What It Means To Be A Supportive Change Agent
It’s not hyperbole to say that there is more attention on agriculture, and what it means in practice to be sustainable or regenerative, than there has been in human history. With companies like Walmart, General Mills, Cargill, The Fertilizer Institute, IndigoAg, and so many more rolling out iterations of “acres converted to sustainable ag practices” […]
Farm Journal Names Jimmy Emmons Senior Vice President of Climate-Smart Programs
Lenexa, Kan., (Feb. 22, 2023) – Farm Journal’s Trust In Food™ is proud to welcome Jimmy Emmons as senior vice president of climate-smart programs. Emmons will lead Trust In Food’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Connected Ag Project, America’s Conservation Ag Movement and Trust In Beef, coalition-driven conservation programs developed to accelerate the adoption of conservation […]
The Movement Starts With “Farming Weird” And Is Accelerated By Our Community
Most columns published in early January will contain a list of resolutions or outlooks for the New Year, but not this one. Not because I don’t have lists and hopes for 2022, quite the contrary. Instead, I’d like to spotlight, thanks in part due to some great threads on social media, the role of community […]
Key Takeaways From The 2021 Sustainable Ag Summit
My second business trip as director of America’s Conservation Ag Movement (ACAM) took me 1,500 miles from the mostly harvested corn and soybean fields of southeastern Iowa to the annual Sustainable Ag Summit and Dairy Sustainability Alliance fall meetings in Las Vegas. I was excited about the opportunity to renew old acquaintances, discover new partnerships […]
Thank A Farmer, Today And Every Day
I’m sure I’m not the only one eagerly awaiting the Thanksgiving holiday this week. It is my very favorite. In fact, it’s my version of heaven: the daylong cooking, the delicious food, the surrounding company of loved ones and pie. I often think about the bounty of food I can access, not only for this […]
Tapping the Trusted Adviser Network
It has been a busy month of conferences and presentations in the world of sustainable agriculture. Last week, I had the privilege to present – in person! – at the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers meeting. In October, I was with the Ag Retailers Association talking with their members about what Farm […]
Not Acres, But People
Regenerative ag targets aren’t about changing acres – they are about changing people. It is no secret that our world faces an immense crisis surrounding climate change and the degradation of natural resources. Realizing the potential positive impact that their supply chains can have, major companies are making headlines by announcing “regenerative ag” commitments with […]
Change Is Human
We must prioritize the humanity of farmers in our change programming. Before they put their dirty boots on in the morning, farmers and ranchers are humans first. If we want to empower our nation’s agricultural system to be more regenerative, sustainable, equitable and inclusive — then we are talking about empowering them to do so. We […]
The Importance of Communicating Your Sustainability Story
During Farm Journal’s 2021 Sustainable Produce Summit that took place earlier this month, a key theme of effectively communicating sustainable food and agriculture stories to consumers came through again and again. As specialty crop growers and food retailers make changes to meet both environmental needs and consumer requests, there have been hits and misses in […]
How Sustainable Agriculture Benefits From A Swiss Army Knife Approach
It’s strange to say that sustainability can be a controversial topic. There are so many potential holes to fall in when discussing what sustainable agriculture means in practical terms. The fact of the matter is that while there are generally agreed upon best practices, there really is no single definition. Each week, Trust In Food™ […]