Are You a Farmer, Producer or Agribusiness?

[shaney]

This week I was scouring the internet looking for stories and I stumbled across a report from SteinbachOnline about what we call people in agriculture. At the Canadian Young Farmers Forum in Winnipeg earlier this month David Herle a pollster with the Gandalf Group told the group of young farmers that the industry should do away with terms producer, grower and especially agri-business. Herle's reason for this is that he feels consumers trust farmers and not businesses.

[URL="http://www.realagriculture.com"]Check out more at RealAgriculture.com[/URL]

In my opinion this is ridiculous. Why should we be ashamed that we run businesses. Whether you have a small farm or large farm with twenty employes you are running an agri-business. There is nothing wrong with the word farmer but avoiding producer and agri-buiness makes no sense to me.

<a href="http://www.steinbachonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&amp ;amp;id=21403&Itemid=239" target="_blank">See the Steinbach Online Story</a>

I thought I would call my media friend Lyndsey Smith (Editor of Grainews) to talk about David Herle's comments. If you cannot see the video of <strong>Lyndsey Smith and Shaun Haney discussing the use of farmer, producer and agribusiness and how these words impact consumers</strong> ,<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUMG7detiF8"> Click Here</a>

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Farmers are producers. We grow crops and raise livestock that supply the world with food. I think this whole issue is like trying to distinguish between an oilman and oil tycoon. Lets be proud of our industry and what we do. The farmer has evolved overtime from the son that couldn't get a real job to one of sophistication and complexity . For someone that runs a farm, being the farmer is just one of the roles that they must execute. Being a farmer means you are the agronomist, hedger, marketer, HR manager, CEO and others. Hmmmmm???? That sounds like a business to me. The consumer is smart and doesn't require us to dumb things down for them all the time.

Its time that the industry quits selling itself short and starts being proud of what it is. We are farmers, producers and agri-business people. Get it straight David Herle and others.

[Happytrails]

Hey Shaun and Lindsay. Thanks for doing the good work in making broader society aware that their food comes from farms. Regarding what to call farmers and ranchers I have one comment. Somewhere I stumbled upon the biological definition of "producer" which was something like "a supplier of nutrients to higher life forms." I realize that is a very specialized use of the term producer but it kind of makes it hard for me to want that label. HT

[Wheatking]

Lets argue over semantics some more, what a waste of time. Sounds like something someone from MNP would give a talk about for an afternoon without ever saying anything. At least this was only 8 minutes.

[shaney]

WK, The problem is that this is not semantics. It is about shaping the vision and picture of agriculture. This may seem very far from the farm but its incredibly important when we talk about the value chain and how the consumer views agriculture.

[riders2010]

Ain't it so Wheatking! We are all of those plus mechanic, family psychologist, welder, recreation director, fight negotiator (some times just fighter), neighbor, community people, child raisers, LEAF FANS (how the hell are they 4 points out of playoffs?) etc. etc. etc. The nerds want to convince everyone that it is all about them being so smart thus justifying their need, why don't they talk about how crop insurance is a flop agrivation is a flop for those that need it most, how about the corporate takeover government sponsored that is occurring, eliminating family farms, I am sure there are numbers there to use, you know like no young farmers, no agricultural national plan etc.

[farmaholic]

WOW, splitting hairs, had to quit watching 3 minutes into it. The only thing that matters is when the pangs of hunger override how the "consumer" views(thinks and feels about) the business and people providing them with their food. If and when that happens it won't matter what they call us. Sincerely, "Sir"

[grassfarmer]

So when you were scouring the internet shaney did you happen to find the information I asked you to provide to substantiate your claims made in the commodity trader thread? I'm all ears.

[hobbyfrmr]

I am one of those greedy farmers, looking to make profits in order to advance my business and personal agenda. I happend to grow the base product for food production. People really dont like to hear that. The most interesting insight to all this disregard for our occupation is, that, when consumers use our products, they get to eat....and live...kind of a nice tradeoff.

[JohnGalt]

I am involved in Agribusiness. That is what 90% of any agriculture related publication tells me. I deal with finance, marketing, chemistry, weather forecasting on a daily basis. (just like 95% of the people that will read this post).

I deal with numbers that would make the average non-agribusiness person cringe. (once again like the 95%)

Why should I retain the title of "farmer" just to make some schmuck in the city feel better about the cheap food that they are purchasing. They think that corn comes from cans and milk magically appears in plastic jugs.

Maybe if they took the time to figure out my business model, they would realize that the term farmer is old.

[wd9]

When you go to Ottawa and you are making your case in front of MP's you are a farmer. When crop life wants something for themselves and need some credibility they will use the term farmer in lobbying. When there are the naval gazing conferences happening and the presentations that don't really matter much or the presenter doesn't really know what a farm is, or like most 'producer organizations' the term producer is used. When a money guy who could not tell kernel of grain from a kernel of "poh' tash" as Jim Cramer used to say, then the term agribusiness seems to fit just fine.

As for me, i am a farmer. Everybody knows what one does and is one of the top three respected professions along with fireman and nurse. The term producer confuses an already confused, tweeting, texting, fbooking, flicking, BBmessing, educated by you tube dumb ass videos public. They know what a farmer is so shut the f*&k up with the term producer.

Paid for by farmers for the campaign to stop consumer confusion in agriculture.

[hobbyfrmr]

wd9, what country do you live in? Ever since I was a child, of a farmer, in my area there has never been the regard as you describe, let alone top 3 repsected professions. I have only been regarded as working 6 months of the year, and a burden on taxpayers, living off the government's sugar teat.

[checking]

hobbyfrmr. (laugh if you wish, but)

There are two types of people in the world. There are the farmers, and the rest who live off the farmers.

Secondly, farmers are the only ones who are outstanding in their field.

If you are as you think urbanites describe you, then own up to it.