Pork Checkoff Report
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PORK CHECKOFF REPORT JUNE JULY 2020 Meat Me at the Table Sustainability, Ethics, and Nutrition Facts About Pork Author: Riley Larson, MS, RDN, LD Introduction provide fact-based, thorough, and Plant-based diets are increasingly visible in the public inclusive interpretations of available eye, especially in more developed countries like the research on the subject to address these very concerns! USA where the choice of protein per meal is a luxury we Ultimately, this article can help those who care about can afford. Recently, choosing a protein has become a the health of themselves as well as the planet to make challenging task for those who are concerned not only healthy, sustainable protein choices based on both for taste and good nutrition, but also for our planet-- individual needs and global impact. essentially, it has become a battle between meat and continued on page 8 vegetable proteins, with the idea that there can only be one winner. Consumers’ awareness of the importance of plants for health has driven the popularity of products like the Beyond Burger or the Impossible Burger, which many people choose to eat or purchase under the impression that it is the more nutritious, plant-based option compared to animal protein. But is this really the case? Overall, people are suffering from a lack of trustworthy information about the proteins they consume, be they animal or plant in origin. As a fellow consumer, I say the concerns for health and sustainability in the protein industry are legitimate. As a dietitian, I am well positioned to ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED SERVICE ADDRESS Permit #110 Permit 55060 507.345.8814 Owatonna, MN MN Owatonna, Mankato, MN 56001 MN Mankato, PAID 151 Saint Andrews Court, Suite 810 Suite Court, Andrews Saint 151 US Postage US Non-profit Minnesota Pork Board Pork Minnesota MN PORK CALENDAR Stronger Together Written by Ted Matthews, Rural Mental Health Specialist JUNE 10 Young Leaders in In this time of fear, uncertainty, and loss, we all react. Agriculture Conference The problem lies in how we react. We are all different; we Virtual Event all have a breaking point. So, what is our breaking point? How do I know Register online: www.mnpork.com mine? The truth is, you don’t, until you reach it. JUNE 24 There are a hundred thousand books written on stress, anxiety, and Young Leaders in depression. So simply defining them is not enough. Human emotion, in Agriculture Conference my opinion, is more complex than anything in the universe. The higher Virtual Event our stress level, the more difficult it is for us to think clearly. We react with Register online: www.mnpork.com anger, paranoia, self-pity, and a myriad of other negative thoughts which clouds our abilities. We think and rethink our situation and feel helpless. JULY 8 When in that thought pattern, we do nothing, thinking, “What can I do?”. Young Leaders in Agriculture Conference What can I do? Virtual Event Register online: www.mnpork.com I have yet to meet a farmer that did not say family is the most important thing. When in times like these we forget that, only focusing on the JULY 22 negative. Look at your spouse, children, parents, and remember that they Young Leaders in are your support staff, but only if you let them be. Don’t assume they Agriculture Conference know what you are going through. By sharing your thoughts and feelings Virtual Event you will feel better and your family members will feel more connected. Register online: www.mnpork.com Remember that bonds in family become stronger through tough times, not easy times. Share the burden and the family will help you through this AUGUST 12 as they are helped by you. Young Leaders in Agriculture Conference Farmer and Rural Mental Health Resources Virtual Event Register online: www.mnpork.com • Ted Matthews: 320-266-2390 • Monica McConkey: 218-280-7785 • Rich Tunell 218-730-6833 Ted, Monica, and Rich work with farmers throughout Minnesota. No cost; no paperwork. Confidential. If you or someone you know needs additional support please call Ted, Monica, or Rich, or visit their website: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has other Farmcounseling.org. resources and information available at https://www.mda.state.mn.us/about/mnfarmerstress. Making sure your confinement Swine Facility is in top working order. NOW OFFERING LOAD OUT SERVICES Call the professionals today! (507) 327-6836 2 Take a Listen! Minnesota voices speak on the state of the industry and what’s happening on pig farms in regards to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Minnesota Pork Board (MPB) encourages each of you to listen to the following podcasts featuring Minnesota pig farmers telling their stories and outlining their perspectives on the difficult decisions farmers are facing. SwineCast 1100 At The Meeting — COVID-19: A Leader Leading, from At The Meeting... Honoring Dr. Bob