Sunday morning before I went to church, I shared an article about Australia holding a day of prayer for the USA. It was admitted that Australia may have the same moral and spiritual bankruptcy as the U.S. but its concerned more because so many countries worldwide benefit from foreign aid from America.  The article states: “Moral and spiritual bankruptcy leads to financial and governmental bankruptcy. America is in great danger from within and from without.”

After sharing this post, I went to church. I didn’t check my Facebook account until the church service was done, and there was a pretty charged debate taking place on my post! Everything from civil unions to a separation between church and state was being discussed. Many comments were thought-provoking, and my “friends” definitely were passionate about their beliefs.

This online debate combined with the sermon I heard earlier that morning brought his scripture to mind, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matthew 6:21

Pastor Scott’s sermon on Sunday, as always, seemed to be directed at me. (Ok… Ok… Pastor Scott probably isn’t targeting me, but his sermons are definitely speaking to my heart!) The burning question Pastor Scott raised Sunday was, “Who or what is the king ruling over your life?”

Are you a workaholic, who is allowing your job to take you away from church and family? Do you value material possessions, such as your house or vehicle, to separate you from what’s more important? I knew what my wife, Janice, was thinking as she listened to this sermon. After all, Janice has often threatened an intervention of my Social Media!

While I really don’t believe agvocating has gotten in the way of church and my family, it definitely is time consuming. So many activities and jobs compete for my time. I’m more involved than ever with church activities. Serving as an Elder has been a very rewarding position. I’ve attended way more events for my grandkids than I did for my kids.

No matter how much time I give to my church, my family or even my farm, I feel like there’s more I should be doing. My To Do List is longer than the list of projects I’ve completed. There’s landscaping to finish. My shop is going unused. There are rocks that need to be picked up from fields. The list goes on… My mind wanders to the numerous jobs on the farm that need doing as I sit writing another blog post!

Some folks have suggested that I apply for a new award, America’s Pig Farmer of the Year for demonstrating the “We Care^SM ethical principles.” I’m good at raising pigs, but I haven’t been all that successful at making money at it. Diseases like circo-virus have not helped my bank account. When my combine caught fire during harvest last fall, it made rethink farming this year. Less than breakeven grain prices makes “pushing a pencil” a must! I know there are others like me, who are thinking very hard about how to survive this round of low crop prices.

Whether we farm or not, there are things that weigh heavily on our minds. We all have pet projects that distract us from our priorities. I thought by having some custom farming done this year, I would have more time. This may come back to bite me, but I’m going to give it a try. I’m going to fuel more energy into building my seed dealership, and I’m going to reprioritize my “Honey Do” list. Mother’s Day is this Sunday, and I want my wife to see just how much she means to me! We’ll attend church together and afterward we’ll enjoy a family dinner. I’ll be smoking pork, of course!

What tops your list?

Every April, the Franklin County Farm Bureau hosts an Ag Fair at the Franklin County Fairgrounds for the third graders throughout county. Jennifer Healy has organized this event for many years. This year was no exception, although she was fighting cancer.

The Ag Fair on April 23 was bittersweet this year as Jennifer passed away one day before the event. Jennifer was as passionate as anyone about hosting this event, so kids can experience agriculture firsthand. Even in a rural county like ours, many kids don’t experience farm life.

Thanks to the staff of North Central Iowa Ag in the Classroom for doing such a great job. These ladies provide hands-on learning experiences that are so much fun. Third graders experienced many different stations: horses, cattle, fire safety and llamas. Who knew we had so much diversity in our own county? Talk about a well-rounded farm day!

It’s important for people of all ages to understand how their food is raised. That’s why I accepted an invitation to attend a screening on the Iowa State University campus last week of Farmland, followed by panel discussion. The movie is about several young farmers from across the country with very different types of operations, and the ISU panel was set up the same way. The committee did a great job of bringing together a diverse group of Iowa farmers:

• Bill Couser raises cattle and crops.
• Mark Kenney grows crops and seed.
• Katie Olthoff raises turkeys.
• Andrew Pitts is an organic farmer.
• Mitchell Roush grows the famous Muscatine watermelons.
• And me… a pig farmer with a small crop farm.

Now his is the way to find out how your food is grown… learn about farming from farmers! Our group represented six very different ways to grow food. And guess what… there wasn’t a single argument. No one put down another farmer’s way of growing food. We had a great discussion about how what we do, and we discussed how our practices are “right” for each one of our operations.

