USFRA is a newly formed alliance consisting of a wide range of prominent farmer- and rancher-led organizations and agricultural partners. This marks the first time agricultural groups at the national, regional and state levels have collaborated to lead the dialogue and answer Americans’ questions about how their food is raised. USFRA farmers and ranchers are committed to being stewards of the environment while responsibly caring for our animals and maintaining strong businesses and communities.
By Will Gilmer, Alabama Dairyman
Our farm's management practices help us to maintain a healthy herd in which antibiotics are seldom needed. In fact, none of the 199 cows in our active milking herd are currently undergoing treatment. But when antibiotics are deemed necessary for the sake of an animal's health, we have a process that allows us to help the cow while protecting the safety and integrity of the milk that leaves our farm.
By Anne Burkholder
In the sixteen years that I have been actively involved in agriculture, I have had the pleasure of meeting many passionate people. While I greatly admire the ardent devotion displayed by farmers, at times I find myself wishing that a prevailing sense of teamwork were intermixed with that passion. I believe with all of my heart that the sustainability of agriculture is dependent on farmers working together to share the diverse stories of how we grow food. As I look at my own daughters, their unique strengths and weaknesses, and their struggle to find common ground; I am reminded of the hundreds of thousands of farmers who work hard each day to provide for our nation, yet are unable to achieve a core thread of unity as they reach out to share their individual stories of food production.
http://www.fooddialogues.com/chicago-food-dialoguesBy Betsie Estes
So I’ve had the neat opportunity to attend some sessions at the BIO International Convention over the last few days, and one of them was The Food Dialogues, a program put together by the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance. You can watch the recorded panel on the Food Dialogues website here if you’re interested – the basic premise is that a panel of various experts gets together to have a conversation and answer questions about the food production process.
Farming isn’t always green lush pastures and rainbows. Sometimes the decisions we have to make are hard and painful. For the past week and a half we have been closely watching a three year old cow of ours named Miley. Miley is a great cow. She is good producer and is very structurally correct. In fact, recently she was one of our show cows at the county fair. But, right now Miley doesn’t feel good.
I think most of the moms out there will agree with me: grocery shopping with your kids is challenging. I have three kids: Bella, 6 years; Mae, 4 years; and Nolan, 3 years. Walking through the aisles is a coordinated dance to avoid other carts, continuously apologize for the kids being in the middle of the aisle, and grabbing teeny-tiny hands away from the shelves of endless goodies. Whew, I’m exhausted just writing that.
I am a take charge person. I am a person of action. I am a planner. It is very difficult for me to let things go and not be in the driver’s seat. There is nothing that shakes my world up more than one of my children having a serious illness. I can handle it when I am sick, but it shakes my foundation when it is one of my kids.
For my sixteenth birthday I went for a glider plane ride with one of my swimming teammates, Bill. Bill’s birthday was just a few days away from mine, and we decided to do something “daring” to celebrate my 16th birthday and his 23rdbirthday. Bill had graduated from college and was taking a year off to train for the Olympic Trials, and we became “training buddies”. As “training buddies”, we spent about 30 hours a week together swimming and lifting weights. In between training sessions, I went to high school and Bill worked as a lifeguard.
"Aaaaaaa---CHOOOOO! Oh no, not another winter cold!"
Last week I had an amazing opportunity, I went to New York City to meet with journalists and bloggers. The point of our visit was to help share our farm story and put a face on agriculture.
As a farmer, it’s easy for me to get caught up in my own world and focus on my family and my farm. I think this is true of a lot of professions, no matter if you are an investment banker, a chef or a truck driver. Our lives are busy and it’s hard to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, especially if you have no idea what their world looks like from the inside.
By Brenda Kirsch
I was sitting in a hearing on SB 633 a few weeks ago. I was sitting there knowing that my testimony was “right”, that I was going to make legislators see why this is so important to “me” and “my farm”. After I felt as though I had did just that during my testimony, Barry Bushue Oregon Farm Bureau President got up and pretty much blew me out of the water. Not in the way of making me look bad or anything, we really had very different content in what we were saying and the points we were making. But he did make me feel like at this particular issue I had completely forgotten one major piece, that even if we are organic growers, non-GMO or GMO growers, conventional, sustainable, whatever type of farm we chose to cultivate, in the end we are all still farmers.
By Chris Chinn
This morning I stumbled across a letter to the editor that does an EXCELLENT job explaining what it is like to raise hogs outdoors. There are several farmers who still use this method of production and I know they are putting in many extra hours this time of year to keep their hogs safe and warm. (Especially with the upcoming snow storm we are supposed to get this weekend). It’s a very difficult thing to do in our area of the country and the following letter to the editor does a great job of explaining the challenges these farmers face.
By Chris Chinn
We have really been hit hard with winter weather in the last 6 days. The first round of bad weather dumped around a foot of snow on our farm. We need the moisture but when it comes in the form of snow it means a lot more work for us. Last week when the first snow fell, Kevin spent over eight hours in the middle of the night on the skid loader moving snow out of our driveways. Then around Saturday our weather forecast started calling for more snow for last night and today. Kevin got back on the skid loader to move the already huge piles of snow further back from the driveway so we would have more room to pile the new snow.
By Bo Stone
I'm sure that many of you have Valentine's Day traditions that you follow, whether it is taking your spouse to dinner at her favorite restaurant or maybe sending flowers and candy to your special someone. For us, it is a Valentine's Day tradition to seed our tobacco greenhouse. Sounds pretty romantic, doesn't it?
