"I'd rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world." - George Washington
For almost a decade, FrazierHeiby has worked closely with Ohio's farmers on agriculture communications to help the public understand modern farming. Because of this work, we are intimately aware of the myriad of issues facing farmers. In 2008, we started an ag blog in order to share stories and viewpoints on these issues. Below are four representative Ag News blog posts that highlight contemporary farm issues:
Famers share farm machinery to save costs
Ohio's farmers are most certainly inventive and entrepreneurial in addition to being good neighbors. Sharing farm equipment allows small to mid-sized farmers have the same farming advantages as larger farmers while not needing to deal with all the up-front costs.
Contrary to popular belief, farmers embrace new technologies and ways of farming because, as smart business people, they understand that technology can help them be better stewards of the land while allowing them to produce more food on the same amount of land. You would be surprised at how technology has impacted modern farming.
Tis the season for poinsettias
Who knew that Ohio ranks fifth among the poinsettia-producing states? We did! And, no, the plant is not poisonous. That falsehood was debunked when The Society of American Florists (SAF) commissioned The Ohio State University to conduct a series of scientific tests on the plant during the 1970s.
The new, young face of farming
According to NPR, the average age of a farmer is 58.3, a number that has been slowly rising for years. This gives rise to concern about the next generation of farmers. Are there enough young farmers to replace those that will be retiring over the next decade? How could a loss of farm leaders impact our nation's ability to produce food?
Remember – if you ate today, thank a farmer.