The Agricultural View
September 2010
http://theagriculturalview.blogspot.com
by Ralph D. Coffman
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Back to School Student Tips
1. To improve your direction, or focus, write out some specific goals for the school year.
2. Sit on the front row if you have a choice.
3. Develop good daily study habits (routines) the first few days then stick to them.
4. You need to be very selective in whom you choose to be around before school, after school, during lunch or in study hall – you become like the people you associate with.
5. Take good notes and let your teachers know that you desire to learn and do your best. Note: As a teacher, if you asked each student if they have a desire to listen and learn each day too many students would be very hesitant to respond affirmatively. I wonder why? This is just one problem in our classrooms today.
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Mercer’s Gems
With savings accounts and CD’s interest at 1% or less a better investment you might consider would be to make extra payments on a loan or credit card debt. A dollar saved is a dollar earned. For example: $50,000.00 at 6% interest for a 30 year loan can be reduced to a 20 year payoff by making an extra $58.00 payment per month. Total interest saved could be as much as $22,080.00 depending on how early in the life of the loan you began making the extra payment. Credit card debt could yield 18% - 22% return on the amount of each extra payment therefore this should be the debt that you pay first - Doug. 1

From the Editor’s Desk
The View is a tremendous amount of work, a huge responsibility, and I believe it is a much needed promotion of agriculture. Check out: humanewatch.org and consumerfreedom.org

The November Issue will have 2011 subscription, donation and ad information.
Also, see my latest farm poem (A Farmers Plight – Do You Care?) by going to the blog site listed at the top of page one, or call 984-2567 and I will mail you a copy. (Example: Fourth Verse Line 2) Heck, even the Amish, yes the Amish, are under attack for pollution! ----------------------------------------------------------------

A peak in the use of commercial fertilizer occurred in the early 1980’s. U.S. consumption of P and K has since declined, while N consumption has remained relatively stable.

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1 billion people are starving in the world (according to the United Nations), yet the very foundation of our current food production system is being challenged and threatened by technological constraints, social doubts, poor scientific education and philosophical differences. What is wrong with this picture?

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A Glance Back – Hugh Coffman
Farmers in SE Ohio formed The Marietta Truck Growers in 1908 to market their very high quality vegetable crops. By the 1920’s it included over 700 growers and packed produce for delivery throughout the eastern U.S.

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Cattle on heavy corn silage diets need sulfur.
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During pregnancy 2/3 of the fetus’ growth actually occurs during the last 1/3 of the pregnancy.
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Washington State - Agribusiness
The agribusiness management program at Washington State will be offering three courses on the fall schedule. Classes start September 13 and include: Introduction to Agribusiness Management Tuesdays/Thursdays 10 A.M. to 11:50 A.M; Introduction to Agribusiness Management (Evening course) Monday 6 P.M. to 9:30 P.M.; Principles of Agribusiness Sales Tuesday/Thursday 8 to 10 A.M.

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Ohio has more than 76,000 farms.

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Could a Weather Model Tell You When to Apply Manure? When it rains, the nitrogen and phosphorus in freshly applied manure is much more likely to run off and pollute nearby water sources, which can end up degrading water quality throughout the watershed. Researchers are working on a program to help farmers control runoff by providing better information on application timing. They hope to give farmers a user-friendly tool that can be used to optimize fertilizer runoff management and enhance water quality.Hydrologist Tony Buda and soil scientist Peter Kleinman with USDA's Agricultural Research Service are contributing to the development of a Web-based "fertilizer forecast." The scientists want to create a tool that produces 24-hour and 5-day runoff forecasts that are as user-friendly as weather forecasts. The scientists are based at the ARS Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research Unit in University Park, Pennsylvania.

