• Still dry.  We had .70 inches and it didn't phase the two inch cracks at all.  With 90-100 degrees days it's gone.  Pastures are toast.  We still have some that have not been grazed and I have my reserve warm season pastures that I normally never need. 
• We have the combine situation solved and will get the wheat this next Saturday.  As soon as I get it cleaned, I will notify those who have reserved it.
• I am inclosing a link to a product for fermenting that works really well.  I'm sure after listening to the NPR interview I included last week that some of you are ready to make your own kraut.  http://www.pickl-it.com/blog/331/sauerkraut-tips/
• Novelty has been so reliable, never a problem.  This past week one of rear quarters showed some mastitus.  I had made up my mind to treat it based on information I had leard in an ACREs lecture.  The only problem the person did not give the amounts of the various ingredients.  Here is what I tried and it worked; in just three days it cleared completely.  I mixed 8 drops of oil of oregano and 8 drops of peppermint oil with about 5 cc of grapeseed oil (carrier).  I infused that up the teat canal after milking out the quarter.  The lecturer also mentioned oil of borage, but I didn't have any.  The other two proved to be very antibiotic and safe.
• Anyone wanting cheese making items should check out this site.  http://www.cheesemaking.com/

• If your child were diagnosed with a very serious, very rare form of brain cancer, what would you do?

  Where would you turn?

   

  We have this film if you would like to check it out.  http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/06/10/dr-mercola-on-ric-schiff.aspx

   

   ***************************************************

  But restricting academic freedom is not the only problem with corporate-funded education. Legislators want, and indeed NEED well-executed research to base rules, policies and regulations on. However, it needs to be independent research—not the corporate fairytales passing for science that you get when the industry pays for the research of their own products. Every time research tainted by corporate interests is used to pass laws and regulations, it affects everyone, and the ramifications can be enormous.

  Staying with biotech as the example, genetically engineered crops were brought to market based on industry-funded research and are now present in all kinds of processed foods—yet the safety of such ingredients has never actually been established; environmental damage is now beginning to become apparent; and, in the US, consumers are prevented from knowing what's in their food due to the industry's tactical influence over our political process as well!   The revolving door issue is a major problem in more than one respect.

  Read the entire article here.  http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/06/16/monsanto-funding-future-farmers.aspx

   ***************************************************

  Want to know the story behind the “fourth meal”?  I have seen that commercial a jillion times and  I didn’t put two and two together.  Ads are so slick.  Probably should mute all of them for your own safety!!

  The campaign is called "fourth meal" and was originally launched in a series of Taco Bell spots telling kids that "everyone is a fourth mealer — some just don't know it yet." Now, new "fourth meal" ads are once again popping up all over television, insisting that "sometimes the best dinner is after dinner." The ads are backed by an eponymous website and a "cravinator" smartphone app that helps binge-eaters select their junk food of choice.

  Here is the link to the entire article.  http://www.nationofchange.org/revolutionaries-feeding-obesity-crisis-1339945676

   ********************************************************

  Here is a calm, logical approach to the GMO labeling issue.  The Health Ranger does a good job without getting  into any science aspects.  http://www.naturalnews.com/036209_GMO_labeling_ballot_measure_California.html

   ******************************************************

  How many of you have done these things?  I'm sure most have learned through  your own research that these things  can be hazardous to your health.  Note the one on fermented foods.  http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/06/18/nine-health-risks-habits.aspx
  

  
  that's it from the hill for this week.   Art and Debra 

   

• Anyone interested in some guinea keets, we have some.  They are $4 each.  Eight have already been spoken for. 
• If you have contacted me recently wanting raw milk, please send me an email.  I may be able to either add you on, or refer you to a young high school student who is working with his grandfather.  They, too, have Brown Swiss cows.
• I am still adding names for pork.
• Beef is still on hold.  I can add your name to a tentative list and should know for sure in Sept. 
• I have some orders for wheat and can add a few more, so send me an email.

