Monthly Archives: January 2012

Sailer Tells His Story through Social Media

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Photo courtesy of AgriNews.com

Educating consumers about agriculture isn’t new to farm organizations, but communication methods have changed over the years. Just ask Larry Sailer, who raises corn and soybeans near Iowa Falls, Iowa. Sailer (pronounced Cy-ler) has been in the hog business for 50 years. During this time, he’s been active in farm organizations. He currently serves on the Franklin County Farm Bureau board and volunteers with the National Pork Checkoff’s Operation Main Street Program. He’s also involved with Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom project.

“Anything you can do to start a conversation with consumers about food and agriculture is good,” said Sailer in the Dec. 11, 2011, Agri-News article.

With this goal in mind, Sailer is a staunch supporter of “America Needs Farmers.” America Needs Farmers (ANF) is a collaborative effort between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Farm Bureau Federation. “We want to know what questions consumers have about what farmers do and why we do it,” he says.

Another way Sailer has helped explain modern agriculture to non-farmers is through the 2011 Harvest Tour for bloggers, which was sponsored by Franklin County Farm Bureau, Latham Hi-Tech Seeds and debworks. Participating bloggers had so many great things to say about their experiences riding combines, touring Latham’s seed production plant and shopping Main Street that they attracted national media attention. Franklin County’s inaugural bloggers’ tour became the “Starting Point.”

When CNN visited Des Moines on Jan. 2 to cover the Iowa Caucus, the conversation turned to how Iowa farmers use the Internet. That conversation made it increasing evident to Sailer why connecting with consumers – and helping dispel myths – is more important than ever.

“CNN introduced me as ‘a real Iowa farmer’ like I was an endangered species or an apparition,” says Sailer. “Why is so hard to believe that farmers carry Smartphones or that the Internet is available in rural America? Farmers chat online daily. We blog, tweet and post Facebook messages, too.”

Thanks to his iPad, Sailer stays abreast of breaking news throughout the day and keeps in contact with farmers and ranchers across the globe. “If I’m sitting in line at the grain elevator, for example, I’ll open my iPad. I’ll pour over farm data or log onto Facebook or Twitter. I use social media as a way to communicate and share ideas in a virtual coffee shop. It’s also a great way to start a dialogue with consumer whose interest is piqued.”

Sailer has more than 1,500 friends on Facebook. His favorite Facebook posts are those featuring photos from farmers and ranchers out west. He also regularly visits websites like AgChat.com and FacesofAg.com. In addition, he reads many ag-related and local community blogs including TheFieldPosition.com, Farm Fresh Blog, Need a little advice, Common Sense Agriculture’s Blog, Darin’s Ramblings, Wag’n Tales and A Glorious Life of an Idaho Farmwife.

Soon he’ll add one more bookmark to his list… Watch for Sailer’s weekly blog post to run every Tuesday on TheFieldPosition.com beginning Feb. 7!

Technology Redefines Agriculture

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What defines modern agriculture?

It’s a question that I’ve been pondering ever since reading an article Jan. 19 by Terence Loose listing “agriculture” as the most useless college major. More than anything, I believe his article illustrates how little the general public knows about production agriculture. I dare say Loose envisions farming more like it was in the 1950s or 1960s than it is today.

Agriculture has changed dramatically over the years, and it’s become even more technologically advanced in the past 5 to 10 years alone. In fact, agriculture is like lot the car industry. One used to have to custom order power windows. Today power windows come standard on new vehicles just like most technology comes standard today on agricultural products.

Technological advancements in the seed industry is just one example. One hundred percent of Latham® Hi-Tech Soybean seed is traited, and about 95% of the corn hybrids we sell contain technologies that make crops resistant to insects or certain chemicals.

High-tech seeds means there’s a lot of science in each bag! Think about the highly educated and skilled people it takes to research and create new technologies and genetics, develop them for commercial production, condition the seeds, and then sell them to the farmers, who produce food, clothing and fuel for the world.

New seed technologies – have and will continue to – set new expectations for the yields farmers can achieve. When Roundup® Ready soybeans were introduced in 1996, they set the standard for soybean yields for a decade. Today Latham® soybeans with the Genuity® Roundup Ready® 2 Yield technology are redefining yield expectations. Latham soybeans with the RR2 trait have been out-yielding the competition consistently for the past two harvest seasons. Soon Vistive® Gold soybeans will produce an oil similar to the content of olive oil but much easier and cheaper to produce.

