We've recently seen a few good examples of internet advertising that promotes farming as fashionable and fun.
Utube video as used in FG article. Another innovative example of how people are beginning to promote farming via the 'net.
The Yeo Valley advert that caused a bit of a stir on the rural youth scene (well at least that's what I heard - I'm soooo in-touch with the youff of today! Radical man!!)
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Wednesday, 15 December 2010
Monday, 13 December 2010
They're all talking "gobblers"!
A recent article in Farm Business indicating public awareness of turkeys was interesting, not least because it highlights the lack of understanding of a high profile food-stuff and it's origins.
Well done the NFU for conducting this study.
It's important for us all to understand that generally the public have a poor awareness of where their food comes from and adapt accordingly.
On the plus side, it means that the public are relatively easily led and open to suggestion. This doesn't mean we should hoodwink them, just feed them the info that is relevant and interesting to inform their views accordingly.
I feel that this article supports the concept of presenting agriculture as an interesting story rather than a set of technical protocols - after all why keep drumming on about whether turkeys are fed antibiotics or not if the consumer would actually benefit from a better understanding of what turkeys are and the value therein - no wonder the public are sceptical, we've baffled them with science.
Published by Farm Business 06 December 2010 - 07:55
British public talk turkey in new survey
One in five people say that turkeys can fly while one in ten believes the bird originates from Turkey, a new survey reveals.
The NFU-commissioned poll quizzed 3,000 people about their festive eating habits, how they choose a Christmas bird and how much they know about turkeys in general.
The results revealed that 20% of people believe turkeys can fly with a further 14% not knowing if this is true or not – 66% said they can’t. Ten per cent of people think turkeys originate from Turkey while nearly half have no idea where they come from. Only 11 per cent know that a male turkey is called a stag.
Mike Bailey, a seasonal producer and vice-chairman of the NFU poultry board representing turkeys, said: “It has been fascinating to find out how much our customers know about turkeys. One of the more interesting findings is that public opinion is split on the age-old question of whether turkeys can fly or not and although you are not going to see them flying south for winter, turkeys can actually get off the ground for a short distance.
“I am pleased to add that 67% of British public will tuck into turkey as their main meal on Christmas Day, with 58% saying they will buy fresh. It is also interesting that 39% will buy from a butcher, directly from the farm or a local market. This compares to 52% who intend to buy from a supermarket. The survey revealed what their biggest priorities are when choosing a turkey, 61% of people plump for quality, ahead of price (26%), which means they put quality above the price for this most important meal of the year.”
The survey coincides with the re-launch of website www.ukturkeys.co.uk, where producers can register their businesses and consumers can find their nearest turkey supplier by using just their postcode. More than 300 producers have already signed up.
Some other survey results:
• People in the North East are least likely to eat turkey this Christmas as their main meal, with those in the North West most likely
• Londoners are most likely to eat a fresh turkey on the day – people in the West Midlands are more keen on frozen
• 39% of people only eat turkey at Christmas but 80% of people eat chicken at least once a fortnight
• Other popular meats served up on Christmas Day include chicken, goose, duck, venison, salmon, ham and gammon.
Well done the NFU for conducting this study.
It's important for us all to understand that generally the public have a poor awareness of where their food comes from and adapt accordingly.
On the plus side, it means that the public are relatively easily led and open to suggestion. This doesn't mean we should hoodwink them, just feed them the info that is relevant and interesting to inform their views accordingly.
I feel that this article supports the concept of presenting agriculture as an interesting story rather than a set of technical protocols - after all why keep drumming on about whether turkeys are fed antibiotics or not if the consumer would actually benefit from a better understanding of what turkeys are and the value therein - no wonder the public are sceptical, we've baffled them with science.
Published by Farm Business 06 December 2010 - 07:55
British public talk turkey in new survey
One in five people say that turkeys can fly while one in ten believes the bird originates from Turkey, a new survey reveals.
The NFU-commissioned poll quizzed 3,000 people about their festive eating habits, how they choose a Christmas bird and how much they know about turkeys in general.
The results revealed that 20% of people believe turkeys can fly with a further 14% not knowing if this is true or not – 66% said they can’t. Ten per cent of people think turkeys originate from Turkey while nearly half have no idea where they come from. Only 11 per cent know that a male turkey is called a stag.
