Traditional farm breeds on the decline Many traditional livestock and poultry breeds are disappearing, victims of an emphasis on higher production. Preservationists say today’s farmers are concentrating too much on developing larger eggs, more milk and leaner meat. The most endangered breeds on its list include livestock with fewer than 200 animals registered per year in the United States. “While this is the threshold for this category, some breeds, like the Choctaw hog, have only around 100 animals left in the entire world,” Walker said. “Many of our heritage breed farm animals are far more endangered than the giant panda, Siberian tiger and black rhino.”
Traditional farm breeds on the decline Many traditional livestock and poultry breeds are disappearing, victims of an emphasis on higher production.Preservationists say today’s farmers are concentrating too much on developing larger eggs, more milk and leaner meat, and bringing them to market as quickly as possible. Most of our draft horse breeds, including Clydesdales, have lost their jobs as a source of horsepower for farmers pulling implements and equipment around the farm.
Traditional farm breed on the decline. Traditional animal breeds are declining. The new emphasis “reduces the life expectancy and quality of life for the animal, and introduces a whole host of complications that must be combated with antibiotics, artificial insemination and questionable husbandry methods,” said Ryan Walker. Safeguarding “heritage breeds” protects genetic qualities that are important to our food system. Traits forever lost would include culinary quality, structural integrity, parasite resistance, the ability to forage or free range, and easier birthing, among others.
Irish Farmers Sheepdog is a Flying Robot "Border collies may be cuter, but they can’t fly nearly as well as the herding drone being used by farmers in Ireland." Basically, drones are finally being used in a non spy, non war threatening way: sheep herding. Neat! Drones have been used in farming before, but mostly for checking crops and such. This is the first time they have been used for herding, and as far as I'm concerned, it might start trending for herders! Neat, huh?
Local Foods: Red Hot, but Undefined The Agriculture Department really wants Americans to buy local foods. The Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, has been promoting locally grown and produced foods since he was named secretary of the department in 2009. He says it is 'rebuilding the rural economy.' He has encouraged staff, spent a bunch of money, and added new programs, all to push the local market. It has worked and the number of farmer's markets has doubled in the last decade. Some school districts are even setting up farm-to-school programs. Consumers are demanding for locally produced products, saying that in some cases it's even better than organic.
Local Foods Agriculture Department is pushing Americans to buy local foods. The Ag Secretary is promoting grown and produced foods. the number of farmer's markets have doubled in the last decade. He is rebuilding the rural economy. It's worked and the number of farmer's has grown, atleast double in the past decade. School districts are starting setting up farm-to-school programs. They're now asking for products produced loccally.
Traditional farm breeds on the decline
ReplyDeleteMany traditional livestock and poultry breeds are disappearing, victims of an emphasis on higher production. Preservationists say today’s farmers are concentrating too much on developing larger eggs, more milk and leaner meat. The most endangered breeds on its list include livestock with fewer than 200 animals registered per year in the United States. “While this is the threshold for this category, some breeds, like the Choctaw hog, have only around 100 animals left in the entire world,” Walker said. “Many of our heritage breed farm animals are far more endangered than the giant panda, Siberian tiger and black rhino.”
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ReplyDeleteTraditional farm breeds on the decline
ReplyDeleteMany traditional livestock and poultry breeds are disappearing, victims of an emphasis on higher production.Preservationists say today’s farmers are concentrating too much on developing larger eggs, more milk and leaner meat, and bringing them to market as quickly as possible. Most of our draft horse breeds, including Clydesdales, have lost their jobs as a source of horsepower for farmers pulling implements and equipment around the farm.
Traditional farm breed on the decline.
ReplyDeleteTraditional animal breeds are declining. The new emphasis “reduces the life expectancy and quality of life for the animal, and introduces a whole host of complications that must be combated with antibiotics, artificial insemination and questionable husbandry methods,” said Ryan Walker. Safeguarding “heritage breeds” protects genetic qualities that are important to our food system. Traits forever lost would include culinary quality, structural integrity, parasite resistance, the ability to forage or free range, and easier birthing, among others.
Irish Farmers Sheepdog is a Flying Robot
ReplyDelete"Border collies may be cuter, but they can’t fly nearly as well as the herding drone being used by farmers in Ireland." Basically, drones are finally being used in a non spy, non war threatening way: sheep herding. Neat! Drones have been used in farming before, but mostly for checking crops and such. This is the first time they have been used for herding, and as far as I'm concerned, it might start trending for herders! Neat, huh?
Local Foods: Red Hot, but Undefined
ReplyDeleteThe Agriculture Department really wants Americans to buy local foods. The Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, has been promoting locally grown and produced foods since he was named secretary of the department in 2009. He says it is 'rebuilding the rural economy.' He has encouraged staff, spent a bunch of money, and added new programs, all to push the local market. It has worked and the number of farmer's markets has doubled in the last decade. Some school districts are even setting up farm-to-school programs. Consumers are demanding for locally produced products, saying that in some cases it's even better than organic.
Local Foods
ReplyDeleteAgriculture Department is pushing Americans to buy local foods. The Ag Secretary is promoting grown and produced foods. the number of farmer's markets have doubled in the last decade. He is rebuilding the rural economy. It's worked and the number of farmer's has grown, atleast double in the past decade. School districts are starting setting up farm-to-school programs. They're now asking for products produced loccally.