There was a discussion in mid-August on Twitter among people in the agriculture sector about empathy. It was fascinating and instructive and shows that agriculture, as I’ve often argued, is as diverse in its views as is the rest of society. Empathy is the ability to understand what someone else is experiencing both in concrete […] Read more
Tag Archives social media — page 2
Editorial: Empathy can be a superpower
Achieving a state of #AndyClean
How the chase of an Ontario farmer’s equipment cleaning approval has become a global phenomenon
Combining elbow-grease and perfectionism to keep farm equipment pristine – that’s what it means to be #AndyClean. Such is the now globe-spanning hashtag originating with Andy Pasztor, a Norfolk County farmer who makes thorough equipment cleaning a major part of his yearly maintenance program. Why it matters: Attention to detail is critical to achieve a […] Read more
Comment: Should agriculture advocacy become activism?
The term ‘agvocate’ has made the agriculture sector feel good but probably doesn’t resonate with consumers
“Activist — A person who campaigns to bring about political or social change.” “Activism — Consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct, or intervene in social, political, economic, or environmental reform with the desire to make changes in society.” The word “activist” appears to be a word that has gone mainstream. There are human rights […] Read more
Opinion: Are our social media networks as valuable as we think?
Agriculture needs to evolve its networks beyond others in the sector
The agri-food industry was one of the first industries to embrace social media. Our sector was actively using social media a decade ago when social media platforms were just taking off for business purposes. Social media opened doors for many of us, to connect with people we would have otherwise never had the chance to […] Read more
Young farmers jump into direct marketing with on-farm stores
Ontario producers see the benefit of events and local food networks, and their hard work is paying off
Some young farmers are making direct-to-consumer sales an important part of their farm business plan. They’re using creative thinking on events and bringing new skills to the expansion of their businesses. Why it matters: Direct to consumer marketing can be an effective way for farmers to get more of the food dollar. But they have […] Read more
Editorial: Selling the story of food to reach consumers
There are several forces driving change in the way consumers act, and food companies and farmers need to make sure they’re ahead of them. At this point they are not, and are stuck in traditional boxes that are constraining to growth. The world is connecting via digital and social media into like-minded cabals. For whatever […] Read more
Sheep farmer tells her farm’s story using video
Sandi Brock is gaining a significant YouTube following for her video logs
There’s not a lot of filtering in the version of Sandi Brock’s sheep farm that she shows to the world. It’s real and it’s popular with viewers of her YouTube channel. On the channel she talks about what she does on her farm in great detail, from lambing processes to barn design to shipping to […] Read more
Agriculture lawyer calls for conviction of trespassing activists
Letter to attorney general decries recent dropping of charges against trespassers
Ontario agriculture lawyer Kurtis Andrews has written a letter to Ontario’s attorney general claiming that the lack of repercussions from a recent spate on animal rights activist activity in the province is “nothing short of a breakdown of law and order”. Why it matters: An increase in animal rights activists trespassing on farms has created […] Read more
Does agriculture need a ‘Jerry Maguire Manifesto’ moment?
We’re living through a second time of disruption in our sector since the introduction of the tractor. We’re watching our tractors now drive themselves, our cows be milked by robots and our meat grown in labs. In short, we’re being replaced by robots and artificial intelligence in a very slow, but steady way. If there […] Read more
Social conversation tool shows importance of timely discussions
The tool identified times that the agriculture sector should be more engaged in online conversations
A new study provides further understanding into the tides of public opinion around Canadian food, how it’s grown, and the relationship consumers want with farmers and those that process their food. Public opinion: a study of Canadian conversations online on food and farming led by the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI), uncovered how food, […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
