tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16941934505216679822024-02-19T05:00:41.638-05:00Silo SkiesMy Life On A Dairy FarmRyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.comBlogger179125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-22959123060160150632016-01-12T12:22:00.000-05:002016-01-12T12:22:39.939-05:00Silo Skies Is Moving!In case you missed the most recent <a href="http://udderside.blogspot.com/2015/11/5th-year-anniversary-farmers-new-blog.html">Udder Side</a> post from the cows, I have a<a href="https://farmerbrightblog.wordpress.com/"> new blog</a>. Like most things I've done on the internet, I decided to start a new blog on Wordpress based on a whim. I think it was earlier this year when I was part of a blogging forum when the question of Blogger vs Wordpress came up. That was when the seed was planted.<br />
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I've been jealous of some Wordpress blogs for a good while and tried to incorporate what I saw here. In the meantime, I also felt that, like Fonzie, I might've jumped the shark a couple of times on my Udder Side blog.<br />
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<a href="https://imgur.com/xlrDyPV">Fonzie, jumping the shark on Happy Days, full scene</a></blockquote>
I wouldn't say the well is dry on creating posts on secret agent cows, but doing a weekly or even bi-monthly one has gotten very difficult to do without repeating past success. The plan is for the cows to go on and guest post on my <a href="https://farmerbrightblog.wordpress.com/">new Farmer Bright blog</a>, and they have already begun with their <a href="https://farmerbrightblog.wordpress.com/2015/12/18/these-are-not-the-calves-youre-looking-for/">comments on the new Star Wars </a><a href="https://farmerbrightblog.wordpress.com/2015/12/18/these-are-not-the-calves-youre-looking-for/">movie</a>.<br />
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I started the blog with a thirty-day challenge and have continued to post often. I hope you'll enjoy the new content and new layout by the same old farmer. If you enjoy getting the newest post in your email that option is available on the new blog, too. So, sign up, please!<br />
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Thank you for reading the last five years, and I hope that you continue reading on the new blog for years to come.<br />
Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-73198790434097422972015-10-21T12:43:00.000-04:002015-10-21T16:46:00.511-04:00Harvest and HalloweenThere is a decided lack of pumpkin spice lattes or harvest craft beers at our house. Our sparse fall decorations include the sum of two jack o' lanterns, but neither have been cut and gutted or even given magic marker eyes, nose, and mouth. Are they even jack o' lanterns at this point? More like jacks on their way to execution, perhaps.<br>
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Harvesting is still taking place on the farm. Corn silage, that is. Two weeks of heavy and then on off rain got us behind for waiting on muddy fields to dry. A nice crop, albeit a little drier than we'd like, is filling the silos. </div>
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My munchkins are literally dying for next week to arrive and are making last minute costume decisions. Except for the youngest, who decided months ago to be a skeleton. </div>
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The cows are already in the Halloween spirit. I just hope they don't expect candy.<br>
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Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-46498236866002380732015-08-24T07:42:00.000-04:002015-08-24T07:42:31.169-04:00We need an Uder AppWhat is one of the most common problems that strikes terror in homes all over the world? Imagine you just called the kids down to eat and you've poured their cereal in the bowls for breakfast and it hits you!<br />
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That's right!<br />
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"We're our of milk!"<br />
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In the miracle like technological world we live in you ask can this terrible problem be prevented? The answer is indeed, yes. Smartphones are ubiquitous and with the advent of the ride service Uber I think we need a milk delivery service. Lets call it Uder.<br />
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Launch the app on your phone and select how many gallons of milk you need. You'd be able to select from delicious full fat (technically only 3.5%) to skim and anything in between. Plus chocolate or regular. Maybe in the future you could even add more dairy choices like creamers and yogurts, but never, never offer any fake dairy product that doesn't come from an udder. If you're looking for nuts then go shake a tree or something.<br />
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Want an easy way to make money, dinero, or moo-lah? Then you could consider applying to be an Uder Driver. You'd be the one stopping by the store to pick up some delicious milk for whoever orders it. Being able to make people happy and make money at the same time is hard to fathom, but is a perfect description of an Uder Driver.<br />
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While How To Make Apps For Dummies may be heavy reading for me, maybe it isn't for you! Make this app happen and don't forget to give me some credit, and by credit I mean I need a cut of the revenue. Until then stock up on your favorite dairy products when you go to town. Buy gallons of milk like the weatherman is calling for snow no matter the season and you will never run out.<br />
<br />Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-50954227442703890392015-08-06T19:17:00.001-04:002015-08-06T19:17:35.843-04:00The Farmer Takes A Vacation<br />
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Even farmers get to take a vacation every once in a while. Sometimes we're hard to motivate to leave because we want to keep caring for our cows and getting chores done. We need motivation.<br />
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Of course there's also motivation to stay home, too. </div>
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The second photo was taken in Atlanta. Perhaps I could get Bad Company, or better yet, Allison Krasuss, to sing with me.</div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9vDn4KDzxE" target="_blank">Oh, Atlanta</a></div>
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Oh, Atlanta, your traffic's stalling</div>
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I've been staring at taillights all day</div>
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I'm starting to worry</div>
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I won't get out 'til next Thursday</div>
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I'm stuck on the interstate in Georgia</div>
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I'm stuck on the interstate in Georgia</div>
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Time spent at the beach was fun and a nice break from farm work. In the middle of it all we also celebrated a birthday with a pinata at the party. We had a great time watching the kids trying to break the candy free. Of course it did occur to me that we were cheering the kids on as they attacked an animal with a stick. I'm sure that's not PETA approved, nor is it something that happens on our dairy. Maybe I should've remembered the whole what-happens-on-vacation-stays-on-vacation thing.</div>
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The cows and the family managed without me for a few days, but when it was time to come home I was ready. Besides who needs the beach when you can look at this all day.</div>
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Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-33422516071962488832015-07-02T08:03:00.000-04:002015-07-02T08:03:52.062-04:00Dairy Farmers Are OCD About Milk Safety<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Call us crazy, but dairy farmers are ocd about milk safety. All down the line from when the cow is milked to when the milk leaves the farm the farmers are checking and double checking the safety of the milk.<br />
