Thinking about food

Archive for the ‘Animal Rights’ Category

Thinking about food

Friday, September 23rd, 2011

Yesterday I witnessed a real-time conversation about food and farming, intersected by virtual participation and live video feed. It was a fascinating experience to be in the audience at UC-Davis, help stimulate the social media conversation and see the behind-the-scenes effort that went into these Food Dialogues that the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance also hosted in New York City, D.C. and Fair Oaks, Indiana.

Chefs, farmers, mainstream media, food scientists, academia, ranchers and even those with viewpoints different than traditional agriculture were on the panels. An array of topics included sustainability, food safety, local foods, biotechnology, hormones, antibiotics, manure, soil, environmental practices, ethics, animal welfare, social responsibility, national security and food labels. Questions flew from all over the country, drawn from the audience – as well as Twitter, Facebook and the Food Dialogues website. After a few early techno glitches, it was a wonderful example of the many ways we can have a conversation integrating real time and social media.

The most interesting part of the day was watching 4,000+ tweets and probing a bit further in the online conversations. The long-term value to this day is digging deeper to identify where farmers and non-farmers can connect. The reality is we share common values, but there’s a lot of misinformation driving us apart. Common values must prevail or we all lose. 72% of consumers know nothing or very little about farming. That screams opportunity for the majority of folks reading this!

As I reflect on the conversation, this is what my crystal ball says:

* Farmers and the general public both value sustainability. And most agree that it has environmental, social and economical components. So why do we have to fight about what a sustainable operation is? According to the new USFRA research, 99% of farmers say they care about environmental practices while nearly 3/4 of consumers are concerned about the use of pesticides and insecticides used in farming. There’s a connection!

* Scripted folks come off as less than genuine. Farmers sharing their story, even if it’s one of large family operation, are considered authentic. And transparency about what you really do on your farm or ranch trumps any argument. Yet that transparency is incredibly hard to define.

* Passion connects on an emotional level. Passionate ag and food people attract others like bees to honey. Sure, some can be passionate naysayers, but it’s a small percentage. Why not find common points in your passion to get excited about farming and food together? Hint: this means you have to rein your passion in enough to listen to each other.

* There is confusion in both the farm and consumer ranks about the effect of government regulations on farming. Consumers are seeking more information on this, so your personal stories about regulations will help build understanding.

* Animal welfare matters. It is important to people buying food – and farmers must talk about how today’s practices are actually better for the animals.

* Feeding a growing population appears to be important to everyone around the food plate, but it’s more top-of-mind to farmers and ranchers. There’s a significant chance to connect through this social good conversation.

Who was missing in these Food Dialogues? A more diverse subset of farmers – small, medium sized and organics to add to the larger producer mix. Given health professional influence over people’s food choices and beliefs, it makes sense to include more dietitians and doctors. I’m sure there will be additional opportunities to plug them into the conversation in the future.

More than 2/3 of those purchasing food are thinking about how it’s produced on a regular basis. Consumers are looking for information about farming. All of us in agriculture have to determine if we’re willing to give it to them – even during planting season, winter, harvest or summer heat stress. Are you willing to step into the conversation? If you don’t, there are plenty of people who will be glad to continue the food confusion.

Tags: Agriculture, animal welfre, biotechnology, Farmer, Food Dialogues, food label, GMO, organic, pesticides, sustainability, USFRA
Posted in Advocacy, Agriculture, Animal Rights, Consumer Trust, Environment, Farmer, Food, Social Media | 8 Comments »

Are we losing our freedom?

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

I love international work. The people, the places, the food – and the return to the States. Working in other countries provides perspective on freedom, but there’s just something special about seeing the red, white and blue when you’ve been out of the country.

Yes, I’m a proud American, but I have to wonder if we’re losing our freedoms. I could go on about the overuse of political correctness, our national deficit or healthcare regulations. I’ll spare you and stick to what’s happening with youth organizations and animals. Surprisingly, it’s going to be about horses – not what this dairy girl usually touches on, particularly after a very mean pony, Trixie once ran away down the lane, with an 8 year-old MPK.

