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Food Dialogues

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The Food Dialogues is a site created and managed by the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). USFRA created The Food Dialogues to answer Americans’ questions about how food is grown and raised. This organization, which is a coalition of farmers, ranchers and their industry partners, is committed to continuously improving how they grow and raise food that provides healthy choices for people everywhere. Through The Food Dialogues, USFRA hopes to bring together different viewpoints on farming and ranching and the future of food to solve our most challenging problems.

To maximize your experience on FoodDialogues.com, we encourage you to register for this site. You will then have the opportunity to post comments and participate in the online conversations taking place in The Food Dialogues.

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I am in the process of starting small milling company. I would like to start milling Oats. Where can I buy dried whole oats seeds for my milling company located in New Castle, Delaware? Frederick Ebede All Peoples Food 19 King Court New Castle DE 197210

Author: Fred

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Topic: Food Affordability & Accessibliity

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I am in the process of starting small milling company. I would like to start milling Oats. Where can I buy dried whole oats seeds for my milling company located in New Castle, Delaware?

Author: Fred

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Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

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How can I be involved? I feel in my Spirit there should not be hunger in our world with all the blessings we received from God, yet so many people go to bed hungry or they may not even have food when they work in the morning or afternoon. Let us eradicate hunger from the Planet Earth. How can I be involved? I would like to start a farm here in the USA and go to developing nations and help out by training locals and starting farms to provide employment and food on their table. How can I be involved, please?

Author: Fred

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Topic: Food Affordability & Accessibliity

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I would like to own an Oats Farm in Delaware or Maryland. What do I need to do to acquire land and machinery needed to start Oats farm?

Author: Fred

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Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

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It continues to break my heart reading stories of how consumers have lost trust for the way their food is grown. How do we regain this trust?

Author: beckyandinghurley

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Topic: Food Safety

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In today's world, we are seeing an ever increasing age of our farmers. Today the average age of the American farmer is 57 and rising. It alarms me that it is up to that. As a 20 yr old 5th generation farmer, i have an idea as to why it is that high. With land prices skyrocketing, fertilizer prices up, and more natural disasters and droughts, why are some reasons you see that young people aren't getting into farming? What programs are there to help young farmers? How can local non-agricultural people help? And last, what is your idea of what a typical farmer looks like/life is like??

Author: JRUDD

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Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

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What is the truth behind "Pink Slime"? What can be done to stop the current onslaught by the media to remove this product from schools and store? From what I understand this will have a large impact on the AG economy all the way back to the producers. This is a safe, wholesome, 100% Beef product, that is lower in fat, and lower in cost. Why is this a problem for so many?

Author: Curtis

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Topic: Food Safety

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Why do some people insist that USDA organic food is healthier than non USDA organic food? Is organic healthier than non? I read conflicting reports and am confused. Whom should I believe?

Author: apannone

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Topic: Healthy Eating / Healthy Choices

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How can small family poultry farms provide local pastured poultry and eggs if the state regulations are designed for large commercial agriculture?

Author: CJ

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Topic: Food Affordability & Accessibliity

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We're undergoing the most devastating environmental crisis the human-populated earth may ever see, in the form of climate change. What responsibility do food and especially meat producers have in this crisis, and what should they be doing to mitigate climate change, now and in the future?

Author: Natural Systems Agriculture

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Topic: Environmental Stewardship

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When it comes to the environmental impact of our diet, with a few exceptions, what we eat has a far greater influence than where or how it was produced. Yes, local is important, yes, organic production is important, but by far the change that would cause the greatest reduction in the environmental footprint of the average American's diet is to eat less animal-based foods. Ultimately, this should be a choice that the eater makes, but it needs to be a well-informed choice. My question: how is USFRA contributing to this dialogue and helping eaters understand that animal-based foods, almost regardless of how they are produced, have an inherently higher environmental impact than plant-based foods? ps - I am not a vegetarian, but I am a scientist that studies the environmental impact of our food system!

Author: Marty

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Topic: Environmental Stewardship

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Under "Local and Sustainable",how can we make "CSR" or "Community Supported Ranching" more accesable including Butchering regulations?

Author: Tom_Hurley_NM

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Topic: Healthy Eating / Healthy Choices

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Why is it that you can no longer find "Prime" in your local store and that the "Choice" cuts standards have lowered?

