COLUMBUS, Ohio: We’re ready to celebrate Columbus Day right here in Columbus. Did you remember that October 12 is the original date. Happens to be on a Monday this year.
Another major event… National Farmers Day is always celebrated on Oct. 12, even if it isn’t a Monday.
In honor of our farmers and ranchers, let me share my Weekly Comments written October 1, 2018 (with a few edits).
Food in America is cheap. On average, we spend about 5 percent of available income on food at home, leaving 95 percent to spend on everything else, including food in restaurants and pet food. Only 1 percent of Americans are farmers, producing food for the other 99 percent, plus exporting a lot to other countries. Most people don’t know a farmer, and never even met or talked to one.
The low cost of food allows us to be choosy. In a large grocery store we have almost as many choices of dry cereal as we do of dog and cat food. If you have a question about a choice, do you ask a farmer or do you follow the advice of a stranger on social media?
Do you prefer Non-GMO food? Well, you’re in luck because only a handful of our food has been genetically modified. Soybeans, canola, corn (including sweet corn), cotton, sugar beets, alfalfa, papaya, squash, and a couple varieties of apples and potatoes. That’s all. And you’re probably not eating cotton or alfalfa. Farmers do not grow any GMO oats, GMO wheat, or GMO tomatoes. There are no GMO cows, hogs or chickens.
You have probably seen many packaged foods claiming to be Non-GMO. The packages are correct, except there are usually no versions of similar food that are GMO. All cereals of oats or wheat are non-GMO. Milk products are non-GMO.
Do you prefer non-GMO foods because you don’t want farmers to use a lot of chemicals? Surprise! The main purpose of genetic changes is so fewer chemicals are needed to reduce damage from insects, disease or weeds.
Do you know that many farmers grow crops (such as corn, soybeans, wheat and cotton) without plowing? In most of the country we call that “no-till farming.” No-till is a main component of “Regenerative agriculture” and the goal is to improve soil health. No-till improves water quality in streams and lakes, and reduces the barrels of oil needed for fuel. Cover crops are a key to maintaining and increasing yields of crops grown to sell. They are grown after the main crop has been harvested and to reduce the need for chemicals to manage weeds.
We could talk about organic farming (which often uses more chemicals and diesel fuel than no-till), locally grown food (delicious in summer), and free-range chickens (raccoons love ‘em).
The great news is that American food is so cheap a consumer is free to choose any source, even if it costs two or three times as much. And American farmers are happy to produce it.
Historic quotes by Will Rogers:
“We always have good things to eat at my sister’s [Sallie McSpadden] in Chelsea [Okla.] … Beans, kinder soupy navy beans cooked with plenty of real fat meat. And then fried ham; they cure their own ham…They got their own cows and real cream. Ham gravy is just about the last word in gravys…Beans, cornbread, country ham, and gravy, and then just raw onions… Then for dessert? Don’t have room for any dessert. Had any more room would eat some more beans.” WA #449, August 2, 1931
“Christopher Columbus landed on some islands, but they always stretched a point and give him the best of it and said he landed in America… Being an Indian, I don’t mind telling you that personally I am sorry he ever found us. The discovery of America has been of no material benefit to us, outside of losing all our land. I am proud to say that I have never yet seen a statue to him in Oklahoma.” WA #190, Aug. 1, 1926