Category Archives: USFRA

USFRA Seeking CEO

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USFRAHere’s a challenge that one of you may be interested in.

The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) Board of Directors has announced that it is seeking qualified candidates for a newly approved organizational and staff leadership position, chief executive officer. Prospective candidates may obtain information regarding USFRA and a position description by sending a confidential inquiry to CEOSearch@USFRAonline.org. Applicants are requested to submit ONLY a letter of interest, resume and compensation requirements at this time electronically, in confidence, to CEOSearch@USFRAonline.org through 4:00pm CT, Friday, June 7, 2013. The USFRA Board conducts this search with full commitment to the laws governing employment, including those relating to equal opportunity.

USFRA Appoints New Vice President of Development

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Our good friend Randy Krotz has a new position with the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA®) as vice president of development.

randy-usfraKrotz will lead initiatives which deal directly with industry partner relations, ensuring that USFRA will have the necessary short- and long-term resources to communicate and engage consumers, influencers and opinion leaders on a range of key crop and livestock production topics.

“As a passionate advocate for farming and ranching, I am eager to provide strategic counsel to USFRA’s industry partnership efforts,” said Krotz. “I look forward to working with the USFRA Board, its CEO Advisory Council and USFRA senior staff as we continue to grow this long-term movement.”

Krotz brings extensive experience in creating stakeholder relationships that align with businesses’ objectives. This experience includes expertise in public relations, marketing, branding, online marketing, advocacy management and communications. He has worked for and/or represented many well-known food and agribusiness companies and associations including Agrium, FMC Corporation, Syngenta, the National Corn Growers Association, BASF, The Grocery Manufacturers Association, DuPont Pioneer, and Monsanto. Krotz is a graduate of Kansas State University, and continues an active role in the diversified family farm in North Central Kansas, on which he was raised.

Congrats to both Randy and USFRA!

USFRA Food Dialogues Talks BIO

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The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) held a Food Dialogues event in Chicago on Monday in conjunction with the 2013 BIO International Convention to address “The Straight Story on Biotech in Agriculture: The Media and its Impact on Consumers.”

Moderated by CNBC Senior Analyst and Financial Industry Expert Ron Insana, the event featured opening remarks from Congressman Rodney Davis (R-IL) and Robert Flider, acting director of the Illinois Dept. of Agriculture. Panelists included:

• Dr. Bob Goldberg, UCLA plant molecular biologist
• Emily Anthes, journalist and author, Frankenstein’s Cat
• Jerry Slocum, Mississippi soybean farmer
• Melinda Hemmelgarn, M.S., R.D., freelance writer, speaker, columnist and radio host, Food Sleuth
• Michael Olson, Producer/Host, Food Chain Radio
• Pam Johnson, Iowa corn farmer
• Steve Smith, Chairman, SaveOurCrops.Org

An interesting discussion of different viewpoints – you can watch it here:

Farmers Telling Personal Stories Important to Consumers

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Chris Galen USFRAThis week during Ag Day activities the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance held an educational session which was moderated by Chris Galen, Sr. VP of Communications for the National Milk Producers Federation. He also sits on the board of USFRA.

Chris says Ag Day provided a great opportunity to speak with Capitol Hill staffers and legislators about the latest research on how farmers need to communicate with consumers. He says we’re really moving away from messages like Safe, Affordable and Abundant food because today’s consumers assume that. So now it’s more about how farmers tell their story on a personal level and what they’re doing to improve their farming practices.

You can listen to interview with Chris here: Interview with Chris Galen

Katie Pratt USFRAParticipating in the USFRA program was Katie Pratt Katie who with her husband Andy (7th generation farmer) raise corn, soybeans and seed corn in Illinois. Katie is also one winners of the USFRA Faces of Farming & Ranching. Thanks to one of the many U.S. Custom Harvesters for taking our photo!

Katie says that as farmers “We have to start talking differently about what we do on our farms.” Katie says that seeing the research USFRA has conducted is a real learning experience because farmers often think they know what terms will resonate with consumers but the reality is very different. She says that as one of the Faces of Farming & Ranching program USFRA is helping put her and the others in front of audiences they wouldn’t normally be able to speak to.

