Recently a very damaging, misleading, and inaccurate cartoon that attempted to explain modern dairy farming practices to young children appeared in numerous newspapers across the country. The author of a syndicated children’s column, Jok Church, typically answers children’s science questions in a cartoon question-and-answer format. The question was, “How can a calf have a baby at only 15 months old?”
Background
The comic strip “You Can with Beakman and Jax,”is a nationally syndicated comic distributed by Universal Press Syndicate to more than 300 newspapers nationwide. Please View the comic strip to see the cartoon, question, and answer. Obviously, the answer was full of erroneous and misleading information including:
- “Almost all dairy cows are raised in factories where they’re fed surplus corn and soy – not the grass that is a cow’s natural food.”
- “Factory cows get more diseases, so they are medicated constantly. Their food includes drugs like antibiotics and hormones. They also get gas, which can hurt their 4-part stomachs.”
- “Factory cows live from 3-4 years before they die. Cows that eat grasses in meadows live and produce milk for up to 20 years. They’re ones farmers name and don’t number.”
- The answer provided to the questions implied that animals actually do give birth at 15 months of age when the industry average for the age at first calving is about 24 months.
Grange Policy
The Delegates at the 143rd Annual Convention of the National Grange adopted the following policy related to responding to false, misleading, and inaccurate statements about modern agricultural practices utilized by today’s family farmers and ranchers:
“ The National Grange supports public relation programs that disseminate accurate information on the efficiency and productivity of American agriculture as well as the contributions it has made in providing an adequate supply of food and fiber, and the important role the food and agricultural industry plays in the nation’s economy. A coalition of farm and commodity organizations working together on common problems is in the best interest of agriculture and rural communities….We will cooperate with and support the efforts of other agricultural organizations in their educational programs pertaining to false, unproven, and misleading statements about the production and safety of agricultural commodities in order to present a true picture of environmentally safe farm and ranch best management practices.”
Action Needed
If this comic ran in your local newspaper, please draft a letter to the editor of that paper highlighting the practices on your farm that demonstrate how you care for your animals. If possible, invite the editor to visit your dairy and see, firsthand, the care you provide your cows and the land. This will help you build a relationship with the editor, who may come to you for future stories and news. Please feel free to cut and paste the following sample letter.
Sample Letter or E-Mail
Dear Newspaper Editor,
Recently a very damaging cartoon on dairy farming practices appeared in your newspaper. The author of a syndicated children’s column, Jok Church, typically answers children’s science questions in a cartoon question-and-answer format. The question was, “How can a calf have a baby at only 15 months old?” The answer was full of erroneous and misleading information, and I would like to set the record straight. The correct answer is that the industry average for the age at first calving is about 24 months when a calf has matured to an adult cow.
It’s important for children and their parents to know that dairy farmers are committed to providing high-quality milk, which begins with top-notch animal care. Modern day dairy farmers across America provide nutritious diets, healthy living conditions, and good medical care to all of their animals. Cows have access to feed and clean water 24 hours a day. Also, many dairy farms use “free-stall housing,” which means cows can eat, sleep and, drink anytime they choose.
Dairy farmers work hard every day to provide fresh, great tasting, local, wholesome milk products. Almost all dairies are family-owned, and as active members of their communities, farm families take pride in their operation. These agriculturalists recognize that good animal welfare practices lead to the production of high quality, safe and, wholesome milk, and are constantly seeking ways to improve the comfort of their animals. Simply put, without health and contented cows, a dairy farmer would not stay in business very long.
At a time when kids are falling short of health experts’ recommendations for calcium, potassium and, magnesium intake, it’s disturbing that reputable newspapers would publish misinformation that could potentially turn kids or their parents away from nutrient-rich dairy foods. Thank you for allowing me to provide your readers with accurate information on dairy practices in our area and across America.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your Grange number |
If you have any questions or comments regarding this Action Alert, please contact Legislative Program Assistant Molly Thompson by e-mail: mthompson@nationalgrange.org; or by phone: 1-888-4GRANGE, ext. 107. Thank you for your grassroots participation in the National Grange Legislative Program.
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