Author: Tom_Hurley_NM

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Topic: Healthy Eating / Healthy Choices

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So much focus is on organically grown food as our only future solution to providing food and good stewardship. Can't we use the years of crop management we already have in place and just do more careful monitoring and teaching about uses? If you know real farmers and ranchers then you know all their real grievances about organics. The likelihood of most farmers/ranchers switching their operations to organic is small. Instead, why not ensure they are working safely and our food is safe, too?

Author: HeatherP

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Topic: Food Affordability & Accessibliity

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I am a staunch advocate of organic and sustainable agriculture. I am very concerned about the proliferation of GE crops in this country and abroad. I am unconvinced that there is "no proof of harm to animals or humans." There is no evidence of increased yields from GE plants. Studies in the UK have found GMO's to cause organ failure in rats. Why is it that farmers in the US are so tied to this technology, and defend it almost like they are defending the Stars and Stripes? The biotech companies who sell them this seed have them over a barrel and they defend it? I just don't understand. Why are farmers willing to be shills for these biotech companies?

Author: stringrrl

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Topic: Technology & Agriculture

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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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Lean manufacturing technqies is restoring on shoring jobs in the USA. Lean can also be applied to farms. Life Cycle costing and benefit is also used to show where the value is. For example - 1. Algae oil , low water, on soil that nothing else will grow, can grow at 15,000 gallons per acre with BTU value same as fossil fuel - and the carcus is food grade 2. Soy and corn make 200 or so gallons per acre with more fossil fuel used that what it makes 3. The armed forces is using biofuel is 50% makeup in all systems beginning 2012 per newspaper articles 4. Also, ISO 14001/9001 and other continual improvement models can be deployed informally to identify benefits to lower cost and increase quality. This seems to be a no-brainer for income and jobs...algae oil as make up bio-fuel...this means also that 50% of the carbon emissions is cut from fossil fuel burning for energy or transportation with new jobs passing the life cycle test for value meaning income.

Author: HomeRunEconomy

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Topic: Other

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How can the consumer help the Farmer and Rancher?

Author: Realfoodempire

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Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

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Comment (2)

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This is a comment rather than a question. I was borne in New York City, and am a city person. Nevertheless, I am horrified by the idea of forbidding farmers from saving seeds. I would hope that farmers from the whole world, including the USA, would oppose this law forbidding Iraqi farmers from saving their seed.

Author: rham

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Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

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Are consumers aware that chickens are too cheap? Modern chicken farming has gotten way too expensive, I haven't gotten a raise in 8 years. Several poultry companies are going bankrupt. Government mandates and subsidies for ethanol and over production are the reasons. Growing chickens in this market is no longer a way to make even a basic living on the farm.

Author: collegestfarm

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Topic: Food Affordability & Accessibliity

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Can we be mentally aware of the difference and differentiate organic with conventional in why the important technology is needed to provide in defect reports of all virus illness or just poor harvest presentation value to the consumer. HACCP,GMP,MSDS,SOP, ambiance for goal of SQF in our country. Could this be a cooperative developed towards organic commodity marketing tactics for all growers and ranchers to apply towards health food act compliance?

Author: QASA

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Topic: Other

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The optimal strategy for building soil for highly productive food gardening is also, when adopted globally by 6 billion people, the most powerful force for pulling carbon from the atmosphere and storing it, and it reduces energy use by 50x and water use by 6x compared to conventional agricultur. The specific disciplines are BioIntensive Gardening, Permaculture, French Intensive BioDynamic Gardening, and the creation of gas from cellulose, for use as energy, when making biochar, which sequesters lots of carbon, and releases it slowly. Also use source reduction: capturing the manure of livestock and humans, adding waste vegetable matter in the optimal proportions, processing it to capture its methane gas, breaking the methane down while providing energy, and using the remaining solids as soil additives and / or sanitary bedding for the livestock. Who supports this?

Author: Mark Roest

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Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

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Given climate change, it behooves a nation to keep food reserves for its people. What comes to mind are the seven lean years in Egypt versus the seven good years during biblical times under Joseph. One hears of year 2012 where the sun will spit out excess radiation and toast earth and its food supply. Does the United States have a government food reserve for its people that will last seven years or more??? Severe climate change can happen affecting our growing seasons, our crops and our food supply. Food may become more precious than gold or oil in the forseeable future. Is there a government foodstock stockpile? One of China's greatest vulnerabilities is lack of food for its people. I have been told that China keeps large US treasury reserves to be able to buy food from the US in case of a national emergency. What if the US has no food to sell to China in an emergency. What then?

