Morris Area FFA Chapter Agriculture Issues Presentation

Introductions Brooke Anderson Brooke Anderson Jeff Knobloch Jeff Knobloch Lloyd Lesmeister Lloyd Lesmeister Kelly Mahoney Kelly Mahoney Kaitlin Van Horn Kaitlin Van Horn

What is a Social License? A social license is the relationship, based on trust and common values, between consumers and producers that allows a business to operate with the support of its neighbors and community A social license is the relationship, based on trust and common values, between consumers and producers that allows a business to operate with the support of its neighbors and community

Why is it Important? Got Milk? 99% of households purchase milk. Got Milk? 99% of households purchase milk. Businesses must maintain a relationship, through open communication, with the surrounding community in order to continue operating. Failure to do so may result in: Businesses must maintain a relationship, through open communication, with the surrounding community in order to continue operating. Failure to do so may result in: Community distrust Community distrust Interference by special interest groups Interference by special interest groups

Could a Social License… Deter special interest groups Deter special interest groups Ensure a safe food supply Ensure a safe food supply Change consumer perception of agriculture Change consumer perception of agriculture

Who Does it Affect? Agriculture Businesses Non-agriculture Businesses

Why is this an Issue? Since 1910, the percentage of the US population actively involved in farming has decreased from 31% to less than 2% Since 1910, the percentage of the US population actively involved in farming has decreased from 31% to less than 2% Effects of this phenomenon are displayed through: Effects of this phenomenon are displayed through: Emotional decisions, rather than fact-based decisions Emotional decisions, rather than fact-based decisions Regulations on production ag which are often made by people removed from agriculture. Regulations on production ag which are often made by people removed from agriculture.

Why has Consumer Perception Changed? The public senses a change in the way food is produced however, may not understand current practices. The public senses a change in the way food is produced however, may not understand current practices. Lack of understanding creates opportunity for activists and detractors Lack of understanding creates opportunity for activists and detractors

Are there any Risks Involved? ■ Your business becomes vulnerable to criticism from the community. ■ Provides an open invitation for questions from a large variety of interest groups both agricultural and non- agricultural ■ Raising the bar too high, too quickly ■ Affects on other farms and businesses not building their social license. ■ Requires more resources ■ Time ■ Energy ■ Money

Are there any Benefits Involved? Decrease the detachment between consumers and producers Decrease the detachment between consumers and producers Gain more respect and acceptance of your business from your surrounding community Gain more respect and acceptance of your business from your surrounding community Growth Growth

Case Study: Riverview, LLP Dairy management company that oversees: Dairy management company that oversees: Six milking parlors Six milking parlors Five dairy sites, Four heifer sites Five dairy sites, Four heifer sites 30,000 milking cows 30,000 milking cows 10,000+ acres 10,000+ acres

Interview Results Riverview’s Factors Local Economy Animal Welfare Traffic Environmental Odor

■The dairy is very beneficial because it puts more kids in the school districts and gives more jobs to the people ■Helps by buying crops and putting manure back in the land for harvest and reduces fertilizing costs ■Keep local people involved, the more neighbors the better Local Economy scale of being not effective, 10 being beneficial

Animal Welfare scale of being poor, 10 being excellent ■“Sometimes it’s better to put an animal down than to let it suffer. It’s no different than any other animal, they do a good job” ■Very clean and well kept premise

Traffic ■Private roads help, no problem ■Noise and dust.. With communication it will improve scale of being a major problem, 10 being no problem scale of being a major problem, 10 being no problem

Environmental Scale of being poor, ten being excellent ■“They try 110% to do everything correct and be neighbor friendly” ■They follow all the guidelines, the biggest thing is the smell, but they can’t help that

■ “Smells sometimes for brief periods but otherwise they do a really great job” “Hardly ever smell anything” “Hardly ever smell anything” “Don’t notify at all” “Don’t notify at all” The interviewees who rated odor high commented odor issues were occasional The interviewees who rated odor high commented odor issues were occasional Odor scale of being extremely odorous, 10 being no odor

Why Build A Social License? Create an attachment between the agricultural world and the nonagricultural world Create an attachment between the agricultural world and the nonagricultural world Open lines of communication with your neighbors and community to recognize areas of strength and opportunities to improve. Open lines of communication with your neighbors and community to recognize areas of strength and opportunities to improve.

Riverview Factors vs. YOUR factors Riverview's factors were the Local Economy, Animal Welfare, Traffic, Environmental, and Odor. FACTOR CARDS What are YOUR factors? These are for you to keep and consider in your social license.

Who has the first Question? Sources of Information "A History of American Agriculture: Farmers & the Land." Agriculture in the Classroom. Web. 17 Apr "Kid's Corner - Facts About Dairy Products." Animal Improvement Programs : Home. Web. 17 Apr I "Riverview Employees." Interviewee’s Kevin Wulf and Brady Janzen. Neighbor’s of Riverview. "Riverview Neighbor Interview's." Interview.