• Grassfed Flavor -- What Makes the Difference?

  by Marilyn Noble, AGA Communications Director

   

  "Every once in a while, I hear a comment about the flavor of grassfed meat being off-putting or gamey. That's usually followed by an "ick" and "I won't be eating THAT again." I always feel sad when I hear that, because there's a person who's going to miss the enjoyment and health benefits that come from eating grassfed meat. I've tasted lots of grassfed, and with the exception of one bison burger about 15 years ago, I've never encountered an off or gamey flavor. Minerally? Sometimes. Grassy? Occasionally. Meaty? Always."

   

  "Bob Perry of the University of Kentucky's Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Working Group compares the variations in the flavor of grassfed meats to those found in wine, and he's absolutely right. In the wine world, terroir is the influence of place on the characteristics of the wine -- the geography, soil, and climate where the grapes are grown all impart a complexity to the flavor and body of the wine. The same is true for meat. While grainfed, feedlot beef is uniformly bland because it's all raised on pretty much the same feed, grassfed flavor varies from region to region and even from farm to farm. Tasting products from different producers can be an eye-opening, palate-changing experience."

   

  "Just as the variety of grape plays a major role in the eventual characteristics of the wine, so does the breed of animal influence the flavor and texture of the meat. In addition, the rancher must be able to recognize when the animals are at their peak for harvest -- too young and small and the business loses money, too long past their prime and the meat isn't as tender and delicious. Other factors -- animal stress, time of year, processing methods, dry or wet aging -- can also have an impact on the flavor."

  " Most legitimate grassfed producers care about the quality of their products and are constantly looking for ways to improve the eating experience for their customers. If you're a consumer, shop around until you find the meat that most appeals to your taste buds. Ask questions of the producer and, if something doesn't taste right to you, let the farmer know. Keep the lines of communication open. No one wants an unhappy customer spreading the word about a bad experience."

    

  "The other day I made a meatloaf for one of my private cooking clients, a woman in her 80s who likes her food a bit on the traditional side. She called me the next day and wanted to know what I had done to make the meatloaf so good. She said it reminded her of one her own mother used to make. I told her it was no secret -- it was the grassfed beef. She said she had forgotten how meat was supposed to taste. We can all talk about the health benefits and the animal welfare aspects of grassfed production, but when it comes right down to it, the flavor is what will win people over."

   

  "So get out there and taste, educate your palate, and support your local farmers by buying their grassfed products. Most of all, enjoy!"

    

  Mom's Traditional Meat Loaf

   This is such an easy dinner when you serve it with some steamed seasonal vegetables or a baked potato and a salad.  My mom tops it with Chow Chow, a mustardy condiment, and it makes a great sandwich the next day, if there's any left.

   

  Serves 6

   

  1 1/2 pounds grassfed ground beef

  2 pastured eggs

  1 small yellow onion, finely diced

  1 cup tomato sauce

  3/4 cup fine bread crumbs

  1 teaspoon salt

  1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

   

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

   

  In a large bowl, mix with your hands the ground beef, eggs, onion, tomato sauce, bread crumbs, and salt and pepper. Make sure all of the ingredients are well incorporated.

   

  Place the meat mixture into a loaf pan, smoothing and making sure there aren't any air bubbles in the mixture.

   

  Bake for 45 minutes, then remove from oven and allow to sit for about ten minutes. Slice and serve.

