"Where Fillmore County News Comes First"
Online Edition
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013
Volume ∞ Issue ∞
- 11:44:26, May 21st 2013 - airmaxs52274 - Have you ever thought about adding a little bit more than just your a ... [Read More]
- 5:56:33, May 18th 2013 - modgudur - I guess the child is anti-gun control since Obama went to all that trouble ... [Read More]
- 9:27:41, May 16th 2013 - caal girl - Nice outfit on you. I loved some of the dresses but am holding my breath ... [Read More]
- 2:03:34, May 14th 2013 - - Thanks for sharing the trip with us! ... [Read More]
- 4:12:01, May 9th 2013 - Amanda Ziebell - Wow! Thanks to the Fillmore County Journal for this kind story. For a ... [Read More]
- 11:47:30, May 7th 2013 - EW - ramble.....ramble.....ramble..... ... [Read More]
- 10:25:25, May 7th 2013 - Thunder6 - Great article! I love to see the Youth of Fillmore County receiveing acco ... [Read More]
- 6:52:10, May 6th 2013 - Jason Sethre, Publisher of Fillmore County Journal & Olmsted County Journal - Maryh, ... [Read More]
- 7:29:56, May 5th 2013 - maryh - Where are OCJ's available for pickup...other than at the new office? ... [Read More]
- 2:41:47, May 3rd 2013 - Remark1976 - Mrs. Buckbee, I just looked up Senate File 796 and in it there are said p ... [Read More]
29
How will you keep your kids busy this summer vacation?
Monday, September 18, 2000
Comments
To the Editor,
I would like to take this opportunity to tell you why I am going to vote NO during the pork checkoff referendum. First of all, even though I am voting NO, I am an optimist: I think consolidation and proliferation of factory farms is not inevitable. I believe that we can increase opportunities for hog farmers and thereby increase their numbers.
But we can’t do that with the current system of collecting a mandatory pork tax to fund generic promotion of a commodity. The National Pork Board theorized that if they could increase consumption of the pork commodity, then increased price would result and everyone would benefit. In reality what happened was that expansion and consolidation were rampant and prices plummeted; the family hog farmer couldn’t compete in a high volume, low margin generic commodity market.
If the checkoff is defeated, the Campaign for Family Farms would support a voluntary checkoff with individual farmers controlling who receives those checkoff dollars. I and other Campaign members would immediately begin voluntarily checking off dollars to organizations doing good work in pork production. This would cause great competition for these dollars. Competition gives results. For example, some purebred breeders could send their checkoff monies to their breed associations to develop branded products such as Berkshire Gold or Certified Angus Beef. Other farmers could direct their dollars to groups that are involved in alternative markets, such as antibiotic free, humanely raised, or organic pork. If a farmer is closely aligned with their packer, like Hormel, they could benefit by forming alliances with the packer to promote their branded product. All of these ideas lead us out of the generic commodity market into a value-added product market.
And such branded products are what consumers will pay good money for. Some want super lean pork, while others want juicy chops raised naturally. We could also differentiate our pork by using quality grades like the beef industry: Prime, Choice, and Select. These designations would help consumers and restaurants buy the type of pork they desire. Such differentiation can lead to many diverse opportunities in the pork industry. And opportunity is what entices young people.
The grape industry is an example of what can be accomplished by product differentiation. There are all types and sizes of operations. Many produce for the commodity market, but many also pr .....
[Read the Rest]
I would like to take this opportunity to tell you why I am going to vote NO during the pork checkoff referendum. First of all, even though I am voting NO, I am an optimist: I think consolidation and proliferation of factory farms is not inevitable. I believe that we can increase opportunities for hog farmers and thereby increase their numbers.
But we can’t do that with the current system of collecting a mandatory pork tax to fund generic promotion of a commodity. The National Pork Board theorized that if they could increase consumption of the pork commodity, then increased price would result and everyone would benefit. In reality what happened was that expansion and consolidation were rampant and prices plummeted; the family hog farmer couldn’t compete in a high volume, low margin generic commodity market.
If the checkoff is defeated, the Campaign for Family Farms would support a voluntary checkoff with individual farmers controlling who receives those checkoff dollars. I and other Campaign members would immediately begin voluntarily checking off dollars to organizations doing good work in pork production. This would cause great competition for these dollars. Competition gives results. For example, some purebred breeders could send their checkoff monies to their breed associations to develop branded products such as Berkshire Gold or Certified Angus Beef. Other farmers could direct their dollars to groups that are involved in alternative markets, such as antibiotic free, humanely raised, or organic pork. If a farmer is closely aligned with their packer, like Hormel, they could benefit by forming alliances with the packer to promote their branded product. All of these ideas lead us out of the generic commodity market into a value-added product market.
And such branded products are what consumers will pay good money for. Some want super lean pork, while others want juicy chops raised naturally. We could also differentiate our pork by using quality grades like the beef industry: Prime, Choice, and Select. These designations would help consumers and restaurants buy the type of pork they desire. Such differentiation can lead to many diverse opportunities in the pork industry. And opportunity is what entices young people.
The grape industry is an example of what can be accomplished by product differentiation. There are all types and sizes of operations. Many produce for the commodity market, but many also pr .....
[Read the Rest]
Arnold Tieskotter
Arnold Tieskotter, 87, of Harmony, a retired farmer, died Tuesday, August 15, 2000, at Harmony Community Nursing Home.
He was born Jan. 16, 1913, in Winneshiek County, IA. On December 26, 1942, he married Mildred Kobriger in Castalia, IA, and .....
[Read the Rest]
He was born Jan. 16, 1913, in Winneshiek County, IA. On December 26, 1942, he married Mildred Kobriger in Castalia, IA, and .....
[Read the Rest]
Ralph A. Youngs
Ralph Youngs, 86, of Chicago, formerly of rural Chatfield, died Wednesday, August 16, 2000, in an Evanston, Ill., hospital.
Mr. Youngs was born December 26, 1913, in rural Chatfield. He attended rural grade school through the eighth grade and .....
[Read the Rest]
Mr. Youngs was born December 26, 1913, in rural Chatfield. He attended rural grade school through the eighth grade and .....
[Read the Rest]
Floyd Tienter
Floyd Tienter, 83, of Spring Valley, a retired construction worker, died Saturday, September 9, 2000, at Ostrander Nursing Home where he had resided since February.
He was born Jan. 24, 1917, in Forestville Township, Fillmore County, and atte .....
[Read the Rest]
He was born Jan. 24, 1917, in Forestville Township, Fillmore County, and atte .....
[Read the Rest]
Clara M. Polaschek
Clara Polaschek, 91, of Harmony, formerly of Cresco, died Saturday, September 9, 2000, at Harmony Nursing Home.
Survivors include two daughters, Joyce Harris of Cresco and Jeannine Hoag of Harmony; two sons, Neil of Cresco and Joseph of Salin .....
[Read the Rest]
Survivors include two daughters, Joyce Harris of Cresco and Jeannine Hoag of Harmony; two sons, Neil of Cresco and Joseph of Salin .....
[Read the Rest]
Jerry Henze
Jerry Henze, 68, of Rushford, died Friday, September 8, 2000, at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home in Rushford.
He was born on August 19, 1932, to Earl and Julia (Swenside) Henze. Jerry attended school in Rushford and graduated from Rushford H .....
[Read the Rest]
He was born on August 19, 1932, to Earl and Julia (Swenside) Henze. Jerry attended school in Rushford and graduated from Rushford H .....
[Read the Rest]
