I just read a post by a #twitter friend of mine, Zach (@ZacharyCohen). His post is here: What is wrong with me is what is right with me. I like this post and totally relate. I ran into these same issues that he speaks about regarding life in corporate america. It is, dare I say, a gauntlet that is difficult and maddening to navigate.
Now let's take part of the message, or what I take away as part of the message, and superimpose that on to agriculture. Zach is correct, we live in a kinetic world. We are by no means static. This message is never more evident when one thinks about agriculture, the business of growing our food, feed, and fiber - and now fuel. Agricultural practices are not static. They have never been, nor will they ever be.
As we march, some would say sprint, into the future, the practices and methodologies utilized by farmers will change; they must. The art form, based in science I might add, of farming will adapt. Take the recent advances in Precision Farming. Everything from Variable Rate Technologies, Sub-Inch Guidance, to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Agriculture will adapt and continue to improve. As more and more scientific models become commercialized and cost effective, producers of our food, fuel, fiber, and feed will adopt and use. We are getting better every day. Below is a high level diagram depicting what we in the "conventional" ag space are concerned with. Diagram courtesy of the National Natural Resource Management System, Indian Space Research Organization
“The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” ~ Mitch Albom
This, in a nutshell, is what I think about Michele and how she lives her life. I respect, value, and aspire to do the exact same thing. Michele not only has an impact on the #agricultural community, she motivates others to do the same thing; make an impact.
In today's world, with social media tools, information can go viral, fast. In conjunction blogging has a huge impact on society, given that more and more people are "dialed in" to blogs. Michele understands this, and knows full well that we, in agriculture, need to "find our voice". Michele has dedicated herself to the ag industry and this mantra.
More importantly than ideals, is the ability to execute: As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe stated "A really great talent finds its happiness in execution." If that is the case, Michele is certainly happy. Actions speak louder than words, so don't just take my word for it. Just have a look at #agchat and #foodchat on #twitter. Michele founded both of these open forums on twitter and the impact has been phenomenal. #Agchat has been a hub that allows the various spokes in the #ag industry to hook together to create a powerful voice. It is also a place we can come together to share knowledge, educate, and learn from one another. The biggest impact has been on the interaction with the public at large. We need to get this going. Education is a MUST! I am ever thankful for the weekly shindig known as #agchat!
If you need more information on why you should vote Michele (@mpaynknoper) Twitter User of the Year, check out these places. You will come to quickly notice that there are other communities in conjunction with the #ag community that are all in agreement.
Janice's Blog (@JPLovesCOTTON) - http://jplovescotton.wordpress.com/
Eliz Greene's Blog (@elizgreene) - http://bit.ly/4EJ0YB
Ray Prock's Blog (@RayLinDairy) - http://bit.ly/2k6vEy
We are now to the point in the posting where you have been inspired and feel so compelled to drop everything and vote. Here is the direct link to vote. http://bit.ly/OLfBy Sign in with your Twitter or Facebook account and vote every day.
As I reflect back on the recent interactions with the #Profood folks, I believe there are just some things that need much more than 140 characters to explain. In conjunction, there are also issues that seem irreconcilable, regardless of the amount of characters, both on paper and "live".
Let's take the simple approach and take each issue bullet by bullet. First two bullets:
The purpose of this blog is to discuss agriculture. It is meant to be an open forum for everyone involved in agriculture to speak their mind. It is really not meant to discuss politics, and this post will certainly not get into political positions directly; the bully pulpit is not in effect here, but all one must do to see how polarized things are at the moment is to turn on the television. Our 24 hours news cycle can be distracting and, well, useless sometimes. That is not a knock on the media as that is just the system that is in place. A great example of sensationalist TV faring better than civil discourse is CSPAN. As many of my friends and family state, "that is the most boring TV we have ever seen." Why is that I wonder? Let's face it, how interesting is a good, in-depth policy discussion? How many individuals would tune in to that news outlet if there was a focus on policy? I propose that their ratings would take a hit. It is so much easier to pull out the race card against all dissidence of current policy. It is also great TV when Obama is called a Marxist (I wager that 1/2 the people calling him that have NO idea what that means), racist, or Nazi. Where does that really get us? Does it make our country better? The answer is unequivocally no. And this is exactly why the media and general population should take a look at agriculture.
