agriculture groups can find voice in social media
DESCRIPTION
Presentation introducing audience to how some groups are using advocacy to reach and target large audiences.TRANSCRIPT
Know how. Know now.
Agriculture Groups Can Find Voice in Social Media
Dennis KahlDennis Kahl
UNL Extension EducatorUNL Extension Educator
[email protected]@unl.edu
Nebraska AgRelations CouncilAg at the Crossroads Conference 2009
University of NebraskaUniversity of Nebraska––LincolnLincoln
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University of NebraskaUniversity of Nebraska––LincolnLincoln
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Did You Know 4.0AAbove link takes you to a 3 minute video sharing
new trends in social media.
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Why Should Ag Organizations be a part of Social Media? Relationships – Putting a face on the farmer and Relationships – Putting a face on the farmer and
making them human.making them human. If we don’t tell our story, it’s told for us, minus some If we don’t tell our story, it’s told for us, minus some
facts.facts. Allows ag to reach audiences away from the farmAllows ag to reach audiences away from the farm Unites ag-related groups and leverages the playing Unites ag-related groups and leverages the playing
field.field. Great way to spread info to other ag groups in a Great way to spread info to other ag groups in a
quick manner.quick manner. Great way to tell our story to non-ag audiences.Great way to tell our story to non-ag audiences.
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Ag Facts American farmers average age is 57.1 years.American farmers average age is 57.1 years. Social media is still thought of as the domain of Social media is still thought of as the domain of
young people but it isn’t!young people but it isn’t! Fastest growing age groups on Facebook are 35-Fastest growing age groups on Facebook are 35-
54 year-olds and those 55 and above.54 year-olds and those 55 and above. Advocacy groups are thinking about how they can Advocacy groups are thinking about how they can
use social technology and social media to engage use social technology and social media to engage people who are passionate about their causes.people who are passionate about their causes.
Our audience is there and more will be soon.Our audience is there and more will be soon.
Source: Emily Vaughan – National Journal – 10-19-09
Nextgov
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How Social Media Might Be Used
Ohio Farm Bureau Federation – – Founded in 1919, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation works to create a Founded in 1919, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation works to create a
partnership between farmers and consumers that meets consumer partnership between farmers and consumers that meets consumer needs and ensures agricultural prosperity in a global marketplace.needs and ensures agricultural prosperity in a global marketplace.
Created tutorials on how to use Facebook, Twitter Created tutorials on how to use Facebook, Twitter and YouTubeand YouTube
Controversial proposed amendment to Ohio state Controversial proposed amendment to Ohio state constitution creating a board with power to constitution creating a board with power to regulate animal care of livestock.regulate animal care of livestock.
University of NebraskaUniversity of Nebraska––LincolnLincoln
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Example
Use
by
Ohio
Farm
Bureau
Federation:
Creating
a
board
with
power to regulate
ani
mal
care
of livestock.
Ballot favored by farmersBallot favored by farmers Safeguard against tougher animal care Safeguard against tougher animal care
regulations proposed by organizations like the regulations proposed by organizations like the Humane Society.Humane Society.
Members have become very active by posting Members have become very active by posting pictures of ‘Vote Yes for Issue 2’ signs.pictures of ‘Vote Yes for Issue 2’ signs.
Videos of ads and announcements of upcoming Videos of ads and announcements of upcoming rallies were posted on the wall.rallies were posted on the wall.
Encouraged people to post their own photos from Encouraged people to post their own photos from rallies.rallies.
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Result:
It is this kind of direct contact with supporters that It is this kind of direct contact with supporters that makes social media an important and effective makes social media an important and effective organizing tool.organizing tool.
"We can write letters to the editor until we're blue in "We can write letters to the editor until we're blue in the face," said Tracy Grondine, director of media the face," said Tracy Grondine, director of media relations at the American Farm Bureau.relations at the American Farm Bureau.
"But it's a lot more efficient and effective to post "But it's a lot more efficient and effective to post directly on someone's site."directly on someone's site."
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Ag Groups are Getting the Message
A-FAN - the Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in the Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in
Nebraska—is helping Nebraska farmers and Nebraska—is helping Nebraska farmers and ranchers protect and preserve the quality of life in ranchers protect and preserve the quality of life in rural communities through the development of rural communities through the development of responsible livestock production.responsible livestock production.
American Farm Bureau Federation - AFBF is the nation's largest general farm AFBF is the nation's largest general farm
organization and has been recognized as the organization and has been recognized as the most effective advocate for America's farm and most effective advocate for America's farm and ranch families.ranch families.
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Advocacy Groups on Facebook
Advocates for Agriculture – Agriculture works with producers and shares the Agriculture works with producers and shares the
importance of telling the story of production importance of telling the story of production agriculture to our consumers.agriculture to our consumers.
CropLife Ambassador Network – To provide scientifically based, accurate To provide scientifically based, accurate
information to the public regarding the safety and information to the public regarding the safety and value of American agricultural food production.value of American agricultural food production.
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Ag Groups are Getting the Message
Center for Rural Affairs – Establish strong rural communities, social and Establish strong rural communities, social and
economic justice, environmental stewardship, and economic justice, environmental stewardship, and genuine opportunity for all while engaging people genuine opportunity for all while engaging people in decisions that affect the quality of their lives in decisions that affect the quality of their lives and the future of their communities. and the future of their communities.
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Advocacy Groups on Facebook Farm Aide ––
““We all see what's happening with agriculture, We all see what's happening with agriculture, what's happening to our small towns. They are what's happening to our small towns. They are going out of business. That's a direct result of the going out of business. That's a direct result of the farm problem. We're still doing Farm Aid because farm problem. We're still doing Farm Aid because it is contributing. It's doing a job.” – John it is contributing. It's doing a job.” – John MellencampMellencamp
Organic Consumer Association –– Causes strives to empower people from all walks Causes strives to empower people from all walks
of life to have a positive impact on the world in of life to have a positive impact on the world in which they live.which they live.
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Ag Businesses/Organizations on TWITTER MonsantoCoMonsantoCo PioneerHiBreds -PioneerHiBreds - NEFarmBureau – NEFarmBureau – USDAgov -USDAgov -
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Consider This….
On
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Questions We Need to Answer in Order to Share the Positive Ag Story
What should I know that I don’t?What should I know that I don’t? What do I think I know, that is just plain wrong?What do I think I know, that is just plain wrong? What should I be reading?What should I be reading? Who should I rely on for good, unbiased, Who should I rely on for good, unbiased,
information?information?
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You may access this presentation at
http://slideshare.nethttp://slideshare.net
Search for ‘NE Ag at Crossroads’Search for ‘NE Ag at Crossroads’
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Visit the UNL BIT Mobile at 3:30
Mobile computer lab Mobile computer lab UNL Extension UNL Extension teaches teaches entreprenuerial entreprenuerial technology classes technology classes in across NEin across NE
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Questions?
Can Agricultural Groups Find Voice in Social Media? Can Agricultural Groups Find Voice in Social Media?
Dennis KahlDennis Kahl
UNL ExtensionUNL Extension
[email protected]@unl.edu
THANK YOU ! !
Nebraska AgRelations CouncilAg at the Crossroads Conference 2009
University of NebraskaUniversity of Nebraska––LincolnLincoln
Know how. Know now.
Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraskaand Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska––Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture.States Department of Agriculture.
University of NebraskaUniversity of Nebraska––Lincoln Extension educational Lincoln Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraskathe University of Nebraska––Lincoln and the United Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.States Department of Agriculture.