By Glen Brunkow
Last week my daughter brought one of her text books home, not to study, but to show me something she found troubling. It was a picture of a lady standing next to a booth marked organic vegetables and the caption said “Protect our planet and support responsible farmers”. I have to admit, I found it more than troubling, I found it down right offensive.
By Will Gilmer
As I type this Monday evening, I realize that last night's buzz over Dodge/Ram Trucks' "Farmer" Super Bowl commercial has continued on across blogs and social networks throughout the day. By now you are probably well-aware that the ad is part of their "Year of the Farmer" campaign, that Paul Harvey's narration was from a speech he delivered at the 1978 FFA Convention, and that his speech had been used previously in similar videos. So instead of rehashing what's already been written and said, let me give you my personal take.
From what I have been reading lately, it appears to me that the next big fight over agriculture’s ability to provide consumers with plentiful, safe and affordable meat and poultry products will focus on the use of antibiotics in animals raised for food.
Modern farming methods offer the best hope to feed the world's billions.
Each day consumers have questions about how their food is grown and raised – and who better to answer those questions than a farmer or rancher? Each week we’re highlighting an Anderson Live viewer question from our Facebook along with a farmer/rancher answer.
Today, we are exploring: “There’s always a great deal of negative discussion about commercial farms. Are commercial farms bad? What does that mean and are they taking over smaller family-owned farms?
Did you miss today’s episode of Anderson Live? See Rebecca, a show viewer attend The Food Dialogues: New York and visit Blythe Angus ranch to get answers to her questions about meat.
Just prior to the January 2011 electronic release of “Emerging Infectious Diseases”, the Centers for Disease Control’s monthly journal that contained the story “Foodborne Illness Acquired in the United States—Major Pathogens”, the CDC issued a press release on December 2015 highlighting the new estimates of the number of foodborne illnesses occurring per year in the U.S.
Each day consumers have questions about how their food is grown and raised – and who better to answer those questions than a farmer or rancher? Each week we’re highlighting an Anderson Live viewer question from our Facebook along with a farmer/rancher answer. Today, we are exploring “What has been the best new technology or management style that farmers and ranchers use to produces more food?”
This week, the USFRA Faces of Farming & Ranching finalists provided their expertise:
Posted by Feedstuffs Foodlink By DR. RICHARD RAYMOND
You would have to be living under a rock, or on an isolated island, to have missed the big media splash created by the Consumer Reports recent electronically released story titled: "What's in that pork? We found antibiotic-resistant bacteria---and traces of a veterinary drug."
We recently hosted New York: Food Dialogues where three panel discussions highlighted tough questions consumers have about antibiotics, biotechnology and the media, marketing and healthy food choices. Barbara Determan, an Iowa pig farmer and president of Heartland Marketing Group, shared her expertise and perspective during our panel discussion on antibiotic use in farm animals, specifically as it relates to pork production and her family farm.
Following the event, Barbara blogged about her experience at the New York: Food Dialogues. Here’s what she had to say:
What is a small town Iowa farmwoman doing in New York City on a panel of experts about antibiotics with a moderator from CNN? That’s exactly what I was wondering Thursday, November 15!
A few weeks ago I was asked to represent the pork industry in the New York City Food Dialogues sponsored by the US Farmers and Ranchers Alliance. The panel I was on centered around antibiotics in livestock, specifically pigs. Two additional panels discussing GMOs and Marketing and the Media were also a part of the day. Here are my major take-aways from the experience.
Each day consumers have questions about how their food is grown and raised – and who better to answer those questions than a farmer or rancher? Each week we’re highlighting an Anderson Live viewer question from our Facebook along with a farmer/rancher answer. Today, we are exploring: “What are pesticides? How often and why are they used?”
Today, we announced the semi-finalists for the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) Faces of Farming and Ranching search. Chris Chinn (Missouri), Will Gilmer (Ala.), Daphne Holterman (Wis.), Brenda Kirsch (Ore.), Tim Nilsen (Calif.), Eric McClam (S.C.), Katie Pratt (Ill.), Bo Stone (N.C.), Janice Wolfinger (Ohio) were all named program finalists.
We began the search for a national spokesperson in June at the Los Angeles Food Dialogues and now at the New York Food Dialogues, we’ve presented the finalists. It’s now up to the judges and the public to help decide who is going to become the Faces of Farming and Ranching. You can vote for your favorite candidate on Food Dialogues.com from Nov. 15 – Dec. 15.
Winners will be announced in January. To read more about the winners, click here.
The long anticipated New York: Food Dialogues event starts tomorrow, November 15. Today, more than ever, consumers are asking tough questions about how food is grown and raised, and USFRA is committed to getting consumers the answers they rightly deserve.
Each day consumers have questions about how their food is grown and raised – and who better to answer those questions than a farmer or rancher? Each week we’re highlighting an Anderson Live viewer question from our Facebook along with a farmer/rancher answer. Today, we are exploring “Do farmers rotate their crops? What is the benefit of this practice?”
Here’s what our farmer/rancher expert says:
Each day farmers and ranchers are faced with tough choices about the management of their farms and ranches. Today, more than ever, farmers are faced with the telling their stories about how food is grown and raised. A task that’s pivotal for farmers and ranchers as misperceptions in media and consumer mistrust increase.
U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance is helping to bridge this gap, by empowering farmers and ranchers to tell their stories about how food is grown and raised. And if you’re a farmer or rancher – doesn’t matter why type, size, management style – now is the time to F.A.R.M.