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You've heard about two factor authentication for passwords, right?<br />
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How about three factor authenticated milking? Whenever a cow is put on the No Milk List, our version of the no fly list, we have three safety checks for her. First we write her number down on paper, we also mark her digitally on the computer, and lastly we use a <a href="http://udderside.blogspot.com/2014/03/quarantined-milk.html" target="_blank">large cow crayon to give her a temporary mark.</a><br />
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For the purpose of giving you, the milk drinking fan, peace of mind lets assume that some how some sneaky cow that should not have been milked evaded all of those safety precautions and her milk made it in the tank with all of the other cows' milk.<br />
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Obviously, we're doomed.<br />
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Nope.<br />
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Here's where the ocd kicks in again. The very first thing the milk truck driver does when he arrives at the farm is to take a sample of the milk from the milk tank. Then when the driver arrives at the processing plant they take another sample of the entire truck. The truck sample and the farm samples are then tested for safety and quality. Nobody wants low quality milk. Not me, and certainly not you.<br />
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If any of the milk samples fail the safety test and tests positive for antibiotics it will be dumped. Yes, dumped. Poured out. Disposed of. Spilt, if you will.<br />
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But don't cry about it, we're talking about safety! And that's the bottom line. Safety first.<br />
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What type of milk should you purchase that has no antibiotics in it? Thanks to dairy farmers' ocd stance on milk safety you can rest assured that all milk sold is antibiotic free.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-51925468630041728392015-06-22T07:21:00.000-04:002015-06-22T07:21:05.516-04:00You'll Get More With DairyLetting my oldest, the county June Dairy Month Chairperson, guest post today. Here is her recent essay.<br />
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Every morning when I wake up I immediately head to the kitchen for some milk and my favorite cereal, Froot Loops. When I sit down, I look out my window to see the milk truck driving by. In it I know is my family’s milk. The milk truck will take our milk to the processor and then take it to your breakfast table. But how exactly do you get more with milk? I am Catherine Bright,our county's 4-H dairy chairwoman, and this is how you get more with milk.<br />
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Milk is a great way to stay healthy. Not only does it possess tons of nutrients, but it also has other health benefits. Did you know that drinking milk can lower the risk of certain types of cancer by 35 percent? Or that consuming milk, or other dairy products, can reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure in adults and obesity? I mean, one cup of 1 percent milk has the calcium of 10 cups of raw spinach. Moms, trust me on this one, most kids would prefer milk over spinach any day.<br />
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Some other nutrients found in milk include protein, phosphorus and magnesium. These keep your bones and teeth strong and healthy and also helps in their development. These are certainly all ways that you can get more with milk.<br />
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I am an avid dancer, and after three long dance classes I am extremely tired, hungry and thirsty. So, when I get to the car I am so excited to see a bottle of cold chocolate milk waiting on me. When I ask my Dad why he got me milk instead of a sports drink or water he tells me that milk has carbohydrates, proteins, fluids and electrolytes that you need to stay energized. “Besides,” he says, “chocolate milk is a way better recovery drink than any ol’ sports drink!” Even professional athletes include chocolate milk in their workout. They include it because it strengthens their muscles and doesn’t keep them as sore the next day. Milk really is a great way to refuel after a long practice. Trust me, I know.<br />
<br />
Milk is something I love and try to drink as much as possible. It has nutrients that strengthen my muscles to better help me dance and work. However, some of the people who need milk the most are unable to get it. There are actually 1.1 million people in Tennessee who are food insecure, and this includes 400,000 children. One item that most families request is milk.<br />
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On May 31, the Great American Milk Drive began, and for the rest of June, which is dairy month, each 4-H region of Tennessee will compete to donate milk to these families. You can donate by going to <a href="http://www.milklife.com/give" target="_blank">Milk Life</a> and entering in your zip code for the area you would like to donate to. Every donation could help someone else get more with milk.<br />
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Milk is a great way to stay fit and healthy, and I think it is delicious. You can most definitely get more out of milk. From the nutrients to the prices, milk cannot be beat. I know that milk helps to strengthen my muscles, teeth and bones. So, it seems that you really can get more with milk.<br />
<br />Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-32987195592031132602015-05-29T07:03:00.000-04:002015-06-10T21:29:13.082-04:00Inside Out: What Are Dairy Cows ThinkingThe new Pixar movie Inside Out is coming soon and I know my family is looking forward to going to see it.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yRUAzGQ3nSY" width="400"></iframe><br />
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It imagines our emotions being characters in our heads and how they interact. My first thoughts on dairy cows is that there must be a couple in their heads that do nothing but watch and wait for me to get close to the cow's rear end.<br />
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"Is The Farmer in range?"<br />
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"He's not in the full splatter zone. Wait!"<br />
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"Is he there yet?"<br />
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"Getting closer!"<br />
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"Now?"<br />
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"Now!"<br />
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And that's when they press the "go potty" button and my t-shirt and jeans get an instant brown tie-dyed look.<br />
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Maybe we can't actually get a view of a cow's brain or have a conversation with her about her feelings, but we can watch her because actions really do speak louder than words. As I write this our cows are all laying in the pasture after the morning milking. Full, content cows taking a nap is a good sign. Most are chewing their cud and simply resting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLiyj7syfk10CC8Ert3jj3kUOWX1gxMoMzoIDvwVpobi4tNfxtxOQWropfbthTqTWAkeoa6P7nIRwNuwk9kTFLgDw0BznINQqZpqZIvrZm3Gjt6sAm2IjpWmkfJwOai7lCqIJo5Ej0GY/s1600/IMG_3608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwLiyj7syfk10CC8Ert3jj3kUOWX1gxMoMzoIDvwVpobi4tNfxtxOQWropfbthTqTWAkeoa6P7nIRwNuwk9kTFLgDw0BznINQqZpqZIvrZm3Gjt6sAm2IjpWmkfJwOai7lCqIJo5Ej0GY/s320/IMG_3608.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As it gets closer to lunch I know they are hungry because they will be lining up at the gate to come in to eat.<br />
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There are many things that can frighten the girls from loud noises or "funny" smells (cows have a keen sense of smell) to visitors to the farm. When those incidences occur the cows will often put their noses in the air and raise their ears to figure out what's going on. If they feel threatened they will run. Cow care and cow comfort, therefore, are a top priority on any farm.<br />
