What is an Ag. Issues Platform, Anyway?

Post made by Addie Guthrie, State  Secretary

“I believe in the future of agriculture” The first line of the FFA Creed, memorized and quoted by all FFA members. This quote contains countless meanings, interpreted differently by the minds of many. One thing is certain, however, to believe in the future of agriculture, it is essential that we educate ourselves, and inform others on current trends and issues facing the field of agriculture. By staying up to date, we are not only securing knowledge to benefit ourselves, but also enabling us to share our information with others to create an understanding amongst the agriculturalist, the government representatives, the urbanite, and the youth alike.

This year, your State Officers have taken on a new task: digging deeper into the issues and current information surfacing in the field of agriculture, and forwarding all of our findings on to you! In addition to following our blogs highlighting our travels and events, an Ag Advocacy Blog has been created where we will create and post articles based on interesting topics we research. Our blog has several diverse topics, sure to interest readers of all sorts. You will find articles that fall under topics including Beef Quality Assurance, Global Ag Issues, Environmental Stewardship, Sustainable Agriculture, Crop Sciences, the Timber Industry, Livestock Sciences, the Equine Industry, and the Diary Industry.

Living in a country where only 2% of our population is associated with the agriculture industry, it is essential that we, as agriculturalists, feed not only their bodies, but their minds! We need to be heard and tell our story so that the people of our nation knows where their food is coming from, how it is produced, and how exactly it plays into the roles they play in their daily lives. Our team challenges you, Virginia FFA, to educate yourselves so you can educate others. Follow our Agriculture Issues Blog and even do some research of your own. We challenge you to be heard, tell your story, and advocate for agriculture!

Crop Science: Michael’s Ag. Issues Platform

I chose crop and horticulture sciences for my Ag platform. I chose this topic because its vital that we have a solid crop production to help feed not only us but our livestock as well. I am very passionate about these sciences because I plan on studying them in college. American agriculture has come a long way since the very first tobacco farm in Jamestown. Americans have always put time and research into agriculture because we see the vital necessity of it. Since the Dustbowl, we have had leaps and bounds in crop planting and caring techniques. It is important to stay informed on this issue because it is so important to all of agriculture, and you eat what it produces every day, in some shape or form. If we stay informed with crop and horticulture sciences we are better preparing ourselves for the different career fields we may plan on entering later through life, or even if you plan on not going into agriculture at all, its great to know how your food is raised or even may help you raise some food of your own.

This topic relates to you, the FFA members, because we are the advocates for this industry. Yeah, I know what you are thinking – “We are just high and middle schoolers… what could we do?”  We can do so much ! We are the next generation to take over, and there will always be many issues to tackle. We live in an age of vital importance, the choices that are being made right now will have more of an impact on our lives than we think. The choices in crop planting techniques, the choices in genetics and even the choices by legislature will directly impact our lives when join “the real world.” So stay up to date, if you find something you may think is important read all about it, and  let me know what you find!  Email me at va1vp12@vt.edu!