Author: zorrro

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Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

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Greenhouses!! One of the largest factors in agriculture is the weather. Rain, no rain, little heat, excessive heat, no heat, water, etc. If I remember correctly, the Israeli greenhouses were fought over by the Palestinians as important to their survival. The peace process hinged on the Isrealis leaving their greenhouses to the Palestinians. What are we doing to develop greenhouse technology? Why are some countries like Isreal and Mexico more advanced in greenhouse technology than the U.S.?? Would a country go to war over our greenhouses as in the Israel case? We can not change the weather but can we build greenhouses to defy the weather? Isn't the future of farming efficient, computerized, greenhouses?

Author: zorrro

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Topic: Technology & Agriculture

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It seems to me that the question of feeding a population has more to do with logistics and distribution than sheer production capability. Right now, there is more food being produced than is currently consumed, but many areas are hungry just because there are *no grocery stores* where they are. Can you imagine what it's like to have to drive 50 miles to buy some produce that isn't rotting in some gas station convenience store? We need to work harder to eliminate 'food deserts' as well as end food waste, not grow more and more food for saturated markets!

Author: BrowserMedia

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Topic: Food Affordability & Accessibliity

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I have a non-ag friend that is a thought leader in our community. She is a medical vegan (some serious health stuff). She has appreciated reading some of the farm magazines I share with her since it presents an unvarnished picture of what agriculture is saying to itself. Can a person like this subscribe to these magazines easily?

Author: Charles Wildman

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Topic: Other

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Does acrylamide have anything to do with meats baked at high temperatures

Author: phoenixchef

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Topic: Healthy Eating / Healthy Choices

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What are you personally doing to ensure that seasonal and/or migrant, as well as staff workers on the farm have ready access to protective gear, proper knowledge of health issues in chemical agriculture, and reasonable health accomodations if there is a pesticide or fertilizer related health crisis? I have read that farm owners have little interest in ensuring that their workers are properly insured/have access to health care. Are you ready to provide education and resources to farm workers so they know the risk, are properly clothed and have access to clean up facilities and fresh water, and even in the case of undocumented workers, are you willing to personally provide health clinic resources for the victim?

Author: Oceanananana

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Topic: Other

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With the unemployment in our country so high, why shouldn't the government subsidize farm laborers, so that people other than immigrants are willing to work in the fields? This would help farmers and ranchers help US citizens find work, and it would tend to manage some problems of the money gap in the agricultural industry. As it stands the raw materials that come from farms and ranches are not valorized until they are processed. Thus processors of farm and ranch production can pay US citizens, while many farms must rely on rock bottom wages to make a profit on non value added harvest.

Author: ajwriter

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Topic: Food Affordability & Accessibliity

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Is the problem within the farm where animals may or may not be raised in a humane manner or is the biggest problem in the slaughterhouses?

Author: grams5100

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Topic: Animal Care

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I want to know how I can get a representative here in my county/state to speak to the local farmers. I want to get them to stop growing Monsanto's GMO grains.

Author: Brer Wulf

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Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

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The Humane Society of the United States, HSUS, has been active in states across the country working to regulate animal producers through initiative petitions. What is HSUS up to in your state and what impact have they had in producers in your state?

Author: Dan Kleinsorge

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Topic: Animal Care

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Just peeled and boiled some carrots for a salad. Put them in the fridge over night. Several sticks have developed a string of little lesion-like bumps, about two inches long length-wise on the outer edge of the carrot stalk. The stalks still look otherwise healthy and do not have any untoward smell or taste. What is this? Ever heard of it before? My grocer has not. Lanny Lutz

Author: Lanny Lutz

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Topic: Food Safety

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What is the best method to build a grain drill?

Author: sharon

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Topic: Technology & Agriculture

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I was wondering if any of the farmers/ranchers on this site know anything about growing chocolate. I am doing research on the agricultural food system from the cocoa through the players of the system all the way until Nabisco Chips Ahoy reach the consumer. I was wondering if any of you could help me. Thanks!

Author: CFarley3

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Topic: Technology & Agriculture

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I was raised on raw milk prior pasturization. Why is it not legal to sell / buy raw milk in all 50 states?

Author: Mejamz

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Topic: Healthy Eating / Healthy Choices

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How does the USFRA define "modern" agriculture?