We all grew up in different areas of the state, and we came from different backgrounds. What we have in common, however, is the desire to grow food and tell our costumers why we do what we do.

We talked about food choice, and how Americans can buy what they want. Consumer choices also creates diverse markets for farmers.

One member of the audience asked how consumers can find out more about food, and I believe this panel was a perfect way to do that! Special thanks to Natalina Sents for bringing together such a great event with a panel of high caliber experts to share about what they do.

If you’re interested in learning more about your food is grown, follow some of my favorite ag bloggers including:

• Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids
• Home Again Finnegan
• On the Banks of Squaw Creek
• Farm Eats City Streets
• And, of course, “Musings of a Pig Farmer,” which posts every Tuesday on TheFieldPosition.com!

I’m not going to be politically correct because an attack on American’s freedom of choice is increasingly bothering me.

I always trying to understand all sides of any issue. I read all that I can get my hands on: newspapers, magazines, Facebook, blogs… But I learned a long time ago that if I read enough information, I can defend either side.

It’s no wonder today’s consumers are confused as to what to eat. Media reports are filled with mixed messages: Good fat. Bad fat. Eggs are good. Eggs are bad. Eat more beef. Reduce your red meat intake.

Big farmers. Little farmers. (Why can’t we just focus on a farm’s performance, not its size?) Organic. Conventional. (Why should we need raise food like our grandparents did when technology has transformed everyone’s lives?!)

There are many ways to raise food. There are many ways to prepare and eat food. Choices are fantastic… until someone tries to take your choice away!

We need choices. And in our vast country, we have choices! We don’t need Dr. Oz and the Food Babe scaring people about their food. We need parents to feel good about the food they’re choosing for their families. Seriously. Stop the food fights.

There is a huge amount of oversight keeping our food safe. We don’t need expensive regulation, just common sense. Let common sense prevail… Eat sensibly and work off what you consume.

Let’s keep our freedom of choice – and our abundance of food!

Guest blog post by Mary Hopper of Natural Plus Nursery

Want to add a little joy to your backyard? Plant a butterfly garden! Butterflies spread beauty as they feed on the flowers they help pollinate.

There are a lot of things to think about when planning a butterfly garden, but the most important – and also the most obvious – is the plants. Lure butterflies into your yard with flowers that produce the nectar they prefer.

Some perennial plants that work well to attract butterflies to gardens in North Iowa and across Plant Hardiness Zone 4 include:

• Blanket Flowers
• Black Eyed Susan
• Globe Thistle

Additional plants that attract butterflies include:

• Bugleweed
• Butterfly Weed
• Cardinal Flower
• Columbine
• Dianthus
• False sunflower
• Lupine
• Savia
• Creeping Thyme
• Shasta Daisy
• Swamp Milkweed
• Yarrow

Other things to think about when planning your garden:

1. Butterflies love oranges and bananas.
2. Butterflies like water and rocks to perch on. (Remember, water and food sources also are necessary to attract birds to your backyard.)
3. Butterflies are attracted to fragrance. Be sure to include good smelling plants like lavender, lilac and bee balm. These plants will be a treat to your senses, too!

April is National Gardening Month and a great time to plan your butterfly garden. Just click the links above to get started!

A self-described “born and raised Iowa farm girl with a passion for baking timeless recipes,” Food and Swine blogger Cristen Clark is teaming up with Des Moines native Iowa Girl Eats blogger Kristin Porter to “cook up” conversations about today’s farm and food system.

“I’m an Iowa girl through and through, but until I teamed up with Iowa FFP, my ‘farm visits’ were limited to seasonal trips to the farmers’ market, an apple orchard or a pumpkin patch,” said Porter. “… The biggest takeaway I had from each [farm] visit was the assurance that the farmer I just met does everything he or she can to raise quality food for their families, neighbors, communities and state.”

Starting this month, Cristen and Kristen will connect food-minded Iowans with the people who provide, prepare and serve food. They will partner with farmers and a dedicated team of chefs and dietitians from Hy-Vee, Inc. to share information about production methods, health information and food preparation.

