Take a deep breath. You’ve just been accused of crimes against nature, and Farm Bureau has been accused of being a key conspirator.
If you were to judge agriculture based on backroom opinion writers of a major publication and an attention-seeking documentary maker, you would be led to believe that producers of food, fiber and fuel are killing our planet and letting Lake Erie waste away.
Instead of putting their focus on sharing accurate information, adding perspective and building bridges between various communities in an effort to solve some of our biggest challenges, two new anti-agriculture media projects took a different approach. One video says that factory farms (which in their view is most of agriculture) and “Big Ag” are destroying the environment, and heavy regulation is the only answer to save the earth. The other piece, a “documentary,” looks to be nothing more than a revenue generating hit piece on Ohio farmers and their contributions to the 2014 Toledo water crisis.
Take a deep breath. You’ve just been accused of crimes against nature, and Farm Bureau has been accused of being a key conspirator.
Unfortunately for many outside of agriculture, these misleading and downright deceptive videos will be all they think they need to know about farming. They will take what they hear in these misleading, agenda-driven pieces as the truth. This is the type of rhetoric that agriculture continues to find itself up against and, as Farm Bureau members, we need to continue to tell our amazing story of responsible and sustainable food production and great progress for healthy water.
Truth is, the vast majority of farms across Ohio and the country are implementing climate-smart and nutrient management practices on a scale the rest of the world envies because, unlike the media and documentary filmmakers who dwell in the past, farmers learn from it. As they look toward the future, they will continue to find ways to do even more.
It is because of members like you and your work at the grassroots level that Farm Bureau has the reputation as an influential organization. We cultivate relationships with lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum. We invest in research, best practices, partnerships and work to find solutions to environmental challenges.
If these videos show us anything, it’s how far behind the times these interest groups really are in their view of modern American agriculture. Their anti-farming narrative that says agriculture groups are responsible for blocking regulations and mandates and then moments later criticizes those same groups for their work in providing environmental solutions simply doesn’t add up. We know that farmers today, our members, are innovators tackling new challenges and finding solutions on a daily basis. Modern farmers seek new ways to be sustainable and environmentally friendly. They use cutting-edge technologies often before many other industries, strive to produce more with less and improve the environment, develop new markets to deliver what consumers demand and discover new and better ways to care for our communities, workforce, farms, families and animals.
So, as we talk about the value of being a Farm Bureau member, this is what it’s all about. Our collective voices help us protect the future of agriculture and the promise to pass our farms to the next generation. Thank you for being a member; it’s an important first step. Take the next step by getting involved. It’s going to take all of us!
We hope you will stop the new imAGine Ag exhibit July 29 to Aug. 9 and let it become another tradition of the great Ohio State Fair.
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Our work in supporting all farms of all sizes takes many forms, with collaboration at the center.
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The opportunity to pay it forward is in front of all of us. Whether through giving, mentoring or staying involved, each of us has a role to play.
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Know that Ohio Farm Bureau will continue standing with you to build a stronger future for your farm and Ohio agriculture.
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The back-to-back extremes in weather have been a true reminder of the resilience agriculture holds, but also a sign of how quickly weather patterns have begun to change.
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As we enter harvest season, keep farm safety and overall health and wellness in mind. And know that your Farm Bureau team is working hard to have your back.
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I encourage you to consider the big questions that Ohio Farm Bureau members should be thinking about and how we as an organization can equip ourselves for whatever changes are coming.
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Ohio Farm Bureau is ensuring that more young people, who may have never considered a profession in agriculture, see that opportunities abound in Ohio’s largest industry.
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A few years back, I traveled to every county in the state and asked members directly: What do you want from YOUR Farm Bureau?
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Thankfully, the work of Ohio Farm Bureau and our strongest industry partners are creating ways to mitigate the impacts of risk in agriculture.
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