Antibiotics

Perspectives

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  Becky Martinez

  Glen Ellyn, IL

  I believe the best research is hands-on and up close.

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  About Me

  I'm a busy mom of twins. Our family, along with our two dogs, loves spending time outdoors and being active. I love learning and experiencing new things!

  Why I'm a Field Mom

  I want to see where my food comes from and share what I learn with others. With all the conflicting information about what foods to feed your family, I am looking forward to learning firsthand from the people who grow it.

  From a Mom

  (On the hog farm tour I learned) That NO DRUGS can be in their systems when sent to harvest. And the incredible amount of tracking and paperwork that is done to be accountable for this. Also that keeping them inside helps prevent the need for antibiotics in the first place!

  And while it may seem unnatural or unfair to keep them inside-it's actually BETTER FOR THEM INSIDE. When pigs live outside-they are exposed to the elements, which can alter how they eat and drink. Cold, shivering pigs, need more food. Hot pigs roll around in the mud, that they and their buddies also poop in, along with birds and rodents, which exposes them to diseases, which then have to be treated. Yuck! Indoors, everything is controlled for optimum piggy comfort-from temperature, food and water, ventilation, and best of all-their poop falls through slats in the floor.

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  Amy Hansmann

  River Forest, IL

  I'm an active, educated, stay-at-home mom of two.

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  About me

  I'm an active, educated, stay-at-home mom who takes an interest in providing healthy food to my family. I'm a regular volunteer at the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry.

  About my family

  Our family recently expanded with the addition of another son. We now have two boys, 4-year old Keith, and 8-month old Kyle. My whole family loves to sail, and we enjoy the summer season on the water.

  Why I'm a Field Mom

  I'm concerned about the use of chemicals in farming and how they may affect our health. As for animal products, I am concerned about overall treatment of the animals, drugs used and cleanliness. I am not happy with the increasing amount of processed foods available and look for healthier options. I cook at home most nights of the week, and I'm excited to see for myself what happens on Illinois farms.

  What I hope to see on the farms

  I am most interested in those that raise livestock. I hope to see the way they live, the care they receive and the life cycle on the farm. I am also interested in the science used to combat pests or ailments both with livestock and with crops.

  From a Mom

  The animals have individual medical charts, are attended by vets and dieticians and given antibiotics when ill. With regard to the antibiotics each farm and related industry requires multiple rounds of testing to assure that animals receiving antibiotics are not entering the food chain.

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  Betsie Estes

  Elk Grove Village, IL

  I'm back in Illinois after spending eight years in Texas.

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  About me I was raised in the Chicago area, and I'm back after spending eight years in Texas. I'm constantly trying to find new ways to cook things that will be appealing to preschoolers! About my family We have two children, 4-year old daughter Sophie, and 3-year old son Daniel. We love to take bike rides, go fishing, travel, and enjoy everything this amazing area has to offer. My husband and I split the cooking duties. Some of our favorite meals are our weekend breakfasts – my biscuits and gravy are to die for!

  Why I'm a Field Mom

  I worry about the hormones and antibiotics in food and how those things will affect my children down the road. I also worry about the demise of the family farm and the livelihood of the people who work so hard to keep this country healthy, happy and well-fed. Family farms are such an important part of America's heritage, and they need to be revered and preserved. I think everyone should know how much work goes into getting food from the field to the table.

  How I plans my family's meals

  There's a lot more planning that comes with being a mom, and especially a working mom! Not only do I have to make sure I'm cooking food my kids will eat and still offering healthy options, I have to plan every single meal well in advance to make sure the preparation will fit into our busy lives.

  From a Mom

  Basically, just like beef from the farm, there's a withdrawal period once cows are given antibiotics - so those never enter into the milk in stores.

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  Carrie Pollard

  Rockford, IL

  Po-Cop Dairy

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  From a Farmer

  When an animal is sick, it is my responsibility to care for it. Sometimes, the best way for me to do this is to use an antibiotic. However, that animal product (be it milk, meat or eggs) is removed or withheld from the food supply until that antibiotic has cleared the animal's body. All milk is tested for antibiotics on the farm and at the processing plant. Any milk that tests positive for antibiotics cannot be sold to the public and is discarded. I won't give anything to my animals that I do not feel is safe for them, my family, and yours.

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  Mike & Lynn Martz Family

  Maple Park, IL

  We raise beef cows and grow corn, soybeans and wheat.

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  About our family We have a son, Justin, our daughter-in-law, Jamie, and our grandson, Jaxson. About our food We grow corn, soybeans and wheat on 6,350 acres. We can also raise 3,500 beef cattle at a time on our feedlot. About our farm We’ve been farming since 1979, when we formed the Larson Farms Partnership with Lynn’s father, Ray, and her brothers, Dave and Norm. We spent the first nine years managing the cattle backgrounding operation in Wisconsin. (Backgrounding means raising the calves on pasture and getting them ready for the feedlot.)   In 1988, we moved to the main farm in Maple Park. Mike worked with Lynn’s father, Ray, managing the feedlot (where we use high-energy rations to “finish” the cattle, which means getting them ready for market). Lynn handled the billing for our custom feedlot.   In 1996, Lynn’s brothers, Norm and Dave, had the opportunity to work with Case IH to develop a crop scouting business (a service to farmers where professionals monitor and evaluate crop health and growth). So at that time, Lynn started to manage the cropping side of the farm.  And our sister-in-law Barb (Norm’s wife) took over the cattle billing as the crop acres began to grow in size.  Our son Justin joined the Larson Farms Partnership in 2011. Mike & Lynn on... Our farming philosophy To provide safe, nutritious, wholesome beef products to consumers with humane treatment of each animal and production practices that are environmentally friendly. The best thing about being a farmer Seeing the fruits of our labor. Though the weather and markets can be challenging, it’s very rewarding to see our accomplishments.

  From a Farmer

  Mike Martz - We walk those cattle every day; we've got to look at symptoms. When antibiotics are used to treat sick animals, we follow the proper withdrawal time. I don't want to eat meat that has drugs in it. It's not safe for my family or your family. Antibiotic residues are tested for at the packing plant. If that happened they would find the animal and USDA and FDA would track it back to my farm. We're not going to supply animals that have any drug residues.

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  Pilar Clark

  Lisle, IL

  I'm a long-time writer and social media strategist and work-at-home mom.

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  About me

  I'm a long-time writer and social media strategist and work-at-home mom who understands the need for balance and the difficulty of achieving it in everyday life. Seeing my children thrive and grow is like basking in sunshine.

  About my family

  We're a relatively traditional suburban clan, made up of two parents and two children, a 5-year old and a 2-year old. Our family likes to spend time at the local zoos and museums and the beach during the summer, and we look forward to taking our children abroad when they're older to explore their multicultural roots.

  Why I'm a Field Mom

  I often wonder who cultivates and raises the foods found in our fridge. What kind of farms does our food come from? What kinds of fertilizers, pest control and hormones are used? Who are the people involved and what are their own family food traditions? Knowing how things go from farm to fridge and hearing from the folks who are deeply vested in their farming traditions would be amazing.

  How I was inspired about food

  I remember eating together as a family, and loved seeing my mom and granny making dinner even though both also worked. It inspired me to start experimenting in the kitchen at a young age with the knowledge that a love of cooking and career could go hand in hand.

  From a Mom

  Antibiotics pass through cattle before they even go to market. Farmers and veterinarians are working to reduce antibiotic use in cattle by focusing on good nutrition and the use of vaccines in comprehensive preconditioning programs (before they get big enough for us to eat).