According to consumer research, consumers don’t trust modern farming techniques, including factory farming. Texas Farm Bureau Publications Director Mike Barnett addressed this issue in a blog post, warning farmers that their image is being “chiseled away.”
“Like a mason chipping stone, outside forces are shaping how agriculture is viewed today,” warns Barnett. “Although the image of farmers and ranchers is still remarkable, it is being distorted by those who wish to dictate how you and I eat.”
Consumers are told of the negative effects “industrial” agriculture is having on the environment and their families. They see images of livestock producers on factory farms in Texas and around the country beating their livestock and poultry producers cramming chickens into cages, causing salmonella. In reality, these images are not the standard care the majority of farm animal receive on the millions of family farms around the country.
Fortunately, writes Barnett, there are organizations and individuals within the agricultural industry fighting to make the voices of farmers and ranchers heard. Groups like the California Agricultural Communications Coalition and individuals such as Jeff Fowle, a fourth generation farmer and rancher, reach out the consumers daily on the web and via social media. In Texas, the Texas Farm Bureau’s Texas Agricultural Challenges Team (TACT), a group of farmers and ranchers who are learning social media skills, work to advance agriculture’s cause.
To learn more about our fight to share the real story of Texas factory farming and agriculture, read Mike Barnett’s blog post on the Texas Ag Talks blog at http://www.txfb.org/TxAgTalks.
About Texas Farm Bureau:
The Texas Farm Bureau is committed to improving the lives of America’s farmers through advocacy, education and awareness. It is our goal to tell not only members, but the general public, about TFB’s mission and commitment to providing a voice for farmers, ranchers, rural citizens and everyone interested in preserving and protecting this way of life. Learn more about the Texas Farm Bureau on the Web:
Website: http://www.txfb.org/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TexasFarmBureau
Twitter: http://twitter.com/TexasFarmBureau

Source: WEBWIRE