Follow along with their journey at www. iowafoodandfamily.com. Watch for dates to be posted soon  about these activities:

• Iowa Food and Family (Iowa FFP) Cookbook: This recipe book features nearly 60 recipes from Cristen and Kristen, farmers and Iowa FFP sponsors like Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds. (Words alone cannot express how excited I am to have some of my favorite recipes included in this cookbook!) Complimentary copies of this cookbook will be distributed during in-store events at Hy-Vee, the Des Moines and Beaverdale Farmers’ Markets and the Iowa State Fair.
• Recipe Refresh: You’ll have the opportunity to win a makeover and shopping experience — with food! Winners of “Recipe Refresh” events will be chosen statewide and will join Hy-Vee dietitians, area farmers and bloggers as they shop for ingredients to prepare their favorite recipes in-store while also stocking their carts with groceries courtesy of the Iowa FFP.
• Make it & Take It: This dinner club event welcomes food-minded Iowans to participate in an informational, hands-on cooking demonstration alongside farm group leaders, a Hy-Vee chef and dietitian.

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We no longer feel the isolation and loneliness that were common before instant communication. Through Facebook, I’ve been able to connect with old friends and meet new acquaintances with shared interests. Through Twitter, I’m able to follow a newsfeed filled with hot topics. There are so many people to communicate with – and so many opportunities to do so!

As much as I enjoy being active on Facebook and Twitter, as well as blogging, I’ve found that I am often misunderstood on social media! People reading my posts cannot see the twinkle in my eyes. They can’t hear the tone in my voice. Text messages – even with the use of emoticons – don’t allow us to look into someone’s eyes or read their body language.

Social media can be a very non-emotional form of communication. Comments can easily be taken out of context. Too often people make statements while hiding behind a computer. Facts can get twisted and feelings can get hurt when people post comments via social media that they would never say in during a face-to-face talk!

When I posted a blog taking a look inside #RealPigFarming on March 31, I received several unpleasant comments. Those comments hurt enough to make me question whether I should continue to keep blogging. That wasn’t the first time I’ve felt harassed online, and the negative effects are cumulative.

Think about it… what kind of communication are our young people having? My attention was focused on this very question while visiting with my granddaughter after one of her friends committed suicide this past week. This action was taken by a girl in Junior High!

After talking more with my granddaughter, I discovered that her friend was being bullied. Cyberbullying has become a new lethal form of bullying. Speaking of bullying, 85% of students witness bullying when adults are not present. I also learned that my granddaughter’s friend was a very troubled young girl. I understand that I’m only hearing one side of the story, but it brought mental healthcare to mind.

Why are so many kids today either involved in school shootings or taking their own lives? Many folks are quick to dismiss this topic by saying, “Kids have always been this way.” Or they ask, “What’s wrong with today’s kids?”

So many things can probably be blamed: social media, nutrition, the way we discipline our kids, and Common Core with all the testing. But I firmly believe that kids today must learn – and accept – that everyone is NOT the same. Not everyone deserves a blue ribbon. Not every team can win a game, so keep score at ball games. Teach kids how to win and lose! Kids need to learn that more effort often yields results. That way players, who don’t win every game, can feel good about their efforts. A kid who earns a red ribbon but desires a blue ribbon will be motivated to want to learn how to improve.

We need to stop making excuses and start looking for answers. Kids are dying! My granddaughter, like other teenagers facing a similar situation, is very hurt. She wonders if there was more she could have done, and the guilt she carries will be another problem. Suicide does not only involve one person; it has a huge effect so many people.

In the short term, my granddaughter needs to be reassured that she’s not to blame and that’s she’s loved! In the long term, this problem needs to be addressed by everyone. Empathy must be taught for bullying to stop, says internationally recognized educator, best-selling author, and bullying prevention expert Dr. Michelle Borba.

There isn’t a simple solution. A community must be willing to change. Community leaders, parents and educators must collaborate. What do you think is the best way to get a conversation like this started in a community?

Guest blog post by Sally Hollis of Lanehaven Farms

What answers do you get if you ask someone to list STEM careers?  My guess is you may hear things like mechanical engineering, architecture, medicine, computer programming, or research analyst.  I doubt you will hear farming very often.  However, STEM is a large part of everyday farming in the 21^st century!