   *******************************************************

  Watch this video and you will  be aware of the dangers of fluoride. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/06/12/the-hard-to-swallow-truth-documentary.aspx

   *******************************************************

   

  'Fermentation': When Food Goes Bad But Stays Good.  This interview was on NPR.  I think you will enjoy it and learn about Kraut, Yogurt etc.  http://www.npr.org/2012/06/13/154914381/fermentation-when-food-goes-bad-but-stays-good
  

  
  that's it from the hill for this week.  Art and Debra 

• We are not taking any more beef orders until later in the fall.  We have a couple of invoices out and have not received the deposits yet.  We are very close to selling our inventory for this year.  There are a couple of smaller steers that may be ready later, but I don't want to commit and not be able to fullfill an order.
• Next chicken day will be in two weeks, but there are three or four with large orders, so there will not be many picking up.  After this harvest we have more of the small orders, so most will get theirs filled.
• Still very dry.  The pastures look like July or August.
• We got our hay done this week. 
• The wheat is ready to harvest.  Normally, we don't combine wheat until the fourth of July.  It is non GMO, hard white winter wheat.  We will take orders for those wanting it for bread.  It will be $1.25/pound.  Decide how much you will need for the entire year.  We have no way of storing it.
• The commodity wheat harvest this year is now contaminated with Round up ready GMO wheat.  It will be in your bread shortly.  That reminds me, go to Walgreens and buy some soap/shampoo made by Dr. Bronner.  Read the label and you will not find any chemicals, just various oils.  And Dr. Bronner has contributed $500,000 in California to help in getting the GMO labeling intiative on the ballot.
• Remember, each dollar you spend is a vote for what you want to change or support.  Corporations are buying your political vote and they have been buying your votes through advertising of their products.  If you don't like the way a corporation or business is operating, don't support them.  It is just that simple.  What do you think would happen if just ten  percent of the consumers didn't buy bread for a month?  What about 50 percent?  Remember, bread is made with just four ingredients, flour, yeast, salt and water.  And using our quick bread recipe on our website, it is so easy to make. 

• Debra and I watched this film on Free Speech TV,  FSTV on dish.  It is a film that will cause you to think about the various things you do each day.  It is a wake up call for this planet.  It is here in segments, so you can watch it 10 or 15 minutes at a time.  Once we started, we couldn’t stop until it was over.  http://www.whatawaytogomovie.com/watch-the-movie/  .Those picking up milk can borrow a dvd of this documentary.  I purchased my own copy to support the producers efforts.  That is my way of voting to hopefully affect change.

   ********************************************************

  Learn how the industrial food producers are “making” your neighbors food.  This was on NPR’s Fresh Air.   

  http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=3&islist=true&id=13&d=06-09-2012   scroll to the 29 minute part.  Here is the main link,  http://www.npr.org/2012/06/07/154504565/assessing-consumer-concerns-about-the-meat-industry
  
  that's it from the hill for this week.  Art and Debra

• It is dry.  The cracks in the ground  are approaching 2 inches.  The pastures are starting to show some stress.
• I sorted the cattle yesterday and have the cows with calves and new heifers in a separate pasture.  The bull will join on the 10th.  It is time to start the process all over again.
• The steers for this year are looking very good.  They are in a new pasture and we will start the harvest in July.  It looks as if I have two more beeves to sell for this year.  If I have sent you an invoice and you have not yet returned it, you need to make it a priority.  When the beeves are gone, they are gone.  I don't go the sale barn and get a couple of extras.
• The new owners of Maribell are very excited.  She had a heifer calf this past week.  We have two that are due next month.  One is a new heifer and she will be a test to get her going.  She has a mind of her own.  The other is a repeat and is fun to milk.  We may be able to add some new customers when they freshen.
• Our garden is looking good, but requires a constant watering. Sure was a good idea to install our irrigation system using the pond for water.

• We have four roasting roosters at $8 each.
  