Are children and horses paying the consequences of our lost freedoms?

Horses are one of the few species that bridge the companion and livestock world. Because of this, I think slaughter is especially emotional for people. After all, you wouldn’t want Fido sent to a slaughterhouse, so it just doesn’t seem right to send a horse that direction. I understand that thinking. But the consequences of horses not being sent to slaughter is even crueler. Horses are being dumped, starved and living deplorable conditions. As feed prices reach record highs, these problems are getting worse. If you don’t believe me, take a look at this 60-page report from the Government Accountability Office.

Have we lost the freedom to the right thing for animals in this case? Federal funding was cut for inspectors at horse slaughter plants, at the bequest of animal rights activists. And while it may be sad to think about, horses reach the end of their productive life. Their owners need a humane option for slaughter – and we seemingly have given up that freedom. Horses are ultimately suffering the consequence.

If you want to see people who care for and respect their animals, find a 4-H member. CNN recently ran an article Does 4-H desensitize kids to killing?, which managed to offend many 4-H alumni that never showed an animal. The piece garnered a tremendous number of comments, including mine below.

If anything, 4-H teaches exactly what humans should have; a healthy respect for animals and the life cycle. I was in 4-H for 10 years and have served as a volunteer dairy leader for nearly 15. We are in the unique position that very few of our 4-Hers come from a farm; many are from suburban areas. I could cite the lessons of work ethic, responsibility and confidence that comes from young people in 4-H animal projects. But out of respect for your post, I’ll point to the fact that 4-Hers learn how to honor the ultimate sacrifice animals pay so that we can eat as humans. 4-Hers are taught about animal care, sound nutrition and where our food originates – the farm. There are few other programs that can give children these experiences – and honestly, I wish more would be exposed so they didn’t buy into the misinformation raging rampant about food.

Beyond the obvious insult to anyone who has had the pleasure of showing animals in 4-H, I question why the author is bashing a great youth organization when there are so many problems with children. Do opinions like this threaten our ability to foster leadership through organizations like 4-H and FFA? Are we losing the freedom have young people learn the right way to care for our animals?

The upcoming celebration of Independence Day in the States offers a great opportunity to reflect on these types freedoms that are under attack. What will be the consequences if we don’t protect those freedoms?

Tags: 4-H, animal abuse, freedom, horse, Independence day, slaughter
Posted in Advocacy, Agriculture, Animal Rights | 10 Comments »

Captivating our already captive food audience

Thursday, June 16th, 2011

~ guest blog post by Laura Nelson (first of two)

When you’re passionate about being an agvocate, it’s easy to get bogged down in negative news about our industry. We monitor vegan ballot initiatives, watch atrocious caught-in-the-act videos and respond to soapbox-preaching food bloggers.

All noble causes, but also ones that can leave us feeling like it’s “us” versus “them;” ag versus consumers.

I got a great reminder of how untrue that is last month. I traveled to the Big Apple to work at The James Beard Foundation LTD pop-up store, sampling Certified Angus Beef ® steak to New Yorkers. I was prepared for some really tough consumer questions: hormones, CAFOs, animal welfare, beef nutrition, antibiotics, etc. (photo)

Instead of reciting sound bite after sound bite in defense of the beef industry, I re-discovered how much people love great steak and a simple story. People would casually grab a sample as they walked by; stop dead in their tracks to oooooh and ahhhhhh, then walk back to our booth and say, “That was the best steak I’ve ever had!”

A quality product attracts a captive audience. But a captive audience doesn’t mean an open door for a sales pitch. Rather, a good opportunity to visit with that person about a common interest – great steak, in my case!

Taking ag to NYC!

I learned that New Yorkers don’t typically have yards, so it’s frivolous to share grilling tips. Some folks weren’t familiar with the “tenderloin” cut. New Yorkers eat out a lot and restaurant menus call it Filet Mignon. Being in New York doesn’t mean you’re a New Yorker… the city attracts a lot of tourists (duh!) from many places, backgrounds and culinary tastes.