On the corn side of our business, technology is progressing at an equally fast pace. Innovations are making it even simpler to comply with refuge requirements. New for 2012 Latham has introduced Genuity VT2 PRO RIB Complete, as well as Genuity® SmartStax® RIB Complete. Other new technologies coming include a new rootworm trait from Syngenta called Agrisure® Duracade™ and crops resistant to 2-4D chemistry from Dow Agrosciences called Enlist™ just to name a couple.

Seed traits are just one example of how technology has – and continues – to redefine production agriculture. “Technology” obviously has many different meanings within agriculture, and the definition largely depends on what a person does from day-to-day. A quick poll on Facebook and a few e-mails to our friends in the industry produced this list of ag technologies:

  • GPS
  • Auto-steer tractors
  • Smart Phones
  • Slow-release fertilizer
  • RFID technology for livestock

And the list goes on! How has technology transformed your own operation?

Step into Spring, Full of Energy and Optimism

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FOR BOOKING INFORMATION CONTACT: Celeste Settrini • CSettrini@freshnetwork.com • 831-320-1527 • Follow her on Facebook & Twitter (@couturecowgirl7) • Blog (thecouturecowgirl.blogspot.com)

guest blog by Celeste Settrini

Just because you’re a farm girl doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice fashion! All of us love to dress up once in awhile. Every now and then, don’t you like to trade your Carhartt® overalls for a fun dress or some nice slacks? At the least a new accessory or two?

Now don’t get me wrong… I’m as farm girl as the rest of you. But I do enjoy being a girl and playing dress up, and I am giving you all permission to find your inner girl. You can do just that with some help from me!

Springtime is a season of new beginnings and fresh, playful fashion. According to the Pantone Color Institute, “Consumers are looking for renewed energy, optimism and a promise of a brighter day.” (Kinda sounds like farmers, huh? We’re always looking ahead, eager for better markets, more moisture, and higher yields! )

When you think of colors that exude energy, what comes to mind? Tangerine, of course! It’s an enticing juicy orange, vivacious and appealing. Tangerine radiates warmth, cheer and excitement! It’s really a fun color!!

On a recent trip to the Big City (aka San Francisco), I found tangerine hues everywhere from dresses to handbags, nail polish, shoes, headbands, earrings. This sunny, citrus punch of color was everywhere, so I took a few shots to share with all of you.

Afraid to jump out of your comfort zone and purchase an orange dress or pants… then why not try some fun accessories? Try a pair of ballet flats, a thin belt, hat, clutch, gloves, nail polish or lipstick. A pop of orange added to any outfit of lavender, lime green or light blue is a lovely smidge of excitement! If these items are too far-fetched, try accessorizing a nice, crisp white shirt and jeans with some fun, orange bracelets and/or a belt. I know you can do that!

Some of you might be thinking, “Really, Celeste? Fashion on the Farm?” Well, we don’t stay on the farm all of the time. You must venture out once in awhile, am I right?

I believe fashion is an extension of who you are.

Fashion showcases your personality! Some of us are over-the-top while others are a bit more conservative, but I’m thinking we all need a break from our Carhartts and need an opportunity to show a bit of personality. If you just can’t break away from your bibs entirely, add a headband or maybe polish those nail tips – in Tangerine, of course!

Follow me each Friday as we showcase “Fun, Fashion and Finds for Farm Girls” at www.thecouturecowgirl.blogspot.com where we talk fashion trends and fabulous finds. Why? ‘Cause we can’t talk cows all the time!!

Celeste is a 4th generation cattle rancher on her family ranch in the foothills of the Salinas Valley on the Central Coast of California. As a young adult, she had an extensive career showing livestock. Celeste earned a B.A. in Agribusiness Marketing at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. She works as a produce broker for Fresh Network, maintains her duties on the family cattle ranch and speaks at agricultural events nationwide.

FOR BOOKING INFORMATION CONTACT:
Celeste Settrini
831-320-1527 • CSettrini@freshnetwork.com
Follow her on Facebook & Twitter (@couturecowgirl7)
Blog (thecouturecowgirl.blogspot.com)