  ***************************************************
  In a program called AFIX (for Assessment, Feedback, Incentive, and eXchange)ⁱ, the Incentive part refers to lucrative "gifts" the CDC offers your doctor for pushing vaccines on patients.  Read the entire article here, http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/06/02/bribery-affects-vaccination-rates.aspx?e_cid=20120602_DNL_artNew_2

   *********************************************************************** 

  Ignore This Essential Habit and Your Health Will Eventually Decline

  http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/06/02/can-sleeping-affect-immune-system.aspx?e_cid=20120602_DNL_artNew_1

that's it from the hill for this week.  Art and Debra

• We have 10 roosters for sale at $8.  They will make excellent crock pot meals.
• Be sure to read this article  on Mother Earth News,  http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/grass-fed-meat-zm0z12jjzkon.aspx.
• Anyone heard of the China Study?  Well, before you chase the latest thing be sure to read the article by Denise Minger in Wise Traditions, Spring 2012 on page 23.  This looks like another case of "cherry picking " the data to sell a book.  Read the article and you decide.  Wise Traditions is published quarterly by the WestonAPrice foundation.  Here is the link, http://www.westonaprice.org/vegetarianism-and-plant-foods/the-china-study-myth
• We are  placing another order for coconut oil and Ghee from Green Pastures.  The prices have increased, but we only charge what we pay for the items.  We want to keep our customers healthy.
• I am not sure when the next chicken day is.  I will have that information in the next UPDATE.
• We had an excellent chicken dinner yesterday.   That recipe is [posted on our web site.   To make it easier cut the chickens into its parts, wings, breasts (cut these in half) and the thighs and drumsticks.  Debra doubles the amount of butter.  After you have chicken prepared this way you will never eat fried chicken again.  Cook the carcass for chicken stock and/or soup. 
• We are not acceping any new milk customers for awhile.  We have just enough to honor the orders of our existing customers. We have two cows due to freshen in mid July.  We will be adding new customers then.

• The following is from Dr Mercola.  The role of epigenetics in health and disease is becoming ever clearer, and I firmly believe this field of study will eventually supplant the current medical paradigm. The conventional belief has been that genes controlled their own expression and were therefore the direct cause of certain diseases. This laid the groundwork for the idea that your genes predetermined your health.

  But genes are in fact NOT self-regulating. Having "bad genes," does not at all mean you're doomed to suffer some inevitable fate like cancer!

  Genes are merely blueprints, and these blueprints are activated and controlled by something else entirely, namely their environment. This environmental information—which includes diet, toxic exposures, as well as thoughts and emotions, and more—can create more than 30,000 different variations from each blueprint, allowing for an astounding amount of leeway in modifying the expression or "read-out" of each gene. As a result of these findings, we're now finally seeing science alter its course to investigate the power of optimal nutrition to improve health and prevent chronic disease from occurring in the first place.

  Here is the link to that article, http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/05/16/antioxidant-resveratrol-on-cancer.aspx?e_cid=20120516_DNL_artNew_1 ..To learn more about epigenetics get the lecture from the Acres website and look for the cd by Graham and the Pottenger Cats.

   *******************************************************

  Here is some more about epigenetics. http://www.naturalnews.com/035965_epigenetics_inheritance_synthetic_chemicals.html  

   

  And there is still more. 

  http://tv.naturalnews.com/v.asp?v=81C330EC0311060BEB98A7C005C57B3A
  
  
  Here is  some interesting information.  Women need to be careful.  http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/05/24/parabens-on-risk-of-breast-cancer.aspx?e_cid=20120524_DNL_artNew_1

