News

USFRA SMART Farm initiative will explain farm technology

South Dakota hog farmer Brad Greenway is the new chairman of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance.  Greenway tells Brownfield that the alliance has begun the SMART Farm initiative to let consumers know how science and technology are incorporated into sustainable food production.

“Consumers need to understand how we’re using technology on the farm and try to help gain some trust in what we’re doing and relate the technology to what we’re doing on the farms,” said Greenway, in an interview with Brownfield Ag News.

There’ll be several events including a 360-degree video experience promoting SMART Farm to people who normally don’t have access to farms, showing how science is part of food production.

“Using technology to explain to consumers why we’re doing it, how we’re doing it,” said Greenway, “and I think it’s going to resonate with them when they start talking about understanding the technology that farmers are using and doing what’s right for everything we do on the farm.”

Greenway represents the National Pork Board.

Other officers named to the USFRA board are Chip Bowling, National Corn Growers Association, vice chairman; Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare, Illinois Soybean Association, secretary; Scott VanderWal, American Farm Bureau Federation, treasurer; Monty Henderson, US. Poultry & Egg Assoc., at-large; and Michael Parrish, Monsanto, at-large.