USFRA Survey Responses

click for full version

From the USFRA Farmer and Rancher Study, August 2011

Verbatim Responses:

IF YOU COULD TELL THE AVERAGE CONSUMER ONE THING ABOUT WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

• I would tell them that the majority are family farms. They may be small or they may be big, but the majority of their food comes from family farms.
• I would tell them that most farmers are your neighbors.
• I would tell them that food comes from hardworking families.
• If I could tell consumers one thing, I would tell them that their food comes from people like them. People who have the values as they do and who want to eat the same nutritious food as they do. We are not nameless, faceless people.
• I would tell them that their food comes from the same place my food comes from – it’s the same food I feed my children and grandchildren.
• I guess I would tell them that it comes through planning and effort of people that manage the crops and livestock. It’s a lot more technical, I think, than people realize.
• I would tell them that farmers are trying to produce the best possible product at the lowest cost with food safety being of the utmost importance.
• I would say that America has the safest and most steady food source the world has ever known.
• I would tell them that food comes [from] their neighbors, their farmers. It comes from the land, and the rain and the sunshine.
• I would tell them that food comes from farmers who care passionately about providing consumers with the safest food possible.

IF YOU COULD TELL THE AVERAGE CONSUMER ONE THING ABOUT THE MODERN FARMING AND RANCHING INDUSTRY, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

• I would tell them that food is produced safely and [in] environmentally friendly ways, and animals are highly respected.
• I would tell them that the industry in the United States is much safer than that of other countries because of the regulations imposed.
• I would tell them that we produced wholesome and nutritious food, which is the safest in the world and produced with great efficiency.
• I would tell them that there is diversity and a wider set of practices than most people think. People have a set stereotype of the industry as a whole. People don’t think that there are family farms anymore.
• I would tell them that modern farming and ranching is just like other technology. Things change every day. Everything is geared to provide better quality.
• I would tell them that farming today is different than it used to be just like anything else. What we do has changed over the years due to the technology and scientific knowledge, but the one thing that has not changed is our commitment to providing safe food.
• I would tell them that it requires as much savvy intelligence. It [is] a very sophisticated and professional business. It’s sophisticated in terms of level of management skills, business skills and agriculture practices.
• I would tell them that we’re caretakers of the land so other generations can grow good food for people and livestock.
• I would tell them that farmers and ranchers are also environmentalists and are very aware of what [it] takes to take care of the land.

WHY DO YOU THINK THEY VIEW FARMERS AND RANCHERS POSITIVELY?

• I think when people think about farmers or ranchers they think of an individual and they think positive, but when they think about the farming or ranching industry they think it is a faceless industry.
• Studies have shown that the American farmer is one of the most trusted individuals, but it’s the production agriculture that’s carrying the bad load and been dumped on in the media. Americans associate with the individuals not the industry.
• Most consumers view the individual farmer as family-oriented and not necessarily seeking a profit, but rather trying to maintain a way of life. When they look at bigger farms, they may get a different view.
• I think that they like the idea of someone raising their food. After they think about it, they say they love farmers… But once they find out you are a farmer then they start talking about all the things they see in the news. They seem to have a lot of questions.
• Well, because they are the bread and butter. If you don’t have farmers and ranchers, you don’t have food.
• Romance. I think that it’s the only reason. As individuals, as farmers, we are still held in some regard, but in the industry as whole, we’re getting a black eye.
• It’s traditional. I think there has always been a lot of respect for farmers and ranchers because they put in a lot of hours, deal with the weather and many other things as well.
• I think that there is some romanticizing about red barns and hard-working folks that is why people view individual farmers and ranchers positively.
• On an individual standpoint, once they meet a farmer or rancher they see the hard work and want to support a person. That’s why people support local.
• I think it’s that people appreciate farmers because they get their food from us as individual farmers.
• It’s the logical sense that food is needed to survive. Also, the romanticizing of farming contributes to it.
• Most people seem to think the problem is with corporate and industrial farms, not the family farmer.
• I think that if they know a farmer or rancher, they know that the farmers and ranchers are hardworking and dedicated.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING A FARMER OR RANCHER?

