AVOIDING BEEF IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS! ➡️Transportation, industry, and energy are approximately 80 percent of United States ghg emissions. (Source: EPA)➡️ Agricultural emissions are only 9 percent of the United States ghg emissions. (Source: EPA)➡️ Of that 9 percent, only 2.6 percent is from cattle. (Source: EPA)➡️ The benefits cattle bring to the environment counteract most, if not all, of the greenhouse gas they emit. Cattle and agriculture as a whole have the …
Innovations in Agriculture
This blog is sponsored by AGCO; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I’ve been involved in farming my entire life. I was the first of the Peterson Farm Brothers to enter into the world, and my mom had me riding along in the silage truck in my car seat when I was just a few months old! I am part of the 5th generation of our farm. This means my dad worked …
Antibiotics
It is no secret that many people are concerned about the use of antibiotics in our food production. Often people will try to avoid consuming them by purchasing food with “raised without antibiotics” labels. Is it worth paying extra for these labels? Are there really antibiotics in our food? Is overuse of antibiotics an issue? This blog will try to address those questions! Are there antibiotics in my meat and milk? The answer to this questions is …
Hormones
It is no secret that many people are concerned about the use of hormones in our food production. Often people will try to avoid consuming them by purchasing food with “hormone free” labels. Is it worth paying extra for these labels? Are there really hormones in our food? This blog will try to address those questions! Are there hormones in my meat and milk? Meat and milk (and most food including plants) are never “hormone …
15 Myths About Monsanto
Anyone who supports Monsanto is a paid “shill” Monsanto has developed a terrible reputation over the years and it is peculiar as to why that has happened. One of the reasons is because anyone that tries to defend them is labeled as a “shill.” This means the opposition believes that anyone who defends Monsanto is being paid to do so. I can assure you this is not the case. There are thousands of privately funded …
17 Myths About Agriculture in 2017
GMOs are evilGMOs are a valuable technology used in science, medicine, and agriculture. Farmers use them to increase yields, reduce inputs, improve the soil, and provide resistance to drought, insects and weeds. There are GMOs being used all throughout society, and there is a very good chance you’ve consumed or used a GM product today. We do believe people should be free to avoid GMOs if they want to, but GMOs have been around for 2 …
Conventional *AND* Organic (Celebrating Diversity in Agriculture)
Hello everyone, welcome to my blog about conventional and organic food. The video below is of a TEDx talk that I gave in February of 2016. The theme of the TED event was “Fueling Human Existence” and the title of my talk was “Celebrating Diversity in Agriculture.” There are some missing powerpoint slides in the YouTube video, so I included a summary below to help make sense of parts of what I say. This video will serve as an introduction …
Peterson Farm Brothers: A Farm Family That Parodies Hit Songs!
The Peterson Farm Bros are made up of Greg (25), Nathan (22), Kendal (19), and honorary “bro” Laura (15) Peterson. They are siblings who farm together with their parents near Assaria, KS. The farm is a 5th generation family farm that raises cattle, wheat, corn, soybeans, milo, and alfalfa. The family started making YouTube videos in 2012, when the oldest brother Greg had an idea to make a parody music video with his brothers to help educate their city …
Introduction: Why Do We Raise Animals for Food and Products?
Part 1: Why Do We Raise Animals For Food and Products? Part 2: The Welfare of Livestock Today Part 3: Conclusion: The Welfare of Livestock Compared to the Welfare of Humans, Pets, Wildlife Why do we use livestock products for human use and consumption? Should I feel bad when I eat meat because an animal died to become that meat? Why can’t animals be set free to live as long of a life as possible? Livestock animals (Cattle, Horses, Chickens, …
The Life Cycle of Beef Cattle Production
Stages of Beef Cattle Production 1. Beginning Stage (Bull + Cow = Calf) 2A. Grass Finished (Middle Stage – Final Stage) 2B. Grain Finished: Backgrounding (Middle Stage) 2C. Grain Finished: Finishing Lot (Final Stage) Harvest and Processing (End Stage) Beginning Stage (Bull + Cow = Calf) Size: Typically in large pastures with 50-100 head of cattle Location: All over USA Family Owned: 99% Diet: Mama Cow’s milk until old enough to eat grass Sickness …