Mississippi Ag Voice

Think About This Before You Ride!

msagvoice — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 16:22:33 +0000

Think about this. Way back in 1970, Honda rolled out the first ATV, a 90cc three-wheeler that had a mind blowing seven horsepower engine and sold for a modest $595. Today, the machines go up to a giant 850cc, cost in excess of $10,000, and there are about 10.5 million ATVs in use today. Not bad for a product that was thought of as a way to fill in a sales void in the winter when no one was buying motorcycles. Much has changed in the production of theses machines, but little has changed in how we ride them.

Safety gear can be functional and stylish, even in our hot climate. http://www.atvsafety.org

Many people complain about safety equipment being hot and uncomfortable. However, it’s a lot more comfortable to sweat than to bleed. A cap, sunglasses, t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops are not the “in” thing as far as ATV safety equipment goes. The helmet is the most important piece of safety equipment you can buy. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, you have a 64% better chance of survival wearinga helmet than without. Choose a helmet that is DOT, ANSI, or Snell certified and buy the best you can afford. One of the granddaddies of ATV safety, former MFBF Safety Director Mike Blankenship, said it best, “If you have a cheap head, get a cheap helmet.” That’s sound advice. Eye protection is another key piece of safety equipment that is often overlooked. Most riders consider sunglasses as eye protection. Not so. The lenses need to meet the ANSI Z-87 standard like safety glasses and goggles. A helmet that has a face shield also can do a good job in protecting the rider. Remember, we only have two eyes and we need to protect them. The right clothing is something that is often ignored as far as ATV riders go. Leather gloves and a long sleeve shirt help to protect the hands and arms from the sun and prevent injury. Bright colored clothing is also useful in protecting the rider by making them more visible. The last two pieces of safety equipment are long pants and boots. These will protect one from the heat of the motor and other objects that may brush the rider. Over the ankle boots with a heel will keep the rider’s feet on the foot rest and foot pegs.

It’s against the law to ride an ATV on public roads. These machines are not designed to operate on paved services and automobile operators are not looking for ATV riders on the road. ATVs are hard to see because of the lack of lights and the smaller machines sit lower to the ground. The tires of an ATV are made for gripping the terrain and it handle differently on hard surfaces. Public roads are the most dangerous place to ride. A majority of deaths on ATVs happen on public roads.

Most of the deaths in children under the age of 16 are due to having an extra rider on the ATV. A lot of riders don’t realize that having an extra rider affects how the machine handles. The big seat is a rider active seat, so the rider can move front and back or side to side. The extra rider offsets the weight of the machine and how it handles. The machine has only one seat, so there should only be one rider.

These labels give guidelines of who should be able to SAFELY operate the machine.

As parents, we go out and buy the biggest and fastest ATV we can afford and forget that these machines are not toys. The smallest ones are made to travel around 20 mph and the fastest ones are made to travel in excess of 100 mph. That’s not a toy. Most young riders are not big enough, strong enough, or experienced enough to operate the big machines. The recommended sizes for riders ages 12-16 is 90 cc, for riders ages 6-12 is 50 cc, and children under 6 should not ride ATVs at all. Remember, the machine should fit the rider. It’s a lot cheaper to buy an ATV that fits the rider than to pay for a funeral.

Many of the accidents that occur on ATVs are due to an inexperienced rider losing control. One of the best ways to prevent an ATV accident is to take an ATV rider’s course. These courses teach the operator the proper techniques of riding the ATV. Taking a quality rider’s course can improve how you ride and how you enjoy the ride. Contact your local dealer for details on the course.

Think about this. If we take the time to think about how we ride ATVs, it might change the way others ride. So the next time you ride, take time to think about it.

