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News Releases Archive (Prior to 2011)

College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

CFAES

Food Dialogues Reach Farm Science Review Attendees via Satellite and Twitter

September 22, 2011

LONDON, Ohio – Thought leaders in food and agriculture production and policy, wildlife, animal care and the environment came together via satellite and Twitter (#foodd) with farmers and consumers to discuss concerns about water and land availability, energy costs, food prices and transparency.

The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance hosted panel discussions in New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Fair Oaks Farm in Indiana and took questions from live audience participants and those via Twitter from places like the Farm Science Review in London, Ohio.

“There’s a growing willingness by farmers to open up and be more transparent to consumers,” said Bob Stallman, a Texas farmer and rancher and the President of the American Farm Bureau Federation, who sat on the Washington, D.C. panel.

In addition to transparency, panelists participating from the Newseum in Washington D.C. discussed water and land availability and concerns over the rising cost of energy and food prices. Panelists debated whether energy prices cause increases in food prices or vice versa. Attendees at the Farm Science Review in London, Ohio echoed their concerns about energy costs.

“Diesel, fertilizer – all of it is going up except what we sell,” said Ryan Pfeffer, a cow-calf farmer who was visiting the Farm Science Review from Caldwell, Ohio.

This year’s Farm Science Review featured dozens of exhibits focused on alternative energy sources, such as biofuels refining, wind and solar energy and tire pressure monitors designed to improve fuel efficiency.

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Author(s): 
Melanie Wilt