Author: Food Sleuth

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Topic: Other

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Is agriculture a dirty word?

Author: Billboy

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Topic: Healthy Eating / Healthy Choices

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Comment (2)

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I asked a question. I have no voice on my computer, it is broken, can you respond to my question by email???

Author: susy

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Topic: Food Safety

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A neighbor gave us baby back ribs to cook for a neighborhook pot luck. When package opened, a strong smell. Are these o.k.to cook and eat?

Author: susy

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Topic: Food Safety

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Hi, I'm interested in seeing for myself where the eggs I buy come from. I've tried calling several egg producers but none seem to want to let me see inside a regular battery cage barn. I know this group is devoted to starting an open dialogue between farmers and consumers. Should who should a consumer like me call if we want to see how the eggs we eat are produced?

Author: Consumer 7

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Topic: Animal Care

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Hello, Im a new farmer with a small 5acr farm of grapefruits and im tring to find out how much i can sell my grapefruits for by pound or crate i think a crate is 90lbs? PLEASE HELP!

Author:

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Topic: Technology & Agriculture

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0

Vote

I just want to ask why many farmers and ranchers support the continuation of the slaughter of our horses for human consumption? I've owned horses for 35 years, and I actually left my native Dallas, Texas and moved to my husband's native Indiana to get away from from Beltex in Ft. Worth and Dallas Crown in Kaufman after one too many ghastly experiences, some of which I mention in my profile. They're both gone now, but they were certainly there in 1992 when I opted OUT. I am certainly not against animal agriculture - or ANY agriculture - but I darn well AM against horse slaughter and will fight to have it banned if it takes the rest of my life. That's why I was so totally shocked to see cattlemen support this horror. It seems SO counter-productive. The European Union - where most of our horse meat goes - is well aware that in the US horses are not considered food animals and thus are not regulated as such. The FDA does not require drug clearance tests for horse products, so there are many substances - both prescription and over-the-counter that are banned for use in food animals, both in the US and the EU. They know their rules are being ignored and circumvented and by 2013 they will require the US to have horses on a system comparable to their passport system or they will not be accepted at EU certified plants in Mexico and Canada. Unfortunately, this indifference - and even rabid support - for the flouting of food safety rules is spilling over into legitimate animal-ag. At a time when cattlemen are pinning their hopes on growing the international market, horse slaughter is giving all our animal-ag/meat industry a black eye. And not only abroad. I hate so see this happening almost as much as I hate horse slaughter. All producers of meat products know how highly regulated the lives of food animals are. They know that an animal must be raised as a food animal from birth and are subject to strict rules and record keeping. Surely you also know that none of this is true for horses. Phenylbutazone - bute - is THE most widely prescribed drug in equine veterinary medicine. I know my own horses have all had bute at one time or another. And bute alone is more than enough reason to end slaughtering our horses for humans to eat. It is extremely dangerous for humans - especially children. I'm sure you all know that. So, again I ask - WHY? I honestly want to know. Thanks.

Author: Suzanne Moore

:

Topic: Food Safety

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

Along with organic community farms, make the vegetables and produce, dairy and chicken safe and affordable for someone earning even minimum wage!!

Author: gailflaherty@yahoo.com

:

Topic: Food Affordability & Accessibliity

:

Comment (3)

4

Vote

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

:

Topic: Food Safety

:

Comment (5)

18

Vote

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

:

Topic: Animal Care

:

Comment (5)

10

Vote

Are dairy cooperatives the answer to meeting demand for dairy products as well as providing an open market for smaller scale farmers to sell their goods? Could this cooperative model work in other agricultural industries as well?

Author: rtlindquist

:

Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

:

Comment (1)

1

Vote

Hi all, I am doing a project on energy use in modern agriculture. I have to say that my research, so far has lead me to believe that we will have to transition to a less fossil-fuel intensive agriculture. There is research done by the rodale institute that shows that organic farms can produce at a similar rate to conventional agriculture. What is keeping farmers from transitioning to a less fossil-fuel intensive agriculture? Shouldn't we be worried about this considering future generations?

Author: todd

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (4)

4

Vote

Why are antibiotics feed to livestock inside CAFO or what the industry calls fed lots?

Author: grassfedorganic

:

Topic: Animal Care

:

Comment (4)

1

Vote

I would guess that most of the squabbling about the use of genetic enginneering and pesticides come from those countries with plenty of food or the resources to purchase them. Ask the 10,000 people in the world that die of starvation every day what they think!