As all of us are aware, there is a very heated debate taking place in regards to health care in our country. Actually, there are very heated debates going on about the role of government in our society. These debates are the cornerstone of our democracy. Any President that tries to implement bold changes has faced significant opposition, from FDR to Reagan, and now Obama. I am thankful I live in a country that allows everyone to speak their mind. That being said, I must say that recent events really do challenge my die hard belief in the First Amendment. My steadfastness hasn't faltered, but it certainly is trying at times. It is, after all, the First Amendment for a reason.
Let's take a look at the 9/12/09 protest first. I am all for grassroots efforts culminating into a march and show of support or dissidence; however, it is really difficult to determine if many of the individuals taking part were actually there showing their dissidence of health care reform (#HCR). There were so many signs, both literally and figuratively that had nothing to do with health care. Look here for examples. This is what our media covers because it is sensational. What that does is detract from the actual debate. The fact of the matter is that Obama is not a Marxist, Nazi, or "death panel" advocate, and the Republican party is not full of racists. If you truly believe either of the above, then this post is definitely for you! Does racism still occur in this country? Yes, and it is not party dependent. We need to marginalize such activities and call them out for what they are. Every news outlet from ABC to Fox news and all of Congress should repudiate these views and mention that these people are the minority in our country, minority indeed! They are certainly free to speak their mind; however, it should be stated that such positions are deplorable.
So, why should we have a look at agriculture? How does paying attention to agriculture apply to the current health care debate? The answer is quite simple. When we debate agricultural issues, we talk about POLICY, pure and simple. Ask a farmer about the effects of, say Cap and Trade and the answer revolves around the effects such a policy will have on their ability to run their business; growing our food, fuel, feed, and fiber. It isn't about what Obama and Congress "are." It is about the actual guts of the bill. Ask a farmer about Indirect Land Use and, not surprisingly, the discussion is about policy. It isn't about Pelosi, Frank, Grassley, or any other elected official directly; it may focus on their position, but it isn't about attacks on character. Farmers spend the time required to educate themselves, and......wait for it......actually READ the bill. What a novel concept right?
To take that further, we are currently in a debate surrounding the future of agriculture and the role various types of agricultural approaches fit into the puzzle; that puzzle being massive population growth, finite resources, and a healthy citizenry. Granted our discussions, at times, become antagonistic. There are a minority of individuals that play to the sensational also, but, as with the current debates, these are the minority. The majority of us use a wonderful approach to the discussions; that is education and facts. If there is something that one of us has detailed knowledge about, we share with the group. Lo and behold, it actually furthers our discussions!
And that, after all, is what we all need to focus on. We need to educate ourselves on the issues and then determine our position. If you already have a position because Glenn Beck or Rachel Maddow "said so", then go back to the drawing board. There is nothing that replaces a good, in depth read. Take the time to educate yourself on issues. You may find that the 24 hour news cycle is not meant for a replacement in your own research. I also encourage you to look to agriculture as an example. Beyond that, everyone should be paying attention to agriculture as it is what drives a thriving society. Yes I know that was a shameless plug, but #ag is where it's at so come join us! We would love to interact, answer questions and talk about policy.
Arguments are often like melodramas -- they have a predictable beginning, middle, and end.Here is hoping we progress this week!
As we continue the discussions on the Agri-Supply chain and all that encompasses, and at the risk of just stating the obvious, political ideology places a significant role in the sometimes heated exchanges. On one side of the equation are the folks who are steadfast in their belief that it all starts with personal responsibility; generally speaking, these are the folks who are on the front lines supporting agriculture as great #agvocates should. On the other side of the SAME equation are the folks who believe that there are other factors in play within the system that need to be considered; these are predominantly part of the #ProFood movement. Now, I am always putting out reminders not to paint with a broad brush, so to be very clear, the above is not all inclusive. There are some, with no doubt, that do not fit this scenario. For the purposes of this entry, I will be using the above generalization to attempt to further our discussions and elicit feedback.
