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Aufsatz
Agrarwissenschaften

South Dakota State University

2016

Anna A. ©
3.10

0.03 Mb
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ID# 54710







The Importance of Agriculture Cannot be Undersold

By

In the world where we are so connected, we can also be so very disconnected from what truly sustains us. I recently posted this statistic from Agricultural Trends, Topics and Tomorrow to my Facebook page, "Only one percent of Americans are farmers and 85% of America is so far removed from agriculture, they do not understand what we do, even when we tell them."
The value of agriculture cannot be taken lightly.

Don’t get me wrong, business, accounting and computer sciences are important, but without agriculture fulfilling life’s most essential elements, none of these professions mean anything. In fact, no other industry can provide the necessities our population needs to survive and move forward except agriculture.

Shelter, fiber for clothing, and most importantly, food for our ever growing population.
With a declining number of farms and ranches as well as an increasing average age of farmers and ranchers this should have us all worried. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack recently told a group of Iowa farmers that all farmers and ranchers must highlight the positives associated with farming and rural life.
“There’s lots of competition for these young people,” Vilsack said, "and farmers could be their own worst enemy when it comes to marketing their occupation and lifestyle to the next generation of agricultural producers.

You have to make the case to young people that farming is something they ought to aspire to.”
“There is not a more important job in the United States of America,” Vilsack said. “Why aren’t we marketing that?”

It’s important that the misperceptions about agriculture are stopped as soon as possible! Recent research from the University of Guelph has shown that animal welfare concerns have grown a staggering 300%.
The simple fact is that there is a high possibility that there will be 9 billion people to feed, clothe and provide shelter for by 2050. And more than likely, this population explosion will need to be supported with fewer resources, fewer farmers and ranchers, fewer livestock, more regulations and less understanding of where our food comes from and what it takes to get it from the farm and ranch to your table.

And the good news is that your great stories exist, showing that as producers you care about animal welfare and food safety.

Consumers need to hear your story and about your farm practices! It is the responsibility of the entire food production sector, including farmers and ranchers to be proactive in explaining agricultural practices. Not someone else's misguided interpretation of them that becomes the consumers' reality.


No matter what type of business activity you’re engaged in, social media is crucial if you want to stay ahead of the competition and misconceptions. There’s more to using social media than just setting up accounts on Twitter and Facebook and putting up posts and composing tweets.

You need to be active and engaging and offer information people are looking for. Without a definite plan, social media activities can be a waste of time. Therefore, in order to make an impact, you must formulate a social media strategy with an effective means of management.

Here are a few social media tips to help you tell your story.

  • Share photos of the livestock you raise or the crop you grow on Facebook or Twitter, discuss how and why you choose a specific crop or breed. Tell how and why you use the seed corn you choose and the importance of fertilizing fields.

Even those who think they know livestock are unaware.

  • Talk about the rich tradition of your farm or ranch and how hard your family has worked to make sure that hard earned heritage is not lost and how your story will continue with future generations.

  • Discuss your farm practices that help keep food safe - drug withdrawal times before animals can go to slaughter and the safe storage of crops.

  • Show consumers that you are feeding your family what is produced on your farm.


    • Show how your farm or ranch is a true environmental steward. Show how your practices provide habitat for wildlife or what your water and soil conservation practices that are vital to the continuation of your operation.



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