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2008 August Issue
React with perseverance
by Darrell Anderson
They say that confession is good for the soul – so I suppose it is time to confess. Often times when I’m struggling for a column topic, my wife will give me an idea. And, I must admit that several of my best columns have come as a result of her suggestions.
This time around, Merlene called me with an idea for my editorial. I asked what it was, and she replied, “It’s the word ‘react.’ ” I said, “Excuse me, that’s it?” She said, “Yes, you can figure out where to go from there.”
The more I pondered her suggestion, the more I liked it – and the more I decided it was a great word to discuss in our industry right now.
React, as defined in Webster’s Dictionary, means: “to respond to a stimulus; be affected by some influence, event, etc.” We have many influences and events attempting to destroy our industry today and most of you are way too familiar with most of them. They range from high corn prices as a result of high fuel prices, to flood damage or poor crops due to a very destructive spring weather pattern, to animal activists who are working toward the elimination of animal agriculture.
Through it all, I can’t help but reflect on the Bible verse from Romans 5:3, “but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope.”
I know many of you have endured all the suffering you want to for a very long time, and you aren’t sure how much more character-building you can survive. But remember the last word in that verse is “hope.” That is what we all have to cling to through these challenging times. If you’ve been involved in animal agriculture for very many years, you know there have always been times of struggle. While this one seems especially crippling, I’m confident that those who persevere will rejoice in the hope that is waiting for them.
There is a lot of talk about $10 corn, and while I laughed at that projection a couple months ago, I’m not finding it quite so far-fetched today. However, I am sure of one thing – the consumers in this country better get prepared for a real paradigm shift in the cost of food. It’s obvious that our government has embraced a food-for-fuel policy, and that will yield some incredible changes in the grocery store. The current ethanol mandates will continue to force the diversion of corn from food to fuel, and the logical result has to be higher food costs for American consumers.
We all know that we have spoiled our consumers with the cheapest food on earth. It will be interesting to see how they react to this higher food cost. As pork producers, I’m sure we will hear accusations and be among those blamed, but this has to occur, or we won’t have viable hog and cattle industries in this country.
And of course, that is exactly what groups like the Humane Society of the United States are lobbying for with all of their energy and dollars. Disguised in the minds of most Americans as an organization that wants nothing more than better treatment for animals, their real agenda is elimination of the livestock business in this country.
They show up in the strangest places and hope to gain some publicity, and plant a few seeds of discontentment with the consuming public. They are but one more challenge that we need to decide how to react to in today’s industry. I’m not sure we can remain on the defensive on this one – we may need to get pro-active and aggressive in our efforts.
The bottom line is that we don’t know what lies ahead. If corn reaches $9-10/bushel, maybe live hog prices will surpass the $1/pound level. If that happens, all will be well in pork land. I scoffed at these projections last month, but I think both are possibilities today.
When we look at all of the negative factors that we can react to in our industry, it is vital that we focus on those things that are most important – faith, family and relationships.
To successfully keep everything in perspective, we need to remember this verse from Matthew 6:19-21.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