The F.A.R.M. team is an opportunity to hear the latest news from USFRA. Additionally, once you’ve joined the forces of hundreds of other farmers and ranchers on the F.A.R.M. team, you’ll get tapped into USFRA’s Grow What You Know system. This system provides updates to farmers and ranchers about misleading articles in consumer media – and sometimes articles that tell a positive story about farming and ranching, too.
Why is it important to know what consumer media is saying about today’s food production practices? Because that’s where consumers turn for information and build thoughts about how farmers and ranchers are doing their jobs.
Farmers and ranchers are limited on time and we recognize that. So, we compile articles from publications like Wall Street Journal, L.A. Times, New York Times, Washington Post, Huffington Post and more that highlight food and agriculture and share those directly to farmers and ranchers’ inboxes.
But the Grow What You Know system actually provides more than just links to articles of interest. USFRA also shares some ways to use those articles for posting on your social media outlets along with sources and information for your use.
The farming and ranching community is small, which is just another reason why having a big voice is so important. Become part of the USFRA F.A.R.M. team today.
Each day consumers have questions about how their food is grown and raised – and who better to answer those questions than a farmer or rancher? Each week we’re highlighting an Anderson Live viewer question from our Facebook along with a farmer/rancher answer. Today, we are exploring “Are antibiotics necessary when raising farm animals? How and why are they used?”
Here’s what our farmer/rancher expert says:
Each day consumers have questions about how their food is grown and raised – and who better to answer those questions than a farmer or rancher? Each week we’re highlighting an Anderson Live viewer question from our Facebook along with a farmer/rancher answer. Today, we are exploring “Do cattle graze pastures? How often or long do they a graze? And what is a cow's wellbeing like?”
Here’s what our farmer/rancher expert says...
"Farmers and ranchers don’t always agree with CSPI and its leader Michael Jacobson, but we do have common ground around being committed to providing healthy choices for everyone in America. We are also both dedicated to protecting the environment and animal welfare – although we may have different ideas on how to do that. In the spirit of dialogue, we asked Michael a few questions about Food Day. Please note his opinions are not endorsed by U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance. We share this in the spirit of conversation and working together."
– Bob Stallman, chairman of USFRA and president of the American Farm Bureau Federation
Each day millions of consumers are searching online about their food – is it safe? How was it raised? How was it grown? Does it have hormones?
This week, USFRA releases FoodSource, giving consumers the opportunity to learn more about how food is grown and raised by compiling information from third party experts – including researchers and scientists at leading universities – into one easy-to-navigate website.
The site currently features nine topics related to food production, all aggregated in one online destination for the first time. These topics include: antibiotic use in farm animals, biotechnology in seeds, hormone use in farm animals, pesticide use, water quality, farm size and ownership, available food choices, food safety and animal care.
USFRA’s FoodSource, available at www.fooddialogues.com/foodsource, is a one-stop, online destination for information on topics that are often questioned by consumers and influencers. Likewise, the site allows consumers to submit questions to get information on additional topics. And above all FoodSource provides consumers with real information to real questions and concerns – while providing farmers and ranchers a voice.
By Randy Spronk, pig & grain farmer, Minnesota, and MUFSO panelist and attendee
"Let's Start at the Very Beginning” is the opening verse of a familiar song from The Sound of Music we are all familiar with, but it should also be the theme of communications we as farmers have with society.
I was amazed at the thirst for factual, “from the source” information at the MUFSO conference I attended in early October. It reinforced that we need to restart the conversation about food production, and have an open, honest, “let's hear the facts,” discussion about how and why we do things on the farm from a farmer.
I participated in a USFRA-sponsored panel, Where Does Your Food Come From? The Food Dialogues with Farmers & Ranchers, alongside seasoned foodservice operators and leaders from Sizzler International, Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina and Ignite Restaurant Group. Several times after my panel discussion, conference attendees asked me, "Why hasn't someone told us this before?" The answer: conversations between those who grow food and the people involved in selling it in restaurants simply are not happening.
Farmers and ranchers need to start at the beginning of the supply chain, and have discussions with our partners that deliver our products through the chain. Make sure they understand the impacts of marketing decisions and product differentiation claims.
The common marketing phrase I often hear is "the consumer is always right." True – but not if the consumer is being misled. The problem we have is our consumers are not fully informed and are being misled by activists with ulterior motives. Let the consumer decide, but make sure they are an educated consumer not a misled consumer.
U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance is helping to connect farmers, ranchers and the foodservice industry, and will be continuing the conversations started at MUFSO. In early December, MUFSO and USFRA will host a public online webinar featuring my fellow panelists and me, including a question and answer session. Check back to www.FoodDialogues.com for more information and updates on this program.
Each day consumers have questions about how their food is grown and raised – and who better to answer those questions than a farmer or rancher? Each week we’re highlighting an Anderson Live viewers' question from our Facebook page along with a farmer/rancher answer.
Today, we are exploring “Did this year’s drought put farmers out of businesses? And should I be concerned of the impact I’ll see at the grocery store?”
Here’s what our farmer/rancher expert says:
Carriage House Farm We have not been put out of business. While we were hit hard by the drought, we did not lose everything and the increase in market prices will cover that loss to our commodity crops.
We have seen late rainfalls post Labor Day weekend, which have helped some things.
Our beekeeping operation saw some impact as well with honey harvest down by about a half-ton, or about 12.5%.
Pastures have rebounded quickly. We are still down 25% in our hay production and will be purchasing hay for the first time EVER in the last decade of a boarding operation.