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Happy, content cows eat and milk well. When cows refuse to eat, go down in milk, or don't go in to be milked at their regular spot in line then we also know something is wrong. Paying attention to the cows and how they act with others and during their normal daily routine is very important if we want to know what they are thinking and therefore how they feel.<br />
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Maybe cows can't verbalize it, but how they act is as good as speaking. Of course, there may be good reasons for cows<i> not</i> talking. Dairy cows have been know to be a little sassy!<br />
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<br />Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-69945166233252117852015-04-15T12:49:00.000-04:002015-04-15T17:28:30.519-04:00Super Powered Cows<a href="http://udderside.blogspot.com/2013/08/mutant-corn-and-x-cows.html" target="_blank">Should cows have super powers</a>? If they had them would they use them for good or evil?<br />
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We had three heifers answer those questions this winter on our farm. They had the ability to jump fences in a single bound. Their leader, who we'll refer to as Zod, would challenge them to leap the fence from their pasture into the adjoining field of ryegrass. Thus the question of "is the grass always greener on the other side" answered. At least for them.<br />
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Like the three Kryptonians Superman faced in Superman II and the Man of Steel, these superpowered cows did not use their abilities for the greater good. Eventually we caught them and two saw the error of their ways and pledged to only use their powers for good. Zod, however, did not calm down, nor did she make any agreements.<br />
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So we exiled her to the phantom zone.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2u3eQc_rx54" width="400"></iframe>
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Ok, so technically we didn't send her into a flying square rotating in space, We did send her to be sold at the stockyard. It was disappointing to see a nice animal leave, but if she could not abide by the rules then she could not stay. Even if she had super powers!<br />
<br />Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-54482369843783364312015-04-12T07:29:00.002-04:002015-04-12T07:29:27.137-04:00Life Imitates John Steele<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ifglw4wCOQrA_D5Iwyeb99AROh-5zFd3Cf0PiC4MVkjS8zLrVfp_Fni_T4BQ0Iqnv51wMKTzvTfsnT7IvHhG3ZpwluIM8VstS89lADqZNLeBS1bOg_yCFHDnxA9Fd7tzB0Zfyzme2WU/s1600/blogger-image-866890036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ifglw4wCOQrA_D5Iwyeb99AROh-5zFd3Cf0PiC4MVkjS8zLrVfp_Fni_T4BQ0Iqnv51wMKTzvTfsnT7IvHhG3ZpwluIM8VstS89lADqZNLeBS1bOg_yCFHDnxA9Fd7tzB0Zfyzme2WU/s640/blogger-image-866890036.jpg" /></a>Some days I feel as if life is imitating art, instead of the other way around. In my rural detective story, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Signal-John-Steele-Rural-Detective-ebook/dp/B00D6GKCTO" target="_blank">No Signal</a>, John Steele has a hard time solving cases without a good cell phone signal.<br />
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I can so relate.<br />
<br />
The joys of rural life are plenty: quiet, less traffic, less people, more nature, etc. On the other hand, the tech savvy are usually two, three, or more steps behind their urban counterparts. For example until DSL came to our area we had to invest in satellite internet which my in-laws constantly reminded me was not really high speed compared to their cable internet.<br />
<br />
When my wife and I moved, basically across the street, last year AT&T informed us we had moved nodes and switched us from our 2.6mbps stream to .765mbps. OMG. (And I'll try not to use that phrase again. Ever.) That was not even enough to check Gmail with.<br />
<br />
There's a sad story about repeaters and boosters that I won't repeat here to get us a little faster.<br />
<br />
In the meantime I'm getting closer to the end of the next book, Lucky Spaces. Here's a sneak peak:<br />
<br />
<i>“I am so sorry, sir,” she began, “there are rules that we can’t give out personal information like that. I--”</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I cut her off quickly as inspiration struck. “Ma’am, let me put the reverend on, maybe you’ll feel more comfortable talking to him. Here’s Reverend McCollister.” And I handed the cell phone over to Gramps. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>At first he tried to refuse it, but I kept thrusting it in his face and mouthed, “Do it! Come on!” </i><br />
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<div>
What would you do to solve a case? There's very little that John Steele wouldn't do. Especially if he can find a good signal.</div>
Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-36634618051539292802015-04-07T12:47:00.001-04:002015-04-07T12:47:20.581-04:00Donut Drive Through On The Farm<h3>
Time To Fetch The Cows</h3>
By four a.m. each morning I am driving out to the pasture making sure all the cows have come in to be milked. <b>Yes, I did say four a.m.!</b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
Today I was thinking as I drove the tractor down the lane that what I, <i>we</i>, really need is a drive through Dunkin' Donuts at the end of the lane.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ADunkin_Donuts_shop.jpg" title="By Anthony92931 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Dunkin Donuts shop" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Dunkin_Donuts_shop.jpg/256px-Dunkin_Donuts_shop.jpg" width="256" /></a>
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<h3>
<br /></h3>
<h3>
Time To Make The Donuts</h3>
<div>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dasqfamily/357031854" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" title="Dunkin' Donuts - Sunday Morning Coffee Run by Qfamily, on Flickr"><img alt="Dunkin' Donuts - Sunday Morning Coffee Run" height="200" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/146/357031854_67a9677c09.jpg" width="150" /></a>It would be nice to grab one of those chocolate coffees and a cream filled donuts, the white kind and not the yellow or the chocolate cream is a dream. Yes, there is a recurring theme of chocolate in my life. Life I think would be perfect. Getting up in the morning would be a joy.</div>
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Of course, there could be downsides. I can imagine a long line of cows waiting to get their caffeine fix before being milked. I'd have to hurry them up and then without their mochas and frappes they might get irritable. Then what if the field man from our dairy cooperative came to see us because of high concentrations of caffeine in the milk supply. Could we be fined for that?<br />
<br />
Or <i>maybe</i>.... this could be a new market for milk sort of like that cool, new <a href="http://siloskies.blogspot.com/2014/12/cows-in-space.html" target="_blank">Fairlife milk</a>. We could market caffeinated milk with all the health benefits of milk and without the chance of darkening your teeth like coffee can.</div>
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<h3>
Addictions</h3>
<div>
Then there would be my new habit of getting a coffee and donut everyday. Every morning I'd have to get my fix and leave the nice barista/donut-baker a tip. After a while I'd <i>have</i> to have it. My wife might want to know where our money's going. Then there's the problem with the daily donuts and fat, cholesterol, and obesity. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After careful consideration I think not having a Dunkin' Donuts on the farm is okay, and so is the occasional trip to town.</div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
Dunkin' Donuts photo: By Anthony92931 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons<br />
