Protecting Farmers and the Ag Industry from Negative Propaganda

Farmers are often the target of radical environmentalists who try to perpetuate the myth that farmers have absolutely no concern for the land and only see it as a means to make money. Of course nothing could be further from the truth.

Since such negative propaganda can have a detrimental impact on the agricultural industry in general, and farmers in particular, it is important that these misrepresentations are not allowed to go unchallenged. What follows are some facts that can be used to clearly and correctly contradict the inaccuracies promoted by many radical environmentalists:

  • As landowners, farmers have helped to install more than two million miles of conservation buffers. These buffers not only improve air, soil, and water quality, they also provide wildlife habitats.
  • Speaking of wildlife habitats, more than 50 percent of American farmers say they intentionally provide habitat for wildlife. Such measures have led to population increases for species including deer, fowl, and moose.
  • Crop rotation has long been – and continues to be – one important way farmers take care of the land they grow crops on.
  • Conversation tillage has grown by almost 50 percent in the past 30 years. This method of farming reduces erosion and also uses less energy. On a related note, total land used for crops overall has decreased by 15 percent in the same time period.
  • Farmers are adopting – at many times at a much faster rate than the general population – alternative energy sources. These include wind power and renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel. Such energy sources are beneficial to the environment as they leave a smaller environmental footprint than other petroleum-based fuels.

Obviously, farmers list protecting the land on which they make their living as one of their most important priorities. After all, why would they want to destroy the very thing that sustains their livelihood? It would be well for critics of farmers to remember that long before “environmentalism” came into vogue farmers were the original stewards of the land. Further, since the early 1930s federal farm programs have included provisions to help farmers protect wetlands and other delicate land.

It is important that farmers and those who support them have the ammunition to fight off farming’s many critics. Especially since these critics only seem to be interested in disparaging honest farmers who work long and hard to not only protect the land but also provide our nation’s abundant, safe, and nutritious food supply.

New Farmers Find Creative Solutions to Tough Challenges

New farmers face many challenges. It is vital that this new generation be supported through these challenges since a high percentage of farmers will be retiring soon. According to many experts, the two greatest challenges young farmers face today are acquiring land and coming up with much-needed capital but there are other challenges, as well. These include developing a business plan, finding peers who they can relate to, and forging relationships with experienced farmers willing to mentor them.

Farmers will tell you that access to capital and credit are huge issues young farmers face. Today, bankers are less willing to extend credit and money is tight. This doesn’t mean that young farmers aren’t optimistic, though. In fact, over 90 percent of young farmers say they are better off than they were five years ago and they are hopeful about the future.

There are many private and government agencies willing to offer free help to young farmers having trouble coming up with a business plan for their farm. Many universities offer free business plan services for farmers and some even have advisors on staff that will collaborate with them. The USDA and the National Agricultural Information Service offers similar services, and a simple online search uncovers many others.

Social media sites are helping young farmers connect with one another in ways never before possible. If trouble arises on the farm, young farmers can post about it on Facebook or Twitter and the responses are almost immediate. Online blogs are interesting ways to catch up on the latest farming news and are an entertaining way to keep informed.

When it comes to finding an experienced farmer that will mentor a young farmer, there are several organizations working hard to make sure young farmers have access to the wisdom and advice of more experienced ones. Most of these mentors struggled early on in their farming career and want to give back to young farmers who may be having a hard time, as well.

The importance of these mentoring relationships cannot be underestimated. In the past, young people learned at the feet of their parents and then took over the family farm. This is no longer the case so it is imperative that experienced farmers pass on their knowledge to non-relatives. Only in this way can a new generation of farmers benefit from their experience.

So while some difficulties such as land acquisition, cash flow, and credit issues, will probably never be completely resolved, others problems have some creative solutions. This creativity is breeding a whole new generation of farmers who have a lot of people to lean on to make a go of it in the agriculture industry.

Why You Shouldn’t Judge a Fruit (or Veggie) by its Cover

When it comes to great tasting fruits and vegetables, you definitely cannot judge a book by its cover. But if some of the best tasting produce is less than perfect on the outside, why do consumers insist on buying only the most aesthetically pleasing?

This question is even more perplexing when you consider that more and more agricultural experts are telling us that the most beautiful fruits and vegetables aren’t always the healthiest or best tasting. In fact, in most cases, the only advantage of such produce is its ability to sell quickly.

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, approximately six billion pounds – or 20 percent – of produce that is grown in the United States is thrown away each year because of its appearance.

So who is to blame for this search for the perfect fruit or vegetable? There’s plenty to go around. First, the USDA stipulates that commercially grown fruits and vegetables must be 90 percent blemish-free. Next, marketers are always on the lookout to photograph only the most aesthetically-pleasing fruits. These camera-ready specimens are hard for the average piece of produce to live up to and set an unrealistically high standard for fruits and vegetables. Finally, a large portion of the blame must be put on consumers.

