Thank you!

I just wanted to post something real short as a thank you to our farmers and producers of all backgrounds! We would be without so much if it weren't for your hard work and dedication!

I took this photo outside of Lubbock, Texas last summer. I was honored to work as an assistant crop consultant!


-John L. Hawley

The Dairy Industry: A Volatile Market

A Volatile Market

The Dairy Industry is a very localized one, with separate states often relying on dairies solely within their borders. In fact, every state in the union boasts at least one dairy operation, providing our citizens with reliable local products. Few other sub-industries within agriculture can boast a presence any where near as widespread and stable.

With such widespread production, impacted by varying regulations from state to state, price volatility comes as one of the most concerning factors for producers.

In fact, according to an October, 22, article from Farmers Guardian, price volatility is often the most common concern of producers. International markets in particular are effected, as leaders in the industry are scrabmbling to find stability.

According to another report from the USDA, price volatility is something very hard to manege or stabilize. According to 43 percent of producers, policy options from the federal government and state officials are also appropriate, something rare to hear from many producers, especially with such support.

The report mentions three factors as issues and concerns in respect to price (or the margin thereof).

These factors are as follows....

1.) Uncertainty/certainty (Predictability)
2.) Instability/stability
3.) Inadequacy/adequacy

Uncertainty and certainty center around changes in consumer demands and those demands from producers who utilize dairy. As consumer preferences and desires change, it appears that prices are the first to be effected, before many producers can adjust production levels, often causing issues with management and herd levels.

Instability and stability are more impacted by regulation and variations in prices due to cost of feed and transport, in addition to illness and production issues.

Inadequacy and adequacy are impacted by the ability of funds to cover costs.

With factors as variable as these, managers are sometimes strapped in their ability to stabilize their operations, often causing issues related to employment and debt levels.

Some success has been found in managing the volatility on a regional basis, while also understanding the most important thing in term of dairy prices domestically, changes are cyclical.

For years now, dairy costs and demands have changed with the seasons and demands of Americans, with many regions seeing changes with weather, socioeconomic standing and consumer habits. Some cycles run in excess of 34 months, making it a long process to adjust to.

Other issues related to the management of these cycles by producers is understanding consumer woes. Charts available in the USDA report also show large resentment from older consumers, who still have difficultly accepting the inflated price of milk and other dairy products, even if they understand how markets and the value of the dollar have changed.

Therefore, successful producers are making cautious and aware choices in their operations by not overloading their operations with too many employees or head of cattle, with those producers succeeding more than those who take advantage of better prices, when markets may fall just a few weeks later.

If producers are able to balance their operations with cycles from consumers and production operators, then stability can be obtained at a level fit for individual producers.

More than anything, if communicators, marketers and advisers are able to work with dairy producers, then success can be found on larger scales more often than not.

Discussing the Fallacies of Attacks on Agriculture in Relation to Antibiotic Use Pt.1

Discussing the Fallacies of Attacks on Agriculture in Relation to Antibiotic Use Pt.1

I recently watched a special on PBS Frontline entitled "The Troubles with Antibiotics." To be honest, it's hard for me to sit and watch programs like these, with such a blatant desire to attribute things the general public does not understand to sources which seem evil and scary (I am unfortunately talking about modern agriculture, which has appeared that way to many in modern times due to successful smear campaigns based almost entirely on fiction).

What I found most shocking came quite quickly during the program, with unsubstantiated claims from a microbiologist in Arizona. He claimed using antibiotics in our food animals caused resistant infections. This claim came moments after he was disucssing his hypothesis, yes his hypothesis, a theory. The program made NO attempt to prove anything further from there, either. 

The program even mentioned, just five minutes later, that the issue of a direct link between antibiotic use and human resistance is "still the question today." How can you fairly prop up the opinions of a researcher, while also negating his claims in what I see as the fine print? Yes, the program mentioned the true statement, antiobotics have provided no link, but when they mentioned that, it was during a segway, with a very uninteresting woman on camera. When they let the microbiologist speak, it was with images of raw meat and with clips of hospitals. 

