April 21, 2010 column from the Star Beacon and Gazette
by John Parker and Dr. John L. Kroh, DVM

An unfortunate, untruthful and misleading article titled "Choice, omnivores with a conscience" calls for an immediate response.  While trying to play on the emotions of people, this article presents a picture that is simply not true.  It could also discourage a few people who don't know the facts from eating safe, healthy food that is produced in Ohio.  Also, Ohioans are capable of establishing standards for their own livestock without interference from Washington or the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

Last fall Ohio citizens voted overwhelmingly to establish a Livestock Care Standards Board.  It would be appropriate and fair to allow this board time to set livestock standards.

The amendment that is being proposed by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), through its mouthpiece Ohio Humane comes directly from the vegetarian group, HSUS.  Wherever they have been successful in getting their legislation passed, after spending millions of dollars, food prices have gone up.  In California for example, when cage layers are put out of business, research shows egg prices will go up from 50 cents to $1 a dozen.

In addition to pests and weather, the "local and organic" trend poses a risk to affordable farming.

April 7, 2010 column from the Star Beacon and Gazette
by John Parker

Local farmers are gearing up to get their corn and soybean crops planted. Now they are waiting on cooperation from the weather. Warm days with drying conditions just right to let them till fields and get the seed in the ground will be welcome. Sometimes that happens--and sometimes it doesn't.

Ashtabula County farmers usually plant around 16,000 acres of corn and 24,500 acres of soybeans, according to estimates from the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Good weather often allows them to plant more than usual and wet, cold conditions can limit planting.

Our neighbors to the south, Trumbull County, plant about the same number of acres to both corn and beans that are planted in Ashtabula. Geauga County, much smaller and more urban, is estimated to plant only about 2400 acres of corn and 1700 of soybeans.

March 23, 2010 column from the Star Beacon and Gazette
by John Parker

If the animal rights activist groups have their way, let’s look at what will happen.

Our shopper Amanda headed to the grocery store for her usual weekly shopping. When she got there, Amanda was shocked. No milk was in the dairy case and her family likes milk. Ice cream, a family favorite, could not be found anywhere. Eggs were missing along with butter. She wanted a beef roast but there were none. Some of the soaps she used were nowhere to be found. She was dismayed. She wanted the variety of good, wholesome animal foods in her family's diet.

Thankfully that is not the case today but tactics being used by groups such as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Farm Sanctuary and others have that for their long range goal.

Here in Ohio most farm groups and a host of others decided to fight these extremist organizations. Last fall voters passed a constitutional amendment to establish an Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board. This Board will include representation from broad interests in our state. 

Dr. Thomas Moore theorizes that climate change can be a net positive in his book, "Climate of Fear."

March 10, 2010 column from the Star Beacon and Gazette
by John Parker

Let's take a look at agricultural history going back to the years of A.D. 800 to about 1300.  This information comes from an interesting book "Climate of Fear" written by Dr. Thomas Moore, who has taught at Michigan State University, Stanford University and UCLA.

Using oxygen isotope measurements, upper tree lines in Europe and written records, Dr. Moore was able to come up with a good idea of what farming and society in general were like during those centuries of long ago.  And the picture he came up with is interesting and has some application for today.

Most of northern Europe and Greenland and Iceland were warmer than they are now.  The Mediterranean, Arabian peninsula and northern Africa had more rainfall than they get today.  Here in North America we experienced better weather.  Overall around the world, according to Dr. Moore, mankind flourished as never before.