I've been reading a lot lately about the new generation coming into the world of agriculture. We tend to be more tech savvy, educated, highly motivated, and low in resources. Some new farmers have little or no farm background, but want to make a difference in the way we produce food. We are more open to change, and are optimistic about the adversity we will face. We realize that we have to work with the older generation and with our opponents, bridging the gap to create a system that we all can live with.
Many of the older generation see the recent public interest in food production as a nuisance, a sort of snooping. People want to have an input on things they don't really understand or know about. They are influencing policy, but are not spending the time to do the research. There are some farmers who just want to turn their heads the other way and keep working the land, raising the animals the same way they have done for a number of years.
We don't have that option any more, and we don't need it. As an industry, we are lucky to have direct consumer feedback. We provide a product, and people are looking for service. They want to have input towards the process. Any business manager wants to know that their product is satisfying the consumer needs, finding the areas where they could make improvement. We need to take the feedback and run with it. Even though many are resistant, we can produce food however people want us to, but they have to realize that their is a cost. That's why most farmers are afraid to make the jump to meet consumer demands. For any young farmers willing to make changes, it will take small steps and steady work the ultimate goals of supporting family, while meeting consumer expectations.
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