Morrison: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/at-the-meeting-honoring-dr-bob-morrison/ id1152512573#episodeGuid=3824%20at%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.swinecast.com Red River Farm Network TransFARMation: Lean on Others During Difficult Times, featuring JoDee Haala: https://www.rrfn.com/podcast/2020/05/04/transfarmation-lean-on-your-network-of-people-in-difficult-times/ Vance Crowe Podcast Shutting Meat Packing Plant is Causing Shortages Right Now, featuring Brad Freking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAgo5cQFk0U 3 2020 Summer Interns WHAT YEAR IN SCHOOL WILL for a livestock company with their YOU BE THIS FALL: communications department. Senior WHAT SPARKED YOUR MAJOR AND SCHOOL: INTEREST IN AGRICULTURE AND MINNESOTA PORK? Majoring in agriculture communications with minors in The Minnesota Pork internship animal science and agriculture caught my attention from seeing marketing at South Dakota State the MPB team’s passion for University agriculture while attending the Young Leaders in Agriculture TELL US ABOUT YOUR FARMING/ conference last year. AGRICULTURAL BACKGROUND: I grew up on my fifth-generation WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING family farm outside of Henderson, FORWARD TO AS AN INTERN AT Minnesota. On our farm we grow MINNESOTA PORK? corn and soybeans and raise beef I am most excited to learn more cattle. I was active in 4-H and FFA about the pork industry and in high school while showing pigs different ways to communicate with and beef cattle. the public. I am excited to talk to Alison WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE consumers about the pork industry CAREER GOALS? and share my passion for the agriculture industry with others. Eibs After graduation I want to work WHAT YEAR IS SCHOOL WILL WHAT SPARKED YOUR YOU BE THIS FALL: INTEREST IN AGRICULTURE AND Senior MINNESOTA PORK? MAJOR AND SCHOOL: I developed my passion for agriculture through family and FFA. Majoring in agricultural education My interest was sparked through with minors in agricultural business my FFA advisors who pushed me and agricultural marketing at South outside of my comfort zone. I am Dakota State University excited about the opportunity to be TELL US ABOUT YOUR FARMING/ able to advocate with consumers AGRICULTURAL BACKGROUND: and producers to promote pork and the industry as a whole. Unlike many others, I grew up across the country living in Maryland, WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING Nebraska, and South Dakota FORWARD TO AS AN INTERN AT developing a unique perspective of MINNESOTA PORK? agriculture. I worked on a cow-calf I am looking forward to beef ranch throughout high school. I communicating with others who have also been involved with FFA at have a passion for the agriculture the local, state, and national levels. industry. Additionally, I look forward Cody WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE to consumer outreach and sharing CAREER GOALS? my passion for agriculture. After graduation, I hope to work in Rausch a high school agriculture classroom. I hope to educate students regardless of agriculture background while developing students' leadership skills. 4 4 Effective Economical Easy Circo/MycoGard® is a convenient, one-dose combo for PCV2 and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae at a competitive price. Get information and a $.15/pig spring rebate at PharmgateRebate.com Choose Pharmgate. The Shield You Need. Protection You Can Trust. pharmgate.com 1(800) 380-6099 ©2020 Pharmgate Animal Health, LLC. 1470-0420 5 Tips for Sharing Overall, it’s important to be transparent, authentic and compassionate in your posts and when responding to Your Farm Story questions. Everyone is hurting and stressed right now, so a little bit of empathy goes a long way. on Social Media The following additional tips might help you best share During a Crisis your story online during COVID-19: 1. DON’T RESHARE POSTS THAT DEPICT WHAT MAY BE HAPPENING ON FARMS RIGHT NOW LIKE EMERGENCY It’s safe to say, right now is a stressful time for pig DEPOPULATION AND DISPOSAL. farmers. You want to share the things you are doing to maintain animal and public health in the face of a. The decisions farmers are making are extremely these unprecedented circumstances. You also want to difficult and emotional. Sharing and engaging be responsive to questions your friends and followers with these images can cause more harm than might have about how COVID-19 is impacting the good. If you see an image or post from a pork industry. farmer, message them directly and ask them to take it down, and instead encourage them to While sharing your stories and answering questions is a share examples of our community’s We Care powerful way to connect us to others, it is also crucial principles in action. to be very intentional about what you share online. What gets posted today could lead to the spread of 2. SHOW HOW MUCH YOU CARE.