So, in my view, we need to see if we can elucidate this equation. There isn't a simple algorithm for this. It is complex with many different variables and outside influences like geography, family history, cultural practices, and many more. Personally, I think we all should be ecstatic that there isn't one set answer. This is where innovation takes hold, we learn to work with a myriad of individuals, knowledge is gained, and progress is made.
It seems to me that, after removing the "noise" from the data, there seems to be a disconnect. For the most part, I really do not think that the individuals I have interacted with that are on the Pro Food (all, I REALLY wish you would think of another name...polarizing) "side" are trying to demonize the conventional farming operations. There are those that certainly do, and to those, I call you on the carpet. We are not going to progress agriculture without the full support and participation of multi-generational farmers. As Albert Einstein eloquently stated: “The only source of knowledge is experience”. So enough is enough. What many of the Pro Food advocates are trying to do is break the hold large multi-national companies have on certain parts of our food supply chain. Actually, this is a laudable goal; however, it would do everyone on the Pro Food side to remember that honest, ethical, people work at these huge companies and DO NOT deserve the disdain they receive. They are working hard towards the exact same goal we all are. I have met them personally, and you don't know what you are missing. Another point in fact is this: The United States is a capitalistic society. The inevitable outcome /progression is that businesses grow; it's just what you do. Just look at Wal-Mart, Microsoft, Oracle, etc. Focusing efforts to prevent oligopolies from forming, or worst monopolies, is where efforts should be focused. Also, not all corporations providing food and inputs to the system are the devil incarnate. They do good things and will be a part of the solution to the looming crisis we are going to face.
To continue the disconnect from the other side of that coin; it is important to remember that one does not have to be deeply involved in an industry to ask questions and lay out constructive criticism. Isn't that what journalist like Edward R. Murrow did for the betterment of our country? As an aside, we need more journalist cut from the cloth of Mr. Murrow. For those of us working in #agriculture, we should, change that, need to listen to what the Pro Food "side" is stating. If we are to truly #agvocate for our profession, we need to take in and assimilate all data points, whether we like the data or not! This will ensure we distribute facts and have a real discussion. We are in unprecedented times given the lack of resources and expected booming population. How do we even approach such a precarious situation? Conventional?, Organic?, Permaculture?, Biodiversity? CSA's?, Local Food Economies? Yes, all of the above. There is room for everyone.
I would like to touch on personal responsibility. The position that it all starts with the individual is to simplistic. It negates the many facets of life that truly impact what happens in our lives. I just finished the book The Outliers by Malcom Gladwell. If you haven't read it, it is worth your time. He has a theory that there is no-one that is solely responsible for where they are. Each and every one of us has a cultural legacy that impacts us, and if we really think about, had help along the way, either through a lucky break, parents, right time/right place, and access. I tend to agree with Mr. Gladwell. This doesn't negate the brilliance of certain successful people. It just means that the opportunity was presented to these individuals that allowed them to use their smarts and work hard. I mention this so we can remember that not everyone who "doesn't make the right choice" is lazy. Sometimes, due to circumstances we are not aware of, it just is. This is painting with a very broad brush, and we all know what I think about that. Let's look at it this way:
Another week has just flown by. Do yourself a favor and follow everyone of these #ag folks. My time is short so a broad overview in lieu of a lengthy description of each person will have to suffice.
I would also like to add a few people who work hard at developing local food economies that supply healthy fruits and vegetables to their community. I have been in vigorous debates with each and every one of these individuals. They are passionate about their ideals (almost as much as I am about mine :)) and are always up for a good discussion. We may not agree on everything, but we certainly all want the same thing: safe, healthy food for our community, family, and especially our children.
