot of time in the forefront is the reintroduction of the Mexican Wolf.  Under the way the system is set up, ranchers’ hands will literally be tied behind our backs as our herds will be attacked by the wolves.  Several things were discussed to solve the issue, and cattlemen are working hard to make their voice heard.  Currently, we have an online petition that gives us a voice about the wolf.  For more information, and to see the petition, please click here.  This is just one example of how hard we have to work to protect our animals.  So I ask you, who cares more for the animals:  The undercover HSUS employee who stands by doing nothing as animals are abused so he can shoot a video that isn’t released for months, or the average rancher who puts a lot time and energy into working to make sure the animals under his care are given a fair chance?

I think everybody in America should go visit a CowBelle (or Cattle Women in most other states) meeting once in their lives.  If they have no other exposure to the truth behind the agriculture industry, sitting through one meeting they could see first hand the honest, hard working women who work along side the men in our industry to supply them with a product they can trust.  So, maybe now you can understand, why I get so excited to see any other vehicle proudly displaying “NM Beef is Great” on the front of their vehicles.  It doesn’t even have to be the red one that our state association provides, I’ve seen a white “Eat Kansas Beef” and a few other states as well, and know that the person in that vehicle shares a common bond with me.  We face a lot of issues together, and we also are proud to associate ourselves with an amazing industry.  So go ahead, Eat Beef, because, you know, Beef IS Great…And so are the people who produce it!