Why you need to share the right agriculture message

It is every food producer’s responsibility to help bridge the gap between the producers and the consumers of America’s food. There are many ways to accomplish this, including educational programs and presentations, farm tours, agricultural events like fairs, one-on-one conversations, and social media where you can blog, tweet, share links and information, and upload truthful videos, says Nancy Thelen, of the Michigan State University Extension Service.

According to Thelen, there are three key messages to share:

• Farmers care for their animals.

• They care for the land.

• They produce safe and high-quality products.

Keep your story basic, she advises. The average consumer has a third-grade level understanding of livestock education. Show them you care and what it means to you since you are responsible for the animal’s proper care.

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