Mike Bailey, a seasonal producer and vice-chairman of the NFU poultry board representing turkeys, said: “It has been fascinating to find out how much our customers know about turkeys. One of the more interesting findings is that public opinion is split on the age-old question of whether turkeys can fly or not and although you are not going to see them flying south for winter, turkeys can actually get off the ground for a short distance.
“I am pleased to add that 67% of British public will tuck into turkey as their main meal on Christmas Day, with 58% saying they will buy fresh. It is also interesting that 39% will buy from a butcher, directly from the farm or a local market. This compares to 52% who intend to buy from a supermarket. The survey revealed what their biggest priorities are when choosing a turkey, 61% of people plump for quality, ahead of price (26%), which means they put quality above the price for this most important meal of the year.”
The survey coincides with the re-launch of website www.ukturkeys.co.uk, where producers can register their businesses and consumers can find their nearest turkey supplier by using just their postcode. More than 300 producers have already signed up.
Some other survey results:
• People in the North East are least likely to eat turkey this Christmas as their main meal, with those in the North West most likely
• Londoners are most likely to eat a fresh turkey on the day – people in the West Midlands are more keen on frozen
• 39% of people only eat turkey at Christmas but 80% of people eat chicken at least once a fortnight
• Other popular meats served up on Christmas Day include chicken, goose, duck, venison, salmon, ham and gammon.
Saturday, 11 December 2010
Stocking Densities
Following a busy evening, Sow no2 produced 9 beautiful baby piglets bringing our grand swine herd total to 15 piglets and 2 sows - all on just under an acre.
Add them to the 11 chickens and one cat (decidedly unproductive animal, but does keep my lap warm when sat on the sofa) and you can see that farming is alive and kicking at Brick on Edge.
You're all are welcome to come and see the shenanigans (that word seems a bit long to me, but can't be bothered to look it up!), but don't expect a frappe latte and choc brownie a la "Farm Park" just yet. You might get a cuppa and digestive if you get to them before Tim, the pigs or chickens!!
Now back to organising my trip to Australia and NZ.
Add them to the 11 chickens and one cat (decidedly unproductive animal, but does keep my lap warm when sat on the sofa) and you can see that farming is alive and kicking at Brick on Edge.
You're all are welcome to come and see the shenanigans (that word seems a bit long to me, but can't be bothered to look it up!), but don't expect a frappe latte and choc brownie a la "Farm Park" just yet. You might get a cuppa and digestive if you get to them before Tim, the pigs or chickens!!
Now back to organising my trip to Australia and NZ.
Sunday, 5 December 2010
Pigs galore
Having spent most of the past week diligently supplying water to my two sows by means of a leaky watering can, I was relieved when on Wednesday eve 8am I saw the straw twitch near the back end of sow no.1
No she hadn't passed wind, it was a real live piglet!
After a moment of panic during which I was convinced the sow was going to deliberately roll onto it and press it like a flower, I regained my senses and watched as nature took it's course and mother and piglet were joined at the teat.
Four hours later and six keen, hungry piglets were feeding happily form their mother and mother herself looked relaxed (or was that relieved) as she lay keeping them warm and well-fed.
Kate and I were over the moon. Going from one to seven children in four hours has never been so easy - although the arrival of the "Putley Six" confirmed my initial thoughts that childbirth is best left to the mother with little input from the father! If only Tim had been born so easily...
Yesterday my plumber friend called by with his nice clean wellies (bought specially for the job!) and fitted "piglet-safe" drinkers, but not before sow no.2 had chewed his stepladder and scratched her back vigorously against same ladder while he was at the top. Thankfully she chose not to chew his wellies, or I fear he might have had a nervous breakdown, or charged me double at the very least.
So leaky watering can consigned to the recycling bin and we're now waiting for sow no.2 to get on with farrowing. (a bit like watching and waiting for a kettle to boil.)
So what has this to do with public perception of agriculture I hear you cry. Well we have been inundated with visitors (far more than came round when our son Tim was born!!) all of whom think the whole situation wonderful.
Oink!
No she hadn't passed wind, it was a real live piglet!
After a moment of panic during which I was convinced the sow was going to deliberately roll onto it and press it like a flower, I regained my senses and watched as nature took it's course and mother and piglet were joined at the teat.
