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What do consumers really think about farming?

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance released a consumer, farmer, and rancher survey that says 42% of consumers believe US is heading in wrong direction. Additionally, it states 93% of farmers believe consumer perception of modern farming is somewhat or not accurate. This sets up a disconnect in the US on food production practices and consumer preferences.

Consumers think about food production constantly, yet know very little about how food is brought to the dinner table. Consumers are firmly divided on the direction of modern agriculture.

Food Safety – Then and Now

via Dr. Terry Etherton

Dr. Terry Etherton points out that food safety today is much better than even ten years ago. Few people would really

like to live life using the biomedical and public health resources that were available in 1850.

and that today's media attention to food safety tends to forget the advances in discovery and control that are in place today.

Milk Goes Bad in High Heat!

via noble.org

The midwest is experiencing high heat and humidity this summer. These high temperatures not only make you feel terrible but your livestock can feel bad too. It is important to keep an eye on the animals and take action before they start to get heat stress.

Heat stress can greatly impact cattle producers through decreased milk production and subsequent calf growth, decreased reproductive performance in cows and bulls, and decreased stocker and feeder performance.

Does Your Herd Have Heat Stress?

Audio via DairyCast.com

Iowa State Associate Professor of Animal Science, Dr. Lance Baumgard, looks at heat stress issues in changing weather conditions and offers some solutions for your operation.

BeefCast Update for June 22, 2011, Importance of Traceability

Are you interested in and enthusiastic about sharing your dairy agriculture story through social media? The AgChat Foundation has developed a conference to help grow farmers', ranchers', and producers' skill sets with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs, YouTube, and smart phones. The 2011 Agvocacy 2.0 Training Conference will include large and small group learning to help you establish the confidence you need to "agvocate" through social media. Applications are due June 24th.

Agriculture Telling its Story

Video: Importance of Traceability - Marcine Moldenhauer, Meat Link, LLC, explains the importance of traceability in protecting USA export trade. - From the 2011 Annual Conference of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture, April 11 - 14, San Antonio, TX USA.
From DairyCast.com Audio: Looking At Heat Stress And Your Herd - Dr. Lance Baumgard, Iowa State Associate Professor of Animal Science, looks at heat stress issues in changing weather conditions and offers some solutions for your operation.
From the BeefCast archives Video: A Wall Street View Of The Protein Markets - Ms. Farha Aslam - Stephens, Inc., shares how Wall Street views the protien markets and specifically how analysts approach understanding the markets. While this is from the 2010 Leman Pork Conference in St.