So last night, I basically got a job offer.
I went with Mule Club down to Twilight Festival. This guy walked up to us and asked if we has any courses on holistic and organic medicine. I told him no, that we were pretty much straight by the book medicine.
He proceeded to tell me that there was a need for veterinarians with knowledge about treating animals organically, esp in the organic dairy field. I agreed with him and told him that I had applied to work with Horizon Dairy but I didn't have enough experience with organics for them. And told him that I thought that veterinary medicine and animal sciences were behind in teaching this emerging field. Josh and I continued to talk to him for a while, then I got busy with mule stuff and Jesse commendered my conversation. Eventually, I returned to the conversation at which point it was clear that these boys essentially told this man that his job (which was as an organic certifier-he goes to farms and makes sure that they are following the protocols) was worthless and organic foods are crap. So he turned to me and handed me his business card suggesting that I look into the field as an organic certifier. 'Are veterinarians really needed in this field?', I asked. And he told me that it would put me a great deal beyond other people, the salary was competitive and it was an ever growing and changing field. I agreed that organics was definantly growing. At which point, Jesse said that there wasn't a market for it in Missouri. I argued that there was because having worked at the Hy-Vee health market, I saw organic meats and milk flying off of the shelf. He said that maybe in Columbia, and around KC or STL but not where he was from...Stupid hillbilly. Where does he think the organic meat and milk will be raised?
I went with Mule Club down to Twilight Festival. This guy walked up to us and asked if we has any courses on holistic and organic medicine. I told him no, that we were pretty much straight by the book medicine.
He proceeded to tell me that there was a need for veterinarians with knowledge about treating animals organically, esp in the organic dairy field. I agreed with him and told him that I had applied to work with Horizon Dairy but I didn't have enough experience with organics for them. And told him that I thought that veterinary medicine and animal sciences were behind in teaching this emerging field. Josh and I continued to talk to him for a while, then I got busy with mule stuff and Jesse commendered my conversation. Eventually, I returned to the conversation at which point it was clear that these boys essentially told this man that his job (which was as an organic certifier-he goes to farms and makes sure that they are following the protocols) was worthless and organic foods are crap. So he turned to me and handed me his business card suggesting that I look into the field as an organic certifier. 'Are veterinarians really needed in this field?', I asked. And he told me that it would put me a great deal beyond other people, the salary was competitive and it was an ever growing and changing field. I agreed that organics was definantly growing. At which point, Jesse said that there wasn't a market for it in Missouri. I argued that there was because having worked at the Hy-Vee health market, I saw organic meats and milk flying off of the shelf. He said that maybe in Columbia, and around KC or STL but not where he was from...Stupid hillbilly. Where does he think the organic meat and milk will be raised?
So this is what I think. I don't normally buy organic products. I don't have anything against those that do. I simply feel that there is no reason to. I'm not afraid of pesticides or antibiotics and just hope that those are properly used. The key word being properly. I don't feel that in most respects, animals are mistreated or that being treated organically is any better for them.
I do feel that alot of people choose to purchase and use organic products after being mislead by the media and other groups. People don't understand how agriculture works and their views are easily skewed. There are numerous reasons why choosing organic products is the best choice. However, in doing so, you better be able to back up your arguement and understand the other side as well...such as there is no difference in cows treated with rBGH than in cows not treated with it. NONE!
The organic movement is growing. Growing so much that there is alot of pressure in certain industries to change their practices. For instance, Foremost Dairy no longer uses rBGH to treat its cows. As stated above, there is no difference in the milk if they were treated with it or not but they have received pressure from the processor to suspend using it. You have to sell that milk afterall.
I feel that animal science and veterinary medicine have spent the last 20-50 years trying to become more efficient, more cost effective. And in doing so, there has been a surge in the use of drugs, hormones and antibiotics. Is this bad? Not really. However, with the increase in the number of people willing to pay for organics, there is a lag between learning to be efficient (as is currently taught) and what is needed to be taught-how to raise and treat animals organically, an understanding for the regulations, etc. I also see a disparity in what people want and what they are willing to pay for. Some people don't want the use of antibiotics but arn't willing to pay $8/pound for ground beef. They don't see that the reason its $3/pound is because of the antibiotics and hormones that make the cattle be more feed efficient, grow faster and be overall more healthy cutting out feed and veterinary costs.
