Scattered thoughts on a foggy Wednesday

The fog started rolling in a few minutes before 6:00 this morning, a sure sign that it's going to be another muggy day here in northwest Alabama. Though it won't be terribly comfortable, we already have three hours of work under our belts this morning and might as well go for 8 or so more!

We'll have one tractor back in the cornfields this morning trying to clean up the weed problems while I "burn-down" a couple of other fields in preparation to no-till plant some late season silage corn. We have enough seed to plant 45 acres, which is how much acreage we have in Yellow Creek bottom. However, it looks like we'll never get all of that acreage dried out before our corn planting window closes. So, we'll plant as much as we can in the bottom then finish out in a couple of our upland fields (17 acres worth). Hopefully we'll be able to use most of that seed in the bottom and can go back to our original plan of planting sudex on those two other fields.

Speaking of sudex, we'll probably be drilling that into our milking herd's grazing pastures next week. The ryegrass has just about played out and the cows are making their final pass through each of the paddocks.

So last week was mostly focused on herd health, this week is on weed control, next week should be planting, and the week after that? Harvesting bermudagrass hay, hopefully!

Quickly, a couple of words about Alabama politics. John McMillan and Dorman Grace, the two most qualified GOP candidates for Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, are headed towards the Republican Party's July run-off ballot. The winner of that election will go on to face unchallenged Democrat Glen Zorn in the November general election. Also, congrats to fellow young farmer Clay Scofield for pulling in the most votes for the GOP's nomination for State Senate District 9's seat. Best of luck in the run-off, Clay!

Have a "dairy" good Wednesday, everyone!

What to make of the Peterson video?

You may recall a couple of weeks ago I invited three of the candidates for Alabama's Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries to submit a guest post on the topic of their choosing. Of the three, Glen Zorn was the lone Democrat seeking the office, with Dorman Grace and John McMillan the front runners for the GOP nomination.

Absent (but not noticeably judging by the lack of inquiries) was long-shot candidate Dale Peterson, who is also running on the Republican ticket.

Well, Mr. Peterson's name recognition has gone WAY up thanks in part to this recently released campaign video:



What to make of this video? It's...interesting. Different, too, that's for sure. Without knowing the man personally it's hard for me to judge if this is an over-the-top act or his true persona (like comments on other sites claim it is). Is his Marine/cop/cowboy tough-guy approach genuine and does he think it would be an effective way to lead Alabama's Ag Dept. in helping create opportunities for the state's farmers and agribusinesses? Is this a "whoever makes the most noise will win" campaign tactic? Is it somewhere in the middle?

I'd love to know your take on it. If you're an Alabamian, does this video make you more or less likely to vote for him and why? And if you're one of my readers from beyond the borders of Alabama the Beautiful, does Mr. Peterson embody what you would like to have in an Ag Commissioner/Secretary?

And even though I doubt Mr. Peterson will be getting "The Dairyman's Blog" endorsement, I'd be tickled to death to have just 1% of his video views on my next MooTube Minute!

New Leadership for a New Decade...guest blog by Glen Zorn

We all hear political rhetoric about how government needs to be downsized and red tape reduced, and it’s something you should expect from leadership. But during the past few years we’ve already downsized the Department, and it will probably shrink even more as long as our state’s economy suffers and the state’s budget remains tight. I intend to look for ways to eliminate duplication of services between what we do and what other agencies do, as well as partnering with our colleges and universities to get the job done.

However, there are some things we do at that we shouldn’t be willing to throw away for the sake of reducing government. For example, we check to make sure that the scale at the grocery store cash register is calibrated to weigh your meats and vegetables; we inspect gas stations to make sure you are getting your dollar’s worth; we license your pest control companies. Are we really willing to sacrifice the sense of security we have as consumers for the sake of “reducing government”

We have fought the battles of food labeling – so you would know where your food comes from; we stopped fish and consumer products from entering this country because of harmful ingredients and chemicals; we expanded trade of Alabama agricultural products around the globe; we championed the development and use of alternative fuels in this state when no one else was talking about ethanol and bio-diesel. I don’t think we can or should stop doing those things that help every consumer in this state every day.

There is something I will breathe new life into – and that’s learning how to manage our water resources. It is going to take some bold leadership. It will take input from production agriculture, from agribusiness and from consumers. We have enough water; we need to learn how to make it available when we need it. I have made this the centerpiece of my campaign. If we can put a man on the moon, as we did more than 40 years ago, surely we can figure out how to manage our water resources!

With 40 years experience in business, some great years giving back to my community as mayor, and serving in the capacity I have at the Department, I’m ready for the job of Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries in 2010 and I ask for your support.

Thank you.

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bio (provided): I’ve been a farmer nearly all my adult life; my brothers and I own an agribusiness in Covington County which includes one of the only privately operated grain elevators in Alabama. We raise peanuts, cotton and pine trees – and we understand what it means to compete. I was elected to two terms as mayor of my hometown, Florala, and I’ve served as Deputy and Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries for the last seven years. I’m ready to lead our state as Commissioner.

As Assistant Commissioner I have been director of The Center for Alternative Fuels, Light Weights & Measures, Heavy Weights & Measures and Plant Protection divisions within the Department. I have been a Certified Crop Advisor for decades. I know agriculture, I know the Department, I will lead us into the next decade. I ask for your support in November.

Guest Blogs by Ag Commish Candidates

One of the most important, and maybe most overlooked, positions within the State of Alabama is that of Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries. The Commissioner and his Department aren't only responsible to the agricultural producers of our state, but to all consumers as well. Ag promotion, alternative fuels, animal health, and food inspection and safety are just a few of the many issues and responsibilities handled by the Dept. of Ag & Industries.

With so much attention this election season going towards the races for Governor, Attorney General, and others, I thought I would try to do something that would hopefully get people to stop and think for a moment about the Commissioner's race. A couple of weeks ago I invited the three leading candidates for the position to submit a guest post for my blog on an issue of their choosing. They have all been gracious enough to take time out of their campaigns to contribute an article. It is my hope that reading their comments on my blog will lead you to visit their websites to learn more about who they are and the positions they hold on other issues.

The guest blogs will be published as written (with additional biographical info added) and in the order in which I received them. John McMillan will be the featured guest on Tuesday, with Dorman Grace following on Wednesday. According to The Alabama Line, these two gentlemen are the front runners for the Republican Party's nomination heading into the June 1 primary. Glen Zorn, the lone Democrat seeking the position, will be featured on Friday*.

Please return on Tuesday to read Mr. McMillan's thoughts, and then do the same on Wednesday for Mr. Grace's. I hope you will share these guest blog posts with your friends, and I encourage you to add your thoughts and comments about what these gentlemen have to say.

Have a "dairy" good day!

*logistical issues will prevent Mr. Zorn's article from appearing sooner...my apologies to all.

I am dairyman Will Gilmer, and I approved this message.