Cause Matters Blog

Archive for May, 2010

Dark Secrets of Farms

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Dairy People Care!

A common theme of the animal rights movement is to promote that today’s farms are full of dirty dark secrets.  I grew up on a dairy farm, live on a farm and have had the privilege of being on hundreds of dairy farms around the world – including some around Plain City, Ohio. The crap you see on the heinous videos from animal rights activists, like the one being released by Mercy For Animals about a Ohio dairy farm, is not what’s happening on every farm. Based upon personal experience on the dairy side of agriculture, I’d like to offer a bit of a perspective check on the “dark secrets of farms.” Read More »


How Agriculture Needs To Work Together

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

AgChat session 5/25/2010

Question 1:

Is it possible for diverse agriculture groups to come together when philosophies are different/opposed?

Question 2:

Why is it hard for agriculture to set aside parochial interests & cooperate on issues of mutual interest/threat?

Question 3:

What causes each segment of #ag the feeling of ‘being threatened’ by other segments?

Question 4:

How can a bridge be built between ‘major crops & livestock’ & ‘specialty crops & livestock?’

Question 5:

What common challenges do conventional, organic & natural production share?

Question 6:

What common successes do conventional, organic & natural production share?

Question 7:

What are 2 issues that all of ag can & should come together & work on?

Question 8:

What are 2 projects that #ag can work together on to positively engage consumers?

Question 9:

What are 2 principles that should be followed by all involved in ag to prevent ‘demonization’ of others?

Question 10:

How can we increase the involvement of all ag producers in #agchat to create better cohesion?

Question 11:

How do you see the #AgChat Foundation serving to meet the needs of a diverse #ag community?

Thanks to Truffle Media for archiving this
week’s chat


Connecting with “moms”

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

Foodchat session 5/18/2010

Question 1:

What steps do food producers take to reduce air, land, and water pollution?

Question 2:

What are the biggest concerns moms have about how their food is grown/raised?

Question 3:

As food producers, how do you buck trend that all parents want a ‘quick’ meal that comes from can or package?

Question 4:

What do moms/consumers want to see/learn when they connect with me (a cattle rancher mom)? How do I engage you?

Question 5:

When you see ‘factory farm’, do you cringe? Are you aware of family trying to make a living off that farm?

Question 6:

How can farmers & ranchers get their blogs read by more than just ag folks?

Question 7:

What are the biggest misperceptions farmer see about food that they would like to help consumers understand?

Question 8:

Are moms and consumers interested in a positive dialog with food manufacturers & others in food chain?

Question 9:

What’s the one executable idea you learned during #foodchat that you’ll act upon this week?

Thanks to Truffle Media for archiving this
week’s chat


Technology Transition: Lemons to Apple

Monday, May 17th, 2010

One week ago, my office went “back to Mac.” I’ve been known to get a little cranky when computers aren’t working, so this transition was anticipated with some stress.  Enough people have asked me on Twitter and Facebook about the PC to Apple switch that I thought it was worth a post. And, I speak a lot about moving mindsets up the technology ladder, so I didn’t want to be a hypocrite because my mind was definitely stretched in uncomfortable ways through this. However, I’m happy to report that we have a much more efficient office, streamlined system and greater understanding that technology really should be in the background when operating properly. Read More »


Immigration Reform

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

Agchat session 5/11/2010

Question 1:

What commodities require the most reliable work source? Are some producers worried about being short labor?

Question 2:

If not hispanic/migrant works to harvest fruit/vegs & other #farm products, than who?

Question 3:

How can we economically justify closed borders when consumers are not willing to pay for increased cost?

Question 4:

Do costs associated with illegals outweigh benefits of having illegals (costs of food, wine, hotel industries)?

Question 5:

What effect is or will occur to Arizona ag with immigrants leaving the state?

Question 6:

How do we convey message that we must have a steady, mobile workforce to harvest perishable products?

Question 7:

How do we fault companies for hiring immigrants when it reduces cost & gov doesn’t address fines accordingly to illegals?

Question 8:

What do producers need to make verification process easy to utilize & provide assurances-how to verify background?

Question 9:

Do you think needs for mobile/immigrants workforce has changed in past decade? Will it in 10 yrs? If so, how?

Question 10:

What’s the one executable idea you’ve gained from tonight’s convo that you can do something about?

Thanks to Truffle Media for archiving this
week’s chat