that's it from the hill for this week.  Art and Debra

• Let's start with a customer's comment.  "Art--
      Picked up the hog from Gilberts.  That has to be the best pork I've ever had.  Smoked some ribs and chops yesterday and both were incredible.  Thanks".  Thanks, Doug.  Anyone wanting a "dirt" hog, email me and I can put you on a list.  I'm not sure when they will be available yet.
• The first chicken day went really well.  Bob filled in for me and I appreciate that everyone came during the scheduled time.
• We have had several requests for more coconut oil.  We usually wait until we can order a full case.  It saves quite a bit and the shipping is a lot less.  If you want to be put on the list, let me know.
• We finished our first hay crop and it was the earliest we have ever had our first cutting of alfalfa. I have been working on improving one of my pastures.  After two years of timely mowing of weeds (they were horrible), applying lime, feeding hay this past winter (lots of manure and its associated soil bacteria) and overseediing with red clover, it is waste deep in grass and knee deep in clover.  As soon as Ryan and I get a pond fence repaired I will turn in the cows. 
• If you are raising hens and occasionally lose one it may have been the result of a "peck out".  I would suggest getting the lecture by Mattlock and learn how easy it is to prevent peck.  I had the link in the last UPDATE. (http://www.acresusa.com/tapes/thumbnail.asp?catid=87&pcid=3
• There is another excellent lecture by Mayhew on "The Science of Complex Carbons."  After listening to this lecture you'll know why high fructose corn syrup is not "just like" natural fructose.  And for anyone on our mailing list that raises corn and soybeans (I doubt we have any), they should get Martindale's lecture on "Redefining Tillage."
• Affecting the legislative process takes a lot of effort if you don't have millions to buy influence, but we succeeded this past session in Jefferson City.  We had a pretty much do nothing bunch, and they have been unpredictable and dangerous, but we prevailed for now.  I'm sure they will be back with more money backing their attempts to stymie the small farmers.  Here are  the results.   

  Family Farm Wins--Bad Bills Defeated: “Pollution Protection Act”Senate Bill 490 (sponsored by Senator Munzlinger) was a blatant attack on private property rights. This ill-conceived legislation would have protected corporations at the expense ofMissouri’s independent family farmers and rural landowners by taking away their constitutional right to protect their property through the court system.  Defeated. So-Called “Right to Raise Animals”The so-called “Right to Raise Animals” language that was added to numerous bills during the legislative session would have exempted all existing CAFOs, including some of the biggest ag polluters in the state, from any future state standards.   Defeated. “Ag-Gag” BillThe “ag-gag” legislation, which would have made it a crime to take photos or recordings of activities at factory farms, would have made a criminal of anyone (including neighboring farmers and landowners) who records illegal activities of CAFOs.  Defeated.  Attack on Local ControlA proposal to take away the ability of County Health Boards to pass health ordinances was added to a local government bill.  Language in Senate Bill 692 would have stopped county health boards from passing ordinances to protect the majority of family farmers and rural communities from the negative impacts of factory farms.  Defeated. Thank you again for your hard work!
  
  that's it from the hill.  Art and Debra

• Our first chicken day is next Sunday.  I sent an email to those getting chickens and failed to ask for a return email that you will be able to make the pick up.  So, please send me an email if you can make it.  I just don't trust the email delivery system.  I find emails in my spam and our last UPDATE did not go to some on you with a comcast server.  It you don't get an UPDATE you can go to our website, www.breezy-hill-farm.com and we keep the last ten UPDATES posted.
• All the coconut oil is sold.  We still have some coconut/ghee.
• The bread book is, Artizan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Hertzberg and Francois.
• Anyone raising poultry needs to go this site and order the lectures, Whole-Systems Poultry and Advanced Pastured Poultry, http://www.acresusa.com/tapes/thumbnail.asp?catid=87&pcid=3.  I'll guarantee you will learn more than it you attended any ag university and it will cost a whole lot less than a semester hour.  I think the local university charges about $200/hr.
• And if you want to know why we have so much childhood obesity and diabetics you should order the lecture, Pottenger's Prophecy, by Graham.
• You can get ALL the lectures for the 2011 convention in the MP3 format for $125.  You will learn more from these lectures than a whole year at a university.
• I explained how important Iodine and Iodide is for preventive health and how to test to see if one is deficient.  After I discussed this with one our college aged restaurant employees, I told her that in our town of about 20,000 and 15,000 students she would not be able to find five people that know what she just learned.

