Mighty Coyote - Pioneer Review

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Murdo Coyote Murdo Coyote • December 20, 2012 • Page 8 Lookin’ Around • Syd Iwan • Elementary Christmas concert… Top: Rose Comp, with help from Jake Dowling on the drum, accompanies the fifth and sixth grades as they sing during the elementary Christmas concert held Monday, December 17. Bottom: The elementary band plays their versions of Christmas carols during the concert. Photos by Lonna Jackson We don’t have many shepherds around here that are guarding their flocks by night as described in the Christmas story. We do have quite a few cowboys and ranchers that tend their herds although not so much at night. Cattle are a lot bigger than sheep and need less protection. Both shepherds and cowboys are in a similar line of work, though, in looking after livestock, and Jesus came to earth for people like us. He had a fondness for ordinary folks that had no great claim to fame and just went about their business. He also tended to surround himself with fishermen. Peter, James, and John were all men of the sea. And, although these men were not particularly learned, being with Jesus made them into forces to be reckoned with. They basically turned the world upside down so that it would never again be the same. During his time on earth, our Lord was even kind to tax collec- tors and showed them they were acceptable to God and could please him by being fair and honest. There weren’t, in fact, many people that Jesus didn’t reach out to and have compassion for. He had some trouble with the proud, greedy, and power-hungry, but he was willing to give even those a chance to get close to him. When you consider all these different types of people that Jesus came to help, we can see that his only motivation for coming to earth had to be love for us. It wasn’t because we were important and deserved his help. Why else would someone leave the glory of heaven to be born in a lowly stable in Bethlehem where he was no doubt surrounded by animals and there caretakers. And if that wasn’t bad enough, considering who he really was, he also came knowing he would have to die a terrible death to buy salvation for those he loved. Not many of us would be eager to leave a great and beautiful place only to humble ourselves and later die for others. Jesus did just that, however, and is therefore worthy of our thanks, love, respect and worship. The apostle Peter is one of my favorite people. He was rather a wild, impetuous fisherman who tended to act first and think later. This got him into trouble fairly often. He had a good heart, though, and stayed right next to the Lord, kept trying, and became a pillar of the early church. It just goes to show what being with Jesus can do for a person. When you consider this world and all the terrible things that go on—murder, strife, dissention, pride—being changed by God looks very attractive. We would rather be the kind policeman who provides shoes for a street person in New York than the evil man who forces his way into a school and kills children and other innocent folks. There are forces of good and evil, and we are much more likely to be classed with the good than the evil if we stay in touch with God. Hard hearts just don’t cut it, as you might expect. Judas was one of the disciples, but he never softened his heart. He stayed greedy and self absorbed right to the end, and even betrayed the Lord with a kiss. He got thirty pieces of silver for his betrayal. It wasn’t worth it as he suddenly realized afterward, so he killed himself in remorse. What a sad account. We, of course, have the option of being tenderhearted towards God instead of self-serving, and it is by far the best option. May we this Christmas be touched by the familiar story of Bethlehem, the shepherds, the star, the wise men and all of that. May it open our hearts to the Lord so his goodness can flow into us and then back out to others. If you consider what Christ did for us, it’s the least we can do. We can become positive forces for good, thanks to our Lord’s example. Merry Christmas. J C FSA News • David Klingberg • May it forever fill your home with love and light! Baker Trucking For a comfortable holiday season for one and all. Thanks for your business and please come again soon. FARM INCOME EXPECTED TO DECLINE BUT REMAIN SECOND HIGHEST IN HISTORY U.S. farm income is expected to decline by nearly $4 billion from its all-time high in 2011, yet that number is still the second highest on record since the 1970’s, according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Today’s forecast is heartening. It confirms that American farmers and ranchers remained impressively resilient in 2012, even with tough odds due to one of the worst droughts in more than a generation,” said Vilsack in response to the USDA 2012 Farm Income Forecast released today. “Thanks to its ability