Twitter has been a flutter with a “new” study on pigs fed feed containing GMOs.  I was curious about all that was being said, so I spent quite a bit of time reading many comments on Facebook and following the topic on Twitter.

Seeing the same old hype, I dug further into the study.  Here’s what I discovered… the so-called GMO Pig Study contains nothing scientific whatsoever!  In fact, I agree with author Mark Lynas that it’s really “a propaganda effort by anti-biotech campaigners masquerading as proper science.”

The GMO pigs study was funded by extreme organic folks with an agenda, who were connected to the flawed cancer in rats study.  It’s no surprise these two tests were very similar.  The research was done using a very small group of very unhealthy pigs that were fed two different diets.  Almost all of the pigs, whether feed non-GMO or GMO had the same symptoms.  Interestingly enough, 15% of pigs fed the non-GMO diet had heart abnormalities as compared to only 6% of the GM-fed pigs.  Twice as many non-GM pigs had liver problems as the GM pigs.

These facts didn’t support the agenda of those funding the study, so they chose instead to focus on stomach inflammation.  Results of the stomach inflammation study were subjective, at best.  It’s no wonder Lynas wrote, “GMO pigs study – more junk science.“

I’m not a scientist, just an old pig farmer, but let me tell about what I have happen in my own operation.

The GMO corn and soybeans I grow are delivered locally to a feed mill and a soybean processing plant, and I doubt they’re kept separate.  It wouldn’t make sense to separate the grain as the vast majority of crops grown in my area use this technology.

Technology has been rapidly adopted for its efficiency.  I’ve seen firsthand how these crops have been good for my operation, using fewer inputs to produce more feed.  Plus, today’s hogs are efficient.

My hogs have very little disease pressure.  I can’t imagine having the 13% and 14% death losses as reported for GMO pigs study!  My pigs are healthy and grow very fast.  They consume about 5 pounds of feed per day to gain, on average, two pounds per day.  They do this all on GMO feed.

I know my pigs are healthy, so I have no problem feeding the pork we raise to my family.  I’m very happy that the modern consumer is concerned about what they buy to eat, too.  I just hope consumers won’t get caught up in these silly, unfounded studies that try to sway consumers’ buying decisions.

The science is clear, writes Lynas.  Consuming foods with ingredients derived from GM crops is no riskier than consuming the same foods containing ingredients from crop plants modified by conventional plant improvement techniques.

Buy good, healthy foods and eat in moderation!

The 2012 Farm Bill is like the 2013 planting season… it just goes on and on!

The Farm Bill is top of mind again this week as it is being debated on Capitol Hill.  The Senate passed a version of the bill with huge savings for tax payers, and the House version saves even more.  The Senate’s proposal would save $24 billion over 10 years; the House version would save $39.7 billion.

Unfortunately, the President is threatening to veto the Farm Bill because it cuts too much funding for food stamps.  The food stamp program, now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), cost almost $80 billion last year – twice the amount it cost just five years ago.

We cannot continue to throw unlimited funds towards the SNAP program!  Anyone who knows me, knows that I do NOT want one hungry person to be denied assistance if he truly needs a hand up.  The problem comes from people who are “milking the system.”  Generations of families have become dependent on public assistance, and the number of people on welfare has sky rocketed in the last six years.  When an Administration spends millions of dollars to advertise food stamps and welfare programs, it’s time for Americans to question the tactics!

How are we going to balance a budget if people are only willing to make cuts to small budget items?  We must dig into the high priced line items:  Medicare and like programs just continue to expand.  I’m not even going to talk about The Affordable Care Act that is draining tax dollars and causing my insurance premiums to increase.  Then there’s the Food Security Bill.  Seriously, who dreams up these names?

As a farmer, I’m concerned that SNAP funding accounts for 80% of the Farm Bill.  Discord over which programs to cut and how much to cut have prevented the Farm Bill from passing.  With the SNAP program and so many other issues wrapped up in the same bill, the Farm Bill has become too complex.

A complex system of rules and regulations is now in place to tell farmers how to best raise their crops.  Although no one knows their business better than farmers, some so-called “experts” are being consulted to develop rules that tell farmers how to raise their animals.  Why not let farmers and ranchers adapt and change as they determine what works best in their operations?  Farmers and ranchers are always trying to be more efficient and want to keep food safe and affordable.

Instead of creating a Farm Bill that benefits everyone, I’d settle for one that would encourage farmers – and a successful rural way of life!