• If you live in Missouri, tell your legislators not to support bills that protect factory farms:
  http://action.foodandwaterwatch.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=10430
  
  *****************************************************************
  
  Here is a great lecture by Wendell Berry.  He is one of our “canaries”.  He has written several very good books.  To be selected for the Jefferson Lecture is quite an honor for him.  I’m guessing that audience had some trouble understanding the depth of his convictions and had plenty to consider after hearing him., so will you.  I'm not sure why the host made the ridiculous comment at the conclusion. http://events.tvworldwide.com/Events/NEH2012JeffersonLecture.aspx?VID=events/neh/120423_NEH_Jefferson_Lecture_KennedyCtr.flv&CAP=events/neh/120423_NEH_Jefferson_Lecture_KennedyCtr.xml
  
  that's it from the hill.  There may be some errors, misspelling s as Debra is in St Louis tonight.  Art and Debra

• We still have some extra milk and can accept more new customers.  We will need to know how much you will want each week and right now Friday or Saturday would be best for pick up.  We have been cautious in taking on new customers because we want to protect our existing customers who consistently pick up each week.  Our loyal customers will always come first.  We only keep enough to meet our demand. The rest is separated and the milk is fed to the chickens (they love it and I learned from an ACRES lecture that raw milk can be used to treat some chicken diseases).
• We have some gallons of (Green Pastures) Ghee and Coconut oil in stock.  It is $49, which is our cost (including shipping).  Don't buy the coconut oil in a pint jar at the store for $10-12.  It costs more and the quality is less than ours.
• Debra has some extra tomato plants.  Those picking up milk this week are welcome to them. 
• The first chicken day will be May 19.  I will be sending those who are getting chickens from this batch an email tomorrow.  If you get an email and have a conflict for that date, please respond promptly so I can notify the next person on the list.
•  J. Jones has tested the recipe for making bread and it is a great method.  I will post the title and author next week.
  
  We had our first strawberry shortcake today with our A2 cream.  I see strawberries all year as they are on our fruit platters at La Sous Terre with the chocolate fondue.  A home raised strawberry is awesome.  The store berries have no taste are usually underripe, and in every box there are at least several that are already rotting.  What a waste of resources.  I'm sure they qualify for a fruit serving on the USDA food pyramid.  Our fruit orchard which I started two years ago is full of peaches, nectarines and pears.   

  WARNING: Are You Taking Blood-Thinning Drugs?

   

  Blood-thinning drugs like Warfarin (Coumadin®) block the X-Factor and weaken its function in your body.

   

  The result is a rapid acceleration of osteoporosis and plaque buildup in your arteries... with a much higher risk of bone loss and heart attack.

   

  Studies published in the journals Blood and Archives of Internal Medicine show users of Coumadin® suffer more bone fractures and show dramatically higher calcium deposition in their blood vessels and heart valves.

   

  Other studies show blocking the X-Factor with blood thinners can cause cancer to spread more quickly to other organs or tissues. 

   

  If you are taking blood thinners, work with your doctor to take the X-Factor along with your medication.   You can read the entire article, http://www.xfactorrevolution.com/nn/nn041512.html .  The X-factor is vitamin K2 and it found in grass fed dairy.  Sure am glad to have good Guernsey and Brown Swiss milk as a  food in my diet.  Thanks for all the new customers for the A2 milk.  You will be getting the benefits of great milk.
  
  ********************************************************
  

  For those of you wanting to learn more about making cheese, go to this website.  This is where I get my supplies.   http://www.cheesemaking.com/
  
  that's it from the hill for this week.  Art and Debra

• We are having a nice rain.  We needed it. 
• Fruit trees are full this year.  What a change from last year.  That one night of frost killed most of the fruit last year.
• Several customers checked out some of our DVDs this past week.  If you come for a pick up, be sure and ask.
• The three college students that have been helping here on the farm for this past school year have one more week and then they are going home for the summer.  It has been nice to have good, dependable help.  They have also enjoyed hunting and fishing after work and on days when I didn't have anything scheduled.

