Farmers create news from the field

May 16, 2013

Canada, U.S. farmers transform into reporters

Farmers are reporters in their field, literally! It may sound like a strange concept, but farmers have been self-reporting from the field this planting season. Growers from across Canada and the United States have heard the call-to-action and have been brave enough to share their experiences from the field.

Farmers are beginning to speak up and aren’t waiting for others to tell their story for them – they’re becoming their own newsmakers. Last month, Farms.com challenged farmers to engage on Twitter using the hashtag #fromthefield to share their pictures, videos and happenings from the field.

Sharing their perspectives has been the neatest aspect of this initiative. The concept of an office is from the tractor cab, their work days are long, running farm equipment is thrilling, the technology is incredible and they like to listen to music and sports on the radio. One family farm group in Alexander, Iowa has even gone so far as broadcasting from the field, inviting radio stations to discuss planting progress – how cool is that?

It’s hard for me to do justice to their perspective, so I would like to encourage you to get to know these people yourselves and don’t be afraid to ask a question to one of these savvy farmer tweeps.

Tweets about "fromthefield"

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.