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. You don’t have to look far to find STEM in everyday farming. Here are a few examples:

• SCIENCE – Midwest farmers will soon be planting #crop15, and one area that has seen a lot of science improvements is the seed that is planted.  Scientists are constantly working to improve seeds to better withstand different weather conditions (e.g. wind and drought) and overall improve yield.  Farmers do a number of scientific tests throughout the year to ensure all of their management practices are optimal.  These tests include things like soil samples, water quality samples, moisture testing harvested grain in the fall, feed particle size for livestock operations, and the list goes on.
• TECHNOLOGY – You can hardly open a farming magazine today without an article on new technology.  Precision farming technologies are being used in much of the equipment today to auto-steer equipment and attachments with increasing precision and accuracy, vary the rate of seeds and fertilizer, and send alerts or messages to farm managers.  Drones are being used for crop scouting and monitoring farm areas more efficiently.  Technology has also increased for livestock operations with hardware and software to monitor everything from feed ordering to building maintenance issues.  A number of farmers are also looking at installing solar panels around their operations for energy.
• ENGINEERING – Engineering is designing and building a new or improved product or process.  Farmers do this on a regular basis.  They may modify a tool bar to better meet their needs, design a new grain leg, or modify a sprayer to plant cover crops.  Farmers are also documenting their processes and looking for ways to improve efficiency.
• MATH – Math is something that is definitely used on a daily basis.  Farming is a business which requires solid financials to remain competitive in today’s environment.  In addition to financial performance farmers are constantly doing mathematical calculations to determine everything from acres of coverage to bushels of grain.

The future is so exciting! Science, math and engineering are applicable to nearly every career. That’s why I believe STEM education in Iowa elementary and secondary schools is so important.

As high school graduation approaches for many, I want to remind leave them with some great advice that was given to me 25 years ago: “If you like science and math, consider a STEM career in the field of agriculture

Farming can be an emotional roller coaster. Spring is a season of excitement as the weather warms up, and the grass turns green. I always look forward to a new planting season. Planting season is a high point, but I’m bracing for the lows that are sure to come. You never know when weather, weeds or bugs will change the fate of one’s crop. Yes, farming is filled with peaks and valleys.

Recently, I’ve been moving grain to town. I enjoy hauling grain, but the current market prices are a serious downer. More ups and downs…

The past week has been filled with more highs and lows. On April Fool’s Day, I enjoyed reading about the pranks being pulled. Cristen Clark shared how she celebrates April Fool’s Farm Style. Another prank I enjoyed was a video about a marshmallow farmer talking about his ruined crop. As my wife Janice and I watched that video, she reminded me that many people will believe it’s true.

Going from the high of enjoying the joke to the reality that we have not informed people how we grow food was another “roller coaster moment.” I couldn’t help but remember Desmund Adams asking me why we don’t we take Ag in the Classroom to Chicago because he grew up not knowing meat comes from animals.

Last Tuesday in my blog post, I shared how the way we care for livestock has changed throughout the years. In the “good old days,” we raised pigs outside in extreme cold or heat. They were exposed to disease and insects. Baby pigs were often sunburned because the momma sow was trying to stay cool in a mud puddle rather than seeking shade.

Contrast the methods of yesteryear to today’s climate-controlled hog barns where there’s a barn designed to meet the pigs’ needs from the time they’re born until they’re shipped to market. Pigs in my feeder operation are content. When it’s below zero outside, my pigs are warm inside. When it’s rainy and damp – like this week’s forecast for North Central Iowa – my pigs don’t get chilled and they stay dry. When it is 100 degrees in the shade like it is during many summer days, my pigs stay cool and don’t suffer sunburn.

I can see the huge improvements to animal agriculture made during my life time! Yet, comments left under my blog last week attack the way I farm! Situations like this make me doubt the price of advocating… Is sharing my story worth the ups and downs?

Agvocating, just like the rest of my “chores,” is full of ups and downs. I know those comments on my blog came from the anti-animal groups. All of the talking points were the same old points, which tells me they were given to people to use that have never been on a farm! Nonetheless, advocating is definitely an emotional roller coaster.

When I did my first “big” newspaper interview about antibiotics in animal agriculture, I almost said enough is enough! The reporter had his story written before he came to talk to me. He just needed to “interview” a real pig farmer to make it seem like he had researched pig farming. Of course, nothing I said was in the story. He only included my picture holding a pig! Since that first newspaper interview, I’ve learned to use pictures of pigs to my advantage! People love pictures of pigs. Highs and lows…

Now I’m working to get my current group of pigs to market. Two pig barns will be emptied this week, and repairs will be needed. Each barn must be cleaned and disinfected before new pigs arrive. I always look forward to bringing in cute little pigs, and I’ll receive a new group this Thursday. That’s a time I enjoy, but the pigs can also develop problems.

All I can do is try my best, and I was reminded of this “life lesson” in church on Sunday. Without the pain and suffering that occurred on Good Friday, we wouldn’t experience the joy of Easter morning.