• The best thing is independence in decision-making and enjoying the land. It’s also a good place to raise children.
• The best thing is the ability to control your involvement, benefits and skill as well as being with nature and animals.
• I love the freedom of not having to live in a confined space and I also love taking care of animals most people can’t.
• The best thing is giving life and the satisfaction of feeding people.
• You can be your own boss. You don’t have to look at the time all the time and if you want to take a break, you can do that.
• The connection to the land is the greatest thing as well as the connection with animals. I’m really lucky to be able to live everyday with those connections.
• It’s a challenge every day, but it’s also the fact that you can be your own boss to a certain extent.
• I am a steward of what God has blessed me with – and I like taking care of what God has given me.
• I think it is fun. I love the job. I like the mechanical aspects of it. I like running the machinery. I like compulsive nature of the job – I like the rows straight. It is exciting to plant something and watch it grow. That’s it. The love of my land and my animals. You have to love the land. You have to like what you’re doing as a farmer and enjoy the lifestyle.
• I think it’s a great lifestyle. It’s great place to raise a family, work with livestock, enjoy God’s creation and enjoy the life we have.
• You couldn’t ask for a better life. It makes you appreciate nature and it’s the best place to raise a family.
• The best thing is the way of life. There are just so many things. It’s getting up in the morning and seeing a baby calf being born.
• Compassion about the land. Knowing that you make a difference about how the land is used and understanding the ecology of the land.
• I love being able to take good care of the land and animals. Making nutritional food and doing what we love every day.
• The best part is being part of the seasonal cycle of planting, growth and harvest.
• The best thing is the beauty of being able to look at your product and know you’re providing food for someone. You’re working with Mother Nature, not against it.
• The best part is knowing that my hard work feeds hundreds of people. I want to be a person to provide high-quality beef and chicken for people to enjoy with their family.
• It is the noblest profession there is in the whole world. It is the most basic need. Food and water is what everyone needs and it’s a great feeling knowing you did something for someone else.
• I love being able to provide high-quality food for the entire world. Also, I love being able to be out there taking care of our ranching legacy.
• It is just a good feeling to provide for your neighbors and the rest of the world while making an honest living.
• The best thing is the sense of value of being able to know that you have contributed an important food supply to the American public and the world.
• I like that I get to work with my children; being a farmer lets me show my children the value of the land, labor and hard work.
• The best thing is that I have the opportunity to bring more people into this line of work and I get to teach people about food production.

WHAT IS THE WORST THING ABOUT BEING A FARMER OR RANCHER?

• Annual profits are unpredictable due to the elements that are out of our personal control.
• The worst thing is being unable to make a living when prices bottom out or having to defend my way of life when people attack it.
• I am the last one to see any increase in pay and the first one to have something taken away.
• Probably the fact there is no control of your income, as it depends on the weather and markets. It’s very frustrating.
• I guess that the profits are minimal in comparison to the amount of work.
• You have to be really disciplined to set yourself up for retirement – it’s really difficult. You need to save, but you also have to invest in tractors, repairs and irrigation.
• The biggest difficulties are the unpredictability of the markets and educating people about what we do.
• We worry about our livelihood – hoping to make it another year…
• The long hours and the stress due to financial issues or weather. Also, the cost of keeping a farm and ranch up-to-date.
• You’re not in control as much as you think. You have no control of the weather or the markets.
• The worst thing is losing your crops when you’ve done everything, like when you have your hay out and it gets rained on.

IN THE PAST ONE TO THREE YEARS, WHAT NEW TECHNIQUES OR PRACTICES HAVE YOU IMPLEMENTED ON YOUR FARM OR RANCH TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT YOU DELIVER TO YOUR CUSTOMERS?