Author: Dennis

:

Topic: Food Affordability & Accessibliity

:

Comment (2)

1

Vote

When are we going to start giving credit to the local food movement? Farmers market numbers are up across America. Consumers want local food and want to build relationships with their growers and producers. It is time we add more funding in the Farm Bill for the local food movement as well as small growers and producers in the Farm Bill. Lets give consumers what they want.

Author: heritageharvestfarm

:

Topic: Healthy Eating / Healthy Choices

:

Comment (0)

3

Vote

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

:

Topic: Environmental Stewardship

:

Comment (2)

7

Vote

How would you respond to criticism that "farmers primary goal is yield- not quality?"

Author: Mary Hagan

:

Topic: Environmental Stewardship

:

Comment (7)

1

Vote

What role will Aquaponics and Hydroponics play in future farming?

Author: FLhydroponics

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (2)

2

Vote

When are we going to address the myth that organic is the most healthy alternative? The USDA organic regs specify that this is a style of production. I am not aware of data that indicates organic is healthier, safer, or better for the environment.

Author: cmbruhn

:

Topic: Healthy Eating / Healthy Choices

:

Comment (6)

3

Vote

Kirby Schmidt, Minnesota I believe our future consumers can be positively shaped at a young age. Is making food and agriculture education courses a high school graduation requirement realistic? Especially for urban/metropolitan education systems?

Author: MNSoy

:

Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

:

Comment (3)

1

Vote

If ag seed and chemical companies are verbalizing the importance of best practices, and require farmers BOTH private and corporate, the contract farming practices, why don't these billion dollar corporations require their growers to follow the best conservation practices relating to storm water runoff and erosion? These companies could be major players who help improve the natural resources

Author: MNSoy

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (1)

1

Vote

Today's dialogues have been wonderfully thought provoking; however, they have been focused very much on challenges facing U.S. farmers and ranchers (fair enough). But especially given the longstanding global nature of our food system, how can we meet these challenges in ways that lead us toward sharing the successes we hope for in the U.S. more widely with food producers globally

Author: Valentine

:

Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

:

Comment (1)

0

Vote

I believe that food quality is of a growing importance to consumers; "It is important what I put into my body" What changes can food producers make to gain more trust and earn their way with consumers. New regulations vs. supply and demand

Author: MNSoy

:

Topic: Food Affordability & Accessibliity

:

Comment (2)

3

Vote

I've heard many consumers ask why farming can't go back to the way it was several decades ago. What are the benefits of today's production agriculture that consumers simply don't hear about or understand?

Author: Cindy

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (5)

4

Vote

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

:

Topic: Healthy Eating / Healthy Choices

:

Comment (6)

25

Vote

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

:

Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

:

Comment (3)

20

Vote

Considering routine practices (on some operations) such as application of toxic sewage sludge and regular medication of otherwise healthy livestock due to poor/inhumane conditions, do you agree that much of the current American agriculture system is inherently unsafe? How would you suggest we go about changing it to better reflect the food safety expectations of consumers?

Author: denise

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (2)

4

Vote

Where was the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance during the just ended United Nations Summit on NCDs? (Sept. 19 & 20) Representation from Food and Agriculture sectors was lacking, as agriculture, food and nutrition are naturally important parts of any discussion on health and disease.

Author: maryk

:

Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

:

Comment (0)

4

Vote

Is there a portable or stationary technology in development right now that is close to being able to help immediately be able detect salmonella, e-coli, or campylobactor jejuni that will help farmers? If not, is the USFRA trying to develop a tool or kit that will help farmers with this problem?

Author: trent marchand

:

Topic: Food Safety

:

Comment (0)

1

Vote

Does one meat (chcken, beef, turkey, port) require a lot more money than another to make it safe to raise and keep from getting contaminated on a farm?

Author: trent marchand

:

Topic: Food Safety

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

Do random health inspections by officials happen on farms or are they scheduled? If there are violations, would the beef, chicken, fruit, or whatever the crop/livestock that was sold be immediately recalled?

Author: trent marchand

:

Topic: Food Safety

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

I see that the American Farm Bureau Federation is in the USFRA leadership but the National Farmers Union is not even a partner or affiliate. How can the USFRA claim represent the nation's farmers and ranchers when a major farmer-based organization is not involved with the organization?