@Jambutter - Rob is the founder of Every Kitchen Table. On this blog you will find the 5 stones of the #ProFood movement. Rob is extremely active and very strong in his opinions, which certainly makes for a lively debate. Rob also blogs on The Huffington Post. I look forward to more fruitful (pun intended) discussion on how we can bridge the gap from farmer to consumer as well as from #ProFood to other #ag folks we engage in on Twitter. As an aside, Rob has asked if I would write on his blog a response to the 5 Stones. I have said yes, and have not delivered. I hope to get that done next week. Sorry for the delay Rob.
@ZacharyCohen - Zach is a food television writer and producer. He also has a blog where he covers the food debates with fairness and sincerity. I have spoken to Zach and he is sincere in his desire to engage with modern farmers to learn as well as discuss the merits of the ProFood movement. Thanks for the good discussions Zach.
@Kubileya - Joya is an organic market gardener. Joya is a strong supporter of the tenants of #ProFood, whether that be organic production or CSA's. She is involved in it all.
@meridithmo - Meridith also is a big supporter of CSA's. If memory serves, she is in the process of starting one in her community. Go Meridith!
As you can imagine, there are many more that can be added to the list. As time goes on, I am sure I will be able to add a #FF shout out to other individuals and companies involved in the #ProFood movement.
I thought I would add a little more pertinent information as to why you should follow the following people/organizations you should follow on Twitter for this #FollowFriday. The following list is certainly not exhaustive, but will give you a good start if you are interested in food, feed, fiber, and fuel.
Agriculture is the backbone of our society and these people are working hard at spreading the message to the public on what farmers are doing to ensure an adequate food supply, while at the same time adopting new technologies and management practices to ensure a sustainable world. So, without further ado, here is my list in no particular order:
@FarmerHaley - Mike Haley is a 5th generation farmer producing grain and purebred Simmental cattler. Mike works hard every day to support his industry through various social media outlets.
@JeffFowle - Jeff is a rancher raising cattle, horses, and hay. Jeff is very knowledgeable about the beef industry and shares his knowledge freely with all who are interested.
@RayLinDairy - Ray is a dairy farmer who is very active in social media. He engages in healthy debates on the growing of our food, always above board, and share some pretty funny stuff to boot!
@mpaynknoper - Michele is a well known speaker and agriculture advocate. You can find more about her on Facebook through her Cause Matters page. She also is the founder of #agchat, an open forum every Tuesday night that allows people from all walks of life to participate in discussions with farmers from around the country. It is a great 2-3 hours of lively debate and knowledge share.
@WriteNowBiz - Jan is a freelance writer who also raises rabbits and horses, as well as farms. She is also an advocate for agriculture and always participates in the food debates currently taking place.
@TroyHadrick - Troy is a 5th generation cattle rancher. He has a blog titled Advocates for Agriculture, where he focuses on spreading the positives of modern ranching and farming. Check out his blog for some really good farming information
@USGC - This is the Unites States Grain Counsel. They focus on increasing farmer profitability by supporting the export markets for grain. They recently came back from an overseas trip in Morocco. Thanks for your work
@agleader - He is a 6th generation farmer in CA. I enjoy his tweets and particpiation in the food discussions. He also has a focus on water management and the issues we in agriculture must deal with.
@JPLovesCOTTON - Janice is a PR rep for Monsanto. She is also a wine enthusiast and great photographer. I enjoy here photos and tweets...what a great sense of humor.
@agchick - Tricia works in media and recently started working with the IL corn board (I believe that is the organization). She is very active is social media and is working on how we, in ag, can spread the message about our industry. See you at Farm Progress next week Tricia
@OliverRanch - Carrie is president and founder of Oliver Ranch, an artisan beef producer. Carrie is full of great knowledge on the beef supply chain and works on building transparency in here operation for the benefit of the consumer.
@KYFarmersMatter - They produce beef and have produced a variety of crops prior to opening their full time business "http://www.johnscustommeats". They focus on quality and supporting their local community by providing safe, healthy, and quality beef.
