Hi! I'm a beginner wanting to learn more and I'm confused about why so much information needs to be monitored with crops. When I was growing up my grandma and great grandma both grew lots of crops at their homes. My grandma often grew potatoes, sweet potatoes, plum trees, pear trees, and carrots. My great grandma grew tomatoes, potatoes and corn. Me and my siblings used to help with both and surprisingly they didn't use fertilizer to my knowledge.

The only issues they had were rabbits eating their crops or caterpillars eating the leaves of their plants. My grandma at one point grew herbs and even then she didn't use fertilizer. There was thyme and mint that were lovely, they thrived too. I even tried to grow an orange tree at my great grandma's house and it lasted nearly 5 years without day fertilizer. I just watered it. The only reason any of the plants died was because my grandma got too old to handle her crops and me and my siblings were too busy with school. I would water and take care of my orange tree on weekends at my great grandma's house but my great grandma would do it during the week. When she got too weak to water it, the orange tree died.

Some years ago a news story came out that a farmworker in NZ witnessed abuse at a dairy he was working at: Michael Ian Luke, one of the contract milkers was hitting cows on the legs, allegedly with a steel pipe, causing them to swell. He tried reporting it to the authorities but nothing was done about it, so he went to an animal rights org and they created an "undercover video" capturing the abuse on camera and the employer was arrested once the video was released: Cow-beating footage thrown out in court though as stated in the title the footage was thrown out in court due to being obtained unlawfully, and five charges were dropped against the milker. Luke faces one charge of "hitting a cow around the legs with an alkathene pipe and a metal bar." which relies on evidence not obtained by the animal rights group, Farmwatch.

The charges dropped included "three charges of ill-treating a dairy cow by striking it on the hind legs with a “metal object” and one charge of ill-treating two cows by striking – including on the face. All four charges were based on video evidence caught on hidden cameras."

The farmworker who witnessed the abuse had previously made an animal abuse complaint to the MPI (NZ's Ministry for Primary Industries) however investigations by MPI found no issues. Apparently the vet they sent only looked at the cows body score.

When Luke started using a steel pipe to hit the cows, MPI was contacted again but the worker said MPI told them the case was closed and nothing more could be done without proof.

When Newsroom reported on the story in 2018, the farm worker said they felt as if they had hit a brick wall: “We went through the right channels. We went to the owner first, nothing was done. We went to MPI, nothing was done. We didn’t want to leave it.”

The worker contacted Farmwatch about the situation and the organisation placed hidden cameras in the milking shed. These captured a month of footage which the group then supplied to MPI on June 21. MPI searched the property June 28, the same day Newsroom published a story.

However, Luke hasn't been banned from working with animals for any period, which has been stated by a Farmwatch spokesperson to be "outrageous".

In the footage you can cows being struck rather harshly with what looks like a pipe, and in an interview Luke reveals that he has painted expletives on a cow he was angry with. In any case, it looks to me like he has anger issues he took out on animals, which is deplorable.

In the article you can see photos of cows with legs that appear to be swollen.

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I've talked about this case with a friend of mine who's a beef rancher, and she told me she has a lot of problems with the story as well as some suspicions regarding the case: in her opinion it was reported in an unprofessional manner; there's a lack of detail on vet findings or on the people who would've been involved in the court case, which is rare for cases like this-"these cases rarely go to court with so little detail or evidence".

My friend said that she feels suspicious because veterinarians are usually good at telling "what's right and what's wrong", so the fact the case was cleared based on body conditions means it was harmed otherwise, and the fact the worker first went to "the police, the SPCA, the rancher's association and the dairy board" further adds to her suspicion because "those aren't easy to get ahold of unless you've got someone willing to get dirt from the inside". Basically, my friend suspects that nothing was actually wrong and someone was just unhappy with their boss and wanted to ruin them.

When I brought up the photo of cows with swollen legs, she told me that she had cows like that but it wasn't from being hit, but from laying down for too long, fighting other animals or infection. And she's commented on the pipe shown, saying that it would be really hard to strike a moving animal and just leave swelling-the strength required to whack it would make a cow lame before swollen, and there's a real danger of breaking bones too. Additionally, the fact that the udder isn't swollen adds to her suspicion as it would mean the guy had amazing aim in order not to graze the udder. She said "that udder should be black and blue from swelling".

In my friend's opinion, it would be unfair to take away the offender's animals "for one poor decision" because most people have done unacceptable things such as hitting their cats and dogs, and if you watch anyone long enough it's inevitable that they'll be caught doing something deemed wrong, and what should be done is to ensure animals are well-treated through regular inspections by a vet to check if the animals are well-fed and in good health. She says that farmers face many issues that can make them lash out in unacceptable ways, like being overworked and little pay.

To those who work with animals I want to ask if it's a miscarriage of justice to not ban the milker from working with animals for any period of time, and could his behavior be corrected with the right treatment?

Now onto the questions:

1. What's your opinion on this news story and the issues my friend brought up? Was it reported unprofessionally, and does it look suspicious?

I personally don't quite buy the story of using a metal pipe since those would cause way more damage than what we see in the photos, but one made of plastic makes more sense, and we do see him use a thin plastic pipe in the video.

2. To those who work with animals I want to ask if it's a miscarriage of justice to not ban the milker from working with animals for any period of time, and could his behavior be corrected with the right treatment?

3. What would be the better option to reduce animal abuse-to permanently or long-term ban him from working with animals, or using vet inspections to ensure the animals are treated well?

4. I agree with my friend-how did the vet not notice anything wrong with the cows if they were swollen all over? Was the vet really incompetent or is there more to the story than what it seems on the surface?