Author: Martha

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (1)

5

Vote

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

Author: Martha

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (1)

16

Vote

How can we eliminate subsidies to corn/soybeans? If anything is subsidized at all, it should be production of real food, e.g., http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/09/ag-subsidies-fund-junk-food-report-says/

Author: Brian

:

Topic: Food Affordability & Accessibliity

:

Comment (2)

2

Vote

How can we tell the world outside of no till farming about all of the benefits that a no till cropping system adds to the environment and how it greatly improves soil health?

Author: ksfarmboy

:

Topic: Environmental Stewardship

:

Comment (1)

2

Vote

Are Certified Organic farmers allowed to use GMO seed?

Author: Ashlee

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (1)

3

Vote

Do you know where your "fresh baked" supermarket bread is really made?

Author: globalreleaf

:

Topic: Healthy Eating / Healthy Choices

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

What can we do to defund the EPA and its negative impact on farming? I refer to the "dust" regulation they want to enact, which in fact will put many farmers out of business!

Author: 1stPatriot

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (1)

1

Vote

Have we lost sight of the main goal of conservation programs? Seems the farmer/rancher is often the last to have input on developing conservation programs that will truly benefit farming/ranching while protecting resources.

Author: Denise

:

Topic: Environmental Stewardship

:

Comment (2)

1

Vote

I oppose so-called "factory farming" and want to eat animals who lived a stress free and healthy life. I buy product that is Certified Humane (when I can find it) and I follow the Humane Farming Association. However, there just isn't much out there to find. When possible, I opt for grass-fed beef on the idea that feedlots are less humane, and probably indicate less humane general treatment and slaughter (plus the meat tastes better). Terms like Free-Range chicken are ambiguous and misleading. Whole Foods rates their meat on a scale of humane treatment, which I applaud. When possible, I buy beef from a local rancher with whom I can converse. But I cannot always do that. And forget about going to a restaurant and getting anyone there to know squat about their animal product. How can we as consumers be assured that the meat we are purchasing was not abused while alive, and was slaughtered as humanely as possible? What can we do to get the government to allow such practices as mobile abattoir to be more affordable? How can we counter the bad-press shown by such organizations as HSUS, PeTa, etc?

Author: plarkinjr

:

Topic: Animal Care

:

Comment (2)

5

Vote

What role do responsible farm managers have for "calling out" bad actors in their farm communities?

Author: Willie Vogt

:

Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

:

Comment (0)

3

Vote

The USFRA affiliates include the USDA-sponsored checkoff programs, which run advertisements encouraging Americans to consume more beef, pork, milk, and cheese than we currently do. Other USFRA affiliates promote fruits, vegetables, fats, oils, grains, and sugar. What is your opinion of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which encourage moderate food intake, less sugar, less solid fats, and a largely plant-based diet?

Author: usfoodpolicy

:

Topic: Healthy Eating / Healthy Choices

:

Comment (1)

2

Vote

Should farmers have to enact environmentally friendly practices in exchange for taxpayer support for insurance and subsidies?

Author: DonEWG

:

Topic: Environmental Stewardship

:

Comment (2)

4

Vote

To what extent have family farms felt the impacts of the financial crisis and the current economic recession, particularly regarding farmland prices and access to credit?

Author: Yi Wang

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

3

Vote

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

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (6)

28

Vote

What water policy changes do we need to make in the East and West of the U.S.?

Author: Water professor

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (0)

4

Vote

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

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (7)

28

Vote

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

:

Topic: Food Affordability & Accessibliity

:

Comment (4)

21

Vote

Could you explain the difference between animal rights and animal welfare?

Author: Ashlee

:

Topic: Animal Care

:

Comment (2)

2

Vote

With increasing farm land value, many non-ag investors are purchasing this land. Do you think this will have a positive or negative affect on agriculture? What types of problems/benefits could this bring to the industry?

Author: Ashlee

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

2

Vote

When I first opened this site, there was a place to make a comment about a question. I really wanted to comment so I registered. Now there is no comment button to be found, only a vote. I don't even know what "vote" on a question means,

Author: BJ McDonald

:

Topic: Environmental Stewardship

:

Comment (1)

1

Vote

why is the food industry generally and the beef industry specifically always defending the wholesomness and safety measures taken while the chicken and pork industries have no such problems? it seems to me that the beef industry has done a poor job of garnering support politically and with the media to have a more positive acceptance in our society -though the product is still very popular

Author: patrick gurrentz

:

Topic: Food Safety

:

Comment (0)

3

Vote

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

:

Topic: Environmental Stewardship

:

Comment (12)

35

Vote

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

:

Topic: Food Safety

:

Comment (35)

81

Vote

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

:

Topic: Environmental Stewardship

:

Comment (3)

13

Vote

How is this a dialogue when none of the answers have received a single response?