There are certainly others in the ag community that you should follow, not just on friday, but each and every day. Knowledge share is how we are going to continue to produce food, feed, fiber, and fuel sustainably, thereby making this world a better place for our children. My thanks and gratitude to all the ag folks who engage with me on Twitter and other social media outlets. I hope to meet in person at one of the many events in 2010.
Agriculture is the cornerstone of a healthy, vibrant society. Anyone who is involved in food production can agree on this point. If you cannot feed your people, high gas prices, taxes, and healthcare are mute points. Besides this point, on the surface it seems that the agreement ends there, but this is just on the surface. What I see happening is that the debate on food production is getting derailed by generalizations and assumptions. This just needs to stop, indeed, stop immediately!
Food production is a complex process involving science, logistics, economics, and policy to name a few. To think that only one approach is going to "solve our food problems" is just plain wrong. This is not a problem that can be solved by developing an equation and solving for X, with X being safe and healthy food. We need to take a step back and engage ALL parties. Just to be clear, here is the actual definition of engage: to carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in. I do not see anywhere in that definition where it states your position is the only correct approach. Engage means you bring your knowledge to the table and share, then LISTEN to the other party as they share their knowledge. It is a bit irritating reading the latest articles from TIME "http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1917458,00.html" and the New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/opinion/23kristof.html What do the authors really think is going to happen when they paint with such a broad brush? What really happens is this: alienation and defensiveness from the ag community, and rightly so I might add. Put yourself in the place of a modern farmer and read these articles. They were not represented at all. If you doubt the reactions of a farmer, just read their blogs, which you can find via this blog site. After this step in the debate "process", the ProFood advocates then make a claim that modern agriculture:
1.) Cannot handle criticism and
2.) Call anyone in the media who disagrees with their position just a sensationalist.
As you can imagine, this creates a vicious circle that teamwork and innovation cannot take part in. So how do we go about working together, us modern agriculture and ProFood folks?
Step one is for everyone to acknowledge that we are all ProFood, especially farmers. What farmer in their right mind is going to go out there and pump their livestock full of unessential antibiotics and then turn right around and feed it to their family? I personally do not farm, but feel very confident in the fact that the answer is none. This applies to the production of crops also. So how about we start off with the foundation that we are all ProFood? For more information on ProFood visit here http://everytable.wordpress.com/2009/07/23/five-stones-of-pro-food/ Step two is to do away with the assumptions that advocates for modern agriculture have an agenda that supports corporations polluting our water, ruining our environment, and destroying our soil. Looking outside in to the discussions, it is clear to me that farmers just want the facts about how THEY run their business included in the media. Ask the average consumer how food is grown and see what answers you get. I will bet you bottom dollar that over 70% of the answers will be very similar to the recent articles that have been published. No wonder consumers speak out! I certainly would if I thought that was how ALL food was produced.
Where the debate should fall is upstream of the actual production. To be fair, much of what ProFood focuses on is upstream; however, a broad brush is used and alienates the same people you claim to support; the farmer. Why can we not have modern agriculture supplying local food economies? We can, but this takes time. Another very important piece of the local food economy is the actual food you grow? Currently much of the ProFood movement are growing vegetables and fruit. What about the staple crops that we all depend on? Do you really think a 2 acre wheat field is the same as a 2 acre vegetable field? It isn't. Please read this article: http://bit.ly/Hzlde It discusses local food economies with staple food crops.
I am going to reiterate that we divorce the word industrial with modern/conventional. Maybe this can help facilitate calling a spade a spade instead of calling a heart a spade. Both ProFood and modern agriculture can learn from one another and actually, believe it or not, complement one another. ProFood can learn from the modern farmer and utilize the technologies they are able to develop to better manage their food.
Just a quick thought due to last nights #agchat. If you haven't read the postings yet, look here: "http://www.trufflemedia.com/twitter/Agchat20090825RA.html" Thanks @TruffleMedia for compiling this very useful information! I leave you with this definition Tact: The ability to make a point without making an enemy. We could all benefit with a bit more tact.
