Farmers need to become educators

To the editor:

Farmers wear a variety of hats. Nutritionist, chemist, vet, computer engineer, mechanic and even meteorologist.

Continuing to go forward, farmers will need to add one more hat, educator. With the ongoing concerns about food safety, growing practices, influence from activist groups and other products, today’s farmer must play an active and vital role in educating the global population about the safety taken on the farm to produce safe and healthy food. By not doing so, farmers are allowing an uneducated and ignorant society to fall victim to false media reports and activist propaganda.

For example, currently in Colorado two animal rights activist groups are working to obtain signatures to get Initiative 16 on a ballot for general voting to attempt to pass. One aspect of this initiative states that farmers that use artificial intelligence for breeding purposes or conduct routine pregnancy checks on their animals could be charged with sexual activity with animals. Another part states that slaughter of any animal before it has lived a fourth of its expected lifespan would be illegal. The experts involved with this bill claim that the average life of cattle is 20 years, chickens eight years, turkeys 10 years, ducks six years and pigs and sheep 15 years.

Consider if such a law existed. That would mean no cattle could ever be slaughtered until after they were 5 years old. So much for a juicy burger or steak.

Jay County is a community where agriculture is one of the largest industries we have. So ask yourself, what you can do to help educate the public about safety and healthy food grown on your farm?

Recently, two dairy farmers in New York and one in Pennsylvania provided virtual farm tours of their farms and facilities. These three virtual tour alone were seen by more than 14,500 elementary through high school students. Students were able to ask questions and learn first-hand about where milk comes from and the steps that milk follows from cow to store to ensure its safety and nutritional value.

This summer, look at how you may be able to conduct a virtual tour of your farm. In the fall, invite school-age children to visit your farm or take a day and go to the school and talk to them about how you work to ensure the product from your farm is safe for consumption. Post updates on a farm Facebook or social media page. Take a non-farm friend or child to the county or state fair and walk them through the barns where they can see happy and healthy livestock being taken care of and loved.

These are just a few ideas, but don’t think the problem is only in big cities and the east or west coast. There are people right in our own community who are unaware of how food goes from field to fork and the steps and pride farmers take to be safe.

Become your own farm advocate, because while you might choose not to think this affects you — you might choose to ignore the problem — the media and the activist groups are not sitting back and doing the same. They are pumping millions of dollars into advertising and promotion about things they know nothing about.

Put on one more hat and become an educator for yourself and for all American agriculture.

C. Dru Mercer

Bryant