Rural Lifestyle on Highway 6

Two Events Celebrating Agriculture

This past week we were fortunate to take part in two agricultural events that were different but still major.  On Thursday I was invited to take part in the Agricultural Townhall Meeting sponsored by RFD-TV and held in the Media Center of the Cattle Barn on the Iowa State Fairgrounds.  Well known farm broadcaster Max Armstrong hosted the full hour event (no commercials) featuring US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack that centered on the drought, the stalled Farm Bill, the future of agriculture for young people and food security.

Some Quotes from Sec. Vilsack:

• Congress needs to pass the Farm Bill now because growers/producers need to know where they stand going forward;
• A major part of my job is to assure trading partners that the United States is a worthy ally and we take global food security issues seriously;
• We need to get back to teaching agriculture issues in the public schools only then will a society, so distanced from the farm, begin to understand the relationship between farm and food;
• The future of agriculture in the United States is in good hands given the leadership we see in FFA and other farm directed youth groups;
• Agriculture groups need to talk to each other rather than fight among themselves.  When we fight it does nothing to present a unified voice to non-farm state leaders.

Big props to RFD-TV and my old friend Patrick Gottsch (in the photo with Max and Sec. Vilsack) for doing these townhall meetings and his continued work to spread the good news of agriculture.  I wish I could find the video...it was very informative!

Agriculture & Social Media

My friend Deb Brown has been a brand spokesperson for the 140 Character Conference "The State of Now" for several years.  Following two successful events in Des Moines Deb felt that agriculture needed a special event centered on using social media to communicate with each other and the non-ag world.  She brought together several of us for the 140 Conference AgIowa.  While you'll soon be able to see the 17 presentations on UStream here is a quick video with some fun out-takes from the event.

 

Coming up, yet this year, Deb will work toward doing a session for Education and for Business all leading up to the Spring 2013 140 Character Conference in Des Moines. Nice job my friend!

Thanks for coming by.  If you would like to leave a comment here, feel free. Or, let's connect on my Twitter Stream @RuralLifeRadio. - Michael

AgIowa the 140 Character Conference

Coming up this Friday afternoon on the Iowa State campus it's AgIowa a 140 Character Conference highlighting the use of Twitter for agriculture.  

Why should you care?

Just like in any business growers and agri-business counts on information to drive business decisions and create sales.  Imagine being able to find new markets, share facts about the Farm Bill and meet other connected growers from around the world in real time.  That is the power of Twitter and the reasoning you'll receive during AgIowa - 140 Character Conference that kicks off at 2PM Friday the 17th of August.

Seventeen connected growers, agri-business professionals, marketers and communicators will share, in ten-minute segments, ways in which agriculture can grow their voice by using Twitter.  

Over the past several years hundreds of 140 Character Conferences have played out around the world from fashion to education to business.  This time the focus is agriculture. So, no matter if you are organic, traditional, raise horses, cattle,, sheep or speciality crops we hope to see you this Friday afternoon in the Scheman Building at ISU for a fun and informative conversation.  If you are already "connected" to Twitter help us spread the word with #140ConfAgIowa as the hashtag.  Oh, the cost?  Less than two bushels of corn! Here is where you register!   See you...Friday!

Of Food & Film

Two interesting stories to share with you.  In the first I had a meeting with the chairperson of the Iowa House Agricultural Committee, Annette Sweeney, who I took to task last year over the "Farm FIlming Bill" she authored.  In short it would have made it a felony to get a job at an Iowa Farm and then take secret video of the operation including animal agriculture.  Here is that post.  And, here is the post from  the Insight on Business News Hour.  (Sorry about the tin foil hat....)

My argument, which caused some in the ag community to doubt my judgement, was it was a bad bill that would give folks, who already have an agenda, to point to Iowa Agriculture and say, "See!  We told you they were doing horrible things and now they have put in place a law to cover up their crimes."  (I'm telling you...that would be the rally call.)  My proposal was to change the bill and make it a crime only IF the person filming what he/she considered to be abuse failed to, in a reasonable amount of time, turn the footage or photo over to law enforcement so they could follow up on the complaint.  After all, IF the point of the complaint is the protection and welfare of critters and humans shouldn't it run through the correct channels?

That's exactly what this bill now does.  Congratulations to Representative Sweeney for making those subtle changes.  Next?  (And, it was great catching up with you!)

Sustainable Local/Regional Farm Programs

I like this.  The Environmental Working Group for Agriculture recently posted this piece regarding the 2012 Farm Bill and, what they say, is a way to support small family farming operations that produce local/regional food.  It's worth a read and, judging from the overwhelming support "Buy Fresh/Buy Local" has had on consumers seems like a sound idea.  Your thoughts?

Thanks for coming by!  On Twitter it's @RuralLifeRadio or you can comment here. - Michael Libbie 

Iowa To Make History...Or a Mistake?

Speeding through the agriculture committees of both the Iowa House and Senate is a  bill that would make it illegal for animal rights activists to film or photograph and then distribute the images.

The Iowa Agriculture Industry says they are being targeted by zealots who are against industrialized agriculture while animal advocates cry "foul" saying that this is an admission of guilt on the part of "big ag".

The Iowa Bill is a result of secret videos that were released showing cows being shocked, pigs beaten and chicks being ground alive.

So, is this agriculture's way of dealing with the issue?  Suggesting that this activity goes on but it's OK until the public learns about it?   Will the Iowa Senate now make it a crime to expose a crime?

Ouch...

Legislators say...whoa down.  When people see these kind of things going on they should report them through the proper channels and not play the game of "gotcha".  Here is the full story from Business Week.   And, there is this from the Toronto Star...

We don't need this law.   I'm not an animal rights activist...not by a long shot...but I am concerned that passing such legislation controlling and making the filming and distribution illegal makes ag look....bad.  Very bad. 

At a time when agriculture needs more, not less, friends and at a time when so many people have horrible misconceptions about farming and nearly zero relationships with farmers and ranchers...this bill is ill advised.  Bad idea for agriculture, bad idea for farmers and ranchers....this will only fuel the fires of those who already think animal agriculture is evil.  And for those who don't, they  just might start wondering, "So, what is going on they don't want me to know about?"

What should be done?  -  Simple, for those who do video or take images of animal cruelity they have 48 hours to make a formal complaint to the authorities.  We're not talking a phone call.  An actual complaint stating then abuse.   If, however they fail to make a report and still make the images public...then there is a case against the person. 

Got a different point of view?  On Twitter it's @RuralLifeRadio, leave a comment here or drop me an e-mail.  Thanks for coming by.