Is Our Food Supply Secure?

The U.S. food supply is one of the safest, most abundant supplies in the world, thanks in large part to modern agriculture. What would happen to our food supply if this ability to produce large quantities of nutritious food is eliminated? Where would we get our food from? It’s a scary thought, but one that needs to be considered.

In 2008, due to our dependence on foreign oil, the United States faced record-setting fuel prices. Imagine for a moment what might happen to our food prices in a similar scenario, where the U.S. is forced to rely on other countries for food production. If that seems far fetched, it’s only because we’ve become complacent in our appreciation of the American farmer. According to the Agriculture Council of America, today’s farmer feeds about 144 people worldwide. In 1960, that number was 25.8.

Think for a moment if most of the food consumed in the U.S. was imported. Not only would food costs rise because of importation, the safety of our food supply could also be at risk. American farmers take great pride and care in providing their country with safe and nutritious food, but they won’t have the opportunity to do so if they are pushed out of the industry by activist groups intent on destroying modern American agriculture.

Support from consumers is a pivotal part of maintaining the country’s domestic food supply. By building stronger ties between farmers and consumers, consumers gain a greater knowledge and appreciation for their food source. Modern agricultural practices have enabled farmers to keep costs down while still delivering an adequate supply of quality nutritional products. Confined animal feeding operations make it feasible for producers to make a living off of and continue farming. They make it possible for consumers to buy affordable groceries. If these types of farms go away, who will provide us with turkey, chicken, pork, dairy and beef supplies?

What would you do if you couldn’t buy domestic meat products? We encourage you to learn more about farming and visit a farm to better understand why modern farming practices exist. American farmers need our support!

Oberholtzer Farm Lunch and Learn Wrap Up

On June 24th, Missouri's commodity groups came together just west of Wyaconda, Missouri to host another lunch and learn event. The purpose was to educate community and business leaders on the importance of animal agriculture and the pork industry. Around 74 guests attended this event held at Earl Oberholtzer's farm. State representative Brian Munzlinger, along with leaders of the local community, and friends of the Oberholtzers were in attendance.

Although growing up on a dairy farm, Earl had always had a desire to raise pigs. In 2008, he decided to build a brand new hog facility and contract with Cargill. Earl explained his role in the local community listing over 15 businesses he uses and taxes he pays to support the local economy. He also stated that all of the pig manure from his barn is used as fertilizer for his next year's crops, making him an ultimate recycler. In a county where a health ordinance is looking to be passed against CAFOs, Earl was asked what he would be doing if he didn't farm. Earl responded, "I've been farming all my life. If I didn't have the opportunity to build this operation, I don't know what I would be doing." Members of the Scotland County community that were in attendance urged everyone to vote on this issue in the upcoming August election.

According to the University of Missouri and USDA, Missouri ranks 7th in the nation in pork production with a total economic impact of $1.1 billion dollars. Also, Missouri hogs consume 16% of the corn and 9% of the soybeans produced in the state of Missouri making it an important relationship between the crop and livestock industry.

Missouri Eggs

Someone once said, “A chicken is a soybean with feathers.” The nutritional impact chickens, specifically eggs, has is quite considerable, much like the nutritional value in soybeans. Both eggs and soybeans have high levels of protein and low levels of fat.

Missouri has long been in the egg business. One of the nation’s largest egg companies started producing eggs in southwest Missouri in the 1940s with a feed mill and hatchery. Since then, several other large companies have begun to produce in Missouri, one of which supplies most of the eggs in Schnuck’s supermarkets.

One hen per person is the guideline for figuring out how many laying hens it takes to produce enough eggs for a population. Missouri comes out about even, having close to 6 million layers and nearly 6 million in population. However, eggs move freely across state lines, so a good many Missouri eggs end up in far-flung states, and we do get a bunch in from other states. Some economists value a laying hen at $25. Using that, number, Missouri layers would have a value of almost $150 million.

Eggs are the standard of perfection of protein. Egg protein contains all the essential amino acids we need, making eggs a good source of complete protein. With the exception of vitamin C, an egg contains differing amounts of all the essential vitamins plus several minerals. An egg yolk is one of the few foods which naturally contain vitamin D. A large egg also has a moderate amount of fat, about 5 grams. Saturated fats account for 1.5 grams, and 2.6 grams are of unsaturated fat.

Missouri Dairy

Dairy is an integral part of our health and our local economy. Dairy is the 6th largest agricultural business in Missouri, with around 1800 dairy farms around the state that produce 218 million gallons of milk annually. On average, each cow will produce 5.2 gallons of milk per day over the course of a typical year.

The calcium found in milk and dairy products helps you build and maintain strong bones, maintain a healthy weight and control your blood pressure. Milk and dairy products not only offer calcium, they also contain phosphorus, potassium, protein, vitamins D, A and B12, riboflavin and niacin. In fact, the benefits of dairy are so significant if every American had 3-4 servings a day, national health care costs could be reduced by $26 billion in the first year and more than $200 billion over five years. Yet, research shows that most of us only get half of 3 servings recommended every day.


Missouri dairy farmers provide more than just milk. They bring jobs and economic activity to communities around the state by supporting local businesses and the community tax base. Dairy farmers purchase from local companies and help generate jobs in the transportation, distribution and retail industries.

Missouri dairy farmers are committed to providing safe, nutritious dairy products, while boosting their local economies.

Sustainable Cycle

This video comes from a farmer in Iowa, but it does a good job of pointing out the interconnectivity of row-crop farming and raising livestock.

Salyer Farm event POSTPONED

The Lunch and Learn scheduled for Thursday, June 18 at Salyer's Farm in Higginsville has been postponed. Recent storms and excessive rain have damaged some of the facilities at the farm. Stay tuned for an update regarding a future make-up date. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Missouri Producer Uses YouTube to Tell Pork’s Story

Chris Chinn is throwing open the barn doors at her family’s farrow-to-finish Missouri hog farm and inviting guests to take a tour, thanks to the power of YouTube.

“In today’s world, putting a face on farming is a necessity,” says Chinn, a fifth generation farmer who runs a 2,400-sow operation near Clarence, Mo., with her husband, Kevin, his parents and his brother. “It’s important to use online tools like blogs and social networking sites to reach a wider audience and stand up for agriculture.”

The five-minute “Truth about Modern Pork Production” video shows daily life inside the farrowing room and finishing barns. Chris, who narrates the video, describes the farm’s nutrient management plan to protect the environment, details how the barns’ computerized climate control systems contribute to the animals’ comfort, and explains the importance of animal well being, from proper nutrition to veterinary care.

“We hope this helps people understand why we use modern technology on farms and the benefits it brings to our livestock,” says Chinn, whose husband shot the video with a camcorder. “Our motivation is to maintain our business and way of life so we can pass the farm on to our two children some day.”

Consumers respond positively
Many of the YouTube viewers who have commented on Chinn’s video echo the sentiments of WorkingMom13, who wrote, “This is really an informative video. It explained several things about pigs that make me realize how much better it is for them inside those buildings. Pig farmers really care about how the pigs are taken care of.”

Consumers are hungry for knowledge about modern agriculture and food production, says Chinn, who e-mailed the link to her YouTube video to her many e-mail contacts, including local media. “While people are inerested in livestock production, they want easy-to-understand explanations without a lot of details. I encourage more pork producers to share their story and build trust with consumers.”

Content originally posted at: www.pork.org.