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Food Dialogues

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Food Dialogues

Question of the Week

How will the agricultural industry grow healthier food with less pesticide use and healthier livestock with less or no use of antibiotics?

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Expanded Conversation Edition

This expanded, full-feature edition includes expanded conversations between farmers and ranchers and consumers about how food is grown and raised. For more information and to join the conversations, please visit us at http://www.fooddialogues.com.

Turkey Documentary

Just in time for the holidays, learn about how turkeys are raised at Nilsen Farms in Wilton, Calif. Nilsen Farms uses its natural resources to create sustainable energy and eliminate waste. For more information and to join the conversations, please visit us at http://www.fooddialogues.com.

We Can Listen and Provide Answers

Farmers and ranchers are listening and want to answer Americans' questions about how their food is grown and raised. For more information and to join the conversations, please visit us at http://www.fooddialogues.com.

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My wife and I have been given a chance to move to and develope a 60 acre farm plus a nearby 80 acre farm that is currently not under cultivation. I dont know a harrow from a tine! We would like to have an organic farm to market business, veg, bees, goat cheese,etc,etc,etc and possibly some sort of soybean and or corn crop to market. We have a million ideas but dont know where to start. I was raised around dairy farms and spent 15 years as a Land Surveyor, I'm used to hard work and long hours but I need some direction to sort through all the information offered. Can anyone make any suggestions? (other than run away and don't ever look back) Thanks a million

Author: earthworker

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Topic: Other

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How can we continue to call sea-products/(organic?) I know most "organic growers", often use sea products and many other OMRI sanctioned items but I beg people to remember that our oceans are unregulated and have so very much pollution in them how can we say we are growing organically when we use the products produced from the seas? Also, don't most people realize that many natural and or biological insecticide and or pesticides are still really poison? I support the natural order of things, and I support growing in a healthy good way - for the health of the planet and of our bodies, I just want folks to be honest with themselves about really where it's ALL coming from. I'm just saying..

Author: Rochelle

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Topic: Food Safety

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Do you promote the mandatory labeling of GMO produce (or products containing any GMO)?

Author: Al

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Topic: Food Safety

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When reading on here it seems like some people who are asking questions or posting their opinions are not fully educated on both sides of the topic they are talking about. So I would like to encourage everyone before posting to do research on the topic you are posting about. And when you're doing research, research both sides of the topic, even if you don't agree with one side. Take for instance if you're against all factory farms don't just watch a movie like Food Inc. (yes I have watched it and I thought it was very biased) also do research as to why practices are done a certain way in the farming industry. Go and visit a farm or talk to a farmer that are using the practices you are against, ask questions you might come away with a better understanding of why things are done that way. And most importantly have an open mind and try to better understand how and why things are done a certain way. Is there a better way for something to be done, yes there most likely is.

Author: TaylorFarms

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Topic: Animal Care

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Could we learn from other cultures who have installed monoculture crops for cash at the expense of biodiversity?

Author: pdjmoo

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Topic: Environmental Stewardship

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Why doesn't this organization get it? Agriculture is not a dirty word today. As a farmer I find it to be a very trendy word as I meet and relate to people. The dirty word today is "Ag-industry".

Author: eddysinger

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Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

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How will the agricultural industry grow healthier food with less or on pesticides and healthier livestock with less or no use of antibiotics? I believe both of these initiatives are important to provide healthier food that is also more nutritious.

Author: rider

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Topic: Healthy Eating / Healthy Choices

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I recently heard on NPR, a food expert state that there is more than enough food in the world to feed the world's population but, huge percentages are lost in transport or even at the grocery store due to spoilage. Is this concern being taken seriously and there ongoing efforts across the board to reduce this very serious problem?

Author: ConsumerT

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Topic: Other

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I always try to buy food that was grown in the USA. However, canned, frozen and boxed products usually just say "distributed by". Is it fair to assume that these are then grown in another country? Why do our labeling laws not include the food we eat as requiring it's country of origin?

Author: katica2

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Topic: Other

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Since a reduced solar magnetic shielding against cosmic rays that create highly solar reflective low level clouds is expected to persist for many decades, a situation that some describe as a "Little Ice Age setting in about 2014", what should farmers do to prepare for this challenge?

Author: grizzlygovfan

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Topic: Other

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I think how we treat our animals has a lot to do with the quality of our end product. And I think that way is free range, because the animals get to run and play and act like they did back in the early days when we didn't pump them full of hormones and other drugs. On a good note. I am pleased that we are getting rid of those inhumane sow pens. Ken Sokolowski, White Cloud MI

Author: Sokolowski farm

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Topic: Animal Care

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Why is there so much resistance to labeling products that contain GMOs? Consumers have the right to know. I believe most do not want to consume GMOs.