to remain competitive through thick and thin, U.S. agriculture is stronger today than at any time in our nation’s history, supporting and creating good-paying American jobs for millions.” MILK PRODUCTION REMAINS STEADY DESPITE DROUGHT, LOSS OF COWS Dairymen may have lost several cows due to drought, high feed prices, and heat, but milk production has remained steady, according to USDA’s latest dairy report. ’Tis the season Released last week, the report showed milk production in the 23 major states averaged 1,791 pounds in October, just one pound above October 2011 figures. The number of milk cows on farms was 8.47 million, which is 10,000 head less than last October. FSA CHANGES WAY PRODUCERS RECEIVE IRS FORMS Beginning this year, producers whose total reportable payments from the Farm Service Agency are less than $600 will not receive IRS Form 1099-G. Previously, the forms were issued to show all program payments received from FSA, regardless of the amount. Producers who receive payments from more than one county will receive one 1099-G form if the total of all payments from all counties is $600 or more. The same changes apply to producers who normally receive IRS Form 1099-MISC. MARKETING ASSISTANCE LOANS – LAST DAY IN 2012 FOR TAX PURPOSES IS DECEMBER 26 December 26 is the last day we can make a marketing loan on your grain and guarantee that it will be on your 2012 taxes. Marketing assistance loans provide producers interim financing at harvest time to meet cash flow needs without having to sell their commodities when market prices are typically at harvest-time lows. This allows producers to store production at harvest and facilitates more orderly marketing of commodities throughout the year. Details about the Price Support programs are as follows: Loan rates in Jones County: Winter Wheat - $2.88; Spring Wheat - $2.76; Barley - $1.80; Corn - $1.82; Grain Sorghum - $3.15; Oats - $1.31; Sunflower - $10.31. Loan Maturity: All loans will mature at the end of the ninth month following the month the loan is disbursed. The interest rate will be at the rate announced for the month the loan is disbursed subject to a January 1 adjustment. The current December interest rate is 1.125 percent. The County Committee has requested (if possible) that all bins be leveled for quality assurance and ease of measurement. They have also decided that we will loan on the peak if the bins are peaked. DATES TO REMEMBER/ DEADLINES: December 25: Office closed for Christmas Day January 1: Office closed for New Year’s Day Feel free to call the office if you ever have questions on any of our programs 605-669-2404 Ext. 2. GTO CAFE To wish all of our friends the magic that is Christmas. Hauptman Harvesting Solo… Kade Brost, sixth grade, sang a solo to start the sixth grade’s rendition of Rudolph the Red Rosed Reindeer at the elementary Christmas concert. Photo by Lonna Jackson Season’s Greetings All tuned up… Many thanks for your patronage and best wishes for a noteworthy year ahead. First National Bank Member FDIC For the best Christmas ever! May the magic never end! Venard, Inc.
DOES FISH OIL REALLY WORK? The field of medicine is loaded with drugs that just made perfect sense and yet when tested really didn’t work at all. Vitamin E is one of the most recent and famous ideas. It was advertised as an antioxidant that would prevent aging and prevent a whole host of other medical complications. Indeed, it is nature’s antioxidant. However when taken in pharmacologic doses, it had no impact at all on the health of those taking it. Coenzyme Q-10 is another example of a similar failure. It was advertised as a medication that would strengthen the heart and improve heart failure. All of the tests done thus far have shown no benefit for this over-the-counter product. Now comes the question of fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids. In the 1970’s it was observed that the Inuit Eskimos on the north shore of Alaska had serum cholesterols as high as 2000 milligrams percent! For those of you struggling with your own cholesterols, you are aware that a value above 200 milligram percent is considered unsafe and yet the Inuit Eskimos rarely if ever get heart attacks or strokes. When investigated further, it turned out that their basic foods were the fat from whales and seals. This fat is very rich in two different omega-3 fatty acids called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA). Further studies were done epidemiologically to determine if people who ate more fish had fewer heart attacks than those that did not. Indeed, there was a statistically significant decrease in the rate of heart attack or stroke in people that ate more salt water fish. It just made perfect sense to believe that EPA and DHA were the agents preventing the heart attacks and strokes in the Eskimos and in people who ate more fish. And so began the fish oil industry. Now omega-3 fatty acids are promoted all over the medical and the lay literature as being the answer to heart attack prevention. Two large studies seemed to support the idea. However, these two large studies were not what is called a “randomized double blind placebo controlled” study which is the gold standard of proof that a medication works. In the past 20 years, there have been multiple studies done asking two questions. These questions were: 1. Are supplemental fish oil or omega-3 fatty acids beneficial for the group of people who have already had a heart attack or a stroke? Will they prevent further cardiac or stroke events? 