One Grass-Fed Dairy Farmer’s Answer to GE Alfalfa
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Earlier
this year, the USDA suddenly and without warning lifted all
restrictions on the planting of genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa,
also known as Roundup Ready Alfalfa.This surprise move occurred shortly after release of the USDA’s Final Environmental Impact Statement on GE Alfalfa in which it admitted that this frankencrop may indeed pose a risk not only to organic farmers but to conventional farmers as well.
Unrestricted planting of GE alfalfa is a potentially devastating blow to grassbased dairy farms across North America. Alfalfa is considered the “queen forage” for dairy farms that are organic or grass-fed as it has the highest protein and calcium for lactating cows.
Bees and wind have the potential to cross pollinate GE alfalfa with natural alfalfa and, over time, destroy the grass-fed dairy industry.
While GE alfalfa is indeed a serious threat to grassbased dairy, one farmer in Texas is not sitting on his hands waiting for disaster to strike.
Aquaponic Sprouting System to Combat the Scourge of GE Alfalfa
Kelvin Edwards of Pure Milk Farm in Winnie, Texas decided to think outside the box and plan construction of an aquaponic sprouting system and greenhouse to produce quality forage for his herd of jerseys, replacing his dependence on alfalfa hay.This “grow vertical” solution is designed to cultivate organic grass and legume for livestock year round even during the winter without the use of any chemical fertilizers.
This project will be the first of its kind in the United States and will have the capacity to produce 1000 lbs of organic grass and sprouts per day. Not only will the system allow Pure Milk Farm to harvest grasses at their nutritional peak for the dairy cows, but it will also use 98% less water and land than conventional farming and will protect the farm from the ravages of GE crops.
Of course, the jersey cows will still graze on the beautiful, unsprayed pastures of Pure Milk Farm. The aquaponic system will simply provide supplemental forage – wheat grass juice for cows, if you will – which they are currently receiving as alfalfa hay.
The sprouted wheat and barley grasses will also provide supplemental food for the pastured chickens on the farm.
Take that Monsanto!
Can you help?
Pure Milk Farms is trying to raise the $20,000 necessary to build the aquaponics system plus greenhouse by January 3, 2013.So far, Kelvin has raised $6,000 via the fundraising tool Kickstarter.
Are you able to help them reach their goal of $20,000? Can you share the information about this project with others you know who might also be able to help?
This is the type of innovative project that needs to succeed so other grassbased farms can follow Pure Milk Farm’s lead in the coming years as GE alfalfa cross pollination gradually reduces the affordable supply of clean alfalfa hay.
Real Food Gift for Your Donation
Pure Milk Farm is offering gifts as a thank you to those who are able to pledge and help them bring this exciting project to fruition. Pledges of $10 will receive a bar of handmade soap from an independent day school whose students drink raw milk.
For a pledge of $20, Pure Milk Farms would like to send you a sample of their “Anything Yogurt Dressings”. These dressings contain all natural and organic ingredients with no preservatives, nothing artificial, and always soy free, gluten free and of course, NO GMO’s.
- Texas Ranch dressing: Yogurt, whey, organic dill, organic parsley, lemon juice, sea salt, celery seed, garlic salt.
- Southwest Chipotle dressing/dip: Yogurt, whey adobe sauce, chipotle peppers, lime, cumin, chili powder, natural spices, sea salt.
- Honey mustard dressing: Yogurt, whey, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, raw honey.
- Creamy kefir dressing: Kefir(made with kefir grains), whey, dill, garlic powder, white pepper, lemon juice, pinch of sea salt.
- Greek Yogurt dressing: Yogurt, whey, olive oil, stevia, rice vinegar, oregano, garlic, white pepper, lemon juice.
Larger pledges will receive a combination of gifts. To see all the pledge levels, click here.
If you are not able to help financially, please share Pure Milk
Farm’s quest to beat Monsanto at its own game with those you know to
spread word about this groundbreaking project!
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
Sources: USDA Deregulates GE Alfalfa
Organic Sprouting System for Livestock Feed
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Pandora? Meet the box. Box? Meet Pandora.
They decided on it primarily because of last summer’s drought and resulting sky-high hay prices.
Thank you for commenting Carolyn
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: One Grass-Fed Dairy Farmer’s Answer to GE Alfalfa
http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/ExternalPageView?pageKey=EXTERNAL_PAGE_3017
http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/ExternalPageView?pageKey=EXTERNAL_PAGE_3017
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: One Grass-Fed Dairy Farmer’s Answer to GE Alfalfa
This farm isn’t the only one going to a sprouting system. Our farmer is installing the FodderTech system http://www.foddertech.com/. In fact after various difficulties, and with the building set to go, the system was delivered on Christmas Day! So they are busy getting the system up and running. The company has been swamped with orders. My question is where are you getting the seeds to sprout. Our farmer has a source of supply lined up. The price and availability of hay these days is a major problem.
Ultimately, we are going to have to win this fight at the consumer level. Only then will “we the people” be successful in state initiatives that require honest labeling. “We the people” will then also be in the place to bring our federal government back to a sound Constitutional footing (including where the selling of raw milk and other health products are not banned).
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I have just one cow here now, but I also sprout wheat and barley for my cow. She loves it and it has increased her milk production. I believe it is a wonderful feed. I built my own sprouter that suits my needs for now, but I will eventually need to invest in a bigger one (I also feed sprouts to my meat rabbits and layer chickens) as my farm grows.
Thank you for bringing this to light for people who are unfamiliar with feeding fodder, but please don’t just single one farm out of many who are on the right track to support financially.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: One Grass-Fed Dairy Farmer’s Answer to GE Alfalfa
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: One Grass-Fed Dairy Farmer’s Answer to GE Alfalfa
That does not always happen tho–machinery breaks down, rain/mud/etc., lack of labor, etc.
At ideal harvest the plant has the most nutrients in it and does the animal the best.
The problem is going to be in getting the seed for future crops. That can be tested like corn and other crops to determine if the seed is contaminated or not. Alfalfa seed does not always germinate at the same time and can stay in the field not germinated for I think up to two years (may have to check those numbers).
There are other types of hay that can be used instead of alfalfa. Alfalfa is my favorite because it does so much good for my milk and growing animals. But I have been able to use a good grass hay before with decent results. Production not quite as high but still up there.
Also, there is no need in most cases for this type of GMO. IF the farmer plants the alfalfa when it should be planted in the spring, there really is no problem with competing plants because the alfalfa can come up faster and choke out anything trying to grow with it. I can honestly say I have never seen a hay field around me sprayed for any reason. Lime added about every 5 years and replanting at the same time, but I have not seen herbicide sprayed on a properly planted field. That could be just this area and the work load of the local farmers–when we had more small farmers.
How my hay farmer put it, “the GMO alfalfa was created for the lazy farmer and the large corporate farms that can’t get the job done when and how it should be done.”
Tracy
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist\’s last post: One Grass-Fed Dairy Farmer’s Answer to GE Alfalfa
Lovelyn\’s last post: Dec 27, Herbal Tinctures
http://www.startribune.com/local/185120861.html?refer=y
Anyway, the article was in todays StarTribune out of Minneapolis. The title if it doesn’t show up is: In Harnessing Land, Iowa Farmer Preserves It
Tracy