A Farmer's Prayer...........

Although I may not bow my head as often as I should, I'm thankful for the life I lead in this farming neighborhood.

I love the feel of a warm spring shower, and the soft green grass in May. I say thanks when I feel bright sunshine drying out the fresh-mown hay.

I am thankful when I look upon a field of tasseled corn. And I love the sounds of harvest on a frosty morn.

It's such a good feeling at sunset when a long day's work is done, and I like the hours when I work real hard but am working just for fun.

There are times in the life of a farmer when things don't go our way, but although I may not bow my head I am thankful every day.

US Ranchers wRaNgLiNg over LIVESTOCK

*** Yakima Herald-Republic Nov. 28th article featuring local Yakima Valley dairy "George DeRuyter & Sons" and Washington Cattlemen's Assoc Exec. Director Jack Field discussing Livestock ID***

GORDON KING/Yakima Herald-Republic

Celso Alvarez attaches an identification tag to a cow at the George DeRuyter & Sons Dairy in early November 2009. The tags contain a wealth of information that allow the cow to be identified and tracked throughout its life.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Yakima County is home to an estimated 286,432 meat and dairy cattle. It's also where the nation's first confirmed case of mad cow disease occurred six years ago. That discovery helped prompt efforts to develop a national system to track diseased animals. Reporter Erin Snelgrove traveled to Australia and reports today on how that nation developed such a program and how efforts are progressing here.

CLONCURRY, Australia -- Dust billows in the sun-drenched sky as 600 cattle charge through the chute. They act as one, a writhing mass of legs and hooves. Flies swarm in their wake, and ranchers stand on alert, ready to jump into the fray if needed.
As each animal passes, its ear tag transmits data that's entered into a national database, allowing authorities to track each animal from birth to death.
In a global economy, where mad cow, hoof and mouth and other diseases can crush a market overnight, the ability to track cattle can be crucial.
In Australia, where 65 percent of all beef is exported, it's especially critical.
"It gives us lifelong traceability," said Ray Campbell, who owns a 26,000-acre cattle operation in Cloncurry. "It gives us the edge in the world market. Australian beef is known as clean and green."
In the United States -- where discovery of a single case of mad cow disease at a Mabton dairy in December 2003 prompted Japan, Korea and others to ban U.S. beef imports for more than a year -- some see the Australian system as worth replicating.
Since 2004, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been attempting to develop a program similar to Australia's.
But not everyone likes what the USDA has been proposing. .........read the rest of the Yakima-Herald Republic article.

THANK YOU fArMeRs & RaNcHeRs ThUrSdAy!!!

WATCH aWeSoMe AmErIcA'S LAND commercial!

(Click picture or link below!)

America’s farmers grow our economy, care for our land and provide for us every day. They ship nearly $100 billion of crops and products to many nations. They provide more than 24 million jobs in the U.S. They grow more food now than they did just a few decades ago – using nearly half the energy and fewer resources for every bushel produced. As farming grows, so does our quality of life. We’re all connected through agriculture, so take a few moments and thank your farmers for what they’ve provided for you and your loved ones – your food, your fuel, your clothes.  (Monsanto)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RPQqGIL9SE