• We grow organic feed for our animals.
• We now use fewer antibiotics, less fertilizer, less feed, more grass and intensive grazing.
• We’ve stopped using antibiotics, including steroids. We’ve begun electronic tags for my animals so that can be traced to my ranch. We are careful in choosing proper vaccines and the proper area for administration.
• I took all of the drugs out of the cows and I’m now practice raising them more purely.
• In the past few years, we have reduced the amount of chemicals that we use and that helps to use the land better. We have also reduced the amount of antibiotics we use and that helps us produce healthier animals.
• We no longer use commercial fertilizer. We use our own waste to feed the ground from our own animals. It’s huge money saving issue. We take the product to the local farmer’s market for a much better price, and then we can get from the commercial market (as in stock sales).
• Our beef is now in the beef quality assurance program and certification. We’ve reduced the use of pesticides and fertilizers as best as we can. I am using different methods of treatment for animals to reduce stress on them.
• I have used better cost-effective products that can provide the same or better results – whether it is better genetics or disease resistance.
• We’ve improved our feed production efficiency. The processing of the feed that we use is better. The cattle get more natural grass and we use less fertilizer.
• We’ve invested in new housing for animals, new technology in milking, new capital investment to store feed and new efficiencies to make feed.
• I’ve added GPS (Global Positioning Systems) guidance on my sprayer, and automatic rate control on my sprayer as well to limit usage.
• We’re doing closer monitoring and management of the care of the animals – to prevent sickness as opposed to treating sickness.
• We have started growing produce and attended several classes geared toward organic at our local community college. We distribute produce on the Internet.
• We don’t use as much fertilizer in the spring and summer. It’s an old technique that’s being revived.
• We’ve also been using GPS for about five years.
• I’ve improved the line of cattle by selecting better bulls. We’ve also bought sea salt and alfalfa to give cattle better minerals.

IN THE PAST ONE TO THREE YEARS, WHAT NEW TECHNIQUES OR PRACTICES HAVE YOU IMPLEMENTED ON YOUR FARM OR RANCH TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF YOUR PRODUCTION PROCESS TO DELIVER YOUR PRODUCT TO CUSTOMERS?

• We went from green trucks to green semis to get the food to various markets. It’s more time and fuel efficient.
• We have better animal care protocols in place – more specific than before and also better recordkeeping.
• Protocols are now in writing and being followed better for health for animals. We stress preventative care for the animals more.
• We’ve changed ventilation techniques, updated our lighting and added computer technology. We have more efficient equipment and can start the harvest process earlier in the season.
• We’ve done some solar energy stuff –allowing us to use less fossil fuel and it is good backup system if something would happen to the electrical grid.
• I’ve changed the shape of the land to be more efficient. By doing this, more wildlife feel invited to come onto my farm – which helps with the natural balance of the land.
• I’ve improved pasture management and grazing techniques with the utilization of rotational grazing.
• We’ve changed spraying habits for diseases and for pests – both plant and animal – monitored the spraying more and looked at different varieties of seeds and sprays.
• We’ve been soil-grid mapping. It helps us save on nutrient cost. We also have improved efficiency by our equipment, fuel and human resources.
• We’ve improved our facilities. We’ve developed easier ways of handling the cattle without stressing them.
• We’re using local retailers and trying to make sure our products are available.
• We are much more aware of our own safety, which makes a better product. To avoid accidents on the farm, we are more aware of what we’re doing.

WHAT CAN FARMING/RANCHING DO AS AN INDUSTRY TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE HEALTHY FOOD FOR EVERYONE?

• The industry can consider transitioning to organic.
• The industry can continue to minimize pesticides and hormones.
• The industry can continue to try to plant good crops and keep livestock healthy – using very little fertilizer and pesticides.
• The industry can continue to be good stewards of the land and the environment, by being willing to share your story and educate consumers at every opportunity.
• The industry can continue to become more efficient at protecting the environment by using technology to prevent over-spraying pesticides and fertilizer. Also, by having equipment that can reduce our energy costs – because they are eating us alive
• The industry can continue to maintain their integrity and continue to care for the crops first, animals first and the land first. Do it right and the bottom line will take care of itself.
• The industry can continue to adhere to all the trace back systems that are in place so that everything can be traced back directly to the producer.
• The industry can continue to comply with rules and regulations. The American farmer knows what they are and what he or she has to do to provide a safe food supply.
• The industry can continue to have safe practices regarding handling of the cattle, use of pesticides on the land and better marketing opportunities.
• I think we need to maintain a kind of standardization system of production and how to safely handle the animals. Colleges and universities can help farmers with that.
• I think we always need to [be] open to using new technologies. I think we need to be open to any idea that will help us produce a better and safer product. We should adopt new technology [as it] becomes available. . .
• We have to encourage some people to continue in the farming industry and this goes back to encouraging new farmers or ranchers.
• We need to be more vocal in our communities by saying something positive about what you do.