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Thank you once more for a clear, inciteful, sobering and yet hopeful essay.

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Thank you, Cheryl.

Well written.

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Another great article, Cheryl. You are so full of knowledge about how our food system got to where we are now.

In juxtaposition to the decrease in 4H swine projects at the Iowa State Fair you pointed out, there is also a new million dollar "tent" for the Pork Producers Association. "This new facility is a tribute to the hardworking pig farmers who keep the tradition of serving quality pork by the men and women who raise it alive," Tent Committee Chair Doug Rice told the Des Moines Register. He forgot to mention the lack of income for those producers who are again facing low prices, the continued consolidation in the industry, and the fact that companies like Smithfield have been announcing hog facility closures.

Thanks again for all your work!

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Thanks, Beth! Yes, this is a tough economic environment for producers. Smithfield hog buildings in Iowa and Missouri have been and continue to be closed (elsewhere, too, I’m sure).

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RFK.JR was not defending family farms when he represented families in north Missouri against Premium Standards Farms/Smithfield. He was a perfect example of an ambulance chaser. Families who signed up for the lawsuits created a large cash cow for his firm. Some of the first participants in the legal settlements built new homes in the same communities and were then participants in new class action law suits. Staff would travel in a ten mile area around farms soliciting participants to bring new lawsuits. It resulted in the state of Missouri passing legislation to prohibit this kind of repetitive action and solicitation.

The statements he made concerning vaccines falls into the same pattern of laying the ground work for future litigation on an issue that will have sufficient grey area and a potential for lucrative litigation. He is not someone to take seriously for public office, even though his name has recognition.

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Thanks for your informed and personal perspective, Joyce! Sad, but true!

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Thanks again for your thoughtful analysis and hope. The tie-in to Mr. Rastetter is crucial. Goats haven’t been vertically integrated yet… to my knowledge, and many immigrants love goat meat, so there’s one possible window of opportunity for family or beginning farmers….Was just discussing goats with our roofing foreman, who has a few and wants more.

And Mr. Kennedy is such a lost cause, it’s good to have him in the rear view mirror.

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Thanks, Josiah. Yes, both meat and dairy goats are popular (the dairy are a bit more of a commitment, of course!) We had a few meat goats briefly, at the request of our daughter. But they don’t like fences! It’s not likely that they will ever replace hogs as a profit center, but we’ll see!

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Thank you, Cheryl. I appreciate your expert, compassionate insight into the issues facing family farmers in Iowa.

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Thank you, Kathi!

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