When shopping for produce, most consumers select food based on how it looks rather than how it smells or how it will taste. This means that many fruits and vegetables are rejected solely on appearance rather than on taste, quality, or ripeness.

Thankfully, there is a new trend toward average-looking fruits and vegetables. Experts are pushing the message that perfect on the outside doesn’t necessary mean better tasting. In fact, pull an apple straight off a tree and it might not look perfect but it sure tastes that way!

There are several companies working to minimize waste by delivering less than perfect fruit directly to consumers. Farmers and consumers can both benefit from doing business this way. Farmers will be able to sell crops that would normally be bound for the landfill and consumers will be able to purchase produce for much less than they would pay in the grocery store – without sacrificing quality or taste. Across the country, farmers list these types of transactions as something they are very interested in pursuing.

Selling less than perfect-looking produce to restaurants is another untapped market. After all, diners don’t care how round a tomato is before it is baked into a lasagna. They only care how it tastes. And as anyone who is willing to take a bite out of an imperfect piece of produce will tell you, it doesn’t have to look perfect to taste that way.

Is the Farming Life Right for You?

Farming can be a hard life but it is a life that many people are interested in trying. In most cases, people who want to give farming a shot fall into two categories. The first are those who would love to farm but are overwhelmed by the prospect. The second are those that believe all they need to do is buy a plot of land and they will be an instant success. Both types have a point, and the reality is somewhere right in the middle.

Before anyone can begin farming there are certain necessities. These are land, capital, labor, equipment, and buildings. Part-timing farming is a good way to begin because you can gradually ease into full-time farming or decide that part-time farming is enough. As a part-time farmer you are able to derive the benefits of farming while keeping your day job.

Many people romanticize what it means to be a farmer without understanding all it entails. As with all professions there are pros and cons. The farm life provides a healthy way of life that can free you from the many stresses of urban living. It also can afford a family the chance to enjoy the wide open spaces. The air quality is much better in the country and the physical labor can help keep you in shape.

The farm life is not for everyone, though. Many people feel isolated and cut off from their friends. Further, if they are involved in activities away from the farm the travel time back and forth can be physically and financially draining. Finally, the realities of farm life can hit new farmers harder than a seasoned one. The death of livestock or a crop taken out by weather can seem like insurmountable setbacks.

If your farming plans are still in the infancy stage, take advantage of this time to do your homework and find out as much as you can about what it takes to own and/or run a farm. Here are some things that can help you decide if you want to continue on your journey:

  • Talk to farmers you know and get in touch with agricultural organizations. University extension education offices are a great place to start.
  • Think about your goals. What do you want to produce? How will you market your products?
  • If you are married or have children, make sure all are onboard for what can be a drastic change in lifestyle.
  • Without the support of your loved ones it will be next to impossible to make the big move from city to country.

If your dream is to be a farmer, by all means pursue that dream. After all, as most farmers will tell you, there is nothing quite like it. Before you make any major decisions, however, make sure you have done your homework so you will know what to expect from your new lifestyle.

Are You an Ag Marketer or Just Marketing to Farmers?

Agricultural marketing brings with it unique challenges that you might not encounter when marketing to other industries. These challenges arise from the fact that farming is neither exclusively a lifestyle nor a business. Instead, it’s an ever-evolving combination of both. A true ag marketer understands these challenges and rises to meet them.

The agriculture industry deals with significantly more “unknowns” than other industries. These include a volatile marketplace that can change rapidly and without notice, burgeoning state and federal regulations, and the weather. Therefore, unlike other business owners the only certainty when it comes to marketing specifically to farmers is that what works this month or this year might not work next month or next year.

When it comes to making a sale, approval by committee takes on a whole new meaning when you are selling to farmers. Since most farms today are family-owned and multi-generational, there is seldom one decision maker. Instead there are several people that must approve a purchase or any other decision.

Farmers today are exceptionally savvy when it comes to technology. Overlook this fact and your marketing strategy is already dead in the water. Ag industry research repeatedly shows that high-acre farmers – and most other farmers as well – adopt mobile technology at a greater rate than the general population. This can be directly related to the fact that for years farmers have had to adapt to things like precision planting, fertilizer application, and grain yield monitoring. This has made them extremely comfortable with hardware and software, contrary to some stereotypes of farmers as “out-of-date.”

Farmers know full well how technology can aid in split-second decisions and that it is essential to managing long-term risks. Technology, including mobile apps, also provide farmers with an important edge when it comes to assessing profit margins and successfully managing risks. And since farms are often multi-generational, tech support is built in thanks to a younger generation that has been raised on technology.

If your ag marketing strategy does not include email campaigns, mobile apps, and social media, chances are farmers will write you off as “behind the times.” Remember, globalization and market volatility have forever changed the ag industry, and today’s farmers are skilled at using technology to deal with things like market fluctuations, futures, hedging, and trading.