In our organic production, we never had a decent bean crop as June heat was incredible and affected germination so badly we tilled most under and stopped planting rotational plantings. We are now hip deep in salad, root crop, and greens production, and we saw zero impact on herb production.
Paul Murray The drought caused several people to sell out their livestock; or trying to keep the best and hoping for rain relief. Three of my livestock ponds totally dry -- only one is left at 1/2 level -- and I’m concerned about the well before any rain.
I survived 144 days, but with hay crop at less than 40% of normal, winter feed prices still higher, I will be selling half of my livestock trying to keep the best. I am sure the row crop, veggies, and fruit market hit hard also.
Stay tuned for more answers on how food gets from a farm or ranch to your plate. To be part of the conversation, visit: https://www.facebook.com/USFarmersandRanchers.
FROM STARTRIBUNE ON OCTOBER 16, 2012
By Suzzane Vold
Once upon a time, as Johnny circled home base and Jane mastered cartwheels, moms sat in the bleachers, sharing the latest family news and swapping recipes based on meals they’d shared. The world has changed since then. We still gossip (let’s admit, who doesn’t?) and we still talk food. But, while our moms focused on bringing food to the table, we’re talking about how our food is grown and raised, before it ends up in our shopping carts.
We strive to serve healthy foods to our family, but we wonder about whether that glass of milk is safe and wholesome? Are farm animals treated humanely? Are we confident in the environmental stewardship of our farmers?
New techniques used in farming and ranching prove key this growing season
The growing season of 2012, no matter the geographical location in the United States, is a challenging one. Amidst one of the worst droughts in a century, dry, hot conditions are wreaking havoc across the nation. According to Bloomberg news (Aug. 1, 2012), more than half the counties in the U.S. were considered drought-stressed. Most of the areas that faced this stress were in corn, soybean and livestock-raising country. The weather impacts crops as well as meat and poultry, since corn and soybeans – important staples in the diets of many farm animals – are two of the hardest hit crops.
FROM EATOCRACY ON AUGUST 30, 2012
After a very wet spring in 2011 that delayed planting, the 2012 crop season looked promising as planting conditions were optimal. The outlook was refreshing as it meant few setbacks on the crop. However, the good conditions during planting quickly turned as our family waited and waited for moisture. Unfortunately, when the rains did arrive, they were few and far between.
USFRA supports farmers’ choices to plant and grow conventional crops, biotech crops, organic crops or a combination. Similarly, USFRA supports consumers’ choices to purchase foods they prefer. Many of our farmers plant biotech seeds for reasons such as protecting their crops from adverse weather. Some of our farmers choose organic production. All of these methods of production contribute to meeting consumer demands for food products as well as producing healthy choices for everyone and protecting the environment.
Farmers also use biotech seeds to reduce crop damage from weeds, diseases and insects as well as from adverse weather conditions such as drought or flooding. Biotech seeds often allow farmers to be more precise about their use of inputs like nutrients, pesticides and water needed to grow crops.
Consumers these days are asking important questions about their food and a whole gamut of people seem to be answering them, or at least trying to. But in all the noise out there about production methods, sustainable practices and animal welfare, an important voice is missing from the conversation – the voice of those who grow and raise our food. The questions might be tough, but they deserve answers – answers from the experts. And if the experts aren’t answering them, who is?
By George Motz
Unlike stars in Hollywood, “food” may not have an agent, but it has definitely reached celebrity status across America. From documentary films to reality culinary challenges to stand-‘n-stir TV shows, the entertainment industry has created a giant stage that brings attention to how and where our food is grown, raised and processed, ultimately making its way to our tables.
Over the past decade, Americans have been more inspired to think about, care about and talk about where the food we eat comes from. And the food curiosity appetite continues to grow. We should applaud Hollywood and the media for playing a critical role in this inspiration.
There was a time when everyone in America was involved in farming. And even when a person moved away to the city or suburbs, they still had a deep understanding for the people and the lifestyle they once knew on the farm.
Most of the general population is now three generations removed from the farm. Many consumers feel disconnected from what happens on the farm or ranch – and many fear the technologies and innovations that farmers have adopted to keep improving our food system. In reality, more consumers get their information on how food is produced from movies, television and popular culture than from farmers and ranchers themselves. So how did we get to a place where consumers learn more about food from Hollywood than from the people growing and raising it? And how did celebrities become experts in our society on food more so than farmers and ranchers?
Sometimes less is more. If we want broad support for effective and efficient conservation programs on working agricultural lands, we need fewer programs. Having a plethora of programs dilutes both the support for and efficiency of individual programs.
U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance continues to move the dialogue forward between farmers and ranchers and key influencers and consumers, answering questions and bringing to light how food is grown and raised. On June 20-21, 2012, farmers and ranchers head to Los Angeles – the entertainment capital of the world – for the second Food Dialogues event. Four separate discussions – held over two days – will bring together entertainment movers and shakers, chefs, academics, large restaurant operators, journalists, local leaders, farmers and ranchers for an in-depth conversation about food.
U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance continues to move the dialogue forward between farmers and ranchers and key influencers and consumers, answering questions and bringing to light how food is grown and raised. On June 20-21, 2012, farmers and ranchers head to Los Angeles – the entertainment capital of the world – for the second Food Dialogues event. Four separate discussions – held over two days – will bring together entertainment movers and shakers, chefs, academics, large restaurant operators, journalists, local leaders, farmers and ranchers for an in-depth conversation about food.
