My Article

The article talks about raising pigs outdoors they believe it is inhumane to coop them up and keep them in confined spaces. The only problem is they cant raise as many hogs at a time and the pig farmers would need more land. They also would have little houses they could go into if it gets too cold

I believe its a nice gesture. Making it a required thing to raise pigs outside because it will cost more money. I dont think most farmers treat there pigs bad but the ones who do should be punished. I think people misread farming and look at it the wrong way. it is nice that people do want to give the hogs a little bit of freedom.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/21/business/demand-grows-for-hogs-that-are-raised-humanely.html?ref=crueltytoanimals

Leading up to our viewing of the movie Food, Inc. we are going to look at the different view points that need to be addressed.
This link provides many additional viewpoints on the issues that are addressed in the movie.

A Different Look at Food, Inc.

followed EIN agriculture News on twitter

Click on the links below for Food Safety Tips!

CDC

USDA

Food Safety Tips For College Students

FoodSafety.gov

Pathogen Tracker Game

Advocating for Agriculte on this page!

https://www.facebook.com/UNFAO

UNFAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

~Kayla

I liked Agriculture Everyday on Facebook

I followed Iowa Department of Ag on twitter.

PETA's Latest Victim

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/the-pope/10600891/Italian-animal-rights-group-calls-on-Pope-stop-to-releasing-doves-after-attack.html

"Italian animal rights group calls on Pope stop to releasing doves after attack"

This article was to inform the public on an issue between the Pope and the doves he domesticated along with PETA. It was neither in support for PETA or the Pope. The Pope is said to have domesticated a few doves, the symbol of peace, and while they were released to fly for a period of time, they were attacked and killed in front of many civilians. PETA was upset as they felt it was like "condemning them to death" to let the captivity-born animals out into the public where they are not able to recognize predators and stay away from dangerous situations. 

I am not for one side or another on this issue. I do think that PETA has a good point that these animals can't tell when danger might strike and how to react. I also think that PETA seems to often look for every little thing something wrong has happened to an animal, and acts against it. It might be better for PETA to stay out of the situation instead of getting tons of people worked up and making it all worse. I think that there should be a new and better way in the future to either watch over the birds when they are let outside or train them in a better way. 

I followed Iowa Department of Ag on twitter.

I followed the Iowa Department of Agriculture on twitter

Here are some links we will use in class today to look into legislation dealing with animals.

http://aldf.org/cases-campaigns/current-cases/

http://beta.congress.gov/search?q=%7B%22source%22%3A%22legislation%22%2C%22search%22%3A%22animals%22%7D&page=1

How Hunting is Cruel

Website: Peta

Article: Why Sport Hunting is Cruel and Unnecessary

They say how the animals have to go through pain and suffering before they die and saying how they shouldn’t be there left to die after they run away and can’t be found. Peta also argues that hunting splits families of animals up because they might lose their partner from hunting. They say how nature takes care of its own. That we should have never stepped in and help or even moved to their land.

My Opinion: I think that we should keep hunting as long as there is the DNR or animal conservation laws and officers. They allow us to hunt and keep thing balanced because if they don’t then other things won’t do as well and screw up the ecosystem they live in. Also even if hunting is illegal we still hit them with vehicles.  Hunting is not just for enjoyment; it is for the conservation of the land and resources around it. For the splitting families, they are animals they will mate really with who ever is next to keep their family alive. 

http://www.peta.org/issues/wildlife/wildlife-factsheets/sport-hunting-cruel-unnecessary/ 

The Problem with Dissection and Vivisection

In this article by the American Anti-Vivisection Society (AAVS) they plead that millions of animals are used by schools in the dissection of animals. The animals are dead when brought to the facilities that use them, but the AAVS states that prior to death, they are treated in unfair and inhumane ways. They are pushing less for the use of animals and more for utilizing modern technology due to the fact that dissections promote, "Desensitization towards animal suffering." and that,"The purchase of cadavers for dissection creates another demand for these cruel industries." The AAVS also states that a majority (about 6 million) of the vertebrate used for dissection are pulled from the wild in legal and illegal ways.