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We have a 300 year supply of coal in Ohio and as we regulate its’ use out of existence we create another big problem - sulfur is a key part of every essential element needed by man. (1997 Dr. Jack Cline - The Ohio State University)
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Beef Sale Alert Saturday September 18th at 1 P.M.
52 lots of Registered Shorthorn & Shorthorn
Plus calves, bulls, bred heifers and cow/calf pairs to sell in a cowboy auction at the farm. Pictures and details on website: www.sjcattleco.webs.com
S & J Cattle Company (Scott & JoAnn Pfeiffer) 4315 Marion Johnson Road
Albany, Ohio 45710 740-593-5090

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Ohio produces 7.1 billion eggs per year

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AgriBusiness Planning & Analysis (APA - formerly FBPA) at the Career Center. Business management classes, computer software for financial records and cost of production analysis. Contact: Marty Clark 740-373-6283 or mclark@thecareercenter.net

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Ohio has 14.5 million acres of land being used for agricultural purposes – more than half of the land area in the state. No wonder agriculture is Ohio’s #1 industry!
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Say What?
How many pages of documents has the federal government (current administration) filed, for the federal judge to review, to keep the deepwater drilling moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico? (Approximately 27,000 pages)
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Pacelle’s Back!
Wayne Pacelle (HSUS), with reportedly 500,000 signatures in storage, recently met with the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board. It defies logic that they can legally store the signatures and use the same signatures for any future campaign. Anyone can attend and speak at these public meetings, including you. Pacelle made the following statements, among others, to the board:
“The nation will be watching what you do.”
“We want to see it (agreement) succeed. We want you (board) to succeed.”
“We don’t want to run a ballot issue in this state. It is very expensive and should be a last resort.”
Concerning accepting the recent agreement Pacelle said, “It would be a shame to squander an opportunity because we have a historic alliance of humane and agriculture groups.”

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The Founding Fathers Believed Each Law Should Be Written in Simple, Non-Technical Language One example:
Thomas Jefferson: “Laws are made for men of ordinary understanding, and should therefore be construed by the ordinary rules of common sense. Their meaning is not to be sought for in metaphysical subtleties which make anything mean everything or nothing, at pleasure.” Jefferson roasted the British Parliament for writing acts that were “tautologous, involved, and parenthetical jargon.” He called their statutes “barbarous, uncouth, and unintelligible.”

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In the United States we (citizens and government) seem to regard thrift as an evil to be avoided at all costs. One of my ten suggestions to the Ohio
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Livestock Standards Care Board was, “government has an embarrassing record of thrift – please, do not spend a penny on anything that is not a necessity!” Ralph

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Beware - Health Care Surprises Mount
1. Beginning in January 2012, businesses are required to file with the IRS for every business to business transaction over $600. This includes all transactions, not just health care ones. (Section 9006)
2. Beginning January 2011, individuals are not allowed to use Flexible Savings Accounts, Health Reimbursement Accounts, and Health Savings Accounts to purchase over-the-counter medicines. (Section 9003)
3. Beginning in 2013 you will pay a 3.8% federal real estate tax if you sell your home.

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World’s Biggest Tractor The Big Bud 747 tractor was built in Havre, Montana back in 1977 by Ron Harmon and the crew of the Northern Manufacturing Company. It can work more than one acre per minute, at speeds up to 8 MPH. It has 900+ horse power, measures 27 feet long, 20 feet wide, 14 feet tall, and weighs about 100-thousand pounds.
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HSUS, PETA, with the media’s assistance, feast on the egg Salmonella problem and take advantage of farmer’s plight by calling for the elimination of farm practices, and the promotion of their vegetarian lifestyle. Salmonella outbreaks in the past have occurred in key vegan diet foods including tomatoes and peanut butter. Salmonella is one of many foodborne illnesses that can, and do, pop up in many foods at any time.

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The philosophy of the school in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next. (Abraham Lincoln) 6

September Insert Page - The View

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*The advertisers in this issue support The Agricultural View and the promotion of agriculture, however, they may not necessarily agree with every point of view within the newsletter.
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In a newborn calf only one of their four stomach compartments is developed at birth – the abomasum or 4th compartment which is also nick-named the true stomach. Connecting the esophagus with the abomasum is an esophageal groove which allows the milk to travel from the esophagus to the abomasum.

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Bill Johnson
For Ohio Congress 6th District
www.billjohnsonleads.com
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War of 1812
What was the cause of our second war with England? Impressment – when English ships could not find enough men to work for them they would go ashore and capture Americans then force them to work by beating and starving them until they succumbed. They also attacked American ships. Thousands of Americans were taken from their families and some were ultimately imprisoned in England. A


CUT OUT THE MIDDLEMAN
MORE DOLLARS FOR THE FARMERS!
Our packers want your steers and cull cows!
National Farmers Organization Northeastern OH Jeff Rautseyer 330-749-7793
Southeastern OH Scott Upton 740-378-6102
Western OH Pat Lampert 937-726-2341
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Getting down to
Agribusiness Register today!
Washington State Community College www.wscc.edu
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Last Alfalfa Cutting
To allow for enough regrowth (in northern climates) to reduce the risk of winter injury, try to avoid cutting from September 10 to October 1. Poor timing can negatively affect stored root food reserves leading to poor winter survival.