Sarah Hubbart, the communications director for the Animal Agricultural Alliance (http://www.animalagalliance.org) shared a letter about a recent Rachael Ray appearance on The View. During the segment, Rachael provided viewers with some misinformation about food safety. The following is an excerpt from Sarah’s post on Meating Place – to read the remainder of the letter to Rachael Ray follow the link here on Meatingplace.com
Panel examines how all types of farming play an important role in food production
U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance continues to move the dialogue forward between key influencers, consumers, farmers and ranchers, answering questions and bringing to light how food is grown and raised. On June 20-21, 2012, farmers and ranchers will head to Los Angeles – the entertainment capital of the world – for the second Food Dialogues event. Four separate discussions – held over two days – will bring together entertainment movers and shakers, chefs, academics, large restaurant operators, journalists, local leaders, farmers and ranchers for an in-depth conversation about food.
First of four discussions will focus on the portrayal of food and agriculture in popular culture
U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance continues to move the dialogue forward between farmers and ranchers and key influencers and consumers, answering questions and bringing to light how food is grown and raised. On June 20-21, 2012, farmers and ranchers head to Los Angeles – the entertainment capital of the world – for the second Food Dialogues event. Four separate discussions – held over two days – will bring together entertainment movers and shakers, chefs, academics, large restaurant operators, journalists, local leaders, farmers and ranchers for an in-depth conversation about food.
American National Cattle Women blog on all things beef and several months ago wrote about the use of antibiotics in livestock. USFRA recently hosted a roundtable discussion with third-party experts on this very topic and wanted to share the Beef Ambassador’s blog post about her Ag Ethics class this semester. She blogged about the concerns raised in her class by other students about the use of antibiotics in animals, particularly around the question of residue and resistance.
By Bryan Walsh
Climate change is the environmental problem that obsesses us, the one that's the focus of high-flying international summits and hardcore national politics. But it's not the only environmental problem — and it's not even the biggest one. That happens to be the crisis in agriculture and land use, the subject of what Jon Foley — the head of the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment — calls the "other inconvenient truth."
By Bryan Walsh
When it comes to energy, everyone loves efficiency. Cutting energy waste is one of those goals that both sides of the political divide can agree on, even if they sometimes diverge on how best to get there. Energy efficiency allows us to get more out of our given resources, which is good for the economy and (mostly) good for the environment as well. In an increasingly hot and crowded world, the only sustainable way to live is to get more out of less. Every environmentalist would agree.
Pork producer Lori Stevermer recently blogged about visiting a classroom to share her experiences as a pig farmer. While culturally diverse, most of the children were unfamiliar with pig farming and asked Lori many questions: How much do they weigh at birth? How big are they at market? How can you eat the pigs you raise?
Antibiotic use in farm animals can be a complicated topic. We know there can be a lot of confusion around whether antibiotics are present – or not present - in the meat and milk we consume. Many people are concerned about the risk of creating antibiotic resistance strains of bacteria. They want to know when and why farmers use them when caring for their animals.
The New York Times announced in March a contest on whether it’s ethical to eat meat – calling all carnivores. In conjunction with this contest, we asked those who were planning to submit an essay to share theirs with us. We received more than 20 and here’s your chance to read them.
The Times announced their winner on May 3, and while it wasn’t one of the essays we received, here’s your opportunity to read why it is ethical to eat meat.
We recently hosted an interesting discussion between three farmers – two of whom are brothers – about different farming methods. The brothers, Brandon and Neil Moseley, have different farming styles. One is a conventional farmer and the other a certified naturally-grown farmer. While they each have different opinions about farming and techniques for success, as a group they agree all farming methods must coexist and there’s a place for each management style.
Farmer Meggie Foster and her husband Dallas hosted a group of visitors from China for an official farm tour. The delegates were part of a group of upper management professionals from a pig farm in China and wanted to learn more about how American farmers raised pigs with more modern resources.
Farmer Brian Scott recently blogged about the importance of talking to consumers to listen to their concerns but also to clear up possible misperceptions around how farmers grow and raise food. Check out an excerpt from his blog about how he thinks it’s imperative for farmers do a better job connecting with consumers.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a positive test result on April 24, 2012, as part of its targeted surveillance program to test cattle for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the nation's fourth case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in a dairy cow from central California. According to USDA, the carcass of the animal is being held under State authority at a rendering facility in California and will be destroyed. It was never presented for slaughter for human consumption, so at no time presented a risk to the food supply or human health.
Earth Day is always a good time to reflect on how we treat the environment, and the actions and improvements we’re making for the betterment of our planet. Farmers use the land to produce fruits, vegetables, and grains and graze livestock. Because our farmers and ranchers are so closely tied to the earth and its valuable resources, they are continuously looking for new management practices to improve their land, which means so much to them.
Tweet moms hear how their food is grown and raised – from a farmer and rancher
Moms are clearly mindful about what they feed their families, and following March’s Tweet chat, it’s clear they want to hear from farmers and ranchers about how their food is grown and raised. Tweets flooded #FoodD last week as USFRA hosted an online Twitter event – aka a “Tweet Chat” or “Twitter Party” – for moms, farmers and ranchers. Jeff Fowler, a farmer and rancher, was on hand to answer questions and provided insights into how he grows and raises food on his farm in California.
Take a look at some of the key questions and responses moms have regarding how their food is grown and raised.
USFRA Hosts Discussion in Chicago with Food Bloggers Last week, USFRA organized a breakfast discussion in Chicago at a local restaurant with 16 farmers and ranchers from around the country and six local food bloggers. There was no structured presentation, allowing bloggers to eat breakfast with actual farmers and ranchers in a casual setting. While at the table, discussions centered around farmers and ranchers family backgrounds and how their farms or ranches operate. Bloggers also had the opportunity to ask the farmers and rancher their questions.