Un-BEE-lievable!

msagvoice — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:02:50 +0000

Harvest time is here, and farmers are getting out in their fields to reap what they have sown. Did you know that every farmer has a very small but important helper? This helper is vital to the development of the crops, but it is missing opposable thumbs. Can you guess who it is? That’s right. We are talking about the honey bee. These busy little gals are responsible for approximately one out of every three things you eat. In a bee colony, there are three types of bees: the queen, who lays eggs; the drones (or male bees), who are only responsible for fertilizing eggs; and the worker bees, who are all female and do all of the work of the colony. Beekeeping is much more than honey production. Mississippi has about 20-30,000 colonies in the summer and 80-120,000 in the winter. Many bee colonies are migratory and are transported around the country, having been contracted to help farmers pollinate their crops. Some of these migratory colonies winter in Mississippi because of the mild climate. As a state, we produce about 2.25 million pounds of honey each year and rank 28th in the country, with the top state, North Dakota, producing 32.66 million annually. Here is a short video about bees in Mississippi. Enjoy!

Corn and Avocado Salsa

msagvoice — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 19:42:55 +0000

A Family Tradition

msagvoice — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 21:15:03 +0000

The Hill Family

Growing up on our family farm, I never once thought I’d do anything else but farm. Every

chance I got, I was out riding the tractor with my dad, checking on crops or feeding cows. In 1997, I rented 300 acres to farm, and I’ve added land every year since to make up the 2,300 acres I farm today. What I most like about farming is how challenging it can be. Every day there is something new to overcome or some life lesson to learn. I always enjoy watching the crops as they grow, and it’s very rewarding to see that the hard work and long days have paid off. I am very blessed to have a job that I love so much, and when my wife brings our two kids to ride the tractor with me and I see the smiles on their faces, it reminds me of the days when I was a kid myself riding with my dad.

**Jason and his wife Kelly live in Chickasaw County and farm Corn, Soybeans and have some beef cattle. Jason is serving as the Chairman for the Mississippi Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee.

What do those signs mean?!

msagvoice — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:13:38 +0000

Driving through the country, you often see many different signs, but do you know what all these different signs mean? In this edition of Farming 101, we will shed a little light on what all of these different signs are, and why farmers display them.

Many of you have probably seen the signs at the end of a field, but how many of you have ever wondered what they represent? These signs tell the farmer which variety of seed they have planted in that row, or field. It is a way for the farmer to remember months later what is planted where. This is the same concept many people use in their home gardens of putting the seed package on a stick in front of its respective section. These signs are important for farmers because some seeds may do better than others throughout the year, and it’s important to know which varieties performed better throughout the year.

Forestry is the second- largest agricultural industry in Mississippi, with a production value of $1.04 billion in 2011. This sign signifies that the landowner is part of the voluntary Tree Farm Program, and has met all the requirements to become certified. This program requires farmers to manage their tree farms for sustainability. They must meet and keep records proving they meet the following eight requirements:

Commitment to Practicing Sustainable Forestry: Forest owner demonstrates commitment to forest vitality by developing and implementing a sustainable forest management plan.
Compliance with Laws: Forest management activities comply with all relevant federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances.
Reforestation and Afforestation: Forest owner completes timely restocking of desired species of trees on harvested sites and non-stocked areas where tree growing is consistent with land use practices and the forest owner’s management objectives.
Air, Water, and Soil Protection: Forest management practices maintain or enhance the environment and ecosystems, including air, water, soil, and site quality.
Fish, Wildlife, and Biodiversity Forest Management: Activities contribute to the conservation of biodiversity.
Forest Aesthetics: Forest management plans and management activities recognize the value of forest aesthetics.
Protect Special Sites: Special sites are managed in ways that recognize their unique historical, archeological, cultural, geological, biological, or ecological characteristics.
Forest Product Harvests and Other Activities: Forest product harvests and other management activities are conducted in accordance with the management plan and consider other forest values.

These signs send a very clear message. They are in place to stop the spread of disease but to whom? These signs indicate that this farm practices strict biosecurity procedures to protect their ANIMALS! All farmers are concerned about the health and wellbeing of their animals, and farms that have biosecurity procedures in place do so to protect their animals and animals on other farms. They are actively trying to decrease or stop the transmission of disease transmitting germs that may be brought in on other people, animals, or farm equipment. As the sign states, you must check with the farm owners or management before proceeding to ensure you are not in violation of their procedures.

Be Cool, Don’t Wait Until You Are Thirsty

msagvoice — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 15:18:10 +0000

In the South, where the heat indices in the summer months can reach in the triple digits, staying hydrated and preventing heat illness is a matter of life and death. In heat indices above 90 degrees, the chance of heat illness increases greatly. Heat-related deaths are the number-one weather-related killer in the United States. Preparing to work or play in high temps is crucial to having a safe day in the field or on the field.