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Donuts photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dasqfamily/357031854/" target="_blank">Qfamily</a><br />
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Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-60989529386152474792015-03-18T12:42:00.001-04:002015-03-18T15:03:25.704-04:00Ode to Ag DayFrom the milk in your glass<br>
To the cotton of your shirt.<br>
Somewhere a farmer is working in the dirt,<br>
The mud, or the brow beating sun,<br>
'Til all their work is finally done.<br><br>No favor they ask<div>'Cept their cattle be polite,</div><div>That it rain just enough </div><div>And not every night. </div><div>Who but the farmer gambles their all everyday </div><div>'Neath dice ever rolling under Mother Nature's sway?<br><br>
May the vegans, the meat eaters,<br>
And those in between<br>
All on this day agree:<br>
Somewhere a farmer labors for you and for me.<br>
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<br></div>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-21403930222200886662015-02-18T08:11:00.000-05:002015-02-18T08:11:26.758-05:00A Fusion Blogger PanelSaturday I had the opportunity to do something a little different. I was invited to attend the American Farm Bureau Fusion Conference and participate on a blogger panel. Wow! Honestly it has been a while since my last prepared presentation, but when you get the chance to talk about something you enjoy to an audience that's eager to hear about it, why not?<br />
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The other two bloggers on the panel with me were <a href="https://twitter.com/wagfarms" target="_blank">Val Wagner</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/katpinke" target="_blank">Katie Pinke</a>. They blog at <a href="http://wagfarms.com/" target="_blank">Wag'n Tales</a> and <a href="http://thepinkepost.com/" target="_blank">The Pinke Post</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_I0vcWeDef2hbdh8I_bIq5lMu1hZ0CrNJNQKsMLeV2fGjh1Fc6e0AqcqkvTqkrnH2J0UOe0Rqr3KmnoJeU3gIARHIfyQZyEtuORSAb4VN7fvITGrxG98nLOhOWF-At2ayje_4c7qsX_U/s1600/Katie,+Val+and+Me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_I0vcWeDef2hbdh8I_bIq5lMu1hZ0CrNJNQKsMLeV2fGjh1Fc6e0AqcqkvTqkrnH2J0UOe0Rqr3KmnoJeU3gIARHIfyQZyEtuORSAb4VN7fvITGrxG98nLOhOWF-At2ayje_4c7qsX_U/s1600/Katie,+Val+and+Me.jpg" height="232" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Katie, Me, and Val</td></tr>
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Be honest, be personal, tell your story as it leads you. I think that would sum up much of the advice they had to give. When you gain the trust of your readers then you have made a real connection. Val said that you should always remember the potential of a post to gain steam long after you've written it. Katie shared how she used photos in her posts to bring readers in.<br />
<br />
My advice was to never be boring, vary your posts, and to be social. And a good photo never hurts!<br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/Farmerbright">@Farmerbright</a> did a blog titled "Fifty Shades of Hay" to hook in an audience, so have fun with your blog <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FBFusion?src=hash">#FBFusion</a> <a href="http://t.co/xydsZDYOlx">pic.twitter.com/xydsZDYOlx</a><br />
— Kevin Hensley (@KevinHensley) <a href="https://twitter.com/KevinHensley/status/566653253283483648">February 14, 2015</a></blockquote>
I also got to meet some other great folks there as well. AFBF President Bob Stallman was in the hallway before our panel and spent a few moments talking with my wife and I. Meeting some of my "imaginary friends," as my wife likes to put it, in real life was nice, too.<br />
<br />
Of course my highlight was getting to meet Janice in real life.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
So excited to finally meet <a href="https://twitter.com/Farmerbright">@farmerbright</a>! This is definitely the highlight of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FBFusion?src=hash">#FBFusion</a>! Eat your heart out! <a href="http://t.co/Pc5qw3JBQO">pic.twitter.com/Pc5qw3JBQO</a><br />
— Janice Person (@JPlovesCOTTON) <a href="https://twitter.com/JPlovesCOTTON/status/566648448414670848">February 14, 2015</a></blockquote>
She's one of the first people I met on social media and a blogger that I've learned so much from. <br />
<br />
A big thanks from me to everyone that came to our breakout panel and to the wonderful AFBF staff that made everything perfect.<br />
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<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-70112318065554812512015-02-09T07:55:00.001-05:002015-02-09T07:55:40.911-05:00Dairy Farmers And Bull CalvesThis the last two weeks I've had some "interesting," for lack of a better word, comments on Twitter. I'm not the only one, either, as Heim Dairy's apt put <a href="https://heimdairy.wordpress.com/2015/02/04/farmers-are-people/" target="_blank">Farmers Are People</a> blog post states.<br />
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One of the "facts" that I got hit with was that dairy farmers kill every bull calf that is born. I can't understand why anyone would draw that conclusion. This would be like flushing money down the toilet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WaiwTmZ8Q71b-zD2k-Ulwl5ih1DQFNqSmOtElrnUqcmjXAttFaqdHZmkF-k96ZUr8cjKY7eqraK4BO9f0KdlTNu9CX16WNPBsbRi7zF7AYxjdANkDIYeDgHpqqwoq4ECdu5JDNmvisw/s1600/throw+money+down+the+toilet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WaiwTmZ8Q71b-zD2k-Ulwl5ih1DQFNqSmOtElrnUqcmjXAttFaqdHZmkF-k96ZUr8cjKY7eqraK4BO9f0KdlTNu9CX16WNPBsbRi7zF7AYxjdANkDIYeDgHpqqwoq4ECdu5JDNmvisw/s1600/throw+money+down+the+toilet.jpg" height="320" title="throwing money down the toilet" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Money Toilet via <a href="http://pixgood.com/throwing-money-down-the-toilet.html" target="_blank">PixGood</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
Bulls Vs. Heifers</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMPwHJjPgS7IRiH-6jgAVgffUGqcdnpdDwwt19uhzzHQ6uLNnGOAv6pZMlhhbcl0zYM5FkhfZalN6swvkKbSzIJ0LeuiOAXV9fXUs7h_u6I2cSdC6YhBVpOds9bledkGx5XqEdZL2E2o/s1600/Calf+drinking+Milk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="baby calf" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRMPwHJjPgS7IRiH-6jgAVgffUGqcdnpdDwwt19uhzzHQ6uLNnGOAv6pZMlhhbcl0zYM5FkhfZalN6swvkKbSzIJ0LeuiOAXV9fXUs7h_u6I2cSdC6YhBVpOds9bledkGx5XqEdZL2E2o/s1600/Calf+drinking+Milk.jpg" height="180" title="Calf drinking milk" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby calf drinking milk</td></tr>
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On our farm it makes no difference if the calves are bulls or heifers in how we raise them. They are side by side in our calf barn and other pens. They receive the same feed and the same care. Obviously the heifers are worth more in the long run because they will join the milk herd when they reach maturity. The bulls are valuable because they supplement our income in the short term.<br />
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We raise our bulls until they are no more than six months old and sell them as steers. Yes, they will be raised for beef. With less beef on the market and therefore higher prices it only makes sense that bull calves are valuable now and any other time.<br />
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<br />Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-46008136809656414812015-01-27T08:19:00.000-05:002015-01-27T08:19:26.732-05:00Don't Be Afraid of the Milk Truths #MilkTruth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Parade magazine ran an article called <a href="http://parade.com/366711/parade/what-are-you-afraid-of/" target="_blank">What Are You Afraid Of </a>which reminds us that there are real things to worry about like the flu instead of ebola, or not getting enough fiber in your diet instead of whether something is gluten free. They even recommended <i>not</i> worrying about zombies.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/toonz/" target="_blank">photo via Scott_Hampson</a></td></tr>
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But just to be on the safe side....</div>