After borrowing myself deeper and deeper into debt the last couple years I feel I might have to take a financial break from farming (corn,Soybean) until it’s more profitable. I rent a couple hundred acres that I’ve had for a decade and help with my family’s owned 1200. I took about a 15k loss in 24’ and with conservative projections I could lose another 13k in 25’. Even with my record corn yields in 24’, the poor markets and high inputs I still ended up under water. Lenders are not interested in loaning out money with negative cash flow projections which is happening to a lot of their customers this year.

I have a job off the farm and I’ve joked that I’d make more money if I didn’t take the time off. That’s the harsh reality. Only drawing a W2 income about 8 months a year. I’m stretching myself with my normal expenses let alone taking time off from a paying job to produce a crop I’m losing money on.

Just food for thought to those of you who are interested in starting. It’s fun and rewarding but you can end up broke very quickly.

Gossip, updates, etc.

I’m studying anthropology but I’m also minoring in Sustainable Food Systems. So I was wondering if there’s any careers in agriculture for me with these degrees?

Hey, I'm not a vegan, im not against like normal outdoor farming or indoors when required as long as there's like enough space and they eat grass or like something that's like natural. I don't know much about the topic but, i was thinking if there could ever be a world, where this mass automated farms end ? Or really change, will AI do bad or good ? Do you see a shift ever happening ? Animals and chickens not being raised in like small cages anymore, depressed pigs etc. It's hard for me to believe a vegan world could happen anytime in the next atleast century, but, could farming change for the better ? Remain efficient while also more human and natural ? Less cruel

Let me know your thoughts if you know or think anything on this topic

Hi everyone!

Looking to get both ideas/suggestions on what pump would be best in regards to a pig barn septic/holding tank for my ag farm. We have gone through two pumps so far, this recent pump not lasting more than six months.

I was told to get some kind of crusher pump to help with both the manure and feed, but I am unsure of what brand/kind to get.

Our septic tank is not necessarily a septic tank, more of a holding tank, where it is then pumped. However, the problem lies at the fact that our pump cannot handle the feed, manure, and dirt that sits at the bottom of the holding tank. Normally I get in, lift it up and clean it off and clean out the inside, but it instantly plugs up, and then has now apparently fried the pump for good. Suggestions?

Anyone have any thought on what will happen to the price of corn and canola because of RFK jr. iv read several articles about him wanting to replace corn syrup with cane sugar in soda pop and replacing canola oil with fish oils.

Will this have an effect on the price of corn and canola in the USA?

I farm wheat and canola in the PNW but it seems like wheat usually follows corn.

Not that they weren’t overpriced before but now no one will be able to afford them. Guess they didn’t make a large enough contribution

Question on Cleaning

Isn't it GOOD to scrape up as much as I can, manure AND hay that's been trampled down and full of ammonia piss?

I'm a recent hire (approx 2 weeks) and yesterday I was spoken to about "Don't pick up the hay".

The owners seem to prefer the old nasty dirty hay to get trampled down into the soft, sandy dirt (S FL)

But since I've been here, every day I clean more and more up and out - to the point the paddocks have been AIRING OUT and it's all nice, clean dirt (and sand)

I think it LOOKS and SMELLS much nicer and could help to keep flies at minimum, but I got the talk.

I know there are cameras everywhere and I know they watch-which I don't mind, I'm doing my job.

But HOW can I properly CLEAN and not scrape/pick up old nasty pissy hay? In my mind it simply must be cleaned up and out.

Horse, cows, donkeys

I have almost no ability to use my hands or feet due to neuropathy. I'm been basically laying in bed for years going crazy. I am very passionate about animals and I'd love to have a little farm but I can't figure out a way that I can do it with my limitations. Maybe there's something I'm not thinking of that you may know about, I'm open to any suggestions

I'm a college student living in the Boston area but with family in Virginia. I keep hearing people on the internet saying local farmers would be happy to sell me bulk soybeans for something like $1/pound, but haven't had any luck finding anyone. Any advice?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/very-dangerous-trump-dumps-billions-of-gallons-of-water-farmers-were-counting-on-for-summer/ar-AA1ydtPY

So I don't know if this the correct place to ask, correct me if I'm wrong. But I want to plant some stuff in my backyard, mostly my favorite things like coconuts, mangos, potatos, honestly lots of fruits lol. I'd like some tips or help of any kind. I live in Florida if that helps you answer, thanks!

I've done a lot of research and this year I plan on putting a couple hundred english lavender plugs in the ground. I've got about 10 acres of poor quality (but well-drained) soil that is prime for it.

I've nailed down a lot of details, but need some help with how to space the rows. The plants, when full grown, can be up to 3' wide. I was thinking I would want to have 3' wide crowned beds covered with plastic mulch. These rows would be 5' on center.

Any thoughts/feedback? If I were to go this route, should I till a 48" wide bed and then lay 36" mulch over it? Kinda lost on the crowned beds, have never laid mulch before.

Any feedback is appreciated.

Im looking to add a couple of “less obvious” tools to my truck for use on a row crop operation. Think beyond the basic setup of wrenches, sockets, and impacts. What’s something you keep in your service truck that you might not use all that often but is a lifesaver when you need it?

Tossed this little monster in the canal. I better not find an Alligator climbing over the fence next. LOL #WestPalmBeachFL

Hello! I'm currently in the military, originally from Puerto Rico, early 30s, and most definetly enjoy hardwork. The idea and my degree of understanding has made farmlife/farmwork more and more interesting. Or, at the very least idea of working in the farm community, however that may look.

However, my main issue is that I have no experience, and as mention, currently still in the military, but might be getting out relatively soon. I've tried doing research on my own, but honestly, there is so much information that I dint know where to start. Whether is dealing with animals, crop or farm maintenance, I'll take any advice, or at least been pointed in the right direction.

What could I do while I'm still in the military to learn more? What states are better for gaining farm work experience and eventually work?