Author: Tatebigpapa

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Topic: Food Safety

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I've been hearing some folks in my town arguing against pasteurized milk. Can you explain what pasteurizing does to make milk safe? What are the relevant issues that we need to know about this pasteurized vs. raw milk issue?

Author: Cathy Stanford

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Topic: Food Safety

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We use oil to produce fertilizer, to grow corn, to feed it to cattle and chickens. If we didn't use the oil for fertilizer, and we didn't feed our animals corn. Then what? Grass fed beef and free range chickens? How will the oil and chemical companies make their money? Without oil and chemicals we would have higher food prices in the beginning, but I believe in the long run the quality of food would out weigh the cost.

Author: Koeberle

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Topic: Technology & Agriculture

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I wish food was more natural, less engineered. I wish animals were free range with no additives. Can you grow vegetables hydroponically? Wouldn't that be less likely to allow salmonella and other bacteria? And fertilizer ought to be natural and not chemical. In fact we need to take chemicals out of the equation all together and use natural, biological materials. I also know what the probable answer is; money. But, the love of money is the root of all evil and look where we are today. All for the love of money!

Author: Barengaria

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Topic: Other

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Just saw your ad on food safety for the first time. Very impressed with the honesty and integrity of the farmers and their families. I take great encouragement that they show such pride in what they produce and they have the same concerns I do. My question is about the final process of producing meat; the slaughter process. I have HUGE concerns over this and eat zero meat anymore as a way to protest the inhumane treatment. I did enjoy eating meat and wonder why the meat industry does not do more to promote a transparent slaughter process to the public? I would be so pleased and able to go back to eating meat if I knew without doubt that the animals are treated humanely from farm to table. What can the USFRA do to promote a more humane life cycle and reassure consumers on animal welfare? It seems so simple to me that the big slaughterhouses and meat producers gain consumer confidence by magnifying this process and commit to humane treatment for all farm animals.

Author: gail

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Topic: Animal Care

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Can Holly berries and leaves be used as garnish

Author: tim

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Topic: Food Safety

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do you believe that america needs a national flood control and irrigation system that could put millions of unemployed workers to work immediately?

Author: oboyimad

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Topic: Technology & Agriculture

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why is it that some farmers tell you that you will be paid when crops are all in, but then will not pay up like they promised?

Author: jerry

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Topic: Other

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Where is USFRA on the 2012 Farm & Food Bill? That's a once-in-five-year opportunity to truly begin shifting the direction of agriculture policy, providing more incentives for aspiring farmers to start their own farm businesses through sustainable practices. That's where the market is headed but where are the voices of farmers and ranchers?

Author: heath

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Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

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Are land prices becoming too high?

Author: Tom Lindemann

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Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

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Why has it taken this long for modern farmers and their representatives to directly confront their implacable enemies? Apparently something has changed.

Author: Eric Baumholder

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Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

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How familiar are you with the steps beef producers (from farm to store) take to make sure the beef you eat is safe and wholesome? Please watch the following youtube videos and let us know what other information you would find useful. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AnPKEOjWyo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Fj81Ljx58s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHFnSU04DFw

Author: RAJochum

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Topic: Food Safety

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Would you supplement your diesel fuel needs by growing your own PVO to use as a biodiesel? For farmers and ranchers south of a line from Corpus Christi to Laredo (best weather for a cold intolerant plant), jatropha curcas (The Barbados Nut) would be a great addition, in lowering fuel costs, reduction of pollutants, very slightly decreasing foriegn demand for petroleum products (oil for diesel fuel).

Author: Clint

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Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

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GMO? Everything and anything you know about gmo.

Author: mg5405

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Topic: Technology & Agriculture

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NINE BILLION PEOPLE??? That is just too many people. Let's work towards a negative population growth. My solutions are to create universal, free, non-compulsory: Birth control on demand. A well-rounded education including history, world systems, science, sex*, sociology, etc. *There are too many teens, and even adults, who know nothing whatsoever, and find themselves pregnant and don't know why. That is part of the nine billion problem, and DON'T blame it on the two-thirds world. All these problems are worldwide.

Author: Ellen in Conn

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Topic: Other

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Because much of the world rejects gmo's because of health concerns, why doesn't the industry fund a valid study that would put these concerns to rest?

