agriculture advocacy essay

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Why do we advocate for agriculture?

By Jennifer Dorsett

I have a voice. You have a voice. We all have voices.

And it’s important to use those voices to advocate for things we are passionate about. For Texas Farm Bureau and myself, that’s agriculture.

But why are we so concerned with agricultural advocacy?

Well, it’s an important concept, because many Americans are far removed from farming and ranching. Today, less than 2 percent of Americans are farmers and ranchers.

But there’s a larger, much more vocal component of the population mistakenly claiming farmers and ranchers are destroying the environment and using unnatural methods to grow our food and fiber.

It’s easy to get confused or misled by that vocal faction. Now, with election season just around the corner, it’s more critical than ever that we have legislators who understand and support agriculture. Our future literally depends on our nation’s ability to produce its own food supply efficiently, safely and profitably.

Helping others understand why and how farmers and ranchers make decisions when raising crops and animals is the basis of agricultural advocacy.

But what does agricultural advocacy look like in the real world?

Sometimes, it’s a farmer posting a photo to social media of a crop in the field with an explanation of its growth stage and what happens next. It’s eye-opening to see what happens when uncontrollable weeds choke out a promising cotton crop or what armyworms can do to a hay field in a matter of days when left untreated.

People racing to move livestock out of harms’ way never fails to engage on social media. And a photo of a rancher busting ice out of troughs on a brutally cold day helps connect animal care with a real person.

Agricultural advocacy takes on different forms, but blogs like this and publications like these are a form of agricultural advocacy. Writing about farm and ranch practices is one way to spread the message about modern agriculture’s effectiveness and sustainability.

Radio stations and programs like those distributed by the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network help Texans keep up-to-date on the latest farm and ranch news every day. The radio team shares what’s going on in agriculture, from happenings in the field to those on Capitol Hill.   

Teachers can bring agriculture to life in the classroom, helping students understand what farms and ranches look like and what farmers and ranchers really do. Texas Farm Bureau has numerous resources available for this purpose.

At home, parents can show their children videos about farming and ranching , and there are tons of hands-on activities to connect kids to agricultural concepts. Making a recipe together is a good opening point to talk to kids about where our food comes from and how it’s grown.

And of course, joining a membership organization like Texas Farm Bureau is another way to show your support for agriculture. The organization’s mission is to be the Voice of Texas Agriculture. And Texas Farm Bureau shares the struggles farmers and ranchers face when it comes to regulatory reform, weather challenges and more to help raise awareness of those who work hard to provide food, fiber and fuel. Because together, we’re stronger.

From Austin to Washington, D.C., and at every stop in between, Texas Farm Bureau brings farmers, ranchers and legislators to the table together. Because lawmakers must hear first-hand about the current issues facing production agriculture and rural Texans.

But advocating for agriculture brings attention to not only the issues faced by modern farmers and ranchers, but also their successes. The success stories about growing more while using less. The achievements in keeping a family legacy alive while facing adversaries both old and new.

So add your voice in advocating for agriculture.

Post a photo, write a blog, share a video. Visit a farm, and tell others about your trip and the people you met there.

Ask a rancher about her livestock. She’ll be glad to share all the ways she cares for them daily while ensuring they produce the highest-quality meat for your table. Then share the information you learn with your friends.

However you say it, and however you do it, let others know how important agriculture is to all of us. And join us in being part of The Voice of Texas Agriculture.

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The Basics of Agricultural Advocacy

by FCSC | Jun 23, 2022 | FCSC Blog | 0 comments

What is Agricultural Advocacy?

Per technical definition, an advocate for agriculture, also known as an “AG-vocate,” can be anyone who works to tell the inclusive story of the agriculture industry to not only strengthen that community but also educate everyone around them about the importance of AG as a whole. Whether that is a farmer, scientist, veterinarian, rancher, or someone else altogether, anyone can do their part to support today’s farmers, all of whom would be considered an AG Vocate.

In conceptual form, the goal of advocating for anything includes providing information regarding the said topic of choice so that others can make informed decisions. The same holds for the act of advocacy for AG. But how does one accomplish this and do so effectively?  In this blog post, we review the basics of agricultural advocacy to not only better define it and its actions, but also to give you the tools you need to establish your story and take the appropriate steps to effectively communicate AG to others throughout Colorado. This post outlines everything you need to be an effective advocate for agriculture, appropriate for all including educators, students, consumers, producers, and anyone else interested in sharing the story of AG.

Simple Steps to Become an Advocate of Agriculture

There are three simple steps you can take to become a strong voice for Colorado agricultural education: becoming educated, building relationships, and acting.

As an agricultural educator, simply telling the story of what you do every day out in the rural lands of Southern Colorado is great advocacy. You and your family are making lives better, providing students the knowledge and skills to succeed, and you’re helping unite and strengthen your community by simply talking. You would be surprised how much the average American knows about AG and truly how much it affects their life.

That’s why it’s essential to speak up, network and advocate. Tell your AG story to those around so more CO community members become aware of just how crucial agriculture truly is to everyday life. You are making a difference, so let others know that. Make sure they know how important agricultural education is to your students, your community, your young ones, and everyone in between. You’re a teacher whether you realize it or not. Teach your community, state, and national leaders the importance of agricultural education through AG-Vocacy!

For more AG advocacy tips or other agricultural industry questions, give our team a call . Not only are we here to provide farm credit and loan services, but we are also here to educate. Give us a call or fill out one of our forms online to extend another connection in our AG world.

NAAE, or The National Association of Agricultural Educators, is a great resource to utilize: https://www.naae.org/index.cfm

10 Ways Agriculture Works for All of Us

• Americans spend 10% of their income on food – which is less than any other country in the world
• Less than 2% of the U.S. population is directly involved in production agriculture…and every farmer produces enough food and fiber for 165 people in the US and abroad
• Farmers and ranchers receive $0.15 for every $1 spent on food {both at home and away. }
• With the growing population, farmers will have to produce 70% more food by 2050
• At current levels of production, one day’s production of milk from a high-producing dairy cow can make 10.5 lbs of cheese.
• The pounds of feed required to produce 100 lbs. of milk has decreased more than 40% in the last 40 years.
• Corn yields (amount of corn harvested) per acre has increased 360% since 1950.
• One acre = One football field and can produce 50,000 lbs {of strawberries, 2,784 lbs of wheat, or 821 lbs of cotton}
• 30% of farmers are women, and 20% qualify as beginning farmers…257,454 of those are millennials
• Agriculture is the nation’s LARGEST employer with more than 21.4 million full and part-time jobs in agriculture and food, which is 11% of US workforce

This blog post is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, legal, or investment advice. Any information contained in this post is subject to change without notice and should not be relied upon without seeking the advice of a qualified professional. The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of our Association. The author and Association are not responsible for any errors or omissions and are not liable for any losses or damages arising from the use of the information contained in this post.