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A place to learn about agriculture and how it impacts your life. AgZINE: A blog and then some!
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Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Friday, September 7, 2012
Study questions how much better organic food is
By LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Patient after patient asked: Is eating organic food, which costs more, really better for me? Unsure, Stanford University doctors dug through reams of research to find out -- and concluded there's little evidence that going organic is much healthier, citing only a few differences involving pesticides and antibiotics.
Eating organic fruits and vegetables can lower exposure to pesticides, including for children -- but the amount measured from conventionally grown produce was within safety limits, the researchers reported Monday. Nor did the organic foods prove more nutritious.
"I was absolutely surprised," said Dr. Dena Bravata, a senior research affiliate at Stanford and long-time internist who began the analysis because so many of her patients asked if they should switch. "There are many reasons why someone might choose organic foods over conventional foods," from environmental concerns to taste preferences, Bravata stressed. But when it comes to individual health, "there isn't much difference."
Her team did find a notable difference with antibiotic-resistant germs, a public health concern because they are harder to treat if they cause food poisoning. Specialists long have said that organic or not, the chances of bacterial contamination of food are the same, and Monday's analysis agreed. But when bacteria did lurk in chicken or pork, germs in the non-organic meats had a 33 percent higher risk of being resistant to multiple antibiotics, the researchers reported Monday in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.
That finding comes amid debate over feeding animals antibiotics, not because they're sick but to fatten them up. Farmers say it's necessary to meet demand for cheap meat. Public health advocates say it's one contributor to the nation's growing problem with increasingly hard-to-treat germs. Caroline Smith DeWaal, food safety director at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, counted 24 outbreaks linked to multidrug-resistant germs in food between 2000 and 2010. The government has begun steps to curb the nonmedical use of antibiotics on the farm.
Organic foods account for 4.2 percent of retail food sales, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It certifies products as organic if they meet certain requirements including being produced without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, or routine use of antibiotics or growth hormones.
Consumers can pay a lot more for some organic products but demand is rising: Organic foods accounted for $31.4 billion sales last year, according to a recent Obama administration report. That's up from $3.6 billion in 1997.
The Stanford team combed through thousands of studies to analyze the 237 that most rigorously compared organic and conventional foods. Bravata was dismayed that just 17 compared how people fared eating either diet while the rest investigated properties of the foods themselves.
Organic produce had a 30 percent lower risk of containing detectable pesticide levels. In two studies of children, urine testing showed lower pesticide levels in those on organic diets. But Bravata cautioned that both groups harbored very small amounts -- and said one study suggested insecticide use in their homes may be more to blame than their food.
Still, some studies have suggested that even small pesticide exposures might be risky for some children, and the Organic Trade Association said the Stanford work confirms that organics can help consumers lower their exposure.
CSPI's DeWaal noted that difference, but added that the issue is more complicated. Some fruits and vegetables can harbor more pesticide residue than others -- she listed peaches from Chile as topping a recent testing list. Overall levels have dropped in North American produce over the last decade as farms implemented some new standards addressing child concerns, she said. "Parents with young children should consider where their produce is coming from," DeWaal said, calling types grown in the U.S. or Canada "a safer bet" for lower pesticide levels.
As for antibiotics, some farms that aren't certified organic have begun selling antibiotic-free meat or hormone-free milk, to address specific consumer demands, noted Bravata. Her own preference is to buy from local farmers in hopes of getting the ripest produce with the least handling.
That kind of mixed approach was evident in a market in the nation's capital Thursday, where Liz Pardue of Washington said she buys organic "partially for environmental reasons." Pardue said she doesn't go out of her way to shop organic, but if she does, it's to buy mostly things that are hard to wash like berries and lettuce.
Michelle Dent of Oxon Hill, Md., said she buys most of her groceries from regular chain stores but gets her fruit from organic markets: "It's fresh; you can really taste it."
Anna Hamadyk of Washington said she buys only organic milk because she has a young son. "I would love to buy everything organic, but it's just too much money," said Hamadyk, who also shops at local farmers markets.
** Associated Press writer Stacy A. Anderson contributed to this report.
** EDITOR'S NOTE -- Lauran Neergaard covers health and medical issues for The Associated Press in Washington.
Frankly I was surprised by how balanced this article is. In many reports such as this, there is a large bias against “natural” and Organic growing methods. I also share Dr. Bravata’s shock at the results of the study. I, like many people, always assumed that the nutrient quality of Organic food was higher than that of non-organic food. There are a few things we should take note of, however. First, that non-organic food is more likely to cause health problems due to the fact that when bacteria are present, they are more likely to be resistant to antibiotics. Second, antibiotics are NOT usually fed to make animals gain better. They are used as a therapeutic regimen to prevent disease. In addition, over 70% of feedlots have a training regimen, conducted by a veterinarian, for their personnel regarding antibiotic use (USDA National Animal Health Monitoring Study, 1999). On the flip side, although this low level dosage does seem to prevent major health problems, it is also causing bacterial resistance, thus requiring ever more powerful antibiotics. It is probably time to find a better solution to this dilemma, before consumers decide it is not worth the health risk.
