Very interesting video –
Especially, when compared with these two recent news stories:
GM to slash over 14,000 jobs from North American workforce (NBC News – November 26, 2018)
Say goodbye to the Ford sedan (The Washington Post – April 26, 2018 (which is before the recent analysis of NAFTA, but still indicative of the issue)
Technology is moving ahead. A true driverless planter developed by an Indiana farmer.
Read the Farm Journal Ag Tech article about how this developed: Indiana Farmer Blazes Trail to Driverless Tractors
The future is now.
Hail, Hail to Old Purdue – All Hail to the old Gold and Black! Purdue is celebrating 150 years of educating young minds and creating innovations in STEM programs.
As a graduate of Purdue, and living in an agriculture community in the county next door to Purdue, I’ve watched and been amazed by the great things this Land Grant University does.
Fast Fact: 23 astronauts graduated from Purdue. How cool is that?
Check out their celebration page: TakeGiantLeaps
Indiana Ports facilitate 60,000 Hoosier jobs and $7.8B (billion) per year to Indiana’s economy. Indiana ports are among the top inland ports in the nation in terms of tonnage and economic impact.
Check out this 8-minute video about the Indiana Ports, and specifically, the port at Mt. Vernon.
I realize that this post might only appeal to economic development geeks, but everyone should be aware of how large economic factors and logistics contribute to the general financial health of the state and to local businesses.
It is exhausting to continually defend modern farming practices to the assumption-making, fear-brokering anti-farming coalition. It is chilling to think that the uninformed consumers swallow what is being shoveled to them by the anti-farming fear-mongers.
Generally speaking (since we get a lot of sweeping generalizations about “factory farming”), farmers are good stewards of resources, protectors of the environment (where they live, work, and play), good neighbors, and good business people.
Think of this: Why would anyone put in long hours, endure difficult and physically-demanding working conditions, navigate complex regulatory compliance requirements, to reap marginal and market-sensitive profits and then be careless with the animals and environment upon which one is dependent for that marginal and market-sensitive profit?
Put more simply, the farming gig is too hard and risky to be carelessness in any component part. Farmers love what they do, they love the animals and crops they raise, and they love the environment in which they work. You take care of what you love. It is that simple.
September dawn on the farm
Why is this important? In the current trade climate, there will be impact on commodity prices and farmers’ bottom line (among a not insignificant list of others affected by tariffs).
For more information: Tariffs & Trades from Farm Bureau