Ranchers and farmers are committed to protecting the natural resources of their land. But, Micheal Clements tells us farmers must share their stories to address misleading information coming from agriculture’s critics.
Clements:American agriculture aims to maximize the yield of their crops and livestock while providing a bright future for the land and animals they are responsible for. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy duvall said that farmers and ranchers take responsibility for feeding the world. Conservation of the environment.
Duvall:140 million acres of land have been donated by farmers to conservation programs. Then there are other techniques like low till or not till. Over half of America’s corn, cotton and soybean acres have been planted in those practices that help retain or conserve carbon. There are also about 200 million acres of cover crop.
Clements: When it comes to livestock, Duvall says it’s easy to point to misleading statistics about cattle and climate change.
Duvall: Here’s the truth. This is based on data from USDA and EPA. The U.S.’s greenhouse gas emissions from the beef cattle sector account for 2 percent. The per-unit emissions from cattle have decreased due to more efficient farming techniques and the adoption of new technologies. Our critics seek a simple solution for a complex problem. Adding burdensome regulations to reduce the availability of protein would increase food costs and worsen food insecurity for millions of families across America.
Clements: Duvall believes that farmers must share their stories to address unfair criticisms of American agriculture.
Duvall: It’s easy to get frustrated when we see agriculture misrepresented in the media, but we must remember that almost 90 percent of Americans say that they trust farmers and we have a positive story to share with them. We shouldn’t allow our critics to make us look bad. It will damage the public’s trust. It is important to engage with our neighbors and the media to set the tone for agriculture.
Clements:Learn more at fb.org/sustainability. Micheal Clements, Washington.