The largest deterrent for optimists wanting to have a positive influence on the world is their inability to realize that the only useful purpose served by a pessimist is as pot hole filler on the road to success.
I want to apologize for writing so few blogs lately. Between field/barnwork and travelling back and forth to meetings, there just hasn't been much time.
Genetic progress is stuck in neutral.
Secretariat still holds the record for the Kentucky Derby after almost 40 years.
Goats in Ontario still average the same milk volume per day as they did 30 years ago.
Cows give a lot more milk now but where do we divide feed management and genetics? Have we given up almost as much in health, feet, and reproduction as we've gained genetically?
On the crop side, are we reaching plateaus in yields at the cost of quality and diversity?
When genetic selection is based on single trait selection to gain short-term financial returns (i.e. terminator genes, high production) instead of being based on supplying food to improve the health of the people and the animals that it is produced for we have failed.
At this time, when food supply and the cost of maintaining our health system are major topics, we need to take the lead as 'farmers', not 'multinationals', and make long-term right decisions.
Story of the Week:
A man, his wife, nine kids, and a blind man were waiting at the bus stop. When the bus arrived it was rather well filled. The driver said that he could take the mother and the nine kids, but the two men would have to walk or wait for the next bus.
When the bus left, the men started walking. The blind man continuously tapped to the pavement with his cane as he walked. Finally, the other man said to the blind man, "If you put a rubber end on that stick it wouldn't make so much noise."
The blind man replied, "If you had put a rubber on your stick we wouldn't be walking."
