One year ago the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to approve Roundup Ready® Alfalfa renewed a debate about the safety of genetically modified crops and the use of glyphosate in the environment.  During this same time period, retired Purdue University professor Don Huber proclaimed the discovery of a plant pathogen “… that appears to significantly impact the health of plants, animals and probably human beings.”

With his “15 minutes of fame” expiring, Huber appears to be fanning the flames of his theory in hopes this issue will reemerge like a phoenix from the ashes.  Recently I heard him being interviewed on the radio program, “Coast to Coast,” and was amazed by the sensational, unscientific claims he was making.

Huber’s claims were not – nor have they ever been – substantiated.  That’s why it concerns me greatly that many well meaning Americans will hear Huber speak and be scared into thinking biotechnology, and specifically Roundup Ready crops, should be eliminated.

To the contrary, there is much scientific evidence that supports the safety and beneficial impacts of GM crops.  Increased yields, reduced production costs and reduced pesticide use are a few of the benefits outlined in Case Studies in Benefits and Risks of Agricultural Biotechnology by theNational Center for Food and Agricultural Policy.  In April 2010, the National Research Council of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences issued a report concluding U.S. farmers growing biotech crops are realizing substantial economic and environmental befits including lower production costs, fewer pest problems, reduced use of pesticides and better yields as compared to conventional crops.

I can personally attest that U.S. farmers are benefitting from lower production costs and fewer pest problems thanks to Roundup®.  Farmers also benefit by having more flexibility at application time and wider window in which herbicide can be applied to effectively kill weeds.  Plus, we no longer have to take the time – and do the back-breaking work – of walking soybean fields to pull weeds.

Farmers aren’t the only ones benefitting from Roundup usage.  The environment benefits from reduced pesticide applications.  Plus, consumers are benefitting from increased agricultural productivity.  Biotech crops simply yield more than conventional crops.  In fact, farmers today grow twice as much food as their parents did – using less land, energy and water.  Increasing crop yields even more is going to become increasing important to keep up with the growing world population.  Did you know more food will have to be produced in the next 50 years as the past 10,000 years combined?

I like to eat.  I like to wear clothes.  I like farming, too.  For all these reasons, I’m siding with science instead of sensationalism!

One passionate person can make a significant difference, and a group of impassioned people can change the course of the U.S. Department of Labor.  Due to an outpouring of response from family farmers and elected officials nationwide, the DOL announced Feb. 1 that enactment of its new child labor regulations are on hold.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s new rules would have prohibited children from working with animals and from working for a L.L.C. or any top of legal family farming entity.  While some rule proponents have pointed out there is a parental exemption, many within the agricultural community believe it’s a grey area.  A new “parental exemption” rule is expected to be proposed this summer. According to the DOL, this exemption would allow children of any age who are employed by their parent, or a person standing in the place of a parent, to perform any job on a farm owned or operated by their parent or such person standing in place of a parent.

Responding to the DOL’s announcement about rethinking the “parental exemption,” Missouri hog farmer Chris Chinn said, “It is clear to all of us in the agricultural community that merely ‘tweaking’ the rule will not fix something that we believe is fundamentally flawed.”

Like Chinn, Congressman Tom Latham of Iowa believes the DOL needs to recognize the unique circumstances of family farm youth and multi-generational family partnerships in agricultural operations.  In December, he authored and introduced bipartisan legislation that expresses the sense of Congress that the Department of Labor.  Congressman Latham says, “ The face of modern agriculture has changed in many ways since the 1970s when these labor regulations were first enacted, and there’s no doubt that they need to be updated. But the Department of Labor must be sensitive to the needs of family farms that use alternate legal structures to stay in business.”

Several other Iowa officials have voiced concerns over the DOL regulations, as well.  In November 2011, Gov. Branstad and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey sent a letter to U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis asking the DOL to give Iowa farmers a fair opportunity to comment.  They also called the rule “a prime example of federal overreach” and were pleased to hear the DOL is reconsidering its burdensome regulations.

“As I grew up on a family farm, I learned the value of a strong work ethic by working alongside my family,” said Gov. Branstad in a Wallaces Farmer article on Feb. 4.  “I firmly believe Iowa farm families are better at ensuring the safety and well-being of their children than bureaucrats in Washington.”

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, in the same Wallaces Farmer article, added, “It is important we continue to provide opportunities for young people to learn about agriculture and gain experience by working on farms in a responsible manner.  This announcement by the Department of Labor shows that they are responding to the comments they received and hearing the concerns of the farming community.”

RELATED POSTS:

1. Comment by Dec. 1 on how proposed changes to “child labor” regulations would impact your farm
2. Farm cores help build character & work ethic. If you agree, please contact the Department of Labor by Dec 1
3. FFA & 4-H projects could be affected by proposed “child labor” rules
4. Child labor? Oh, please! Every day is “bring your child to work day” on the farm.”
5. Teen Farm Labor is Vital in Rural Areas
6. Gray Area” vs. “Grey Matter

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!

“You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone” is more than lyrics to a popular song that has topped the charts since 1970. It’s also become the mantra of many young professionals, who are leaving urban areas for an increased quality of life in rural communities.

A rural renaissance has been happening since the 1970s, says Ben Winchester, a research fellow for the University of Minnesota Extension, Center for Community Vitality. One of his current projects involves documenting newcomers, or new rural residents who range in age from 30-45 years old and are either returning to their rural roots or moving to rural areas for the first time.

Many newcomers are basing their decisions on lifestyle and quality of life, says Winchester. One of the most interesting findings of his research is that people are not basing their decisions to move to rural areas based solely on job opportunities. Many newcomers are providing a rural brain gain. They’re bring high skill sets, such as college degrees and master’s degrees, and have a career path in place with outside connections.

In fact, many newcomers are self-employed. One in four owns a small business, and those who own businesses are heavily invested in their communities.

“It makes me wonder what the state of our rural economy would be if these newcomers had not been coming back these past 30 years,” says Winchester in an article posted by fedgazette.

Instead of spending so much time focusing on the brain drain of the younger residents who leave the state, Winchester is challenging rural communities to focus on attracting – and then retaining – the 30- to 45-year-olds who are migrating to rural areas.

Like the newcomers described by Winchester, my husband and I both moved to urban areas upon college graduation and then returned to our rural roots when our children were toddlers. After living in Kansas City and then Des Moines for a decade, I personally could never find paradise surrounded by pavement. Give me my apple trees, singing birds and buzzing bees. Give me rolling acres of waving grains and a horizon filled with sunsets instead of skyscrapers. Give me Rural America!