2. Are fish oil, flax seed, or omega-3 fatty acids effective in preventing stroke or heart attack in the general population who have never had a heart attack but may have one some day in the future? The very sad answer to both of these questions is that when omega-3 fatty acids from either flax seed or fish or from fish oil pills or from purified EPA/DHA tablets are used, there is no demonstrated decrease in the rate of heart attack or stroke in the treated population or in that part of the population that has already had a heart attack or stroke (Medical Letter, 54, page 83, Oct 15, 2012). The above opinion is based on no fewer than 6 different articles in multiple different medical journals in the past 3 months that have investigated the benefit of The Clinical View • Dr. P.E. Hoffsten • fish oil or omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. One of the articles published is a “meta-analysis.” A”meta-analysis” is a compilation of all the information available in the medical literature over the past many years to see if there is a demonstrated effect in combining all of the information. That article found no value in omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. The omega-3 fatty acid hypothesis is that supplementation will prevent a host of medical problems including macular degeneration, Alzheimer’s disease, heart attacks and stroke and aging. In defense of the hypothesis, all of the articles cited above do not demonstrate that omega-3 fatty acids have no benefit. Instead, they simply do not prove that the omega-3 fatty acids do have a benefit. Note the difference between “not proving a benefit” and yet “not proving no benefit.” Just because a study did not prove a benefit is not proof there is no benefit. Editorial critics of the above mentioned articles remark that the statistical power of the articles available thus far is too weak to demonstrate a beneficial effect. They make the point that higher doses of EPA/DHA given for a longer period of time may be demonstrated to decrease heart attack and stroke rates. Such studies are in process at this time. So what is the person to do in the mean time? It is safe to say that flax seed and flax seed oil have only five percent of the potential that fish oil has. It would not appear that flax seed or its oil are going to be useful as-long term dietary supplements to prevent O holy night May all be calm and bright and everyone blessed on this special night. Murdo Coyote Murdo Coyote • December 20, 2012 • Page 9 heart attack or stroke. Secondly, the studies thus far available do support the conclusion that two grams of fish oil per day or less is of consequence. In order to have any beneficial effect from the fish oil, it is obvious that it is going to take at least four grams a day. There are some medical authorities that feel a beneficial effect will not be seen short of two grams a day of combined EPA/DHA. As mentioned from all of the studies, that conclusion is not proven but is an “expert hypothesis.” Along the same line, I continue to struggle with why the statin family of drugs is rejected by so many individuals. That family of drugs has very clear evidence that they do prevent heart attacks and strokes and the side effect profile is very small. Using a dose adequate to get the total cholesterol below 200 milligrams percent and the LDL below 70 milligrams percent has compelling evidenced based medicine that statin drugs decrease heart attacks and strokes significantly. There is no scientific information at this time that supports the use of fish oil, krill oil, Mega Red, EPA/DHA, Vitamin E, Co-Q 10, flax seed, flax seed oil or any omega-3 fatty acids that prevent heart attack or stroke. The use of EPA/DHA in a dose of two grams per day for at least 10 years is still open to question as to whether or not it will have any beneficial life-saving effect. But the dabbling dose of one to two grams of fish oil a day or using flax seed has thus far no demonstrable benefit in altering any health perimeter. Season of giving… The mitten tree that has been on display in Hair, Inc. has once again done its job, and will make a difference in the live’s of local children this holiday season. Each year, a mitten is placed on the tree, which