Selling AG

Selling AG One listener recently e-mailed me his opinion that in order for agriculture to connect with today's younger generation it needs to be repackaged. In essence, to attract bright young minds one must speak their language. In light of the fact that land grant universities are experiencing declining enrollment in the school of agriculture, this fellow could have a valid point. He credits the success of the environmental movement with their ability to connect with an audience by "creative rephrasing." To be politically correct, in environmental lingo, swamps became wetlands and weeds 'native grasses". Being in the business of fertilizer this listener shares his frustration with "public perception" by reminding me that through the early 1900's and great depression era agricultural chemicals were considered to be miracles. When he is introduced to people, he simply rephrases his vocation from the fertilizer industry to the industry that enables plants to flourish, and says if you really want to "wow em" , throw in word 'sustainable". Whatever works! I'm Susan Allen and this is Food Forethought