Four hours later and six keen, hungry piglets were feeding happily form their mother and mother herself looked relaxed (or was that relieved) as she lay keeping them warm and well-fed.
Kate and I were over the moon. Going from one to seven children in four hours has never been so easy - although the arrival of the "Putley Six" confirmed my initial thoughts that childbirth is best left to the mother with little input from the father! If only Tim had been born so easily...
Yesterday my plumber friend called by with his nice clean wellies (bought specially for the job!) and fitted "piglet-safe" drinkers, but not before sow no.2 had chewed his stepladder and scratched her back vigorously against same ladder while he was at the top. Thankfully she chose not to chew his wellies, or I fear he might have had a nervous breakdown, or charged me double at the very least.
So leaky watering can consigned to the recycling bin and we're now waiting for sow no.2 to get on with farrowing. (a bit like watching and waiting for a kettle to boil.)
So what has this to do with public perception of agriculture I hear you cry. Well we have been inundated with visitors (far more than came round when our son Tim was born!!) all of whom think the whole situation wonderful.
Oink!
AFB comment re: formation of USFRA
Alliance of Farm Groups Provides ‘Unprecedented’ Opportunity
WASHINGTON, D.C., November 12, 2010 – The American Farm Bureau Federation today called the formation of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance an “unprecedented initiative and new opportunity” for agricultural producers to engage with key audiences.
Founding of the alliance was announced yesterday in Kansas City, Mo. It was the culmination of a series of meetings since May. In October, farmer and rancher organizations met and voted to form a new organization. As of this week, 23 groups have joined the alliance. AFBF President Bob Stallman was elected to chair the executive committee.
“This is a historic joining together of farm organizations,” said Stallman. “We are committed to developing a well-funded, long-term, coordinated campaign to increase consumer trust in agricultural producers and the food system.”
Stallman said the group was formed because of the “deeply-felt need among all the organizations to coordinate and amplify messages about the benefits of our food system in the face of numerous attacks.”
“There is a growing and immediate need to build consumer trust and gain the recognition among stakeholders that food producers must have the freedom to operate in an economically sustainable and responsible manner,” Stallman emphasized.
Joining Stallman on the alliance board are Philip Bradshaw, chairman of the United Soybean Board; Austin Brown of the Beef Checkoff; Scott George of the Federation of State Beef Councils; Forrest Roberts, chief executive officer of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association; Bart Scott, president of the National Corn Growers Association; Dale Norton, of the National Pork Board; Dallas Hockman, of the National Pork Producers Council; Gene Gregory, president of United Egg Producers; and John Starkey, president of the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association.
The other organizations that joined the alliance include the American Egg Board; American National CattleWomen; American Sheep Industry Association; American Soybean Association; American Sugar Alliance; National Association of Wheat Growers; National Cotton Council; National Milk Producers Association; Southern Peanut Farmers Federation ; United Fresh Produce Association; USA Rice Federation; U.S. Grains Council; U.S. Soybean Federation; and Western Growers Association.
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| Contacts: | Don Lipton (202) 406-3644 donl@fb.org |
Friday, 3 December 2010
US Farmers and Ranchers Alliance: Working to set the record straight
American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman chairs the group. He says the goal is to dispel myths that exist about agriculture.
Published: Dec 1, 2010
The U-S Farmers and Ranchers Alliance was recently formed and is a joint venture between more than 20 agricultural entities. American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman is chair of the group. Stallman says the group is still in the organizational stage. "This is the first time that all of production agriculture got together and decided to cooperate on this major effort," says Stallman. "Those of us in production agriculture are dismayed and worried about the critics of modern production agriculture that are out there."
"We've decided to come together, pool our resources, and develop a 3-5 year program that is sufficiently funded to increase consumer understanding of the benefits of modern, production agriculture," Stallman says.
So how will this group work with other groups trying to do the same thing, like the Farmer Image Campaign here in Illinois? "We have surveyed all of the individual efforts out there, whether it's state based or commodity group based, to look at what's being done, what's successful, and the messaging that's out there," says Stallman.
"In essence the smaller based efforts have been a laboratory for us to determine what would work in a national campaign," Stallman adds. "Once again we have to scale up and get a national scope and a duration with enough resources behind it to really get those messages spread in a broad based manner."
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