FROM FOX NEWS ON MARCH 30, 2012
As a mother and RD, I have been curious about hormones in foods and whether or not they are a cause for concern. Hormones are in many foods – including plants. Instead of covering all foods, I am going to focus on cows. There is a lot of marketing that goes into products- especially milk and beef, which creates fear among consumers about the safety of our food supply.
USFRA believes that farmers and ranchers and our partners must do what is in their power to keep their animals safe and healthy. And when animals are sick or at risk of becoming sick, they should be treated in adherence with evidence based standards of veterinary medicine in ways that don’t stress the animals or the environment and are in the best interest of long-term human health.
Determining what consumers want and what they think of your product is the challenge of every business and every industry; agriculture is no different.
Cattleman Ryan Goodman recently attended the Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville and learned about cattle feed efficiency. Take a look at what he learned and what he thinks about defining and measuring efficiency.
Want to read more? Check out Ryan's blog at www.agricultureproud.com
Did you thank a farmer today or have a chance to talk to a farmer? If not, now is the time. This week we celebrated National Ag Day on Thursday, where farmers and ranchers alike come together and celebrate the traditions of farming as well as new technological advancements to help keep our industry moving forward.
Emily Webel gives us a glimpse into life on her grain and cow/calf operation on her blog Confessions of a Farm Wife, while sharing the joys of teaching her girls about farming. One of her recent blog posts talked about taking her kids to see an agricultural exhibit at a children’s museum. Check out what she has to say about the importance of encouraging farm visits by families and making sure young people get the whole story about farming.
To read more, visit her blog at www.webelfamilyfarm.blogspot.com
After Chipotle ran their video during the Grammy Awards a few weeks ago, we saw a lot of chatter online from both consumers and growers about what they liked and disliked about the ad. We posted a blog about the commercial, and believe it doesn’t tell the entire story. Take a look at what one farmer, Crystal Cattle, shared on her blog.
What do you think? Read more of her blog at www.crystalcattle.blogspot.com
Crystal Cattle shares some of her takeaways from the Tomorrow’s Top Producer Conference hosted by Farm Journal. Take a look at some interesting stats from the meeting.
Want to read more? Visit her blog at www.crystalcattle.blogspot.com
Take a look at this blog by a farmer who fled her corporate job to embrace dairy farming. Her most recent post talks about how they handle waste management on her farm.
To read more visit www.truthordairy.blogspot.com
Check out this blog post about a consumer’s questions on how food is grown and raised.
Read the full blog post at www.txagtalks.texasfarmbureau.org
A Texas farmer writes an open letter to consumers wanting to have a conversation about the food they grow and raise. Below is an excerpt from the blog that shares five things farmers are passionate about when it comes to food production.
Read the full blog post at www.tabletop.texasfarmbureau.org
What does music’s biggest night – the Grammys – have to do with today’s agriculture? For many Americans, it was a two-minute, animated Chipotle ad that caught their attention. It caused them to wonder about where their food really comes from. It most likely gave them a poor impression - and a lot of doubts - about the people who grow and raise their food.
USFRA thinks that Americans want and need to hear the whole story. Is it really correct to characterize larger farms as “factory farms” that mistreat animals if they are housed in barns protected from inclement weather? Is it fair to use an animated video with a heartwarming song to try to cast a bad light on conventional farming? Is it right to imply that conventional pig farmers knowingly pollute the environment?
Many consumers ask what the difference is between conventional and organic milk. See what dairy farmer Will Gilmer has to say about both methods of milk production.
Read the story at www.gilmerdairy.blogspot.com
FROM THE FOOD MANUFACTURE ON JANUARY 25, 2012
Unlikely allies billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates and the Crop Protection Association Society (CPA) have both called for more research into high-tech food production systems, including Genetic Modification techniques, as a way to tackle food poverty.
FROM THE SLATE ON JANUARY 17, 2012
Were you among the thousands who saw last week's Atlantic piece on "The Very Real Danger of Genetically Modified Foods?" Food writer Ari LeVaux sought to use recent research findings on the biology of digesting plant materials to argue for an overhaul of regulations for genetically modified (GM) food in the United States. The scientific misteps in his article and non-existent link between the study he cites and any specific danger from GM foods led a number of science writers to crack knuckles and get to rebutting.
FROM THE WASHINGTON POST ON DECEMBER 4, 2011
AS CLIMATE-CHANGE negotiators from nearly 200 countries meet this week in South Africa, Carter Roberts, the World Wildlife Fund’s president, argues that the leading environmental challenge of this century won’t be global warming. It will be feeding people.
The WWF reckons that about 70 percent of the world’s land either is used to produce food or is unsuitable for that. Global population is heading from 7 billion toward a possible 10 billion by 2100. Per capita consumption rises as countries develop. Some vacant land may not be all that fertile.
The recent editorial “Feeding the Future” in the Washington Post clearly articulated a major challenge facing us and the future of food while tackling the complicated issue of using certain agricultural techniques as a viable solution. When it comes to their food, consumers are rightfully passionate and they want to know more information about where it comes from and how it was grown or raised. With so much emotion attached to the food we consume, many Americans may adopt a particular stance for or against an issue that may not reflect all of the information or realities of farming and ranching. Many of these food challenges – and the potential solutions - are not black and white; they are incredibly complex and depend upon various companies across the food spectrum working together.