You can listen to interview with Katie here: Interview with Katie Pratt

2013 National Ag Day Activities Photo Album

Coverage of the National AgDay Activities is sponsored by the BCS think tank and American Seed Trade Association

USFRA Ag Day Educational Session

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USFRA Katie Pratt Ag DayThis morning the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance celebrated the 40th anniversary of National Agriculture Day with a breakfast on Capitol Hill and educational briefing on “The New Language of Food and Modern Agriculture.” More than 150 people — including Ag Day participants, members of the food industry, and Congressional staff — joined USFRA at the event to hear about new research on the relevance of modern agriculture and encourage sharing of personal stories of continual improvement on the farm and ranch. Our moderator was Chris Galen.

“On Ag Day, when we traditionally celebrate America’s farmers and ranchers, we wanted to use this opportunity to share some new research we have on the language of food and new perspective on agriculture,” Chris Galen, USFRA board member and Senior Vice President of Communications for the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), said.

“I think it is also fitting to be in this location, the Sewall-Belmont House and Museum, home of the historic National Woman’s Party, that we have two female farmers here with us today. What a nice reflection of the diversity of modern agriculture,” he said.

We also had Katie Pratt (pictured at podium), USFRA Face of Farming and Ranching, share her farm story and talk about the importance of farmers and ranchers to share their personal stories. “This Ag Day – and every day – I encourage farmers and ranchers from across the country to be active, share their personal stories, and answer questions from their community about how food is grown and raised,” she said. Katie also live tweeted the event @USFRA. I have an interview with Katie to share with you later.

Also on the program was Erika Bowser-Poppelreiter, a Midwest farmer and farming/ranching expert with Ketchum. Erika presented the briefing, focusing on consumer messaging research and how the agriculture industry can work to restore relevance. The event featured a new perspective on food culture today led by farmers and ranchers.

You can listen to or download the education session here: USFRA Ag Day Educational Session

You might enjoy reading an editorial in today’s The Hill Congress Blog by USFRA Chairman, Bob Stallman, AFBF.

2013 National Ag Day Activities Photo Album

Coverage of the National AgDay Activities is sponsored by the BCS think tank and American Seed Trade Association

New Documentary to Feature Next Gen Farmers

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ZimmCast 388It is very encouraging to see major film projects taking a realistic and truthful look at farming in America today. Examples are “Harvesting the High Plains” and “The Great American Wheat Harvest.” Now here’s a new one that is not yet in production. It isn’t even titled yet but was announced last week. Working with the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance is James Moll, Oscar® winning and two-time Emmy® winning filmmaker. I visited with James to learn more about the project. He admits to knowing little about agriculture but I think that is a good thing. James takes a very unbiased look at his subject matter and lets the people he interviews tell the story. That is a lot like what we do here on AgWired!

James has decided to profile farmers and ranchers in their twenties, all of whom have assumed the generational responsibility of running the family business.

Made in cooperation with U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA®), the film will give us an up close and personal look at some of the young farmers and ranchers who grow and raise the food we consume daily, and into the latest farming procedures, practices, and technologies that are changing and improving the landscape of modern agriculture.


“I’ve always strived to make films that are unbiased testaments to the subject matter,” said Moll. “It’s about telling real stories that resonate. I’ve been looking for the right subject to tackle in my next documentary, and I’ve found the perfect topic in American agriculture.”

Learn more about James Moll’s new project in this week’s ZimmCast: New James Moll Documentary on Agriculture

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong and Monsanto, Roundup Ready Plus, for their support.

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our Subscribe page.

USFRA Announces Documentary on Next Gen Farmers

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USFRAThere’s another film documentary in the works to showcase America’s farmers and ranchers, this time with a focus on the younger generation. Today the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance held a press call with the filmmaker.

Oscar® winning and two-time Emmy® winning filmmaker James Moll is proud to announce the production of a feature-length documentary about the next generation of American farmers and ranchers. The yet-to-be-titled documentary will profile farmers and ranchers in their twenties, all of whom have assumed the generational responsibility of running the family business.

Made in cooperation with U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA®), the film will give us an up close and personal look at some of the young farmers and ranchers who grow and raise the food we consume daily, and into the latest farming procedures, practices, and technologies that are changing and improving the landscape of modern agriculture.

You can listen to or download the conference call here (missed the introduction): USFRA Documentary Conference Call

I will be talking directly with James Moll soon and will share that conversation then.

USFRA Announces Four Fresh Faces of Farming

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The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) has announced four Faces of Farming & Ranching chosen from on-line voting and a panel of judges.