Life’s low points definitely make you appreciate the highs. That reminds me of a short story, “I Wish You Enough,” which I recently read on Facebook:

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain, so the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

The Iowa Food & Family Project is showcasing how farm families are covering Iowa – literally! From now through Earth Day on April 22, submit photos that show practices you have implemented to improve soil and water quality.

“Iowa’s landscape is being transformed with the construction of modern livestock barns and the implementation of more soil conservation practices in more locations,” said Aaron Putze, coordinator of the Iowa Food & Family Project (Iowa FFP) and communications director for the Iowa Soybean Association. “With the added interest in the topic of water quality this spring, providing a forum for farmers to showcase the many practices they’re using to cover Iowa takes on added importance.”

Farmers like Carl Roberts of Belmond, Iowa, use conservation tillage to protect against erosion and to preserve water quality. Larry Sailer of Iowa Falls has installed buffer strips and restored wildlife habitat. We know many other dealers and customers of Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds also have practices in place – planting cover crops and maintaining grass waterways – to conserve soil and preserve water quality.

Show us what you’re doing on your farm! Snap a photo of a conservation practice or landscape and post to Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #FarmersCoverIowa. Please identify the practice and the county in which it’s located, so we can help educate non-farmers about all that Iowa farmers are doing to keep soils productive and our water quality high. An ongoing album of photographs of how farmers are covering Iowa will be featured on the Iowa FFP Facebook Page.

Latham Hi‑Tech Seeds is a proud supporter of the Iowa FFP, which champions the continuous improvement of Iowa’s farm families and their dedication to providing wholesome food for everyone. The Iowa FFP, which involves nearly 40 farm and foodservice partners, proudly serves as presenting sponsor of the Iowa Games and supports Live Healthy Iowa.

Guest blog post by Nicole Jonas of Red Granite Farm

With the recent warm spring weather, home gardeners are getting eager to get their hands in the dirt. April is National Gardening Month after all! Perhaps you’d like to celebrate by planning a new garden space or refreshing an existing space that will be more inviting to your feathered friends.

The plants you choose will be dependent upon which birds you want to attract. Some families of birds will remain around your feeder all winter long, but most backyard birds will fly south when the Midwest weather turns cold.  If you plant a food source for birds, however, they are more likely to find your backyard on their migration pattern and return year after year.

Two things are essential for attracting and keeping birds in your backyard: (1) an environment that is attractive to insects, which is a main food source for birds; and (2) cover, which is a place for them to live and build nests. A diverse combination of plants – perennials, annuals, shrubs, trees, vegetable and even herb plants – can provide a year-round habitat and year-round food sources for many of our favorite backyard birds.

When planning a year-round habitat, it’s important to consider garden design. Select trees, shrubs and perennials that will provide flowers and fall color for aesthetics, as well as fruit and cover for the birds. Some of my favorite trees and shrubs that can give you this include Serviceberry, Crabapple, Barberry and Chokeberry.

The main foods of backyard birds include insects, seed (including nuts), fruits, berries and nectar. Because of their beak size and structure, some birds will be able to eat larger and tougher fruits while others will only be able to eat mushy fruit and smaller seeds from perennials and annuals. NOTE: Hummingbirds are in a class all their own. They sip sweet nectar from many perennial and annual flowers, especially those with a trumpet shaped flower.

Ornamental grasses can be a good choice for attracting birds, as well. When left standing into the fall and winter, grasses provide the birds with cover and the seedheads can provide a food source.

Even if you have a diverse plant pallet, you may still need to attract birds to your backyard with a feeder.  Woodpeckers especially love a suet feeder in the winter; a feeder of sunflower seeds attracts cardinals. In the summer months, you will find finches flocking to a feeder full of thistle seed. Orioles, however, will only stop if you have grape jelly and oranges ready at just the right time in May.

Have particular questions about making your yard more enticing to birds? Feel free to leave comments on this post or send me a message on Facebook.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nicole earned a degree in Ornamental Horticulture from Iowa State University (ISU). Her husband, Steve, earned a Horticulture degree from ISU in Fruit and Vegetable Production. On their farm near Boone, the Jonas family produces vegetables, fruits and perennial plants. Red Granite Farm will open May 1. Choose from more than 200 varieties of hardy perennials, vegetable and herb starts plus succulents. Red Granite produce is available at the North Grand Farmer’s Market in Ames. Farm fresh eggs from free range chickens are available at Red Granite Farm, Story City Locker and the Gateway Express station in Ames.