Consumers continue to have important questions and concerns about their food. They want to know “Is the food we’re eating healthy long-term?” and “Is the planet able to sustain the amount of food we’re producing?”. They also want to be sure our farmers and ranchers are feeding their own families the same food they’re growing and raising for Americans.
U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) kicked off The Food Dialogues with the Town Hall in September, and just as consumers are committed to continue asking complex questions about their food, our farmers and ranchers are equally committed to continue listening and addressing their concerns from their own personal perspective and experience. While the dialogue began with our Town Hall, we know open and honest conversations should be ongoing.
By Bart Schott
Farmers and ranchers do a great job feeding America and the world, but we haven’t done a very good job answering the questions that Americans have about how we grow and raise our food. Questions about the environment, animal treatment and providing choices that are healthy and affordable for everyone could be better answered.
Updated on 11/1/11
Consumers are asking us many questions about biotech seeds and traits. They want to know why some farmers may choose to use them and what the long-term implications are not only for our health but also for the farming/ranching industry.
Today is Food Day, a day to promote "healthy, affordable food produced in a sustainable, humane way." This I support. But some of the lofty ideas, biased language and unsupportable premises offered by the promoters I do not support.
jsonline.com
By ARA
Fewer than 3 percent of Americans work in farming. Yet, this sector of our workforce not only feeds our country, it also provides a wealth of grain and food exports that feed millions of people around the world. In fact, America's agriculture sector is so productive that Americans spend less for food, as a percentage of their total income, than do most other people around the world.
uk.reuters.com
By Carey Gillam
October is a busy month for Kansas farmer Darin Grimm. With 2,000 acres of corn and soybeans to harvest, the third-generation family farmer is running a combine nearly dawn to dusk.
Many people have asked farmers and ranchers what we think about World Food Day, organized by the Food & Agriculture Organization of the U.N. (October 16) and Food Day, sponsored by the Center for Science in the Public Interests (October 24). In a month focused on food and Food Days, it is essential that farmers and ranchers continue our commitment to listening to Americans and to show our support for producing healthy choices for people everywhere. We can find common ground with many different voices on this purpose – even if we disagree on more granular issues.
For farmers and ranchers, it is clear that a disconnect exists between the American public and the food they serve on their dinner tables. For too long, farmers and ranchers of all types and sizes – conventional, organic, large and small – were, for various reasons, not part of the discussions taking place in Americans’ homes about where their food comes from. We want to do better. We want to continue listening to consumers and engage in open, honest conversations about food.
Since we are not a policy organization, we do not and cannot have an official opinion. Each of our more than 50 affiliates and partners may have their own stance on this issue. Our goal is to help facilitate discussion, highlight key issues and encourage farmers and ranchers to engage in conversation with consumers. Many of the farmers who are members of our affiliates use biotech seeds and traits for good reasons like reducing the amount of water or pesticides they need to use on their crops. Some farmers choose not to use biotech seeds for other reasons.
We encourage more farmers and ranchers who have experience with using biotech seeds and traits to join in the conversation � it seems pretty one-sided right now. Take a look at this story that ran on Bloomberg in June that tries to address questions objectively. Also, BestFoodFacts.org included a month-long series of blog posts and asked several third-party experts and professors for their thoughts on biotech seeds. Read more on what they think.
By the year 2050, Earth's population will double. If we continue with current farming practices, vast amounts of wilderness will be lost, millions of birds and billions of insects will die, and the public will lose billions of dollars as a consequence of environmental degradation. Clearly, there must be a better way to meet the need for increased food production.
For farmers and ranchers, The Food Dialogues town halls (September 22, 2011) were an important first step in listening and answering questions about food production. But they were only the beginning. Much more work needs to be done.
For U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) it was the beginning of a long-term commitment to helping consumers understand how their food is grown and raised. It was an acknowledgement of the need to find common ground among diverse voices.
This was originally entitled “Isn’t it time we pull our heads out?” A close runner-up was “Your stubborness and independence may work on the farm – and put you out of business.
On September 22, we’re kicking off a conversation with Americans about how we grow and raise our food. Streamed live from Washington D.C.; New York; Fair Oaks, Indiana; and Davis, California, we’ve invited voices and viewpoints from across the food spectrum to share their opinions. Farmers, ranchers, consumers, students, retailers, media and leaders in business, food and food service will all be welcome to the table.
DECATUR, Ill.-The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance(USFRA) today announced at the Farm Progress Show that Monsanto is joining its movement to answer Americans’ questions about how their food is raised. USFRA is a coalition of more than 50 national, regional and state agricultural groups and their partners, committed to continuously improving how they grow and raise food that provides healthy choices for people everywhere
To: Financial Times Editorial Staff
In response to the August 17 article “Agribusiness battles claims of abuse and unhealthy food,” the United States Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) would like to clarify the aims of our organization and our outreach initiative.
Guess who’s coming to dinner?
About 310 million people, looking for three squares a day, 365 days a year. Nearly a billion meals per day. And that´s just in the United States.
How do you feed so many people, year in, year out, providing them the quality and nutrition they need and the consistent availability they’ve come to expect, no matter where they live?
Here today, gone tomorrow. It´s a common sentiment in a fast-changing world. But while most of us won´t be around a century from now, hundreds of millions of people will live in the United States and will need to be fed. If growth trends continue, it´ll be many more millions than the 310 million who live here now. And there will be less farmland and ranchland available to do it with. That´s why sustainability is so crucial to America´s food industry – and America´s future.