The four represent a range of agricultural commodities including corn and soybeans, hogs, cattle, and dairy and they were chosen from nine finalists announced last month at the New York Food Dialogues. The winners will act as national spokespeople, and will share stories and experiences on a national stage to help answer consumers’ questions about how food is grown and raised to feed our nation.

During an announcement this morning, each of them gave their views about what they believe is the most important story for agriculture to share.

usfra-chinnChris Chinn of Clarence, Missouri is a 5th generation farmer with her husband Kevin, his parents and brother raising hogs, cattle, hay and row crops. “I think it’s more important for us to listen to the concerns that people have about how food is produced so we can have a more open dialogue,” Chris said.

usfra-gilmerWill Gilmer and his father own/operate a dairy farm in Lamar County, Alabama that has been in continuous operation since the early 1950s. “It’s important that we help people understand what the new things we’re doing are, why we’re doing them and how it’s beneficial to them in giving them great choices at the grocery store,” said Will.

usfra-prattKatie Pratt and her husband Andy (7th generation farmer) and their two children raise corn, soybeans and seed corn in Dixon, Illinois in partnership with Andy’s family. “One of the stories that needs to be told is that we are families operating businesses,” said Katie.

usfra-stoneBo Stone jointly owns P & S Farms in Rowland, NC with his wife Missy and his parents where they grow corn, wheat and soybeans, hogs and cattle, as well as strawberries and sweet corn that are sold at their own roadside market. “We are all consumers of our products and I’d like for everyone to know that we’re in this together,” he said.

Listen to those comments in response to a question by farm broadcaster Jeff Nalley: USFRA Faces of Farming

Find out more about the winners here or watch this video to learn more about them.

MediaPlanet and Agriculture in America

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ZimmCast 376Agriculture in America. Who are the farmers? How are they working to feed a growing population? Good questions and ones that a recent publication insert into USA Today showcased some answers to. I hope you’ve seen it. Have you wondered how and why it was produced? Well wonder no more. In this week’s program I visit with Hailey Pierson, Senior Publisher, MediaPlanet, Inc. MediaPlanet is the company that put this publication together. I also spoke with Bob Stallman, Chairman of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance and President of the American Farm Bureau Federation, about the project since it featured a letter from him and USFRA worked with MediaPlanet.

Hailey told me “Our work in Agriculture in America was really dedicated to bringing on board a great amount of industry leaders to share the key stories in the agriculture space. And I think what we ended up with is a piece that talks about how important it is to continue to tell agriculture’s stories in new ways with new voices and to be constantly engaged.”

I asked her how her company came up with the idea. She says it was the first time they’ve narrowed a project down so specifically in one industry. Previously they had done some social cause work on investing in women and girls and investing in Africa. Those projects showed them the need to bring attention to agriculture globally. So they did a lot of research and talked with groups like USFRA, AFBF and American Farmland Trust. They found that there was a need to address the average American’s view of agriculture and that it needed to be brought down to the personal level. “And that’s what we decide to focus on achieving in Agriculture in America, establishing a stronger relationship between farmers and ranchers, ag industry leaders and their customers. All of us Americans.”

Hailey says about 600,000 copies of Agriculture in America were distributed as an insert in USA Today in San Francisco, Washington D.C., Chicago, Denver, Dallas, Kansas City, and Minneapolis. That readership totaled about 1.5 to 1.7 million readers. The publication was also made available online and so far has been downloaded (clicked on) over 8,500 times. Of course there are a lot of other impressions achieved when you take into account the social media channels used too. This week Hailey was a guest on the weekly AgChat Twitter Conversation for example. She says there may very well be a follow up or new project in the future. You can hear her describe what some of her thoughts are on that in the program.

Bob Stallman was very pleased that USFRA had the opportunity to work with MediaPlanet on the project. As he put it, “It’s a great chance to reach out and touch a whole bunch of people in this country that probably don’t know a lot about agriculture and that may have some questions.” It ties right in with the mission of the USFRA.

Listen to this week’s ZimmCast here: MediaPlanet Agriculture in America Publication

By the way. MediaPlanet is currently conducting a Facebook Agriculture in America contest with a prize of $1,000 of Stihl products. They’re looking for you to submit your favorite photo of ag in America.

You can find the contest page on Facebook here. Entry deadline is January 4, 2013.