Begin by starting activity earlier in the day, doing the heavy work first, when the outside temperature is cooler. For the new guys that are not acclimated to outside work, gradually work up to the more demanding jobs and schedule regular breaks to help with hydration and safety.

Since the body is 75 percent water, we have to replace the water that is lost at a constant rate to keep the body working. Drinking 24 ounces of water, sports drink, fruit or vegetable juice two hours before any activity can properly hydrate the body for that activity. Also, drink eight ounces of fluid right before the activity and eight ounces every 20 minutes during the activity if possible. Keep the fluids flowing throughout the day, at least 64 ounces or more can prevent dehydration. Remember, the more you sweat, the more you should drink. Do not wait until you are thirsty. Thirst can be an early sign of dehydration.

Clothing technology over the last few years has improved. The development of new fabrics has made working and playing in the heat more enjoyable. When choosing clothing, choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting fabrics that will allow the sweat to evaporate and the body to cool. A wide-brim hat, sunglasses, and applying a sunscreen of 30 SPF or greater will help reduce the heat and damage from the sun.

It is vital to know the symptoms of heat illness. These symptoms include confusion, dizziness, fainting, headache, muscle cramps, nausea, pale skin, profuse sweating, and a rapid heartbeat. If you recognize one or more of these symptoms, act quickly.

Begin by having the person slowly drink fluid. Lowering the body temperature is critical in reducing the possible effects of the heat illness. Remove any tight or unnecessary clothing and take the person to a cool place (for example a shaded area or an air-conditioned environment). Spray the person’s skin with cool water or immerse them up to their chest in water if a pool, pond, or creek is nearby. Never leave the person alone and make sure their head is above water. If the symptoms of heat illness persist, or worsen, seek medical attention or call 911 at once.

Being prepared for any activity in the heat is the key. Taking these preventative steps can greatly reduce the stress of heat on the body and reduce the chance of heat illness. Remember, BE COOL and DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOUR ARE THIRSTY!

A Word from President Knight

msagvoice — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 14:32:38 +0000

Technology is such an important part of everyone’s lives, yet it is also constantly changing. The technology that people use daily was not around 10 or 20 years ago, just as ten years from now technology is going to be very different from today. These advances have made such an impact on agriculture, education, and communication that we often catch ourselves asking what did we do before GPS, text messaging, or whatever is making our lives easier at that moment. Due to these advances, people have more information available to them at any given moment than any time before, and this has had drastic impacts on agriculture. The public is very concerned about where their food is coming from, how it was raised, and how it is processed. As farmers, we must be part of the discussion. The amount of incorrect and intentionally false information is easily accessible and at times garners more attention from the public and press than the factual information that is also available. Mississippi Farm Bureau^® has started this blog as a way to engage in exchange of information with relevant, interesting, and factual information for the public to use. We strive to keep the topics on this blog fresh, useful, and reflective of the passion, dedication, and love our members have for their farms, animals, and lifestyles. We encourage you to join the conversation with us in the comment sections.

About Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation

msagvoice — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:23:03 +0000

The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation is the largest general farm organization in the state, with 199,502 member families in 82 county Farm Bureaus. It is a voluntary, non-governmental, non-partisan organization of farm families seeking solutions to the problems that affect their lives, both socially and economically.

Farm Bureau is organized on a county, state and national level. The county is the nucleus of the organization. It is here that members join by payment of nominal annual dues which entitles them to a wide range of services and benefits of membership.

The policies and programs of Farm Bureau are developed from grassroots recommendations originating from the county Farm Bureau level. From these recommendations, policy resolutions are prepared and submitted to the MFBF House of Delegates for action at its annual meeting each December.

The House of Delegates is made up of representatives elected by members of the county Farm Bureaus. Resolutions that are passed on state matters become MFBF policy. Matters of national interest are forwarded to the American Farm Bureau Federation for consideration. The MFBF Board of Directors determines a program of activities based on action of the House of Delegates. That program is administered by MFBF officers and staff.