Author: mlr

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Topic: Food Safety

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Food making devices engineering for better food delivered from fast food restaurants. For example, fresh vacuum packed food delivered made into healthy fast food from engineered food making devices would increase the American health for a stronger worker and economy. Have farmers thought of working with engineers to make better use of the food in resturants and fast food America? For example, CHAI SEEDS have higher protein content than steak, higher calcium than milk, has minerals and all the oils useful for health. CHAI SEEDS added to school food for kids, and fastfood in raw form could raise the nations health. There are many solutions to cover the cradle to cradle life cycle economy for true value. Who has done this work in simple common sense solutions?

Author: HomeRunEconomy

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Topic: Technology & Agriculture

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Food packaging to stay fresh so people get fresh food rather than canned or frozen. What technology exists to vacuum pack food for longer life for the market? Fresh food means healthy Americans for a stronger economy.

Author: HomeRunEconomy

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Topic: Technology & Agriculture

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What are the protein options for more and more people? Sea World in San Diego is growing sea bass in nets in the ocean close to shore. Low cost protein. Can others do this? Also, fresh water fish farms are a low cost protein source. Who is pursuing this option in America? What other protein options are there low cost for an increasing population?

Author: HomeRunEconomy

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Topic: Other

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I notice many of the farmers and ranchers saying that they care as much about their animals and crops as do consumers. While this may be true on a family farm, it is demonstrably untrue for large factory farms and the manufacturers of chemical fertilizers and GMO seeds, as has been brought home by numerous studies showing how these substances are not only harming our natural environment, but the health and well being of people all over the world. Why, if this organization says it wants to be a part of the solution, are there NO organizations devoted to growing organically or cleaning up toxins in our environment?

Author: Keyspoet

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Topic: Food Safety

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Comment (30)

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What do you feel is U.S. agriculture's responsibility in feeding a population expected to exceed 9 billion people by 2050? Do you agree or disagree that it takes all types of farms to offer both the choices and necessary quantity of food?

Author: Michele Payn-Knoper

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Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

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Comment (29)

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How can we take this effort seriously when the advisory panel includes Monsanto and DuPont, arguably two of the companies most responsible for the current deplorable state of our food supply; AND includes not a single organic or non-chemical producer or organization??

Author: Keyspoet

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Topic: Food Safety

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Comment (8)

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Why do none of the large agribusinesses consider building the soil to be a priority? Chemical farming, far from being traditional, is the antithesis of truly traditional farming, which entails great efforts to build the soil each and every year, leading to healthier plants which are far more resistant to pests and disease without the need for chemical amendments. Addicting plants to chemical fertilizers, much as addicting humans to chemical drugs, can only have a deleterious effect in the long run. Building the soil, conversely, leads to healthier plants and a healthier environment in which to grow them.

Author: Keyspoet

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Topic: Environmental Stewardship

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Comment (12)

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Farmers and consumers in many countries throughout the global north and the global south have rejected both the ecological risks and the economic/legal terms posed by transgenic (GMO) seeds. How does this reality affect U.S. farmers' decisions on what types of seeds to plant?

Author: Yi Wang

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Topic: Technology & Agriculture

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Comment (7)

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Small, biodiverse family farms have been well documented around the world to produce more total food per acre than large monocultures due to biological and ecological synergies and efficiencies. How can agricultural marketing and distribution channels be made more compatible with polyculture farming?

Author: Yi Wang

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Topic: Technology & Agriculture

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Comment (6)

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Why is "Genetically Modified" being pushed as 'the way' to ensure better food supply? How does the USFRA stand on GMO agriculture?

Author: Rick van Vliet

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Topic: Food Safety

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Comment (5)

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Due to marketing tactics, most consumers do not have an accurate perception of where their food comes from. What steps are you taking to improve transparency so that consumers know what kind of operation they are supporting with their dollars?

Author: denise

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Topic: Healthy Eating / Healthy Choices

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Comment (5)

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Amidst shrinking government services and rising costs of living, consumers can afford to sustain healthier diets only if they have adequate and reliable incomes. How do the agricultural, food processing and retail industries plan to reconcile the decades-long decline in real wages within the food system and in returns to farmers with the record food prices and record profits that we have seen in the past four years?

Author: Yi Wang

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Topic: Food Affordability & Accessibliity

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Comment (4)

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Will USFRA affiliated organizations' members disclose the amount of government subsidies they receive so that the public has a better understanding of American farm subsidies and can develop informed opinions on how to improve our agricultural policies?

