Just Rambling: I can hardly believe it—it seems only like yesterday. Time fly's when you are having fun! By now you are probably thinking what is this nut talking about. I am referring to the 5th year anniversary of our publication-Ag Trader. It is hard to believe it has been five years and it does only seem like yesterday that we printed our first issue. I guess the saying “Time flys when you’re having fun” is really true because we really enjoy publishing our monthly magazine. My wife, Donnette and I began publication of “Ag Trader” in February of 2007 and in February of 2009 changed the name to “ Ag Trader USA””. After 30 years of employment with Louisiana Ag Credit I was ready to retire to my farming operation but not to leave behind the many friends I had made in the agriculture community. Thinking about the many times I had been asked for information while I was working and after reading an article in the Arkansas Cattlemen about how newsletters and printed material were ranked as the most preferred educational methods for cattlemen/farmers we decided to begin publishing a monthly magazine. We directed it primarily to North Louisiana and South Arkansas since these areas are much alike geographically and in the agricultural commodities they produce. Since adding the USA to our name we now have a web page on the internet which allows you to access our magazine with classified ads, advertisers, and an archive of articles from past editions. The past five years have been very eventful—in late 2007 and into 2008 the financial meltdown which resulted in the worst recession since the Great Depression. In 2008 Hurricanes Gustav and Ike which caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to the Louisiana agriculture industry followed by the bankruptcy of Pilgrims Pride which precipitated the idling of both the Farmerville, La and El Dorado, Ark poultry processing plants in early 2009. These idling resulted in hundreds of growers left without chickens and contracts. In August 2009 we saw the state of Louisiana through the efforts of our Governor, Bobby Jindal, Agriculture Commissioner, Mike Strain, senators, representatives, and local politicians from the area help negotiate a sale of the Farmerville poultry plant from Pilgrims Pride to Foster Farms which enabled many growers to receive contracts and to begin growing chickens again. In the summer of 2010 we saw record high temperatures which baked the South followed by a mild winter which led into the severe drought and extreme temperatures of 2011 leaving cattlemen with hay shortage and limited pastures to graze their cattle. As I think about the trials the agriculture community and America, as a whole, have been through during the last five years I can’t help but think about the little tree logo I have on the front of our Ag Trader USA magazine. This tree was once a tall, stately hickory tree until a spring storm with high winds came through. After that storm the tree was reduced to just a shattered stump with a hole completely through the middle. After removing the broken part of the tree, I couldn't bring myself to cut down the remaining stump. To my surprise later in the spring that old broken stump began to sprout and now every year this little ugly stump with the hole in the middle has the most beautiful leaves of any tree on our farm—a beautiful green in the spring followed by magnificent gold leaves in the fall. Moral of the story: During life’s many trials we often get knocked down or suffer set backs but through self determination, perseverance, and God’s help, just as this little tree, we can overcome the trials we face in life. With Cod’s help, our self determination, and perseverance America will remain strong and the agriculture industry will continue to be the backbone of our nation. We hope you enjoy our magazine, Ag Trader USA. We thank our advertisers that help make our publication possible and we thank the many subscribers we have. We look forward to many more years of publication and would welcome any suggestions you might have to improve it. Thank You. Van Bennett
Important Notice: EPA Region 6 staff have made recent visits to poultry farms in North Louisiana. These visits have been unannounced. These EPA agents are checking litter storage, possible discharge into nearby waters from litter stored outside, number of birds on site, overall litter and dead bird management and all other aspects of the farms Nutrient Management Plan. Two cease and desist orders have been issued as a result of these visits and producers are required to correct the problems. This is the first time this has happened in Louisiana but according to Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr. Mike Strain this is probably only the beginning. If you need assistance or have question concerning the EPA regulations or the Nutrient Management Plan for your farm please contact either the LA or Ar Dept of Agriculture, your county agent or you local NRCS office.