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One thing that should not give anyone cause for concern is the inherent good quality of milk and dairy products. </div>
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<li>Just for kids? No way! Milk is a powerhouse of nutrients for everyone</li>
<li>Looking for a real wholesome local product from a family farm? That's milk!</li>
<li>Trying to cutout the extra calories and fat? Milk fits the bill. Even whole milk is practically 96% fat free!</li>
<li>Almond "milk" only has a gram of protein while milk is choc full of it!</li>
<li>Milk is a simple food compared to non-dairy milks that have a long list of ingredients.</li>
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<a href="http://milktruth.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="milk life" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_BMxWylcUN5HhYSKktqsp9Hn4f4ycu1EyQdrQLZDIcK75p_rvcr6QEZwxA2tQUmydUSZotp0CtCEfZS0VaANGLfOEaDM8TG9S8b64DI_yPeNmZc6LUxmP0NzZHb_ODJuQQZS6FVtHSI/s1600/milk+life.png" title="milk vs almond milk" /></a><span id="goog_469687145"></span><span id="goog_469687146"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
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So get real and get real milk! If you want to find more real facts about milk then go to <a href="http://milktruth.com/" target="_blank">Milk Truth</a> and follow #MilkTruth on your favorite social media account.</div>
<br />Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-70810337419195244092015-01-06T17:14:00.000-05:002015-01-06T17:14:13.231-05:00Preparing For The Cold On The DairyWith an upcoming cold spell coming we are trying to get things ready for ourselves and the cows. While it won't be as bad as last year's <a href="http://udderside.blogspot.com/2014/01/beat-cold-with-buffett.html" target="_blank">Polar Vortex</a>, it still isn't anything we are looking forward to.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJhLWE8tz-15SCONEytgVM0sEDm6aWkjfReBB2fAFwLNtiX3bsAc4qIvTz5L7LvQbTDt9kxw6AUJf3zDnEyvYX094vNv06OSXcC82FH3q6-FDyuK-z0cZtug60Bhyphenhyphen8uKzMaLOp3xImBg/s640/blogger-image-1874057831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJhLWE8tz-15SCONEytgVM0sEDm6aWkjfReBB2fAFwLNtiX3bsAc4qIvTz5L7LvQbTDt9kxw6AUJf3zDnEyvYX094vNv06OSXcC82FH3q6-FDyuK-z0cZtug60Bhyphenhyphen8uKzMaLOp3xImBg/s320/blogger-image-1874057831.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">One of our biggest concerns is that the silo unloaders and the conveyors might freeze. We've purchased some large, high quality hay bales and have them ready to feed in case that happens.</span></td></tr>
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While we do keep our baby calves in the calf barn they will appreciate more straw bedding when the temp's drop. We may also feed them more milk to keep their energy levels up.</div>
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Of course the cows are not the only creatures on the farm that need to stay warm. Don't forget the farmers! This week we purchased a new forced air heater to put in the dairy barn to keep us warm while milking and to thaw out any frozen pipes.<br />
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Unfortunately this means we'll be replacing our old one that plays the first note of the Star Wars theme when it comes on. Don't believe me? Give it a listen.<br />
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Winter weather we are ready as we'll ever be!<br />
<br />Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-54100467808316615022015-01-03T07:42:00.000-05:002015-01-03T07:42:32.765-05:00Hunting For The New YearMoments before I took this photo Fred contentedly sat on the post warming himself in the sunshine. As I clicked the shutter he dove for a mouse on the ground.<br />
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Maybe sometimes it is difficult for us to distinguish who is the prey and who is the hunter. As the new year begins which do you think you will be? Cat, mouse, or maybe a little of both?<br />
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Fred would remind you that whatever you choose to be nice to your neighbor because you never know when they might bring you a warm bowl of milk.</div>
Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-67392299123432326742014-12-18T07:59:00.000-05:002014-12-18T07:59:51.852-05:00Vaccinating Cows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Getting vaccinated is not something reserved for humans. All of our cows and calves also get vaccinated and have their booster shots to make sure their immunity stays current. Keeping our cows healthy is good for them and good for us.</div>
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You're Sixteen, You're Beautiful, and You're Vaccinated</h2>
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Our most recent heifer that calved and entered the milking herd is #16. Previously she was only identified by her ear tag, but now she has a "big" number, also. The big blue number is the one we will now use for her record keeping. We escorted her into the headchute to restrain her for her safety as well as ours.<br />
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She received a vaccination to aid in the prevention of diseases caused by infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), bovine virus diarrhea (BVD types 1 & 2), parainfluenza 3 (PI3), and bovine respiratory syncytial (BRSV) viruses, Leptospira pomona, L. hardjo, L. grippotyphosa, L. canicola, and L. icterohaemorrhagiae. That's ten in one dose! My children might wish their pediatrician could be so efficient.<br />
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Also, we poured on her back a liquid dewormer that will prevent internal and external parasites. After that she was free to go back to eating and relaxing until the next milking.<br />
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Our calves are vaccinated when they are a few months old and wormed when they are ready to go out on pasture. They will receive regular boosters for the rest of their time on the farm.<br />
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Now, if only I could convince my wife to get vaccinated for <i>her</i> flu shot this year.....<br />
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<br />Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-41607198471138570822014-12-06T09:35:00.001-05:002014-12-06T09:35:45.939-05:00Cows In SpaceI opened the gate and called to the cows in the pasture. It was time for them to come in and eat lunch. Most of them stood up and took a few steps. Thinking they were on their way I proceeded to feed a group of calves that were in a nearby barn.<br />
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The cows, however, didn't move. They stood silently. Were they doing some kind of protest? Were they pondering which Christmas special to watch on tv? I noticed their ears and eyes pointed to the heavens and it was obvious what they were doing. Cows, as you know, have an excellent sense of smell and hearing. What they had to be doing was "sensing" one of <a href="https://news.yahoo.com/nasa-tries-again-launch-orion-spacecraft-085238083.html" target="_blank">NASA's new spaceships, Orion</a>, circling the globe. </div>
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The spaceship was unmanned for this trip, but one of the future goals of the new craft is a trip to Mars. Of course, when the astronauts are on board they will definitely need some milk. What are their options? As impractical as it is, the first choice is to take a real cow with them.</div>
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Monkeys and rats have made the trip so why not our bovine friends? While <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/little-girl-pet-calf-cow-nap-breanna-izzy/" target="_blank">one little girl did take a baby calf into her house to snuggle with</a>, a cow in space does bring its own issues. Cows need room to move, lots of food to eat, and let us not forget about waste. Then you have the issue with the milk. Raw milk for the astronauts? No. The last thing you need is a group of astronauts getting sick from an E. coli outbreak or having renal problems. They would need to pasteurize the milk. More equipment and more work for them. We might not be ready for a cow in space.</div>
