Public Issues:
A Call To Get Involved
by Kindra Gordon for Angus Productions Inc.
MITCHELL, Neb. (Nov. 29, 2011) — Well-known agriculture industry advocate Trent Loos helped kick off Range Beef Cow Symposium XXII in Mitchell, Neb., Tuesday morning, Nov. 29. A crowd of more than 500 beef producers and industry representatives was on hand for the three-day event.
"Until we learn to share what we are passionate about," said Trent Loos, "there will be a disconnect with urban consumers.”Loos encouraged those in the audience to take to the streets and tell ag’s story as the industry continues to try bridging the knowledge gap between urban and rural consumers. “99% of people don’t have a clue what we do,” he stated.
Loos, who has traveled to 28 states, three Canadian provinces and Queensland, Australia, this past year to advocate for agriculture, emphasized that the battle is no longer about what consumers do not know. Instead, he said, the challenge is that “too much of what they know isn’t so.”
“We need reality and practicality to come back into focus," he said, "and that needs to come from people on the land.”
Providing examples, Loos mentioned the current child labor law being proposed. He encouraged the audience members to contact their state legislators before the Dec. 1 comment deadline to let them know how this would adversely affect agriculture.
Loos said that an unfounded regulation such as that is an example of what can come about because people do not understand agriculture.
As other examples, he shared that taxes, regulations and even the current wolf issue in Idaho are other issues that need ag’s voice. “Get involved in the process and say, 'enough already',” said Loos.
There is a risk to not getting involved and sharing ag's story. Loos pointed to the European Union and Australia as examples of where regulations have led to increased reliance on imported foods and increased food costs.
“Without efficient food production, that’s where we are going,” he said.
For those willing to be an advocate for ag, Loos advised, “Stop defending how we take care of animals and start explaining why we care for animals. Share why we use pharmaceuticals and the science behind the practices we use.”
He emphasized the importance of conveying words and messages that the non-ag public can understand — and connect with.
“Think about how you communicate," Loos advised. "Are people understanding what you say?”
“I take great issue with the term 'slaughter.' We don’t kill. We respectfully harvest plants and animals to improve human life,” Loos said. “We — agriculture — are about managing life, controlling the death and improving the cycle of life. That’s what we do … We also care about passing our farming operation to the next generation.
"Until we learn to share what we are passionate about," he continued, "there will be a disconnect with urban consumers.”
Loos said agriculture must also continue to share its efficiency efforts in terms of “green and sustainability” with consumers.
“Through science and technology from the land-grant university system, all of ag has become more efficient. We should really pitch that as being green,” he said, noting that’s what efficiency is, and that’s what resonates with consumers.
Looking ahead, Loos said, for 2012 he will continue to be an advocate for agriculture and hopes others will join him in the effort. Loos intends to particularly focus on sharing ag’s positive message with the medical community.
“The basic information is not getting out,” he said.
He is especially concerned with the continuing tactics of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to stop animal agriculture. “We have to get active and get them rooted out now,” Loos says.
Loos concluded by asking the audience to share the message that America’s farmers and ranchers produce food to feed the world in an efficient manner. “Tell one person a day what we do to improve their lives,” he concluded.
The biennial Range Beef Cow Symposium was hosted Nov. 29-Dec. 1 at the Mitchell Events Center, Mitchell, Neb., by the cooperative extension and animal science departments of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, South Dakota State University, Colorado State University and the University of Wyoming. Comprehensive coverage of the event is provided online at www.rangebeefcow.com, an event coverage site provided by Angus Productions Inc. (API), publisher of the Angus Journal and the Angus Beef Bulletin.
Editor’s Note: API's coverage of the event is made available for distribution to all media via an agreement with the Range Beef Cow Symposium Committee and API. Headquartered in Saint Joseph, Mo., API publishes the Angus Journal, the Angus Beef Bulletin, the Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, and the Angus e-List, as well as providing online coverage of events and topics pertinent to cattlemen through the API Virtual Library. For questions about this site, or to notifiy us of broken links, click here.