Volume 46 Number 4 Winter 1999Volume 46 Number 4 Winter 1999
|
It’s a new year and a new century—the
perfect time to reflect on accomplishments of the past and to
begin thinking about new challenges for the future. Agriculture
has some interesting challenges, but none so difficult that unity
and creative thinking can’t solve them. One of the first challenges we are facing in agriculture is our image—the perception the majority of people have about us. In a series of public forums held this past fall, we heard over and over again, “people take farmers for granted,” “they don’t understand the problems we face.” They are right! Those of us involved on a daily basis in agriculture understand fully the crisis we face, but the majority of people in this state don’t know and many don’t care about agriculture. The College of Agriculture and the Ag Experiment Station have been involved for several years in Ag in the Classroom, a grassroots effort to raise awareness of agriculture, and in Farm City Week. We recently produced a 12-minute video highlighting the impact agriculture has on our individual lives. We hope to show this video in science classes and to civic clubs around the state. Alabama’s agricultural community, from producers to educators, needs to become more involved in recreating a positive image for agriculture and informing the general public about modern agriculture. As this new century begins, I wish each of you a joyous and prosperous new year. |
|
|
|