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Ed Long - Financial Advisor
Edward Jones
MAKING SENSE OF INVESTING
468 Pike Street Marietta, Ohio 45750 740-373-5437 ed.long@edwardjones.com
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State Farm
Providing Insurance and Financial Services
Coffman Insurance Agency
Terry Coffman, Agent
426 Third Street Marietta, Ohio 45750-2101 740-373-6399

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Witten Farm

Market & Greenhouses
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H & S Construction, LLC Scott Hart
Joe Schilling
Beverly, Ohio 740-984-0203
Commercial & Residential
WV# 033991

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If you support agriculture and the FFA become a member of the Ohio and/or National FFA Alumni Association (Lexie Poulson) at: 1poulson.bright.net or your local Ag. Ed. Teacher. Annual dues are $15.00 & Lifetime dues are $150.00
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SEAMAN’S
GENERAL MERCHANDISE, INC.
P.O. Box 10 Barlow, Ohio 45712
Served In The Tradition Of Yesterday
Charles F. Seaman
740-678-2450 1-800-428-2450

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William D. McFarland
Washington County Auditor
205 Putnam Street
Marietta, Ohio 45750
740-373-6623 Ext. 263 Work
740-374-3304 Residence
bmcfarland@wcgov.org

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This newsletter goes to over 400 homes and to nearly one hundred Agricultural Education/FFA departments. Please share it.

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Please thank, and patronize where possible, our sponsors.

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Farmers must remain very careful as it is scary what editing videos, a change of context and written script can do. VIDEOS = BIG MONEY.

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Ohio’s farmers produce 5.2 million turkeys.

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Scott Hart 35 Ray Harr Road
Owner
Beverly, OH 45715 Rainbow c 740-350-2047
International o 740-984-2424
Restoration * Cleaning f 740-984-0424
Independently Owned & Operated Franchise
WATER FIRE SMOKE
24 Hour Emergency Response / Deodorization Insurance claims from start to finish Carpet, upholstery & drapery cleaning
3M Scotchgard™ treatment
Pet stain & odor removal
Tile, grout & hard-surface cleaning

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Hardware Disease in Cattle
Hardware disease in ruminants occurs as result of prehension (engulfing food without chewing) which can allow the cattle to easily swallow nails, wire, staples which end up in the reticulum (2nd stomach or honeycomb as it looks like a honeycomb on the surface). The metal will often rust away in time however on occasion it will penetrate the reticulum wall causing pain resulting in the cow to hump up and causing the stomach contractions to cease.

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In 1985, researchers at the Department of Education studied the top 60 history textbooks used in the United States – used by 88% of the nation’s students – to see how history was being taught. What was documented was stunning: in one study of the 3rd and 6th grade readers, there were
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670 stories that dealt with American History of which only 5 dealt with the founding era! Three of the five were about Sybil Ludington, who in 1777 climbed on horseback to warn them that the British were coming; the fourth dealt with a young girl who wanted to serve in Washington’s army, was not allowed to but carried food to them at Valley Forge; and the fifth dealt with a young boy who single handedly caught a British soldier stealing vegetables out of his garden. Not a single story about Patrick Henry, Daniel Boone, Nathan Hale or Paul Revere!

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Nitrogen’s 4 Functions
1. Prevents chlorosis (low chlorophyll will slow photosynthesis)
2. Induces vigorous, rapid plant growth (key to cell division) 3. Increases protein content of crops (key for amino acids)
4. Nourishes soil microorganisms (bacteria and protozoa)

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If possible, it is a good idea to make cattle feel comfortable and have a painless experience their first time in the chute. ---------------------------------------------------

I know that there is some consternation concerning the agreement brokered by Governor Strickland between HSUS and Agricultural leaders however, I suspect that there are likely many fights, including videos, to come, and we all better stay informed and be ready! Keep your nonfarm neighbors and friends informed. (Ralph)

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