U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance

Visit USFRA Online

Food Dialogues

View Questions, Comment & Vote

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.

Questions Within: Other

Most Votes
Most Recent

Ask Your Question

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (1)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (3)

2

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (1)

1

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

2

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

How does the USFRA define "modern" agriculture?

Author: Food Sleuth

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

0

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

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

Are Certified Organic farmers allowed to use GMO seed?

Author: Ashlee

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (1)

3

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

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

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

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

Author: ArchStanton

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (1)

17

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

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

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

Author: Dawn

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (3)

3

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

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

Author: ArchStanton

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (2)

1

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

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

Author: ArchStanton

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (1)

17

Vote

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

Author: Martha

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (1)

16

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

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

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

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

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

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

Author: Dawn

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (3)

3

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

Are Certified Organic farmers allowed to use GMO seed?

Author: Ashlee

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (1)

3

Vote

What time is the webcast?

Author: kcwaters

:

Topic: Other

:

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

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

2

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (3)

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

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

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

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

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (1)

1

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

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

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

Author: ArchStanton

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (1)

0

Vote

How does the USFRA define "modern" agriculture?

Author: Food Sleuth

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Other

:

Comment (1)

0

Vote

When Did Agriculture Become A Dirty Word?

Agriculture Poll

Sign Up for Email Updates

Already Registered? Log In Now | New Here? Sign In Now!