Is Jesse a stupid hillbilly? Yes. There is a demand nationwide for organic products. Wal-Mart is carrying them nationally. If Wal-Mart only thought that they would make a profit in carrying these products in metropolitan areas they would, but even at the little Super Wal-Mart in BFE, or DeSoto or West Plains, I am sure you can find organic milk. Even ghetto Aldi's here in Columbia carries organic milk. Everyone everywhere wants it.
It is harder to produce things organically. Its a large time and money commitment. Is it worth it in the long run? Does it make people healthier? Will it save the earth? And stop global warming (something that I don't believe in anyway)? I don't know. Maybe. Maybe not.
I posed the question to Joe several weeks ago asking if there would come a time where organic products would be cheaper than traditionally produced products. I forget what my point was about it. Perhaps something about the use of gasoline and the conversion of crop land from producing feed to ethanol. Maybe something about the people raising organic animals already have committed land resources for crops since they have to be organic too.
Anyway, these are the main points:
The demand for organic products is growing. Nationwide. Even in BFE.
The veterinary and animal science community is not prepared for it.
If you commit yourself to organics, be prepared to know why. Know all sides of the equation and don't let the media mislead you.
Antibiotics given properly to animals do not confer antibiotic resistance to humans. That's your fault when you go to the doctor for a cold (a virus) and get antibiotics and then proceed not to finish them. THAT'S how antibiotic resistance is most commonly started.
Hormones show up in lower levels in treated meat animals than they do in many naturally occurring plants and foods i.e. estrogens in soybeans and cabbage. (I think.)
[EDIT-Originally published to Blogger on June 14, 2011]
I do feel that alot of people choose to purchase and use organic products after being mislead by the media and other groups. People don't understand how agriculture works and their views are easily skewed. There are numerous reasons why choosing organic products is the best choice. However, in doing so, you better be able to back up your arguement and understand the other side as well...such as there is no difference in cows treated with rBGH than in cows not treated with it. NONE!
The organic movement is growing. Growing so much that there is alot of pressure in certain industries to change their practices. For instance, Foremost Dairy no longer uses rBGH to treat its cows. As stated above, there is no difference in the milk if they were treated with it or not but they have received pressure from the processor to suspend using it. You have to sell that milk afterall.
I feel that animal science and veterinary medicine have spent the last 20-50 years trying to become more efficient, more cost effective. And in doing so, there has been a surge in the use of drugs, hormones and antibiotics. Is this bad? Not really. However, with the increase in the number of people willing to pay for organics, there is a lag between learning to be efficient (as is currently taught) and what is needed to be taught-how to raise and treat animals organically, an understanding for the regulations, etc. I also see a disparity in what people want and what they are willing to pay for. Some people don't want the use of antibiotics but arn't willing to pay $8/pound for ground beef. They don't see that the reason its $3/pound is because of the antibiotics and hormones that make the cattle be more feed efficient, grow faster and be overall more healthy cutting out feed and veterinary costs.
Is Jesse a stupid hillbilly? Yes. There is a demand nationwide for organic products. Wal-Mart is carrying them nationally. If Wal-Mart only thought that they would make a profit in carrying these products in metropolitan areas they would, but even at the little Super Wal-Mart in BFE, or DeSoto or West Plains, I am sure you can find organic milk. Even ghetto Aldi's here in Columbia carries organic milk. Everyone everywhere wants it.
It is harder to produce things organically. Its a large time and money commitment. Is it worth it in the long run? Does it make people healthier? Will it save the earth? And stop global warming (something that I don't believe in anyway)? I don't know. Maybe. Maybe not.
I posed the question to Joe several weeks ago asking if there would come a time where organic products would be cheaper than traditionally produced products. I forget what my point was about it. Perhaps something about the use of gasoline and the conversion of crop land from producing feed to ethanol. Maybe something about the people raising organic animals already have committed land resources for crops since they have to be organic too.
Anyway, these are the main points:
The demand for organic products is growing. Nationwide. Even in BFE.
The veterinary and animal science community is not prepared for it.
If you commit yourself to organics, be prepared to know why. Know all sides of the equation and don't let the media mislead you.
Antibiotics given properly to animals do not confer antibiotic resistance to humans. That's your fault when you go to the doctor for a cold (a virus) and get antibiotics and then proceed not to finish them. THAT'S how antibiotic resistance is most commonly started.
Hormones show up in lower levels in treated meat animals than they do in many naturally occurring plants and foods i.e. estrogens in soybeans and cabbage. (I think.)
[EDIT-Originally published to Blogger on June 14, 2011]
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