Learning these things changed the course of my conversations, allowing me to better connect with our audience. I could share my message: Certified Angus Beef ® is some of the best beef you can buy, raised by caring, dedicated Angus ranchers across America. The product quality is all about its marbling; look for our logo to make sure you’re consistently getting the best.

That was my story, but each time I told it in a different way that met the needs and expectations of that individual.

Of course, I heard several “No thanks, I’m not a big meat eater…” Not a good time to get defensive, regardless of the sinking feeling that brought on.

In Part II of this post, I’ll share some of the objections and questions I got to discuss with my not-so-captive audience and how we can all avoid being put on the defense. Hopefully these examples resonate with everyone in agriculture as a way you can agvocate with a quality story.*

Laura a Cornhusker by birth; Wyomingite at heart; Ohian by career choice. She’s a writer, farm girl, amateur photographer, agvocate, cook, red-dirt and classic rock music junkie and meatitarian (it’s a personal choice). As a Certified Angus Beef LLC industry information specialist, she travels, writes, spends time interviewing cattlemen and planning events and marketing materials, all with the goal of building supply for the world’s largest branded beef company. The CAB team blogs about our travels and observations in and around the cattle industry at www.blackinkwithcab.com and has a Facebook page.

*Note from MPK: After getting to know Certified Angus Beef through social media and reading about their market position in a recent Meatingplace article, I invited them to write how they’re connecting with consumers. While the brand represents only a part of the beef business, they offer lessons to learn from when trying to reach beyond the choir – regardless of your sector of agriculture.

Tags: Advocacy, Agriculture, animal agriculture, beef, consumer, Farmer, Food, steak
Posted in Advocacy, Agriculture, Animal Rights, Farming, Food | 1 Comment »

I eat. You farm. So what?

Friday, June 10th, 2011

A recently overheard conversation at a suburban grocery store between a person buying food with comments from a farmer who was visiting and knew how to meet people on common territory instead of talking “ag.”

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Here’s the thing; I don’t really get why farmers are on the warpath. Really! We can get our food from anywhere. I just care that our family has food that’s affordable and safe. And I’ve heard some pretty bad things about you farmers.

You are poisoning water and soil by using pesticides and insecticides. Our family plays in the creeks and ponds on our land. Our kids chase fireflies through soybean fields, while playing hide and seek in corn fields. Do you really think we’re going to pour poisons in fields that surround our family home? By the way, our well for water is between the house and the field. We understand that it’s not cool to use bad chemicals, which is why we rely on a whole lot of science, research and technology to ensure we’re using the right products.

Big farms are bad, and you all seem to be getting bigger. What size of school does your child go to? There are many different sizes of schools that offer options and choices for families. Likewise, we have a mix of large and small businesses in America due to our free marketplace. The same is true for farm families; some choose to farm a large number of acres or work with many animals, while others have small operations. 97% of farms in the U.S. are still owned by families; they deserve a right to choose the best option for their family and business like other Americans, don’t they?

Animals are abused on today’s farms. I’ve worked with animals my whole life. If you’ve seen the sensationalized videos from animal rights groups, I want you to know they probably impact me even more than you. Animals that live in barns are actually in a lot better conditions – they get to stay at one temperature, avoid predators and have a environment that’s customized to their every need. Barns do look different today than in 1970, but isn’t the same true of computers, doctors offices and stores? Yes, animals die to feed humans, but we respect their sacrifice and care for them in the best way possible.

I’ve heard farm subsidies are making you rich on our tax dollars. There are a lot of mixed opinions on this, even within agriculture. However, the big thing people don’t realize about the “farm” program is that 86% of it is for mothers and children in need of food assistance. And I’m not asking for a handout from anyone, but we manage millions of dollars of risk every year – sometimes the safety net has kept our family in business – and is a tiny part of our national budget.

Biotechnology is evil. Do I look like Satan? Sorry, just joking. Our family chooses biotechnology because it’s the right tool for our farm. But more importantly, there are a lot of hungry people around the world, a problem that’s getting worse with a growing population. I was on a mission trip last year to Africa and saw this myself. Have you ever looked into the eyes of a hungry child? It haunts me – and that’s why biotechnology is a tool that we choose.

