Monday, Monday, so good for meat
Barb ShellyWhile candidates in Kansas duke it out in advance of the crucial Aug. 7 primaries, at least one Sunflower State politician is reveling in a clear victory.
That would be U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, who got none other than the vast U.S. Department of Agriculture bureaucracy to back down.
Moran pitched a fit over a suggestion on the department’s on-line newsletter that employees participate in “meatless Mondays,” because, you know, eating less meat is good for the eater and also the environment. Raising and slaughtering livestock consumes a ton of resources. Moran, who hails from the nation’s third-largest beef-producing state, saw this as a direct slap to meat producers.
“Never in my life would I have expected USDA to be opposed to farmers and ranchers,” he said. “American farmers and ranchers deserve a USDA that will pursue supportive policies rather than seek their further harm. With extreme drought conditions plaguing much of the United States, the USDA should be more concerned about helping drought-stricken producers rather than demonizing an industry reeling from the lack of rain.”
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack quickly stepped in and ordered the meatless Monday promo stricken from the newsletter.
The ongoing drought raises the question of how long Kansas will be able to raise corn-fed beef, when corn production is draining the Ogallala Aquifer in the western part of the state.
But that apparently is a subject for another day. For now, how about Monday burger specials in the USDA cafeteria?
Steven Fetter
66223
9 months, 3 weeks agoAnother example of a government agency being completely out of touch with American consumers.
And corn-fed beef is much more impacted by government mandated ethanol use than seasonal; droughts. Even the environmental lobby no longer advocates using corn for this green boondoggle. The real question to ask is why we continue to push corn for fuel?
As far as the Ogallala Aquifer, well it’s demise has been predicted for the past 50 years. It is now believed that it’s recharging abilities have been underestimated.
Enjoy your burger and put away the guilt.