Author: Keyspoet

:

Topic: Food Safety

:

Comment (1)

1

Vote

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

:

Topic: Food Safety

:

Comment (10)

55

Vote

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

Author: ArchStanton

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (1)

17

Vote

I live in an apple growing region. Apples are now in season. Why are the local grocery stores bringing apples in from New Zealand? Can someone please show me the math on that one - I assume that it's cheaper for them - but how can it be?

Author: cinnamon kennedy

:

Topic: Food Affordability & Accessibliity

:

Comment (1)

1

Vote

Some people rail against the use of chemical fertilizers. Then, they also criticize the use of manure as fertilizer, claiming that is runs off into water bodies. If farmers can't use synthetic fertilizer, and they can't use manure, how the heck are we going to grow enough food for everyone? It's easy to criticize this practice and that practice, but we shouldn't starve ourselves in the process of trying to shrink agriculture's environmental footprint.

Author: lynnejf

:

Topic: Environmental Stewardship

:

Comment (2)

5

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (1)

12

Vote

Can someone define what "Big Ag" is and who they are?

Author: ArchStanton

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (1)

0

Vote

Earlier this year the USDA changed its food and nutrition marketing from the Food Pyramid to the Nutrition Plate. The marketing material has been distributed across the nation to thousands of schools and offices. How is the USDA measuring, long term, these marketing programs as it relates to real health change, and when will intermediate assessments of the program be published?

Author: ArchStanton

:

Topic: Healthy Eating / Healthy Choices

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Healthy Eating / Healthy Choices

:

Comment (2)

7

Vote

Follow the money. Where does it come from? Money talks. Farmers and family farms are not the problem. It didn't scale up. Corporate farms with absentee owners are the problem. If they (stock holders or corporate people) lived next to the manure or the chemistry then things would be different. Is it black propaganda or gray propaganda? Put out by some big corporate money. It doesn't fool those that know.

Author: billpizzaiolo

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

1

Vote

I see many comments about USFRA labeled as "Big Ag" (example: http://www.lavidalocavore.org/diary/4888/big-ags-opposition-research ). When I look at the supporting members of USFRA, I see several ag focused lobbying organization (example: NPPC ). So one can surmise that there is an element of truth in the statement that USFRA is "Big Ag". How would you (USFRA) respond?

Author: ArchStanton

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (1)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Animal Care

:

Comment (3)

16

Vote

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

:

Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

:

Comment (32)

63

Vote

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

:

Topic: Environmental Stewardship

:

Comment (1)

9

Vote

Why are there not more farmers on the panels at the town halls? I thought this was a farmer outreach. For the NYC panel, I would prefer to see some farmers on the panel from NY or the Northeast.

Author: NYFarmer

:

Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

:

Comment (1)

3

Vote

Do farmers and ranchers think the animals they raise feel pain and fear?

Author: Dawn

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (3)

3

Vote

When will people stop using buzz words such as "dirty word" to short-change the discussion of a very complex topic? In other words, when will facts, justice, social responsibility and science be used instead of charged rhetoric in our national discourse? Seek the truth and tell the truth and we shall be free and healthy and prosperous.

Author: Robert

:

Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

:

Comment (1)

2

Vote

The Clean Water Act is almost 40 years old. The EPA regulations generally require confined animal feeding operations to have no discharges unless a 25 year rainfall event occurs and limit land application of wastes to less than required for safe fertilization. A big effort has been made to reduce fertilizer use to only that which will be removed by harvest and shipped off the farm. Has there been a measurable improvement in river quality?

Author: Rex Peterson

:

Topic: Environmental Stewardship

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

So I read the question "WHEN DID AGRICULTURE BECOME A DIRTY WORD?" and I'm thinking, this is good. When did this happen? Why? And I watch the video. Says nothing about it. So how about an answer?

Author: Meathead

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (2)

0

Vote

OK, so I joined. I see a long list of questions, some good ones, but NO answers? Will you be answering them or do we have to vote to get an answer. If so, I think I'm wasting my time here.

