UN declares 2014 International Year of Family Farming

Apr 03, 2013

United Nations gives a boost to family farms

With 98% of Canada’s farms being family-owned, the announcement made by the United Nations to declare 2014 the International Year of Family Farming should be a very welcoming gesture. The term “family farmers” is defined as agricultural producers who make the majority of their living by farming. It’s believed that family farmers play a pivotal role in enhancing food security. The World Bank estimates that a 1% increase in GDP in agriculture sector will be twice as effective in alleviating poverty compared to any other sector. The UN declaration aims to focus on policies for sustainable development of agricultural systems.

The UN notes that there have been too many years of lack of interest towards agriculture, which has led to a number of issues that face the sector today – the disappearance of many family farms, population migration to the cities and less than thorough government support. “The time has come to re-launch farming, and the international Community should not squander the opportunity,” says Jacques Diouf, the General Director of (FAO).

Organizations and individuals are who are interested in getting involved with the campaign can sign a declaration which can be found on the website. Further information about the Family Farming campaign can be found at: http://www.familyfarmingcampaign.net

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.