Hormones are making our kids develop way too soon! I have a daughter, so I get your concern – we don’t want to have kindergarteners in bras. Kids are growing more and faster because our diets are better. Did you know there’s more hormones in a serving of broccoli than in a steak? People need to remember that all food has hormones – and it always has.

It’s been interesting to talk with you. Are you on Facebook or are there ways we can stay connected? Sure, would be glad to connect with you. Our farm’s Facebook page has a lot of pictures to give you an inside look on what’s happening. I’m also on Twitter and will put up some videos to show you what we’re doing during harvest. I’d also suggest you check out these websites…

Cool. I like that we share the same values. We may not always agree, but I appreciate what you do as a farmer a lot more after we’ve talked. And I’ll remember you when I shop for our food.

______

If you’re buying food, when have you sought out a person involved on a farm or ranch? Same for those in agriculture… when was the last time you truly made an effort to relate on human terms instead of ag terms?

Tags: Agriculture, biotechnology, chemicals, Farmer, Food, grocery store, hormones, trust
Posted in Advocacy, Animal Rights, Consumer Trust, Farmer | 19 Comments »

Is Talk Cheap in Farm Animal Welfare?

Thursday, May 12th, 2011

~ guest post by Tim Amlaw

“Talk is cheap,” they say.

With all due respect, those of us at American Humane Association’s farm animal welfare programs disagree. We think it’s time for farmers, ranchers and consumers to discuss why farm animal welfare’s important.

We’ve been talking about the topic since American Humane Association launched the first, and now largest, third party-verified farm animal welfare program in North America. These days we certify food producers representing over 135 million farm animals and more than 90% of the nation’s “cage-free” egg production.

Our programs arrived at a time when public awareness about the topic was low, but that’s not the case anymore: farm animal welfare has become one of the fastest-growing issues in America. Public awareness has never been higher in the wake of recalls and exposes, which have brought calls for increased oversight of food producers.

Unlike the sensational media coverage and often draconian solutions proposed by some, American Humane Certified farm animal program uses science-based standards to establish welfare guidelines that food producers must meet. Then we use third-party audits to verify those standards are met on an annual basis for a producer to use the American Humane Certified certification mark on its products. Our world-class scientific advisory panel of animal scientists and veterinarians, which includes expert Dr. Temple Grandin, keeps us abreast of the latest research and developments.

Here’s another significant aspect to our approach: we know there’s more than one way to deliver humane living conditions for farm animals, whether they be egg-laying hens, cattle or pigs. For example, we endorse three solutions for egg-laying hens: free-range, cage-free/aviary and enriched colony housing.

Currently, legislation defining humane conditions for egg-laying hens is working its way through the state legislatures in Washington and Oregon. While we aren’t in the business of writing legislation, we’re proud that both bills mandate enriched colony housing, which allows hens to move around and engage in the full range of natural hen behavior, from extending their wings and turning around, to perching, nesting and scratching. In addition to that freedom of movement, studies show enriched colony housing also has a positive impact on food safety.

This is not to suggest that many farmers and ranchers aren’t already using humane animal welfare practices. Scores of food producers have made the decision to improve animal welfare at their own operations in recent years, whether or not it’s mandated by legislation. These enlightened businesses are not only making the right ethical choice, but the right practical one, as consumers are demanding that animals that produce food for our tables be humanely treated.

We applaud them for their choice, which cuts to the core principal of everything we do: Americans have the right to eat whatever they wish, NO one has the right to treat animals inhumanely.

We understand that finding the best possible farm animal welfare solution can be an often controversial, emotional and complex effort. But rather than shy from the challenge, we’re encouraged that people are talking, whether it be in legislatures, on social media (like this great website) or across the fence.

After all, we happen to think talk has great value. What do you think?

Tim Amlaw is the vice president of American Humane Association’s ground-breaking American Humane Certified farm animal welfare program. Tim has more than 35 years of experience in the agricultural and beef industries. To learn more about American Humane Certified farm animal welfare programs visit http://thehumanetouch.org. They also tweet at http://twitter.com/HumaneTouchOrg.