Author: Meathead

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (1)

1

Vote

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

Author: smalleycattleco

:

Topic: Food Safety

:

Comment (3)

9

Vote

How does modern beef and dairy production today compare to 30 years ago (number of animals, acres of land used today as compared to 30 years ago)?

Author: smalleycattleco

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (0)

2

Vote

Who are the panelists, what are their backgrounds, and which city will they be in?

Author: ArchStanton

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (2)

1

Vote

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

:

Topic: Food Safety

:

Comment (6)

24

Vote

Who is USFRA trying to target with this? And what's the draw for the target audience?

Author: TruffleMedia

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (1)

3

Vote

outbreak of listeriosis, a potentially fatal bacterial infection caused by eating contaminated food. Since my daughter aged 19 eat a CANTALOUPE some 12 days ago she has been hurting in the upper stomach and thowing up and diarria do you think it it this desease and if it is how do we get her tested? though she seems a little better after we gave her home remedies. Is there a permanent damage caused by this illness?

Author: Shenaz

:

Topic: Food Safety

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

Author: Twilight

:

Topic: Environmental Stewardship

:

Comment (2)

12

Vote

What time is the webcast?

Author: kcwaters

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (2)

2

Vote

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

Author: TruffleMedia

:

Topic: Environmental Stewardship

:

Comment (8)

11

Vote

What resources do farmers and ranchers have to stay up to date on the latest insights into farming/ranching techniques, methods and consumer trends?

Author: TruffleMedia

:

Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

:

Comment (0)

4

Vote

Farmers are not all about food. Some grow corn and soybeans to be used as fuel, today because the price for fuel is going up. US ethanol policy also influences the economic factors a corn/soybean farmer makes. These types of decision making activities get reported in the news as farmers making a choice of fuel over food. Can you help us understand how grain food producers are really impacted and what other factors are considered before a farmer decides fuel over food?

Author: USFRA

:

Topic: Food Affordability & Accessibliity

:

Comment (0)

3

Vote

This statement was posted on KeepFoodLegal.org by Deb's Place Healthshockdotnet (FB name) "I will jump for joy the day the FDA stops raiding raw and organic food co-ops, you can transport raw milk across state lines legally, and when GMOs are labeled on all foods that are processed." Thoughts or responses?

Author: TruffleMedia

:

Topic: Food Safety

:

Comment (1)

3

Vote

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

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (14)

11

Vote

Right now the FDA has draft guidance representing the FDA's current thinking on voluntary labeling of foods indicating whether foods have or have not been developed using bioengineering. Why isn't the approach to mandate labeling instead of making it voluntary?

Author: USFRA

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (0)

1

Vote

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

Author: USFRA

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (2)

15

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (5)

8

Vote

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

Author: USFRA

:

Topic: Animal Care

:

Comment (7)

7

Vote

How is conventional farming different from organic farming?

Author: the Hoovinator

:

Topic: Healthy Eating / Healthy Choices

:

Comment (1)

8

Vote

What practices are farmers and ranchers doing today to keep our food safe?

Author: USFRA

:

Topic: Food Safety

:

Comment (1)

5

Vote

Are farmers and ranchers really focused on sustainability?

Author: USFRA

:

Topic: Environmental Stewardship

:

Comment (1)

11

Vote

Why are farmers and ranchers joining forces for this effort?

Author: USFRA

:

Topic: Agricultural Leadership & Responsibility

:

Comment (1)

7

Vote

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

:

Topic: Food Safety

:

Comment (35)

81

Vote

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 (32)

63

Vote

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 (10)

55

Vote

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)

35

Vote

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)

28

Vote

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)

28

Vote

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 (6)

25

Vote

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 (6)

24

Vote

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)

21

Vote

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 (3)

20

Vote

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 (5)

18

Vote

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)

17

Vote

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)

16

Vote

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 (1)

16

Vote

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 (2)

15

Vote

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)

13

Vote

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)

12

Vote

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)

12

Vote

Are farmers and ranchers really focused on sustainability?

Author: USFRA

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Topic: Environmental Stewardship

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Comment (1)

11

Vote

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)

11

Vote

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)

11

Vote

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)

10

Vote

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)

9

Vote

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)

9

Vote

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)

8

Vote

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)

8

Vote

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)

7

Vote

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

Author: USFRA

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Topic: Animal Care

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Comment (7)

7

Vote

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)

7

Vote

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)

7

Vote

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