Social media program informs beef producers of activist threats to agriculture
Columbia, Mo. -- The Missouri Beef Industry Council has launched a social media Web program called "Farmer Freedom" to keep Missouri's 60,000 beef producers informed about activist attacks on agriculture and equip them to become "pro-activists."
The program, located at www.farmerfreedom.com, was launched to protect farmer freedom to operate and help ensure grocery shoppers enjoy a continued supply of low-cost, nutritious food, according to Executive Director John Kleiboeker.
"The farm families of Missouri deliver a low-cost supply of abundant, safe and nutritious food, but the future of that food is threatened by an increasing amount of extreme activism," Kleiboeker says. "Many environmentalist or green organizations fight for the same goals we producers do, and we work in partnership with those groups. However, Missouri farmers are seeing an increased number of groups that threaten to take over on-farm decisions, increase food costs and even decide what people should eat."
Internet and big-city media are increasingly churning out stories planted by activist groups that spread myths about farming, question food safety, claim cow burps are melting ice caps or even claim that eating beef is immoral, Kleiboeker says. "Most farmers are too busy caring for their cattle and tending their crops to keep tabs on these threats, so we've decided to help them stay informed with farmerfreedom.com."
The Web site includes regular blog posts about activist activities, and an e-newsletter to provide frequent updates, Kleiboeker says. In phase two, farmerfreedom.com will give producers the same tools that activists use, he adds. "We have a positive story to tell about Missouri agriculture that will balance out the misinformation some groups are spreading to raise funds and trick consumers into attacking farm families. Activism is big business; and we want to make sure producers know what they are up against so we can respond and be proactive with balanced information about on-farm decisions and America's food choices."
The Farmer Freedom program was developed by Blue Spring Communications, a St. Louis company specializing in environmental and marketing communications for agricultural and energy businesses.
For more information about the program contact John Kleiboeker at 573-817-0899 or John Osthus, Blue Spring Communications, at 636-825-7656.
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