The Farmer's Daughter USA

Hi, I'm Amanda! My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm also a practicing attorney.

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Animal Farmers Talk About Profits

November 2, 2016

I’ve come to the realization that many people think that farmers are willing to sacrifice animal welfare in favor of profits. As part of my 3-part series talking to animal farmers, I asked a handful of them how they strike a balance on their farms between animal welfare and profits.

If you have further questions for the farmers, feel free to check out their Facebook pages, which are linked after the answers, to get in touch with them!

How do you balance and prioritize animal welfare with the need to make profits for your farm?

In general, making sure our cows are comfortable, healthy and well cared for makes for a more profitable cow. We work hard day in and day out to make sure their needs are meant and our cows have the best in wellbeing we can possibly give them. When we are financially able to implement new technology to increase their comfort. Ashley Kennedy, Messy Kennedy, Michigan, Dairy

In my opinion keeping your animals healthy and well cared for easily pays for itself to increase your profits. Healthy, comfortable cows will always milk more than cows who don’t have comfortable/ideal care. Animal welfare easily climbs to the top. Jodi, Of Kids and Cows, Ohio, Dairy

So good animal welfare gives us the best potential for profits. And we need profits so that we can continue raising pigs. By raising the healthiest animal possible, we are able to sell them to our meat packer, where we also receive a premium based on the high quality meat quality. Simply put, our meat packer WILL NOT buy our pigs if they are not cared for. They will ONLY buy healthy pigs. So, literally, we wake up every single day with the goal of how do we provide better care for our animals. Yes, we need profits to exist. We don’t make profits by providing poor animal care. Period. Wanda, Minnesota Farm Living, Minnesota, Hogs

For me, it is easy.  Proper animal welfare and running a successful business go hand in hand.  Dairy farmers make money by producing milk.  So, obviously I want my cows to produce well.  How do get cows to produce milk well? By making sure they are happy and healthy.  My job revolves around making sure my cows have everything they need to live a long, happy life.  In return, they produce milk! Annaliese Wegner, Modern Day Farm Chick, Wisconsin, Dairy

While our animals are a part of what provides food for our family and money to help pay for their feed and care, they aren’t what we base our income on so I don’t feel the need to push for profits, but at the same time, I must be practical.  They either contribute or are pets and I definitely limit the amount of pets.  Well-taken care of animals provide more products (eggs, milk, meat) and animals handled gently and appropriately are more apt to find a buyer when it comes time to sell them.  Regardless that animals treated better give more, I find it ethical to provide the best care according to what they need.  And I find it equally important to understand the type of animal they are (cows are not horses etc) and that they aren’t human. Angie, Douglas Falls Creamery, Washington, Assorted Animals

On a dairy farm, taking the best care of the cows is good business. Keeping the cows healthy impacts their milk production. Each cow needs to produce enough milk to at least pay for the feed she eats. If she is unhealthy or stressed out, she is going to have a hard time doing so. Animal welfare and farm profit go hand in hand. You pay your bills with happy, healthy, well cared for cows. Krista, The Farmer’s Wifee, Washington, Dairy

Caring for livestock isn’t only the right thing to do it is the profitable thing to do. Happy and healthy cows are more productive so it only makes sense to pamper them. As in every industry there will always be a few individuals that give everyone a bad name. Animal abuse is never okay and dairy farmers are united in assuring consumers that our cattle are being well cared for. My family is proud to bring nutritious milk from pampered cows to your table. Tim May, Farmer Tim, Ontario, Canada, Dairy Farmer

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Filed Under: Animal Agriculture, Animal Care Tagged With: animal agriculture

Hi, I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney and I'm passionate about agriculture!

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thefarmersdaughterusa

I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney by day, and "agvocate" at night.

Amanda Zaluckyj
Green soybeans as far as the eye can see. I took Green soybeans as far as the eye can see. 

I took this photo over the weekend. These beans should be turning yellow and drying for harvest. So why aren't they? Because...the spring drought.

Seeds need water to germinate. But after we planted we didn't have rain for weeks. So those seeds just sat in the dirt and never sprouted. Then, finally, it rained. And the tiny plants started popping up.

The problem? It was several weeks too late for planting. The question is whether they'll be ready to harvest before the snow flies. We have shorter seasons in Michigan, so it'll be close.
Sunsets on the #farm are the best. 😍 Sunsets on the #farm are the best. 😍
💜💜 💜💜
Don't let anyone make you feel bad about not purch Don't let anyone make you feel bad about not purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables. It all counts.

#modernagriculture #foodproduction #usfarmers #usagriculture #usfarms #food #knowyourfarmer #knowyourfood #modernag #farms #sustainableagriclture #sustainablefarming
I visited one of my favorite local farm stands ove I visited one of my favorite local farm stands over the weekend. I thought I'd buy a couple zucchini and cantaloupe. But the zucchini looked more like clubs, and the cantaloupe was too ripe for my taste. So I passed on those and bought some tomatoes that maybe cost more than I would have preferred.

But you know what I didn't do? I didn't complain about the zucchinis' size. I didn't fuss about the melons' ripeness. I didn't criticize the tomatoes' price. Instead, I smiled at the lovely lady and made small talk as I paid and went about my day. 

Why? Because I remember what it was like being out by the side of the road hot day after hot day. I know that we all poured everything we had into that produce. I remember how defeating it felt when some criticized it. I know that the price is probably around market value, even if it's cheaper in the grocery store. And I know that the farm family behind that cash register is giving everything they have to chase a dream.

I won't be the one to rain on their parade. 

#Respect
Happy #nationaldogday from Mischa! #nationaldogda Happy #nationaldogday from Mischa!

#nationaldogday🐶 
#pittiemix 
#blacklab 
#mischa
Mischa and I are home on the farm for the weekend. Mischa and I are home on the farm for the weekend. And we're loving it.
It isn't one or the other. Farmers care about all It isn't one or the other. Farmers care about all of it.

#agriculture #farming #sustainablefarming #sustainability
I threw a birthday party for Mischa! It was over t I threw a birthday party for Mischa! It was over the top and wonderful. And she had so much fun surrounded by people that love her. 💕

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate my little love. 💜
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