To the Ag Community: Grow On and Let Your Inner Geek Shine
October 24, 2023 A repeated topic during my summer farm visits was how state and county officials with little to no agricultural background are laying down rules for our industry. Some of the rulings have unintended consequences, all but driving farms out of some counties. More than one grower told me they’re trying to figure out a way to bridge the gap between them and their fellow citizens. They’re realizing we have an image problem, that farmers are seen as applying too many pesticides and fertilizers and hogging more water than they should.
There isn’t any one answer to tackling this complex issue. That means you have a lot choices and there are options that fit your purposes well. Here’s one of them.
Share What You Do
I was staying up far too late watching YouTube videos one night. I have no idea how different videos end up in my feed, but one that began dropping in was of a Scots guy who trims cow hooves. He calls himself the Hoof GP. Most videos zero in on a cow with a foot injury he’s addressing. Sometimes it’s gross (the more goo, the higher the views, for some reason), but he walks through what he’s looking for, his diagnosis, and why he’s doing what he’s doing.
Who would have thought a guy who buffs and shaves cow hooves would end up with almost 2 million subscribers (1.98 million as of this printing)?
Why? I’ve got a few ideas. First, the guy is personable, easygoing, and displays a passion for what he does. That’s always appealing.
But the second part has to do with the geek-level info he shares about his job. I now know what a corium is, how digital dermatitis or white line abscesses can make life miserable for cattle. And it turns out a lot of people I know are following this guy. I guess people like learning about things far outside their experiences.
Someone reading this (or several someones) could create a similar level of interest, I think, with their own videos. Scouting seems like a perfect fit for this type of thing. Walking the field, showing what you find and how you were able to spot it. Then you can talk about what that bug, or disease, or stressor can do to your crop. There are so many issues you address daily that you’d never run out of topics. Any takers?
Oh, One More Thing…
I was curious about the average ages the citizens of ag states. After all, the first step to making a connection with a group is to learn more about them.
Most of you reading this are older than 50 years old. In contrast, the average age of U.S. citizens is 38.2 years old. The average producer is 57.5 years old, according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture Impacts. And that number increased from 56.3 just five years prior.
Here are a few average ages in ag states:
Younger than the National Average
Washington: 37.9 years old on average
California: 37.3
Colorado: 37.3
Georgians: 37.3
Texas: 35.2
Older than the National Average
Even the oldest states (all in the Northeast save for Florida) average 45 years old or younger, more than a decade younger than the average grower).
Florida: 42.7 years old on average
Pennsylvania: 40.9
Michigan: 40.1
Wisconsin: 40.0
Ohio: 39.6
New York: 39.4
North Carolina: 39.2
Arizona: 38.5
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