Don't Tread On Me
By Trent LoosFrom labels to logos, it seems that everything and everyone these days has a symbol that represents them. If the food producers in this country could unite long enough for a vote, I wonder what we might select to symbolize our livelihood.
I recently met a gentleman from Shreveport, LA who was selling jewelry at the Central States Fair in Rapid City, SD. He was curious about the beef industry and why we chose to raise beef instead of buffalo. I told him that we had to produce a product that we could sell based on consumer choice. His comment was that, “Buffalo are the symbol of America and all ranchers should raise them. People would pay $5 per car load just to see them, and that should be very profitable.”
Buffalo, or more correctly the American Bison, numbered in excess of 60 million during the late 1700’s in North America. By 1895, there were fewer than 1000 bison in America. Through government intervention and the efforts of a few dedicated ranchers, the American Bison herd today is back to 400,000.
The jewelry salesman’s perception of “the symbol of America” is what really stuck in my mind. Since 1782, the American Bald Eagle has been the officially designated symbol of America. About the same time the American Bison population peaked, Bald Eagles numbered about 500,000. By 1960, there were less than 500 pair nationwide. Once again, thanks to government intervention, the Bald Eagle population has climbed back to about 6,000 birds.
Upon its designation as the symbol of America, the Bald Eagle received some harsh criticism from none other than Benjamin Franklin, who made the following comments:
“I wish that the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country, he is a bird of bad moral character, he does not get his living honestly, you may have seen him perched on some dead tree, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labor of the fishing-hawk, and when that diligent bird has at length taken a fish, and is bearing it to its nest for the support of his mate and young ones, the bald eagle pursues him and takes it from him... Besides he is a rank coward…”
Franklin once suggested the rattlesnake as a choice for the symbol of our great nation. He supported this notion with the following theory:
“The rattlesnake has sharp eyes, and may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance. She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage. ... she never wounds 'till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of treading on her."
I find it less than amusing that our society has adopted such a curious double standard. It holds in high regard two species that would not have survived without assistance from the United States government, but is quick to criticize the American Farmer, also nearly extinct, for receiving government subsidies. Far too often, outspoken critics have not taken into consideration the facts as they relate to the budget of the United States Department of Agriculture. According to the 2004 budget, only 28.7% of taxpayer dollars budgeted to USDA will go to farmers. The majority of the funds are dedicated to Food and Nutrition programs at a whopping 57.5%. Who receives the majority of the USDA’s tax allotment? The funds go to 21.6 million people on food stamps, 7.8 million women and children on the WIC program and 29 million children who eat school lunches.
It seems that food producers in this country have a choice. We can adopt the “Don’t tread on me” motto of the rattlesnake and stand up for ourselves, take responsibility for our actions and continue to produce safe, high quality food in this country. Or we can curl up and allow the negative publicity, criticism and false accusations to destroy us to the point that our only means of survival is through government intervention or relocation south of the equator. I’ve faced enough rattlesnakes to know that their method of defending themselves leaves a lasting impression!