In my opinion this article has some very good points, as in using modern technology for dissections, especially if some students are not comfortable with the fact that they are going to be opening up a once-living animal. But the bad points seem to outweigh the good. If classroom dissections were to stop, then a whole base of knowledge would be missing from education. If someone is going to go into the medical field, veterinary or for humans, then dissections in the class is a solid base to have. I don't believe that it promotes the desensitization of animal suffering because they are already dead, they can't feel what's going on, and in most cases, the animals where probably taken from kill shelters





http://www.aavs.org/site/c.bkLTKfOSLhK6E/b.6457887/k.238F/Dissection.htm

Animal Welfare vs. Animal Rights

Summary: This article mainly discussed the differences between people for animal rights and people for animal welfare. The animal rights people believe that an animal has just as much rights as a human. An ant is just as important as a cat is and a cat is just as important as us humans. On the other hand, people for animal welfare think that as long as the animal is properly taken care of that it is ok to use them for human purposes.

My Opinion: I think that as long as the animals are being treated kindly and are not suffering that it is ok to use them for human purposes. If our ancestors did not domesticate animals for eating and clothing purposes way back when, it is very possible you and I would not be here because they would not have been able to survive.

http://www.furcommission.com/welfare/animal-welfare-v-animal-rights/

Newest grocery label: 'Humane'

     There is labels for everything, the author of Newest Grocery Label 'Humane' is saying consumers now want labels concerning the treatment of animals.There is controversy over labeling standards for meat and eggs. Putting such labels into effect would increase prices up to 50%. Yet many people will pay this for the label. Consumers are starting to rank welfare high on their lists. This has caused many supermarkets to express their stand, and up their standards on animal welfare. False labeling is a problem. 

     I do not think a humane label is necessary. The animals are treated well during their lives; they have space to roam, they are not abused, they are well fed and have clean living conditions. This is in no way inhumanity. When they are killed it is quick and painless. They are not suffering in anyway. Farm animals are treated humanely.

 

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/dec/25/nation/la-na-humane-food-20101226 

 

-Sidney

Like the Honey Badger....

In the article, Like the Honey Badger, Petting Zoo Animals Don't Care, the author expresses his concerns for the welfare of the animals housed in petting zoos. He goes on to explain a study taken about the effect living in a petting zoo has on animals and how it shows the positive side of animal welfare. The animals did not seem to mind being groomed or fed by the visitors. The animals were calm and content in their home and the zoo-goers did not treat the animals badly.
This article is beneficial to the animal industry in many ways. No matter what the animal industry entails, whether it is a zoo, a livestock operation, or a farm this study shows that animals can be treated well even if they are in an enclosed area. People do not always understand the reasoning behind the issue at hand. The people providing for the animals do not go about it in a harmful way instead they are making sure the animals are as comfortable and as content as they can be. This article shows that one person can change another person's viewpoint if they just take the time to explain the situation.

This article was taken from http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/thoughtful-animal/2014/01/09/like-the-honey-badger-petting-zoo-animals-dont-care/

Miss Johnson

Getting Started

This blog's purpose is to give YOU, my students, a chance to voice your opinion on agriculture. We will be focusing on Agriculture Issues and using social media to explore the topics that are impacting the world today. The assignments will be posted on this blog and discussed in class to give you enough time to complete each one.

Blog Rules:
1. This blog is a part of the classroom! Which means no inappropriate behavior and treat everyone with respect.
2. This blog is meant to encourage your ideas and your opinions. Agree or disagree with an idea, but not your classmate's opinion.
3. Blogs are on the internet! Remember that what you post can be seen by anyone searching the web and keep from using personal information when contributing to this blog.
4. When posting articles, videos, pictures, etc. from other websites make sure to cite your source!

I encourage you to comment on my posts and your classmates' posts to create discussion and challenge your classmates and yourselves.

I hope everyone is ready to AGVOCATE!

Miss Johnson