Crop protection chemical makers learn ag education starts at home

Farm and Ranch March 25, 2010 What do the employees of crop protection chemical makers and crop biotech providers think of the industry they work in and its significance to agriculture? CropLife America, the trade organization of the industry, surveyed its member companies and a Bayer CropScience official said the results were shocking.

Bill Buckner is the head of Business Operations in North America for Bayer CropScience and he talked about the survey results at recent Bayer sponsored forum for agricultural reporters.

Buckner: “Twenty-five percent are knowledgeable about discussing pesticides and crop protection products. Half won‘t admit that they work in our industry because they don‘t want to be accosted. That is a crime. That is a real shame because the work we do is so important for mankind. How are we going to feed all these people in the world? That is critical. Seventy-four percent would speak up if given the tools. So we have taken this challenge on within Bayer. We are doing this and we are our asking our people and folks on the commercial side who are typically aggies, get informed and get involved and start spreading this message. In other words, just be an ambassador for agriculture.”

Buckner says they have to tell their employees more. So a t-shirt was created, which on the front says “Ask me why you’re not hungry, naked or itchy.” An accompanying card has talking points about each of those.

I’m Bob Hoff and that’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.