product is the central link in any profitable fam. Marketing is the third link in this process. Our best efforts to grow and convert bulk grains and forages into saleable products fall short when we cannot market this production at enough of a profit to sustain our families. In addition to our family financial needs, enough profit must be generated to allow for reinvestment. These connected chain links now form a complete production circle. A more detailed explanation of this concept can be found in Alan Savory s Holistic Resource Management (Island Press, 1988). We can observe our farming activities and measure their performance with this concept. How can we use this model to develop the sustainable agriculture that we want on our farms? We can begin by examining our farm s sunlight-to-reinvestment chain for its weak link. Any chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Investments of our capital and our labor must be directed towards this weakest link once it has been uncovered. For example, an investment to grow higher yielding crops would do little good if these crops were not efficiently converted into a product that can be sold. Here the weak link would be product conversion. On our farm, the weak link has been converting grown crops into products. We identified this characteristic of our operation shortly after completing the basic course in Holistic Resource Management (HRM) three years ago. To address this weak link, we improved feed efficiency with better swine genetics, reduced processing cost be eliminating the grinding of sow feed, and began routine weight checks of growing pigs to track their performance. Co-mingled, planned grazing of purchased stocker cattle with the gestating sow herd also improved the conversion of existing forages into livestock product. Attention to this weak link improved the financial performance of our farm. However, a basic principle of HRM is that a weak link can shift. During the past months, there is little doubt in my mind that it has definitely shifted to marketing. We are currently directing our resources to address this situation. My next column will detail this more. | FROM THE KITCHEN Marj Stonecypher, Floyd, Iowa Beans are harvested and now we are full swing into harvesting our corn. Tony is hauling corn for me, so I can give you all a couple of my busy farm wife recipes. CHICKEN or SIRLOIN STEAK CASSEROLE 1 can chicken noodle soup 1 can cream of chicken soup 1 can Swanson Chicken or 1 to 1 1/2 cup left-over chicken 1 cup evaporated milk or cream 2 cups chow mein noodles For sirloin steak I use 1 1/2 cup of baked or grilled sirlon steak in place of chicken and 1 can cream of mushroom soup in place of cream of chicken. Mix all together and put on casserole. Sprinkle with desired melted butter mix in seasoned bread crumbs. Bake 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until set in center. Microwave: CRAZY MIXED UP CAKE 1 1/3 cup flour 1 cup sugar 3 Tbsp. cocoa 1 tsp. soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. vanilla 1/4 cup oil 1 Tbsp. vinegar 3/4 cup water or coffee Sift dry ingredients into round baking dish. Make 3 holes. Pour vanilla in one, oil in one and vinegar in third. Pour water or coffee overall. Stir very well with fork till blended. Smooth batter higher toward outside edges (I place a shot glass in the center to conduct the heat more evenly). Bake on half power 4-5 minutes, then full power 2-3 minutes or till top springs back when touched. (time depends on the power of your microwave). Serve plain, dust with powered sugar, whip cream or a la mode. Have a safe harvest. Take a break, go to the house for meals. We do. | PFI MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION AND RENEWAL FORM Name _______________________________________ Address ______________________________________ City _________________________________________ County ______________________________________ State _________________________________________ Zip Code ____________________________________ Phone # _________________________________________ This is a _____ new membership _____ renewal Do you derive a significant part of your income directly from farming in Iowa? _____ yes _____ no Please enclose check or money order ($10 for one year, $25 for three years) payable to "Practical Farmers of Iowa" and mail to: Practical Farmers of Iowa 2035 190th St. Boone, IA 50036 CORRESPONDENCE Correspondence to the PFI directors' addresses is always welcome. Member contributions to the Practical Farmer are also welcome and will be reviewed by the PFI board of directors. District 1 (Northwest): Paul Mugge, 6190 470th St., Sutherland, 51058. (712) 446-2414. District 2 (North Central): Raymond Stonecypher, 1321 March Ave., Floyd, IA, 50435-8058. (515) 398-2417. District 3 (Northeast): Laura Krouse, 1346 Springville Rd., Mt. Vernon, IA 52314. (319) 895-6924. District 4 (Southwest): Vic Madsen, PFI President, 2186 --- * Origin: [via Psychotronic BBS = Durham, NC = 919-286-4542]sustag- (1:3641/1) @PATH: 3641/1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (80) Fri 2 Dec 94 3:04 By: Rick Exner To: All Re: 11:Practical Farmers of Iowa newsletter, fall 1994 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- @MSGID: 1:3641/223 0006aae2 @PID GIGO+ sn 175 at psybbs vsn 0.99 pl1 @SPLIT: 04 Dec 94 14:31:40 @3641/223 6952 11/11 ++++++++++ From: dnexner@iastate.edu (Rick Exner) @Subject: Practical Farmers of Iowa newsletter, fall 1994 Date: 2 Dec 1994 03:04:21 -0000 @Sender: daemon@bigblue.oit.unc.edu @Message-Id: <9412011822.AA03635@iastate.edu> Goldfinch Ave., Audubon, 50025. (712) 563-3044. District 5 (Southeast): Jeff Olson, PFI Vice President, 2273 140th St., Winfield, 52659. (319) 257-6967. Associate board member for District 2: Don Davidson, RR 1, Box 133, Grundy Center, 50638. (319) 824-6347. Associate board member for District 3: Walter Ebert, RR 1, Box 104, Plainfield, 50666. (319) 276-4444. Associate board member for District 5: David Lubben, RR 3, Box 128, Monticello, IA 52310. (319) 465-4717. PFI Executive Vice President & Treasurer: Dick Thompson, 2035 190th St., Boone, 50036. (515) 432-1560. Coordinators: Rick Exner, Gary Huber, Room 2104, Agronomy Hall, ISU, Ames, Iowa, 50011. (515) 294-1923.Internet: dnexner@iastate.edu x1ghuber@exnet.iastate.edu Public Relations Coordinator: Maria Vakulskas Rosmann, 1222 Ironwood Rd., Harlan, 51537. (712) 627-4653. | --- * Origin: [via Psychotronic BBS = Durham, NC = 919-286-4542]sustag- (1:3641/1) @PATH: 3641/1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (81) Fri 2 Dec 94 3:17 By: Larry London To: All Re: Pollution of air and Groundwater in NC causing Cancer Deaths: HELP! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- @MSGID: 1:3641/223 0006aae5 @PID GIGO+ sn 175 at psybbs vsn 0.99 pl1 From: london@sunsite.unc.edu (Larry London) @Subject: Pollution of air and Groundwater in NC causing Cancer Deaths: HELP! Date: 2 Dec 1994 03:17:17 -0000 @Sender: daemon@bigblue.oit.unc.edu @Message-Id: <9412020258.AA26935@sunsite.oit.unc.edu> ------- start of forwarded message ------- >From: pawcreek@aol.com (PawCreek) Newsgroups: sci.bio.ecology Subject: Pollution of air and Groundwater in NC causing Cancer Deaths: HELP! Date: 30 Nov 1994 02:10:02 -0500 Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Lines: 62 In our small town of Paw Creek, North Carolina (a suburb of Charlotte), there have been over 150 toxin-related cancer cases in the last year and a half -- that we know of. The toxic substances causing these cancers are all emanating from twelve major oil companies operating in the Charlotte area, via leaking pipelines, illegal dumping, and poorly maintained storage facilities. It is estimated that in the last thirty years, over 600,000 gallons of fuel have leaked into the soil and water table in our area, not to mention the benzene and chlorinated solvents polluting our air. Our community has banded together in an effort to force local and state government to wake up and make the oil companies clean up their act and stop the deadly pollution. We have been largely ignored. In spite of several third-party scientific investigations into the matter, showing excess levels of