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As a kid I remember the astronauts drank Tang.<br />
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I also remember that it was the yuckiest thing I had ever drunk at the time and if that was what it took to become an astronaut then there was no point in me thinking about becoming one. Thanks but no thanks and pass the milk, please.</div>
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Due to it's perishable quality milk might not have an option for early astronauts, but today you definitely have more options for your dairy cravings. <a href="http://www.milkunleashed.com/shelf-safe-milk/aseptic-packaging-uht-milk.html" target="_blank">Ultra High Temperature pasteurizing</a> allows milk to have a long shelf life. You can find conventional milk as well as <a href="http://www.organicvalley.coop/products/milk/pasteurization/" target="_blank">organic milk</a> on the shelf like this.</div>
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Coming soon nationwide is a product called<a href="http://fairlife.com/" target="_blank"> Fairlife Milk</a> which uses a new version of UHT and has a unique twist on milk's inherently good properties by increasing the protein and calcium while lowering the sugar content. Perhaps the biggest impact it will make is that it is lactose free making it a perfect choice for those with inherent lactose allergies. Does it taste delicious? I don't know, but I can't wait to try it.</div>
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It's National Chocolate Milk Day tomorrow. Make sure you share a glass of <a href="https://twitter.com/fairlife">@Fairlife</a> Chocolate Milk with a friend! <a href="http://t.co/3dSARTufGh">pic.twitter.com/3dSARTufGh</a><br />
— fairlife (@fairlife) <a href="https://twitter.com/fairlife/status/515470866918821888">September 26, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Cows in space? Maybe not yet. Milk in space? You betcha! All systems are go!</div>
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Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-12704606010840298022014-11-29T13:01:00.002-05:002014-11-29T13:01:25.025-05:00Football To FarmingIf you are looking for another way that the internet can change lives then you can look no further than former NFL player Jason Brown. You see, after quitting football he did research on YouTube to become a farmer.<br />
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You can find out how to do thousands of things on the internet. In the movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1458175/faq" target="_blank">The Next Three Days</a>, starring Russel Crowe, the main character learned how to make a bump key for opening doors and other less than scrupulous skills by also watching YouTube videos.<br />
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I go to YouTube for various reasons. I want to listen to a particular song. I want to find out how to do something simple which in one case I ended up being schooled by a prepubescent boy on how to skin my daughter's Mindcraft game characters. I've posted <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChhSGQVTe3ypI7fcW0AnAkw" target="_blank">several videos myself</a>, too.<br />
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What have watched and learned on YouTube? Have you learned enough to want to make a major career change like Jason Brown? Or are you still watching funny cat videos?<br />
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<br />Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-64895176567299328562014-09-24T07:46:00.000-04:002014-09-24T07:46:03.378-04:00Pebble Smartwatch For The Farm?For a while now I've been looking forward to getting an iWatch, or as it ended up being called, an Apple Watch.<br />
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When the Apple Watch was actually shown this month, I ended up being underwhelmed. The more I thought about it the more I realized that even if I wanted to spend close to $400 on a watch, the Apple Watch couldn't survive life on the farm.</div>
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Big, bulky, and expensive. That's a good description for a tractor, not a watch.</div>
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I decided to reevaluate why I wanted a smartwatch to begin with. Pulling my iPhone out of my pocket to check to see if I had a call, message, or notification has started to get old. Often, I'm on a loud tractor or around mooing calves and don't notice the rings, beeps, or chirps. When I've been expecting a call I've even carried my phone in my hand while I worked to keep me from missing it. That's not always safe for it or me. With the onset of winter and extra layers of coats and gloves keeping abreast of those messages and notifications will be darn near impossible.</div>
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Most of the time being late to a conversation or message isn't a problem. However, when my wife texts and I don't respond, well, that's not a great situation to be in.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4Xd2jxggmqeVLOj3Dht84C9ZrfRLgZI17L4pSxbyPWioBNLTaW9Loi4DhCWyEWDjSe9yOzTWKNaG6WK7RoX04rYbskcR_JAIBhyphenhyphen7xa0Pg5wgfw_1TYW0ng7x7PvWGvR3TdHPkI6Zvqo/s1600/photo.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4Xd2jxggmqeVLOj3Dht84C9ZrfRLgZI17L4pSxbyPWioBNLTaW9Loi4DhCWyEWDjSe9yOzTWKNaG6WK7RoX04rYbskcR_JAIBhyphenhyphen7xa0Pg5wgfw_1TYW0ng7x7PvWGvR3TdHPkI6Zvqo/s1600/photo.PNG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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I realized that I didn't need a full blown computer on my arm. What I really need is something practical. Something that works well. Something that solves my problems. I decided what I really need is a <a href="https://getpebble.com/" target="_blank">Pebble smart watch.</a></div>
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<a href="https://blog.getpebble.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibK-LNbK1J4X3EputXeQF4vOgF2nMSsTXM5aoJiQi6e5ciyNAZdGfdUKoeKgY1_mKO9oBRVpYNvRg-vFDYpOliQ481uIQQprU_CykrGa9zJx9xOlVnkvNFILkhqdNa_CXdcsZOiAZbJLA/s1600/pebble+smart+watch.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<li>The Pebble displays notifications (texts and calls from my wife won't be missed!)</li>
<li>Is highly water resistant (which is a must for farm life!)</li>
<li>Readable screen in daytime (I'm always outside)</li>
<li>Replaceable bands (in case I catch it on something)</li>
<li>Scratch resistant screen (I'm rough on things)</li>
<li>Battery lasts for 5-7 days (!)</li>
<li>Affordable</li>
<li>Last, but not least, it tells time. </li>
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Can the Pebble survive the farm, the cows, and the chores? Can it deliver on the notifications when I need them most? Dear Pebble, this is your chance to find out. I volunteer to put your watch through the paces in the demanding job of dairy farming. Dusty silos, spraying water, spattering cow manure, greasy tractors, and much, much more. Send me your smartwatch and I will gladly test it out as only a farmer can. If you are interested please <a href="http://siloskies.blogspot.com/p/contact.html" target="_blank">contact me here</a>.<br />
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<br />Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-35662685782605539152014-08-07T12:34:00.000-04:002014-08-07T12:34:10.651-04:00Moving Calves With A SongTwo bent corral panels and one dented truck later, we were finally able to move ten heifers from field A to field B. The last three of the group, and especially the final one, were a little trying but we managed to load 'em and move 'em.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwNV4ueA6DJgt7R_eaQphi2k42sSdVcDYV1ZbozynLqFDJtAx-7YSmhfsNT_4yMf_S6x3xsacIYD4-t5SJZUw_x1SE7tkLdDvD5DCeVD9rAARZH-viJMyKtzGQuf_LS66GWUJd-y5TGU/s1600/Moving+calves.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwNV4ueA6DJgt7R_eaQphi2k42sSdVcDYV1ZbozynLqFDJtAx-7YSmhfsNT_4yMf_S6x3xsacIYD4-t5SJZUw_x1SE7tkLdDvD5DCeVD9rAARZH-viJMyKtzGQuf_LS66GWUJd-y5TGU/s1600/Moving+calves.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not all heifers were easily tempted, but we did get them up!</td></tr>