It´s been said that the average American today has a richer, healthier, more varied diet than the wealthiest people enjoyed a century ago. A visit to any supermarket confirms that impression.
The way people shop for food has changed almost as much as the food they shop for. And it continues to evolve. For some people, it´s a case of “back to the future”-- relying on locally sourced products and farmers' markets, or making a daily trip to the grocery, the produce market and the butcher.
LANSING – The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA), comprised of prominent national, regional and state agricultural groups and their partners including the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), has announced plans to lead a conversation with Americans, addressing concerns about their food, where it comes from and how it’s raised.
Read the full post at Drovers Cattle Network
Our mission is to relate to consumers; answer their questions; and build trust,” says Bob Stallman, chairman of U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance.
View the full post at agprofessional.com
This Week in Louisiana Agriculture’s Hillary Whittaker travels to New Orleans.
It seems like everyone is talking about agriculture and food production these days, except those closest to it – farmers and ranchers. That’s the motivation behind a new initiative the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance announced this week at the Agricultural Media Summit in New Orleans.
When Bob Stallman’s daughter called him a month ago to ask him if drinking milk would be bad for her kids, he knew farmers had an image problem.
By Vicky Boyd, Editor, The Grower
Whether it’s the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list or Michael Pollan’s documentary Food Inc., agriculture is having to increasingly defend itself against widespread public criticism.
Washington–The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, comprised of prominent national, regional and state agricultural groups and their partners, today announced plans to lead a conversation with Americans, addressing concerns about their food, where it comes from and how it’s raised.
Read the full post at Idaho Farm Bureau News
One of our sessions at the Ag Media Summit is titled, “Of course our food is safe,” says modern ag – But is anybody listening? The presentation was made by leadership members of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance. The Chairman is Bob Stallman, American Farm Bureau Federation.
President Barack Obama and top Congressional leaders are scheduled to meet again today to discuss a deficit reduction deal, after weekend talks failed to narrow the differences over the size and scope of the package. The president will also hold a news conference at 11 a.m. ET Monday to discuss the status of the debt talks.
The 40-plus ag organizations that make up the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) begin a collective conversation with the public this week to strengthen the image of agriculture and build trust in today’s agricultural best production practices. USFRA Chairman Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, explains why the effort is needed, how much it will cost and, most importantly, how the Alliance will measure success on this week’s Open Mic.
People believe a lot of things that we have little to no evidence for, like that vikings wore horned helmets or that you can see the Great Wall of China from space. One of the things I like to do on my blogs is bust commonly held myths that I think matter. For example, I get really annoyed when I hear someone say sharks don’t get cancer (I’ll save that rant for another day). From now onward, posts that attack conventionally believed untruths will fall under a series I’m going to call “Mythbusting 101.”
The human population, now approaching 7 billion, may top 10 billion by 2100. Agronomists predict food shortages in our future, and it doesn’t take an advanced degree to understand why: When food production fails to keep pace with population grow, billions go hungry, including many Americans. To avert disaster, we must find a way to squeeze more grains, fruits and vegetables from ever less farmland.
When 50 aspiring farmers gather at the Future Farmers of America's annual "New Century Farmer" conference next week, what they will learn goes way beyond crop rotation, tractor engines and how to get more milk out of old Bessie.
DuPont Joins More than 40 Producer Organizations to Collaborate in Support of Today’s Farmers and Ranchers
WILMINGTON, Del., June 13, 2011 — DuPont today joined an effort to bolster the image of agriculture and enhance public trust in the U.S. food production system. The initiative is led by the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA), a new initiative represented by more than 40 of the leading farmer- and rancher-led agricultural organizations.
CIUDAD OBREGÓN, Mexico — The dun wheat field spreading out at Ravi P. Singh’s feet offered a possible clue to human destiny. Baked by a desert sun and deliberately starved of water, the plants were parched and nearly dead.
CHESTERFIELD, Mo. – The new U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) moved a giant step forward Thursday in its drive to deliver its pro-production-agriculture message to the American public. Naming PR firm Ketchum as its primary communications agency, USFRA calls the choice “the next strategic step driving the USFRA mission to strengthen the image of agriculture and enhance public trust in today’s best production practices.”
CHESTERFIELD, Mo. – The new U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) moved a giant step forward Thursday in its drive to deliver its pro-production-agriculture message to the American public. Naming PR firm Ketchum as its primary communications agency, USFRA calls the choice “the next strategic step driving the USFRA mission to strengthen the image of agriculture and enhance public trust in today’s best production practices.”
Congratulations to the 2011 National Ag Day Essay Contest Winners!
Two major agricultural companies have joined USFRA in support of the farmers and ranchers representing almost all the major U.S. agricultural commodities.
Are you a farmer or rancher? We would like a moment of your time to complete the survey below: “Bridging the Generations in Food & Agriculture.”
Save the Date!
AgWired’s Chuck Zimmerman got an update on how things are going with the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance from General Manager Hugh Whaley during American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting.
CHESTERFIELD, Mo. – U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) continues to establish itself and build momentum with selection of a general contractor.
The Alliance, currently composed of 23 of the nation’s foremost farmer- and rancher-led agricultural organizations, selected Drake & Company (DrakeCo) to provide association management services.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Today’s agriculture continues to be attacked by a number of different groups. Unfortunately, as the majority of the U.S. public has become further and further removed from the farm, they tend to believe the groups attacking agriculture, according to the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). This new alliance is comprised of most of the leading national farmer- and rancher-led agricultural organizations.