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong and Monsanto, Roundup Ready Plus, for their support.

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our Subscribe page.

USFRA Enters Year Three

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ZimmCast 375The U.S Farmers and Ranchers Alliance is entering its third year. Hard to believe that it has already been that long. The effort continues to gather steam though as you’ll hear in this week’s program.

In New York City just recently, USFRA held its annual meeting in conjunction with the Food Dialogues. here are the newly elected executive committee members.

Chairman – Bob Stallman, American Farm Bureau Federation
Vice Chairman – Weldon Wynn, Cattlemen’s Beef Board
Secretary – Bernard Leonard, U.S. Poultry & Egg Association
Treasurer – Dale Norton, National Pork Board
At-Large – Mike Geske, National Corn Growers Association
At-Large – Nancy Kavazanjian, United Soybean Board

In this week’s program you will hear statements from Bob Stallman and Weldon Wynn during their post-meeting press conference, an interview with past USFRA Secretary Bart Schott and an interview with USFRA Industry Partner Barry Nelson, John Deere. From these sound bites and interviews I think you’ll have a pretty good idea of where things stand with this industry effort to reach out to the customers of our farmers and ranchers.

Listen to this week’s ZimmCast here: USFRA Moves Forward

Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsors, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong and Monsanto, Roundup Ready Plus, for their support.

The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our Subscribe page.

USFRA Press Conference

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The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance held a press conference to allow questions from reporters about the annual meeting that took place in New York and the Food Dialogues that was conducted yesterday. It was the third Food Dialogues and is available on the Food Dialogues website to watch if you missed it.

I moderated our press conference this morning with Bob Stallman, AFBF, who was re-elected as Chairman of USFRA and newly elected Vice Chairman, Weldon Wynn, CBB. Bob reviewed the activities of the last couple days and Weldon read the announcement of the finalists in the Faces of Farming and Ranching program.

If you missed the press conference I have it available for you to listen to or download: USFRA Press Conference

All media and well, just anyone, is free to use my photos and share: 2012 USFRA Annual Mtg. & Food Dialogues Photo Album

Final Panel Thoughts from USFRA Food Dialogues

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Here are the panelists from the last session of today’s New York Food Dialogues. Wow. It was a long day of very interesting discussion. This panel’s topic was Biotechnology (GMO’s) and Your Food. There were some very real contrasts in what some of the panelists as well as the audience thought of various specifics. In my opinion we got a lot of very good information presented. In fact, as good a presentation about the truth about GMO’s as I’ve heard.

After the session I spoke with one of the panelists, Greg Jaffe, director of biotechnology, Center for Science in the Public Interest. Greg says there is a lot of misinformation on the topic of his session. That was clear from questions from the audience and from Twitter. He says this discussion is a good “first step.” He believes that even the panelists learned from each other.

You can listen to my interview with Greg here: Interview with Greg Jaffe

Our moderator for today’s Food Dialogues was Ali Velshi, CNN chief business correspondent. Ali did a fantastic job of keeping the conversation moving and getting all the panelists engaged.

Ali thought the event today was remarkable. In his work he deals with commodities and the impact of things like drought but not with the detail that was delved into today. He says it was great to get that detail today and to hear from the farmers who attended. I hope you’ll enjoy some of his thoughts after moderating today.

You can listen to my interview with Ali here: Interview with Ali Velshi

All media and well, just anyone, is free to use my photos and share: 2012 USFRA Annual Mtg. & Food Dialogues Photo Album

Faces of Farming & Ranching Announced

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The finalists in the USFRA Faces of Farming and Ranching program were announced today at the New York Food Dialogues.

Those finalists include: Chris Chinn (Missouri), Will Gilmer (Ala.), Daphne Holterman (Wis.), Brenda Kirsch (Ore.), Tim Nilsen (Calif.), Eric McClam (S.C.), Katie Pratt (Ill.), Bo Stone (N.C.) and Janice Wolfinger (Ohio).

More than 100 applications were received from passionate, dedicated farmers and ranchers from across the nation, nine of whom were selected as finalists. The winners will become the face of agriculture, and will be tapped to share stories and experiences on a national stage to help shift conversations about food production and set the record straight about the way we feed our nation.

I talked with two of the finalists, Chris Chinn and Janice Wolfinger. In our interview you’ll hear how passionate they are about farming and why they think this program is so important.

