We live in a world where news (good/bad) and information (invaluable/worthless) travels around the globe faster than our poor human brains can take it all in, and these days reality TV is a pervasive (invasive) consumer product that sometimes imparts more than we might want to know.
Now, it has finally made it to our industry with the premiere of a new British program called Kill it, Cook it, Eat it, a show that places six volunteers on an organic farm (U.K.) where they care for the animals that they later slaughter (butcher), prepare (cook) and consume.
Through 21 one-hour episodes, they follow everything on the farm — from pasture to plate. In the first episode they were along for the journey as cattle travelled from the farmyard to slaughter and ultimately to hamburger. Many viewers recommended it as well worth watching, but not for the “faint of heart.”
Our industry has not been well-recognized as one where book learning (or reading) was not the foremost required skill to be successful but the times have changed, and to keep current — you must read, whether you like it or not!
A small sampling from the last few of weeks of relevant reading material includes: WAM — or the Water Modernization Act — an 18-page document discussing the revitalization and revamping of B.C.’s Water Act. Necessary because of the need for all of us to “Live Water Smart” in the face of continuing population growth, resource/land development and climate change. Water is of vital importance to agriculture in any form.
The next bit of material (transmitted via e-mail) to arrive was a 40-page a discussion paper relating to environmental mitigation and offsetting policy for B.C. — relevant to ranching/agriculture as we share the rangeland with every living thing.
At least, in January, most agricultural operators (ranchers) have a little more spare time for reading as the weather often forces them indoors.