Author: denise

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Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

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Comment (2)

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Eliminate factory farms!! Implement organic community farms across this country; small community farms within the community; implement raising farm fish & clams on these farms; thank you.

Author: gailflaherty@yahoo.com

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Topic: Food Safety

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Comment (4)

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How are America's farmers and ranchers addressing concerns about animal welfare particularly in factory farms? Particularly with regards to the call by many very popular food journalists (like Michael Pollan and James Rachels) to end factory farming

Author: qanimal

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Topic: Animal Care

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Comment (3)

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Of the panel people participating, how many are being paid to appear?

Author: ArchStanton

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Topic: Other

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Comment (1)

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Are any small or mid-sized farmers or ranchers on the Board of the USFRA?

Author: Martha

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Topic: Other

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Comment (0)

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Why can't organic approaches be used in all ag food production farms?

Author: USFRA

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Topic: Technology & Agriculture

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Comment (1)

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How are members of the USFRA addressing the massive dead zones (in the Gulf Coast and elsewhere) caused by nitrogen runoff?

Author: Twilight

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Topic: Environmental Stewardship

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Comment (2)

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The press reports that the carbon footprint of animal agriculture is high. What are farmers / ranchers doing to reduce ag carbon footprint?

Author: TruffleMedia

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Topic: Environmental Stewardship

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Comment (8)

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What is the relevance of size when considering questions of quality or sustainability? Can't small, medium and large producers be equally committed to socially responsible production practices? In fact, don't economies of scale mitigate in favor of larger operations when looking at impacts per unit of production?

Author: John

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Topic: Other

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Comment (1)

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Are farmers and ranchers really focused on sustainability?

Author: USFRA

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Topic: Environmental Stewardship

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Comment (0)

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Local and sustainable are words used in many media discussions about food, consumer purchases, and upscale restaurants. Can you share what local and sustainable means. Can there be not-local and sustainable?

Author: the Hoovinator

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Topic: Technology & Agriculture

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Comment (14)

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As an individual about to start a small organic farm, where I am planning on growing a wide variety of crops using primarily aquaponics and permaculture, how can I best ensure that my crops will not be tainted by GMOs from Monsanto and DuPont, among others?

Author: Keyspoet

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Topic: Environmental Stewardship

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Comment (3)

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Why are animals in feedlots treated so horribly? I buy local organic meat these days. The thought of eating an animal that stands in its own filth and is unable to graze is just not an option for me.

Author: Sueco

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Topic: Animal Care

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Comment (5)

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Do the antibiotics and hormones used in animal agriculture pose a threat to people?

Author: smalleycattleco

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Topic: Food Safety

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Comment (3)

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Runoff from commercial fertilizers can endanger our water resources. What standards, if any, does the agricultural industry use for fertilizing commodity and other crops? How does the industry work to offset damages to the environment caused by commercial fertilizer runoff?

Author: clrexford

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Topic: Environmental Stewardship

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Comment (1)

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How is conventional farming different from organic farming?

Author: the Hoovinator

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Topic: Healthy Eating / Healthy Choices

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Comment (1)

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Consumers' view of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) based food continues to be influenced by media and by movies as food that grows in test tubes and form legs to attack humans (see http://www.biofortified.org/2011/08/vote-for-talking-not-fighting/). Science and fact-based information to address consumers' GMO concerns never seems to gain traction. Can farmers/ranchers respond to remove fears about GMO-based foods? Should market forces be the judge on the real success or failure of GMO products?

Author: Sharon

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Topic: Other

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Comment (5)

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Why are farmers and ranchers joining forces for this effort?

Author: USFRA

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Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

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Comment (1)

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What's the difference between grass- and corn-fed beef?

Author: USFRA

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Topic: Animal Care

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Comment (6)

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In response to the question of useing genetics - shouldn't we consider the ethics of NOT using genetics when its use enables a safe and more environmentally sustainable production system?

Author: cmbruhn

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Topic: Environmental Stewardship

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Comment (2)

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Has the USDA looked at shifting dollars from subsidy/support programs to healthy eating and nutrition programs? If this has been looked into, what would it take to actually shift dollars out into eating and nutrition programs?

Author: ArchStanton

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Topic: Healthy Eating / Healthy Choices

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Comment (2)

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Attention Farmers & Ranchers TELL US WHAT YOU WISH AMERICANS HAD MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO HOW THEIR FOOD IS GROWN AND RAISED

If you’re a Farmer or Rancher, we want to hear from YOU!

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Today’s Top Message:

hard working american people

Author: hammering101

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Topic: Technology & Agriculture

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Comment (0)

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