I hope this post was good food for thought. If you have an idea for a solution to “the Antibiotic Dilemma,” please comment or e-mail me. luke.agzine.coomer@gmail.com.
Have a nice day!
Thursday, September 6, 2012
National Forest
Last month, on the way back from the Oregon State Fair, I passed the Wallowa Whitman National Forest and I noticed something sad. As you cross the border of the National Forest the United States Forest Services' management plan becomes apparent: there isn't one. Dead trees litter the forest floor, lean on each other and live trees, underbrush creeps over everything, roads are not maintained and the trees that are alive are extremely cramped and unhealthy. I was shocked at the atrocious health of one of our national landmarks! The Forest Service is here to take care of the National Forests, not allow them to decay into dumps! It is small wonder that we are afraid of even one careless match or cigarette butt: one spark and the entire forest would go up in flames, simply because someone said "Let nature take its course." The travel management plan which the USFS is trying to implement int the Wallowa Whitman will not help matters. By closing half of the roads in the forest, there will be no way to get in fight wildfires, resulting in an even worse mess. Man, for good or ill, has an impact on his environment and we must manage it if we, and that environment, are to survive. Without management, such as logging, the forests today are both a blessing and a curse to us. A wildfire puts everyone in the area in danger, both of life and their livelihood. If we were allowed to log the forest, within limits, our economy would improve, the forest would be healthier and we would have better recreation opportunities. The USFS needs to be reminded that it is an agency of a government by the people, of the people and for the people, tasked with the stewardship of land owned, not by the USFS, but by us! We depend on the forest for grazing, firewood, lumber, recreation, hunting, fishing and more; it is in our best interest to ensure its health.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Lamar Uses Common Sense
A hearty "well done" to Lamar advertising for turning down a purchase from PETA targeting the California dairy which owns an 11 year old cow with Mad Cow Disease or BSE. The animal rights group wished to erect a billboard which said "Real milk comes from real sick cows", ignoring the fact that the cow is not used for milk. Lamar refused to create the ad due to the fact that it was not truthful. If more companies and organizations would be more insistent on truth, integrity and common sense, we would have far fewer problems in the Agriculture Industry. Congratulations to Lamar Advertising. Keep up the good work!
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Showman's Clinic
The AgZINE Showman's clinic took place today! We discussed feeding, daily care, clipping, fitting and showmanship and the participants even got some hands-on experience. The demo calf, provided by Matthew Siddoway, was very well behaved and looked very good when we were all done. I had a great time helping the young exhibitors who came with their questions and I hope they enjoyed themselves and learned a lot. Many thanks to our sponsors and volunteers who made this clinic possible: Oregon Trail Livestock Supply, Thomas Angus Ranch, Ampersand Ranch, Coffee Corral, Terri Siddoway, Beverly Coomer, Mark Coomer, Tami Foltz and Jennie Foltz. Without your support this clinic would not have happened. If you missed today's clinic and have questions about clipping your calf, please do not hesitate to call me and we will set up an appointment for you!
Have a nice day!
Have a nice day!
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
4-H and FFA beef project members!
Do you want to learn how to clip and fit cattle for show? Do
you already know the basics but want to learn more? How about improving your
showmanship skills to give you that extra edge at fair? If you answered yes to
any of the above questions, then the AgZINE Showman’s Clinic is for you! We
will cover such topics as daily care, clipping, fitting, and showmanship and
will even have time for some hands-on practice. Fresh off of a Kirk Stierwalt
fitting clinic, Luke Coomer is ready to help you take your game to the next
level! The clinic will take place on May 26 at the Baker County Fairgrounds.
The cost is $25 per person and anyone under the age of 21 may enter. The early
entry is May 16, after which the cost will increase to $30. There will be a
potluck dinner after the clinic so please bring a side, salad or dessert. For entry
forms and more information, please contact Luke Coomer at: 541-377-0916 or luke.agzine.coomer@gmail.com.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
FFA CDE Days
The Oregon FFA CDE Days were held May 7-8 in Corvallis Oregon. This event is encompasses many different contests, or "Career Development Events", which range from Agricultural Mechanics to Livestock Judging. The Baker FFA Chapter was very competitive this year in several of these CDEs. Taking center stage for Baker this year was the Ag Mechanics team who their contest and will now be representing Oregon at the 2012 National FFA Convention! The team, consisting of Talon Colton, Mickayla Hall, Mark Voboril, Joel Rohner and Cameron Kerns showcased their abilities of welding, tool indentification, electrical wiring and many other agriculturally related tasks to the judges who decided to award them the blue banner. Congratulations and good luck at nationals! The chapter also had Meats Evaluation, Horse Judging, Dairy Judging, Dairy Foods and Livestock Judging teams competing this year. The Meats team took 9th place and the Livestock Judging team placed 6th. Many of the these teams were composed of younger members so next year is going to be GREAT! Let's get 'em Baker!
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