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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.

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Questions Within: Technology & Agriculture

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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

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (1)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

GMO? Everything and anything you know about gmo.

Author: mg5405

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (1)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

What is the best method to build a grain drill?

Author: sharon

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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:

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (1)

0

Vote

What role will Aquaponics and Hydroponics play in future farming?

Author: FLhydroponics

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (2)

2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Author: USFRA

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (2)

15

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

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

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

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

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

What role will Aquaponics and Hydroponics play in future farming?

Author: FLhydroponics

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (2)

2

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

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

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:

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (1)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

What is the best method to build a grain drill?

Author: sharon

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (1)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

GMO? Everything and anything you know about gmo.

Author: mg5405

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (1)

0

Vote

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

:

Topic: Technology & Agriculture

:

Comment (0)

0

Vote

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