We Need to Talk

I have a few thing I want to discuss this morning, no worries, I'm not breaking up with you.

First, the Farm Bill. They still have yet to come to an agreement. Why? Oh various reasons, one person wants this, another that and no one wants to compromise. You know the story. The deadline is looming however, and if they do not pass something by March 18th the farm bill will revert back to the 1949 bill. Not necessarily a bad thing as that bill adjust for inflation. However it might be a better idea to extend the 2002 bill, as farmers have already lived with that one for awhile. Change can be scarey when it comes to farming. Why should any of this matter to us? Where do you get your food? The general public has seemed to forgotten about where it is that all that food you see sitting around the grocery stores have come from farms, and what effects the farmers will effect you, not just in prices but in quality and quantity. Which brings us to the next topic corn.

I use to not see the big deal when it came to ethanol. The corn they were using is feed corn. How would that effect us. Well, now that the US government is hading out huge subsidies to encourage farmers to grow corn, our wheat supply has gone down. The price of wheat is now 50% more then it was at the beginning of the year, and we are only in the 2nd month. This isn't good. I also discovered last night that it takes 1.29 gallons of gasoline to produce 1 gallon of ethanol. That ratio will never get us off foreign oil. When I heard about the wheat prices, I called my mother last night. Her reply to me was "it will cast a day's wages to by a loaf of bread." Farmers are choosing to raise corn because if the profit that is to be made. We can't blame them for that, but we can change the situation, don't buy ethanol. Our wheat supply is very low this year, hasn't been this low in a very long time, and it is worrisome.

But there is some good news coming out of South Dakota, from the Rapid City Journal;

House will debate bill opposing animal ID plan

A bill that would prevent the state of South Dakota from participating in the National Animal Identification System was approved 8-5 by the House Ag and Natural Resources Committee last week in Pierre. It is expected to be taken up by the full House this week. Continues>>>

Garden week 6

Usually it is time to transplant outside. Check back in a few days to see what happens to them next.

Yesterday was busy when it comes to the prep for the House Cow Quest. Lots of barn clean up.

Because of the new quest, the choose you homesteaders adventure will be placed on hold, however it was suggested the I spin wool. I would love to do that, and it is in the list of things to do this year. Check back in for the mistake, I mean adventure.

Also is anyone interested in learning how to make bread? I have one person, and thought I would extend the invite to everyone. We will do the class live on yahoo, not video, but IM. If you're interested please email me with your yahoo IM address and I will add you to the list.