represents a child in need. Any member of the community may take a mitten and replace it with a wrapped Christmas gift. This year, each gift request was fulfilled, and the gifts will be delivered in time for Christmas. Photo by Lonna Jackson Will You Be Part of the Solution, or Part of the Problem? Farmers and ranchers are producing more food, fiber and fuel than ever before. The dramatic increase in agricultural productivity, particularly in the past 100 years, has occurred due to a combination of ingenuity, university research, Extension education, and technology. Much of this technology is in the form of chemical pesticides to control weeds, insects and diseases. These products have been a relief for producers as they provided an effective way to protect their crops and livestock, but they didn’t come without drawbacks. Of course they come at a price, but if chosen, applied and managed wisely, return more than the cost to use them in increased production. Pesticides vary in their level of toxicity, but if used with care, and while wearing the proper personal protective equipment, can be relatively safe. There are also potential environmental and residue concerns, but by following label recommendations, and used with training and discretion, these risks can also be minimized. An emerging problem has been resistance of the pests to the pesticides farmers and ranchers have come to depend on to control them. Herbicide, insecticide and fungicide resistance have all been documented for individual species and products as early as the 1940’s. The incidence of documented resistance has become more common in recent years, which is no surprise due to the large number of products that have become available, and to a dramatic increase in the use of them. Resistance starts small and can go unseen for a period of time as mutations in weed, insect and/or disease populations enable individual or a small percentage of plants, insects or fungal organisms to survive an application of the chemical. Resistance can accelerate quickly however, as the susceptible individuals are controlled and the resistant population survives, becomes dominant and multiplies. Using higher rates and/or products with the same mode of action can speed up the process. Message from the S.D. Highway Patrol I’m Inspector Darid Cooper with the South Dakota Highway Patrol Motor Carrier Services. It’s my job to help keep you safe. And it’s a whole lot easier to do my job if you help me out. I’m not asking for much. I’m asking you to buckle up. Every trip. Every time. I’m also asking you to make sure the rest of your family is buckled up every trip. Every time. It will make my job easier and help you and your family stay safe. Thanks and safe travels. Our Holiday Prescription A fun, festive season for one and all. We appreciate your business and wish you a happy, healthy holiday Extension News • Bob Fanning (605) 842-1267 • Certain practices are known to increase the incidence of resistance to pesticides, and fortunately, there are recommendations to avoid it. Monitor pests--Use researchbased sampling procedures to determine if pesticides are necessary (based on action/economic thresholds) and the best application timing (when pests are most susceptible). Consult your Extension Field Specialist or crop advisor about economic thresholds for the pest in question. After treatment, continue monitoring to assess pest populations and their control. Employ appropriate control measures--Effective IPM-based programs will include pesticides, cultural practices, biological control, mechanical control and sanitation. A healthy plant or crop is often less susceptible to pests. Select and use pesticides wisely and according to label directions. festive Be bring And joy to everyone you You can decide whether you are part of the solution, or part of the problem. For more information, contact your Regional Extension Center. Calendar 1/04/2013 – Private Applicator Certification meeting (PAT), 1:00 pm MST, Sr. Citizens Ctr, Philip, SD 1/9/2013 – Ag CEO, 5:30 pm, Winner Regional Extension Center, Winner, SD 1/11/2013 – PAT, 1:00 pm MST, Library Learning Center, Martin, SD 1/14/2013 – PAT, 1:30 pm CST/12:30 pm MST, Pierre, Winner, Lemmon & Rapid City Regional Extension Centers 1/15/2013 – PAT, 1:00 pm CST, Fire Hall, Presho, SD 1/16/2013 – Ranchers Workshop, SDSU Regional Extension Center, Winner, SD days are blessed with good food and your good Hope friends. Corky’s Auto Supply know. SAFE TRAVELS And a happy, healthy holiday season to one and all. All Pro Towing O, come all ye faithful... And rejoice in the glory of God this season. Holiday blessings to you and yours. Dr. James Szana First Fidelity Bank MEMBER FDIC Ranchland Drug Greetings To All May you revel in the simple pleasures of life and enjoy the season in all of its splendor.
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