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Sorta sounds like a country song. So with apologies to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de1aPKXBdAE" target="_blank">Kenny Chesney's American Kids</a>.<br />
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Trying to move those bovine animals<br />
Hoping they don't break no more corral panels.<br />
Coaxing them along ain't no easy sight<br />
A little bit sweaty but we got them alright.Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-72263398512704765462014-07-17T07:37:00.000-04:002014-07-17T07:38:48.586-04:00Weeds, Corn, and GMO'sEvery year we plant corn to harvest as silage for the cows. This year's crop is growing well and so were the weeds. A few days before I took this photo we had our corn sprayed with Round Up. The GMO corn is not hurt, but the weeds do not survive.<br />
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Had we not been able to spray, the weeds would have taken over the corn and stolen nutrients, water, sunshine, and fertilizer.<br />
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What's real interesting to me is the photo I tweeted out of the sweet corn in my garden when the wind blew it over. Monsanto retweeted it and then I got a few negative comments in return.<br />
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Looks like I need a sweet corn chiropractor. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/corn?src=hash">#corn</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gardening?src=hash">#gardening</a> <a href="http://t.co/bvQ3iq9WEU">pic.twitter.com/bvQ3iq9WEU</a><br />
— Ryan Bright (@Farmerbright) <a href="https://twitter.com/Farmerbright/statuses/483691909676679170">June 30, 2014</a></blockquote>
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“<a href="https://twitter.com/MonsantoCo">@MonsantoCo</a>: RT <a href="https://twitter.com/Farmerbright">@Farmerbright</a>: Looks like I need a sweet corn chiropractor. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/corn?src=hash">#corn</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gardening?src=hash">#gardening</a> <a href="http://t.co/k8eTcz4Dmz">pic.twitter.com/k8eTcz4Dmz</a>” ur fault monsanto. 😒😒😭<br />
— BIGCHIEF666 (@triplenicks666) <a href="https://twitter.com/triplenicks666/statuses/484737281920475137">July 3, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/MonsantoCo">@MonsantoCo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Farmerbright">@Farmerbright</a> Monsanto corn? You need a pathologist!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/noGMOs?src=hash">#noGMOs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/poison?src=hash">#poison</a><br />
— Kathryn Joy (@JoyK8) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoyK8/statuses/484301435513761793">July 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
The funny part is that the garden corn is Silver Queen sweet corn, and not anything special. What people's perspectives are based on what they've read or heard is not always true. Recently Popular Science put together an article about GMO products entitled <a href="http://www.popsci.com/article/science/core-truths-10-common-gmo-claims-debunked" target="_blank">Core Truths: 10 Common GMO Claims Debunked</a>. Are GMO plants tested? Should we be worried? I'm about as worried about that as I am <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1757745933"></span>mutant cows.<span id="goog_1757745934"></span></a><br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-89824585058582464482014-06-28T15:27:00.000-04:002014-06-28T15:27:22.460-04:00Drones On The Farm Part 3: Family or Factory Farm<a href="http://thefarmerswifee.com/2014/06/24/factory-farm-or-family-farm/" target="_blank">The Farmer's Wifee</a> and <a href="http://www.nurselovesfarmer.com/2014/06/factory-farm-family-farm-decide/" target="_blank">Nurse Loves Farmer</a> are the two blogs that brought the drone campaign to my attention. I wrote earlier about privacy and expectations in<a href="http://siloskies.blogspot.com/2014/06/drones-on-farms-part-1.html" target="_blank"> Part 1</a> and<a href="http://siloskies.blogspot.com/2014/06/drones-on-farm-part-2-rights-and.html" target="_blank"> Part 2</a>.<br />
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What these two farmers want to accomplish is to recognize that family farms come in all shapes and sizes. Aerial photos from drones don't tell a complete story.<br />
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If you've ever looked at a medical photo...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">random 8 week ultrasound</td></tr>
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....and not been trained in the medical field you would not be able to identify much more than "I think that's probably a baby ultrasound."<br />
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How then can you tell how well animals and the environment are cared for from an aerial photo? Does our farm look bad?<br />
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Are we a factory farm? We've got a lot of buildings? We've got a lot of cows? If you think a one hundred cow dairy is a big dairy, that is. Three family members and one hired hand. We're like a machine. A four cylinder motorized <strike>factory</strike> family farm. <a href="http://udderside.blogspot.com/2013/09/this-must-be-factory-farm.html" target="_blank">Do the cows think they live on a factory farm?</a> <a href="http://udderside.blogspot.com/2013/10/this-is-not-factory-farm.html" target="_blank">You'll have to ask them that question.</a></div>
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<br />Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-85534226807487884442014-06-28T11:10:00.001-04:002014-06-28T11:10:54.615-04:00Drones On the Farm Part 2: Rights and ExpectationsI wrote last in<a href="http://siloskies.blogspot.com/2014/06/drones-on-farms-part-1.html" target="_blank"> Part 1</a> about a Kickstarter campaign to get drones to investigate farms. Here's a <a href="http://www.donotlink.com/framed?49404" target="_blank">link to the main guy being interviewed about his plan</a>. Mr. Potter actually comes across as more farm friendly than the host in that he only assumes farms are guilty until proven innocent where as she condemns them with zeal. For the purpose of the interview I'm pretty sure the phrase factory farm was interchangeable with animal cruelty.<br />
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They both agreed that the drone plan to investigate farms would circumvent the so-called ag gag law and that they have the right to see everything that occurs on farms using whatever technology is available.<br />
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Rights and Expectations</h3>
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While we have the right to buy things, I'm not sure we have the right to do everything this campaign wants. On the other hand, I do think consumers have certain expectations. They have expectations that when they purchase a product or service that it will be produced at a certain moral and ethical level. Different things change their expectations, for example the worries that this Kickstarter campaign's backers have in that animal cruelty is happening on farms. That lowers their expectations of food and they are either more reluctant to purchase "common" food, thereby lowering its value, and/or more likely to purchase food they perceive, whether it actually is or not, to be closer to the expectations they want. Farmers markets, Whole Foods, and Chipotle come to mind for places that appeal to consumers' higher expectations.<br />
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<a href="http://www.dfamilk.com/sites/default/files/GoldStandard_NewDFALogo.gif?1329747791" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.dfamilk.com/sites/default/files/GoldStandard_NewDFALogo.gif?1329747791" /></a>Farmers, and the ag community, have to work to meet consumers' expectations. In a capitalistic society producers who make the products that consumers want at the right price survive. How are farmers meeting expectations? One way we are doing it in the dairy industry is through certification. We sell our milk through a cooperative called DFA. The processors that DFA sell our milk to have expectations on how it should be produced. DFA started a third party verified farm certification process called<a href="http://www.dfamilk.com/membership/member-programs/gold-standard-dairy" target="_blank"> Gold Standard Dairy</a> in order to prove the milk they sell meets a certain level of expectations. By doing so they raise the value of all their members' milk.<br />