Plain and simple, this is propaganda.

I am planning to do some additional reaseach this week (midterms are finally done) and I will post a longer and more in-depth blog adressing the propoganda related to false calims of  harmful antiobtic use in production animals.

-John L. Hawley

Taking the SNAP Two-Day Challenge

In honor of Hunger Awareness Month, I decided to participate in the SNAP two-day challenge on September 30th and October 1st . The challenge calls for living off of the average value of a food stamp recipient's benefit, which is $4.50/day. I will discuss my background in regards to hunger as well as my experience taking the challenge below.
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When I was 14 years old, I filled out a food stamp application for my family so we could have the means to eat three meals a day. This is something I don't like discussing most of the time, not necessarily because I am embarrassed, but because the issue of food welfare is riddled in politics, with complete disregard to the most disturbing statistic I know of...

About 21,000 people die of starvation every day

This statistic comes from the United Nations World Program and stands as a stark reminder of how lucky we are to live in a food-rich country.

I understand the life of a food stamp recipient. I began this challenge remembering the plethora of emotions which filled my heart as a young high school student, finding a way to provide for my disabled mother and sister when my father and elder brother were not present. With this known, I approached the challenge wanting to see again the struggles of those who face food insecurity, so I could have a more well-rounded passion when discussing the issue of hunger and starvation in the future.

So, to discuss the challenge, I found it quite difficult, starting on the very first morning....

As I woke on Tuesday morning, I realized, to live off $4.50 per day, I could not purchase a coffee or other caffeinated beverage as I had grown so accustomed to as a senior in college. Maybe it sounds ridiculous, but it was actually quite difficult! It's funny to think how complacent we can become in regards to spending throughout our daily routines. I estimated that I spend a whopping $500 a year just on those beverages alone! That could pay for over 100 days worth of food for the average food stamp recipient.

As I went through my somewhat altered routine in regards to meals, one factor stood out above all the rest, even more than the astounding costs, the quality of my food was reduced significantly.

Below is an image of what I consumed during the challenge.

Yes, I understand, these look like the average college "goodies," and truly, they aren't all bad, especially when you consider the good deals I found (the cost of the food items totaled $8.65 w/tax). The bananas and cereal are actually quite healthy and the Spaghetti O's provide almost two servings of vegetables and plenty of protein. 

What I found in regards to a reduction of quality though, was the lack of wholesome meats and grains. 

Yes, I could have made more unique choices, found some sales with whole grain, maybe even some discount chicken or pork, but considering my budget, it was hard to get the math right. 

Money has been much better for me since my days as a recipient. I am blessed with a full-ride scholarship and a great part time job, so I am able to enjoy far more luxuries than I can ever remember. (No, I am not feasting on my favorite cut of steak everyday, which happens to be the New York Strip, but you understand what I am saying) 

With these luxuries, I am able to purchase more wholesome protein, like that from Tyson chicken or high quality whole-grains like those from Knorr pasta. On the SNAP budget, I simply wasn't able to do that.

I understand some recipients receive more than others, especially those with kids, but making these decisions is challenging regardless of funds. 

As an advocate for agriculture, with the issue of hunger directly relating to this SNAP challenge, my concluding thoughts circle around two questions...

How are we communicating the benefits of our best products to those with limited buying power?

What are we doing to improve public knowledge related to the only factor which can end hunger... agriculture? 

As I return to my more luxurious budget, as I am so blessed with today, I will remember this challenge and the real life challenge I faced years before it. I myself will ponder the two questions I am left with and ask all of my fellow agriculturalists to do the same.

I hope in some way, we can improve hunger awareness by standing firm on the only foundation able to actually end it. Agriculture. 

-John L. Hawley




Sources:

Hunger and World Poverty Sources: United Nations World Food Program (WFP), Oxfam, UNICEF.