You can listen to my interview with Chris and Janice here: Interview with Chris Chinn and Janice Wolfinger

Starting at 1:30 p.m. ET on Nov. 15 through Dec. 15, people can visit www.fooddialogues.com to learn more about each of the nine finalists and the work they do. Consumers, farmers and ranchers are asked to vote for who they believe best represents those across the country who work to bring food to the table. These votes will be factored into the decision to determine the Faces of Farming and Ranching.

In addition to the public vote, a panel of judges will interview and evaluate the finalists to help determine the winners of Faces of Farming and Ranching. Winners will be announced in early January 2013.

All media and well, just anyone, is free to use my photos and share: 2012 USFRA Annual Mtg. & Food Dialogues Photo Album

Second Panel From the USFRA Food Dialogues

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The second panel discussion of the USFRA New York Food Dialogues has concluded. The topic was the use of antibiotics and food. Backstage I caught up with a several of our panelists. I spoke with Dr. Keith Ayoob, pediatric nutritionist, Albert Einstein School of Medicine, Dr. Christine Hoang, DVM, MPH, CPH, assistant director of the Division of Scientific Activities of the American Veterinary Medical Association and Jean Halloran, director of food policy initiatives, Consumers Union.

Christine thinks that a lot of misconceptions about antibiotic use in animals was cleared up today. She was really puzzled by the repeated reference to using antibiotics to “increase profits” when the reality is that they are used to take good care of animals just like in humans. Keith says it’s difficult to have this kind of dialogue anywhere else but without it progress can’t be made.

You can listen to my interview with Keith and Christine here: Interview with Dr. Keith Ayoob and Dr. Christine Hoang

Jean thinks the panel really focused on the issues being discussed today on the subject of antibiotics. She points to her organization’s campaign called the “Meat without Drugs Campaign” which is directed at supermarkets. What do you think of this concept?

You can listen to my interview with Jean Halloran here: Interview with Jean Halloran

All media and well, just anyone, is free to use my photos and share: 2012 USFRA Annual Mtg. & Food Dialogues Photo Album

Thoughts From First USFRA Food Dialogues Panel

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Here are our first panelists from the New York Food Dialogues backstage after their session was completed this morning. I visited with almost all of them before we moved on to the next panel. They were tasked with talking about Media, Marketing and Healthy Choices.

Richard is a New York vegetable farmer. He says it was a little daunting to be up on the stage here at the Times Center. I can relate! He says the whole concept of the Food Dialogues is a good one and a correct one. He believes that “at no time in our history has agriculture done a better job than it’s doing today.”

You can listen to my interview with Richard here: Interview with Richard Ball

Next up during our first break today I spoke with Kat Kinsman, managing editor, CNN Eatocracy and Debbi Beauvais, RD, SNS, New York School Nutrition President and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokesperson. Kat says she’s rarely happier than when she’s talking with farmers. She got a Twitter message during the session inviting her to a farm and says she’s going to “do it.” Debbi says we’re not doing a good job of marketing all the great things we’re doing, both farmers and those preparing school meals.

You can listen to my interview with Kat and Debbi here: Interview with Kat Kinsman & Debbi Beauvais

I had a great conversation with panelists Carolyn O’Neil, MS, RD, WebMD and Craig McNamara, California organic farmer. Carolyn says that by providing people with more and better information about their food and where it comes from they can make better choices about what they eat. Craig talked about how important it is to be transparent as a farmer. He wants people, especially young people to come out to the farm to make a connection with nature and learn more. He welcomes people to visit his farm.

You can listen to my interview with Craig and Carolyn here: Interview with Craig McNamara & Carolyn O'Neill

All media and well, just anyone, is free to use my photos and share: 2012 USFRA Annual Mtg. & Food Dialogues Photo Album

USFRA New York Food Dialogues Underway

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The New York Food Dialogues is now live on the web. Here’s our panel being led by Ari Velshi, CNN chief business correspondent.

Just before we got started I visited with U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance board member Doug Wolf, National Pork Producers Council. This is his first visit to New York. He says the “agenda is laid out that we can present some good true stories of real life situations in agriculture.”