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But this Kickstarter campaign thinks it has the right to come on farms and if farmers don't let them they must have something to hide. There are several reasons a farms might not allow visitors. Some don't allow them because visitors bring diseases with them that could infect the animals. Others worry about liability and lawsuits. For example, our county went without a farm for a farm day tour for several years because no one was willing to risk the liability.<br />
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Another reason might be simply that like the kid that is embarrassed that his room isn't clean enough for his mom, some farms might not think their farms are "nice enough" for company. I have to admit we have some weeds and rusty machinery around that I would hate to represent our farm in photos. Maybe some farmers are simply scared of being misrepresented by those whose only goal is to make the farmer look bad. No wonder they oppose the drones.<br />
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Regulations</h3>
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Farms don't get a free pass, however, if they choose not to be open to the general public. As a grade A dairy farm we are inspected by state and federal inspectors. There is no warning when they will arrive to make sure all of our milking equipment is clean and in order. Larger farms have to meet more government regulations and can be inspected by multiple government departments. </div>
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Regulations give us the expectations that businesses are operating at a certain set of standards. While I may not have the right to walk through the kitchen of my favorite restaurant to make sure everything meets<i> my</i> standards, I do have the assurances that it is inspected and has a health department score sheet hanging in public view. If it doesn't meet my expectations I can choose to eat somewhere else. </div>
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Having choices is what the free market is all about. Look at the smartphone market. You can get a phone at various price levels that have varied features and operating systems. No one is telling Apple or Samsung to make all phones identical and to one particular set of standards because "that's the way I think it should be." No, if you don't like the way one phone is made or works, then you, the consumer, can choose to buy something else. Just like you can choose to buy grass fed beef, free range eggs, or organic milk. </div>
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Part 3: Family or FactoryRyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694193450521667982.post-76175973212117901522014-06-27T08:26:00.001-04:002014-06-28T11:11:40.167-04:00Drones On Farms (Part 1)Imagine an afternoon when all the stars have aligned, you have completed all your work, you're alone, and have nothing to do. I know it never happens, but lets imagine it anyway. You check your doors and windows and make sure they're locked, then you yawn, and start a nice afternoon nap. <br />
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Suddenly you are awakened by a bright flash. Before you can say, "holy cheese and crackers (instead of something unprintable on this blog!)," you see a man standing in your bedroom taking a picture of you sleeping with drool on the pillow and everything. But what's more, the man is not just any man, he is part of the self proclaimed Behavior Police. He's looking out for all of us.<br />
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What offends you the most about this hypothetical?<br />
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<li>Breaking and entering your house?</li>
<li>The invasion of privacy and posting of your sleeping and drooling photo on the internet?</li>
<li>The fact that he's reporting on your behavior to see if you live up to his standards?</li>
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Personal Space</h3>
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We all have personal space, whether we're on a crowded bus or in our house. We have expectations about how other people interact with that. For instance, if you have a door to your house, which I assume everyone does, you would expect someone, a stranger, to knock before entering. If your door was locked you would expect it to keep them out. Let's say you have a yard of any size. Do strange people play in your yard? No. It is your space. Like your house, other people should ask before they "play" in your yard or come into your house. </div>
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Does that sound logical?</div>
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Drones Are All Seeing</h3>
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Farms are no different than houses and yards. Farms have fences and gates and these define property lines. They define personal space for the farm. In other words, just like you should knock before entering someone else's house, you should ask the property owner for permission before going on a farm. </div>
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Unlike people, drones can fly right over fences, and barns, and houses. They can choose to ignore personal space and property lines and courtesy. Drones are all seeing. Go ahead and ask Tom Cruise if you don't believe me.<br />
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And according to one <a href="https://www.facebook.com/organicconsumers/photos/a.10150142479999934.291724.13341879933/10152320210384934/?type=1" target="_blank">meme</a> making its way around the internet and the following <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1926278254/drone-on-the-farm-an-aerial-expose" target="_blank">Kickstarter</a> group that kind of thinking is okay. They want to use drones to fly over farms to make sure the farmers are behaving correctly. They want to investigate "factory farms." Unlike most normal people, they are choosing to ignore courtesy and want to, figuratively if not literally, break down gates and fences and enter farms whenever they choose. When the police do this they have to have a search warrant or probable cause.</div>
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But obviously this group, while they are completely behind free speech, don't care about privacy, or at least other people's privacy. </div>
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All people are not good. We have prisons to prove this. And I'm not saying <i>all</i> farmers are good. There are farmers that make mistakes, or do wrong on purpose just like they are people who make mistakes and do wrong on purpose<i> in every walk of life</i>. </div>
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What I am questioning is the use of drones to spy on people and report on their behavior, and not just because someone-has-to-make-sure-people-aren't-making-bad-choices, but also for a profit (think tv promos, book deals, and speeches). Where does it go from here? Should we use drones to check up on over weight people to make sure they don't pig out on Oreo's in the privacy of their own home? Isn't it in the public's best interest that people eat healthy? Should drones sit in bathroom stalls of restaurants and report on the cooks' hand washing habits? Someone needs to make sure they don't make customers sick, right? </div>
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Where does it end? </div>
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<a href="http://siloskies.blogspot.com/2014/06/drones-on-farm-part-2-rights-and.html" target="_blank">Part 2: Rights and Expectations</a></div>
Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05132197906419108349noreply@blogger.com0