Comments on: Beware of Bad Science

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:12:04 +0000

Dear Bill,

It always pains me when I have to take sides at AWA. We have tried to avoid pitting farmer against farmer. As for AFACT I hope the organization will heed your advice and only use accurate science without a bias. We are an organization that exists to promote family farms who farm to a set of published standards. I did no more in my piece than correct the inaccuracies of research that was using inaccurate information. If only to your point, the folks hell bent on allowing only industrialized farmers would let those like the farmers in our program farm in their way and put only accurate information into the public arena I would not have to speak out. As a farmer I know how divisive this can be and try to avoid it if I can but as a voice for many great family farms I cannot sit by and let the truth be tainted. I would love to visit with you and perhaps dig deeper in to the future of agriculture and the many challenges it faces. I will try to get together with you the next time I am in your area.

Andrew Gunther

By: Bill Rowekamp

Bill Rowekamp — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:26:24 +0000

I’m a 3rd generation dairy farmer from MN and a member of AFACT. The most important reason why I joined AFACT is that they are the only farmer group I know of that has as their #1 concern the ability to feed a growing world population. Mr Gunther can continue to say what he wants about AFACT but he has never met with any of us and has no idea of who we are or what our values are. By his attacks on conventional farming he does a disservice to farmers that practice organic production. There are many organic farmers in my area and the vast majority of them get along just fine with their conventional farmer neighbors. They do not like the wedge that is continually driven between conventional and organic, grass, free range etc farmers by people like Mr. Gunther. They feel there product will sell on its own merits and there is not need to vilify other good production practices to sell theirs.

You are welcomed to visit my farm anytime.

By: Beware bad science – pastured dairy and beef CAN fight global warming « Grass-based Dairy Farming at PastureLand

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:57:04 +0000

[...] Animal Welfare Approved fights back with a lengthy rebutal worth reading. Here is an excerpt. Memorize a few choice bits for discussion this weekend and with extended family members at Thanksgiving. This is sure to give your GMO farming cousin fits. [...]

http://pasturelandcooperative.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/beware-bad-science-pastured-dairy-and-beef-can-fight-global-warming/

By: Don Davis

Don Davis — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:03:46 +0000

Good article. Is something still considered science if it’s not true? Seems a legitimate question.

Also their numbers concerning the length of time required to finish grassfed vs corn fed seems a bit off unless they are feedlot finishing cattle at 10 to 12 months. Maybe some super genetically engineered version of cattle, don’t know?

By: Klaas Martens

Klaas Martens — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:47:44 +0000

Capper’s ‘research’ does not stand up to careful reading. She misquotes some of the references she cites, cherry picks her data, and ignores facts that don’t support her agenda. What amazes me is how such blatant junk science gets past the reviewers who are supposed to be checking her work. What is even worse, is that once it is published, this garbage gets cited in other papers and continues to go unchallenged.

By: Royal A. Purdy

Royal A. Purdy — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:08:43 +0000

We have long advocated toward pastoral redevelopment on broad acre farm plots and need more of these type written cross examinations. Pasture as a technical medium is capable of much more than main line agriculture gives it credit for. Thank you for a job well done!

By: Sarah M.

Sarah M. — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:05:13 +0000

Thank you so much for setting the record straight – in this information age it can be so hard to know what to believe. So much information is tainted by special interest groups – thank you AWA for your integrity.

By: Mike Calahan

Mike Calahan — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:50:01 +0000

Wonderfully articulated argument. I love AWA and hope your pieces will be read on a mass scale.

By: Karen Christensen

Karen Christensen — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:36:07 +0000

Thank you. This issue does come up in discussions and has been hard to refute. Now you’ve given us the talking points.

Karen

By: Fred Griffen

Fred Griffen — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:32:40 +0000

Spectacular! You hit every nail squarely on the head. Thank you.