• We have consistently tried to inform our readers about the health risks associated with GMO foods.  Here is some disturbing information from a Purdue study which has been confirmed by Iowa State.  Very depressing.  http://www.panna.org/blog/ge-corn-sick-honey-bees-whats-link#type=page&event=load&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.panna.org%2Fblog%2Fge-corn-sick-honey-bees-whats-link&referrer=

  ******************************************************** 

  Here is another article that is a further indictment  on chemical farming.  Be very careful with “cides”.   http://www.panna.org/blog/pesticides-parkinson%E2%80%99s-connection-clearer-ever

   *********************************************************

  And there’s more.  In India, http://www.panna.org/blog/bitter-seeds

   **********************************************************

  Same tactic Monsanto used in their opposition to labeling of rBGH on milk cartons.  They won some and lost one or two, but it was such a PR problem that they sold that part of company to avoid further negative PR.  http://www.naturalnews.com/035628_Monsanto_Vermont_GMO_labeling.html
  
  that's it from the hill for this week.  Art and Debra

I have a half a "dirt" hog available.  If interested, let me know by Tuesday.  I will be picking them up on Wednesday.


**********************************************************

The Ghee and cod liver oil order arrived last week.  If you ordered some you can pick up your order.  I have read several reports of Coconut oil's benefit in that your body converts that to ketones which have been shown to keep your brain from shrinking as with Alzheimers.  This may be a good preventative.

***********************************************************

Have you already forgotten Pradaxa?  The convincing young doctor in a white coat extolling the benefits in preventing Afib.  I saw a TV commercial from a law firm soliciting people who had had adverse reaction to one of the many side effects.  That didn't take long.  Makes one wonder about the other pharma ads.

*********************************************************

We have added several new milk customers.  Anyone wanting to be added will have to wait until the milk list stabilizes.  Sometimes, new customers will start with a half gallon and once they taste our A2 milk they will increase to a gallon.  I want to make sure I can meet the current demands.

********************************************************** 

We have several DVDs and CDs that are food or farming related.  We will have them available for loan.  If you borrow one, you will have one week to view it. 

**********************************************************************************


My letter to the editor of the KC Star was published this past Saturday.  Here is my submission.  They changed it some by deleting my reference to ACRES.

“Your reporting on the “Got LED? Cows seem to respond” did not merit a front page placing.  I learned several years ago at a USA, Acres Convention that the stray RF voltage from florescent lights had a negative impact on milk production.  Dr. Detloff, DVM and a consultant to OrganicValley cautioned never to use fluorescent lighting in a dairy barn.  He also cautioned against other types of stray voltages from defective transformers, improper grounding, etc. The researchers could have had the same results using any other light source. So, before we get too giddy over this report I would suggest that the USDA do their homework and listen to Dr Paul Detloff’s lecture.  I am sure it is archived on the Acres website and can be purchased for less than $10.  Here is an excellent example on how government spends our tax dollars on unwarranted “research”.  And for helping the cows to better eat, give me a break.  My cows do just fine eating in the dark especially on a night after a hot July day.  They are able to graze in the dark and pick and choose their diet.  I never have needed to outfit them with headlights.  And furthermore, what is the value of increasing milk production by any percentage only to have a government herd buyout to reduce production.  Our farm policies and food production paradigms are insane.”

Here is the article about cows and LEDs.  http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/13/3553693/can-cows-be-led-to-give-more-milk.html

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We have seen this movie and it is very well done.  All should see it and it will reawaken and reinforce your decision to search out sustainable farmers and their nutritious foods.

 “Thank you for your patience as you waited for Farmageddon to become available everywhere.  Now Farmageddon is available to rent/own/stream from Itunes, Amazon, VUDU, Blockbuster on Demand, Playstation, XBox, and various Cable TV On Demand operators in the US and Canada.   Please spread the word.   For a full list of carriers go to Farmageddonmovie.com.

If you have already seen the movie, and would like to give it a good review, this would be very helpful to give the movie and the topic more visibility.  Itunes and Amazon both have review pages up that are easy to sign in and comment on.

 If you have a Netflix account and want to put the movie in your cue, that would push Netflix to carry the movie.


that's it from the hill for this week.  Art and Debra