You can listen to my interview with Doug here: Interview with Doug Wolf

All media and well, just anyone, is free to use my photos and share: 2012 USFRA Annual Mtg. & Food Dialogues Photo Album

USFRA Board Meets and Ready for Food Dialogues

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The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance board is in session in New York City. I’m in the audience right now and will be featuring some thoughts from various members of the board while I’m here. We’ll be taking a break to attend The Food Dialogues which will be a live web stream featuring three different panel discussions. It will start at 10am eastern time and conclude at 3:30pm. The panel topics include: Media, Marketing and Healthy Choices; Your Toughest Questions Answered on Antibiotics in Your Food; Your Toughest Questions Answered on Biotechnology (GMOs) in Your Food.

To get some perspective from a couple of the USFRA board members I spoke with Weldon Wynn who represents the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and Craig Uden who represents the Federation of State Beef Councils.

Weldon says New York and the east coast is “where the people are.” He says we’re here to “let the nation know what safe and unique farm products that we do have.”

You can listen to my interview with Weldon here: Interview with Weldon Wynn

Craig says there are so many people who are so far removed from the production of food that there is a big need to provide them with good information. He says “We’re going to sit down with these folks on today’s Dialogues and show them what modern agriculture is about.”

You can listen to my interview with Craig here: Interview with Craig Uden

I’m collecting photos from the USFRA board meeting and Food Dialogues here: 2012 USFRA Annual Mtg. & Food Dialogues Photo Album

USB Ensures Safe, Sustainable & Secure Food Supply

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The 2012 Trade Talk during the National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s annual convention served as another successful opportunity for agriculture organizations to share what they are doing to serve their customers and the consumer.

An example of this was when I sat down with Bob Haselwood, Treasurer for the United Soybean Board and Kansas crop farmer, at the recent event. Bob shared with me how USB is working to ensure that the U.S. soy industry and its customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate. He also discussed ways they are helping fund educational endeavors to stimulate the conversation about agriculture.

“The United Soybean Board wants to help increase the profitability for soybean farmers. We’ve got several key areas we work in based on our long-term strategic plan and that is we want to work in meal, oil, customer focus and freedom to operate.”

“One of the big things we do is help fund United States Farmers & Ranchers Alliance. Several organizations are big in that and we are one of the big sponsors of that. USFRA is one way to get dialogue started with consumer groups so we can get our story across and show we do have a safe, sustainable and secure food supply.”

Listen to my interview with Bob here: Bob Haselwood - USB

2012 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Getting Ready For Food Dialogues

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Put November 15, 2012 on your calendar to tune it to the USFRA Food Dialogues which will be streaming live from New York City. Yours truly will be there covering the event.

During the 2012 National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention I got an update on the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance from board chairman Bob Stallman, President, AFBF. Here’s Bob doing one of his many interviews with farm broadcasters yesterday. It was two years ago that Bob made the announcement of the formation of USFRA.

Bob says it has been about fourteen months since USFRA has started running its active programs. The first goal was to get all the producer groups in the country to participate and they got most of them. Then the job was to bring in the checkoff programs and industry partners. Bob says, “We’re off and running. But we knew this needs to be a long term effort.”

You can listen to my interview with Bob to learn more about the progress of USFRA: Interview with Bob Stallman

2012 NAFB Convention Photo Album

Illinois Farmers Featured on Anderson Live

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On their farm in Maple Park, Ill., fourth-generation corn and soybean farmers, Mike and Lynn Martz visited recently with one consumer to answer her questions about organic and non-organic farming methods, and how biotechnology is used in food production.

Long Island, N.Y., mother of three, Christine, toured the Martz’s 6,000+-acre farm last week and talked extensively with the husband-wife team about why and how they grow and raise America’s food. The discussion included answers about sustainability, the difference between organic and non-organic farming methods, and the price difference between the two products. Also addressed was the use of biotechnology in food production.

This Fall, the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) is working with Anderson Live to coordinate sit down visits with farmers and ranchers to have their questions about how food is grown and raised answered. On Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012, the show followed Christine’s visit to the Martz’s farm to have her questions answered. The Anderson Live team launched an online contest where viewers can submit their food-related questions for the chance to be featured on the show, attend The Food Dialogues: New York and have USFRA arrange for a farm or ranch visit to have their food-related questions answered. This viewer’s experience at The Food Dialogues: New York and their conversation with a farmer will be featured on the Anderson Live show Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012.

To enter the contest, viewers simply need to go to www.andersoncooper.com/page/usfra and submit their question about how food is grown and raised.