In the October 25, 2009 issue of Hoard’s Dairyman, an article entitled “Every Dairy Must be a Shining Example” by Kirk Sattazahn caught my eye. As I read the article, I thought about how it applied to our dairy operation.

One quotation in particular made me sit up and take notice “Having a well-managed, sanitary dairy with well cared for animals is no longer the way to get ahead in the industry; it is the ticket that allows you to be in the industry.”

Wow, the more I thought about that, the more I realized how much truth there is to that concept. As an industry, we are starting to come under intense focus by the consumer, and groups who do not want us in business.

Like with anything else in agriculture we are only as strong as our weakest link. Every dairy, no matter its size, has its place. However, there can be no room for the dairies that do not have acceptable animal husbandry and environmental practices.

I believe this concept not only applies to dairy, but to all aspects of agriculture. What can you do to improve your farm or ranch best management practices? This is a question I constantly ask myself, especially after a new anti-agriculture video or article is released.

We need to unite to give consumers a clear message and tell them our stories. One of the strengths of the activist groups is their strong, clear, emotional message. We need to tell our story! We need to unite our voices, and do the same thing.

Last week I had the opportunity to see some of New York’s finest battle it out in front of the judges. Young Farmers from across the state came together for the state semi finals of the Discussion Meet to see who would surface as this year’s top four finalists. For those not familiar with the Young Farmer and Rancher contests, this is a great way for our members to show off their speaking skills, and test their knowledge of pressing issues that affect the agricultural industry.

As I watched the contestants go head to head, I was impressed by the professionalism and confidence that each participant brought to the table. However, some were more prepared and better trained to face their opponents and block any jabs that came in their direction. Others, unfortunately, found themselves up against the ropes and struggling to find the right words to keep the discussion moving forward.

After the first round, the contestants went to their corners to strategize how they could go the distance. They knew they would have to stay on their toes and be ready to stick and move when the timing was right. Contestants anticipated the moves of their opponents and the discussion moved swiftly. Topics such as immigration reform, food safety, environmental regulations, and the public’s perception of American agriculture all made their way to the table.

By the final round of verbal sparring everyone was mentally exhausted. In some cases the 15 minute bell couldn’t come soon enough. Those who weren’t as prepared didn’t even know what hit them, but fortunately no one ended up throwing in the towel. Meanwhile the more experienced and seasoned contestants looked onward with the hopes of taking home the purse.

After going to the scorecards the judges came to a majority decision on the four finalists that would journey to the state finals this December in Rochester, NY.

This is obviously an exciting time as hundreds of young farmers and ranchers across the nation are preparing to participate in this year’s state leadership competitions including the Discussion Meet, Excellence in Agriculture Award and the Achievement Award. Congratulations to all those who are advancing to the next round, and thank you to those who were brave enough to step into the ring.

I recently read the following tweet on Twitter, “It makes me sad when farmers attack other farmers because of different production methods. Come on people we are in this together!!!” I couldn’t agree more. There is room for all sizes and types of agriculture. Production methods may vary, but all farmers have the same goal and that is producing the best product they can.

This afternoon I purchased some corn fed beef at the grocery story. Why? Because my family raises corn-fed beef. Despite my preferences, there are other folks out there who may prefer grass-fed beef. I have many friends who raise grass-fed beef, and I’m glad that there are folks out there who want to buy their product. So it is truly sad when one kind of farming attacks the other. I realize we are all trying to promote the products we grow; however, there are positive ways to do that without attacking the other’s production methods.

With the world’s population expected to exceed 8 billion by the year 2025 all types, sizes, and production methods of agriculture will be necessary. To face the challenges that lie ahead we must stand untied, for as the saying goes, “United we stand, divided we fall.”

A recent article in the New York Times, "Farm Bureau Aims to Kill Climate Bill," takes issue with the Farm Bureau for opposing “Cap and Trade” legislation with the “Don’t CAP Our Future!” campaign. The comments posted online for this article claim that Farm Bureau is out of touch with the family farms and only concerned about large “factory farms.” I was surprised to see how many comments had been posted and that most of them were very negative towards Farm Bureau and agriculture in general. Where are the farmers and ranchers telling our story? There were a few very good comments, but not nearly enough. The following is the response that I posted. My thanks to Chris Chinn for alerting me to the article through Facebook (I don’t usually read the New York Times).

Cap and trade will harm all farms, not just the so called "factory farms." As the owner of a small family dairy farm I understand that the current cap and trade legislation would most likely force my family out of business. If we run farms out of the U.S., the millions of people who depend on American farmers for food, will be forced to get food grown in other countries, countries that do not meet the rigorous environmental standards we as American farmers meet. The end result will be to increase, not decrease the "carbon footprint" of the food we eat.

I applaud the Farm Bureau for standing up and fighting for all U.S. farms. Cap and trade is not only bad for farmers, it is bad for our environment and bad for America.

This week "CSI: Miami" falsely portrayed agriculture to millions of viewers, implying farmers and food-industry professionals don’t care about the health or even the survival of consumers. As Tim Burrack, a farmer from Iowa, put it in a recent blog post, "It was malicious propaganda based on distortions and lies about the common practices of modern agriculture. Call it “un-reality TV.”

More and more we see the media portraying agriculture in a negative light. Tim's comment about 'un-reality TV' really stuck with me. Reality TV has become overwhelmingly popular in the last few years. You can find a reality show about anything you want, from college life to family life, from being a survivor or being the biggest loser, but I don’t recall seeing one about farm life.

Why isn't there a "Reality Farming" show? There’s plenty of excitement on a farm or ranch, and each day is always different. A reality farming show would allow our consumers to see first-hand what we do on a daily basis to protect our food supply, livestock and environment. And it would definitely be entertaining. Don’t believe me? Watch a husband and wife sort hogs, or work cattle. Or better yet, follow the blood-soaked farmer to the emergency room after he is knocked down by a cow. Now there is some real life drama! If you prefer looking at metal, there are plenty of tractors, combines and equipment that needs worked on; some days you even have to dig them out of a muddy field! If you prefer drama in your reality TV, there is never a dull moment when you work side by side with your family trying to beat the weather to plant or harvest a crop! And last but not least, there are numerous lessons to be learned from being on a farm or ranch.

Instead of watching "un-reality TV," or CSI: Miami, I'm ready to watch Reality Farming! I wonder which network will make my dream come true?