I get asked a lot why I blog and do I know who follows me
Why I blog varies from blog to blog and why people are interested in what I say I imagine is just as diverse
I blog when I feel some-one or something has been wronged, I blog when I feel proud of something or some-one, I blog for all the people out their striving to see the bright light in a sea of darkness, I blog for the people who share my vision and look to me to amplify it.
And I blog for history as my blogs are being recorded in the National Archives
My most popular blogs are
Barnaby Joyce has jumped off the cliff of no return
Coles it’s tough being the villain in the story
10 Reasons why the world should buy Australian produce
My blog started as an experiment. I wanted to know how much time and expertise it took to blog after finding myself at a meeting of agriculture’s Research and Development Corporations senior people.
In late 2011 there was close to 50 people sitting around the room at a presentation being given by Charlie Arnot from the Centre for Integrity There was a consensus in the room that the voices of our farmers should be amplified and a number of people suggested that farmers should start writing blogs. My mouth just dropped open and I just couldn’t help myself and in my blunt manner I said.
Okay if farmers are going to find the time to do this who in the room is going to support them? Just to start with you need a blogging platform and considerable amount of expertise to navigate that blogging platform.
I got a sea of Julie Bishop death stares, so I taught myself to blog.
One of the things that I blog about a lot is the need for building the capacity of our farmers to operate their businesses in a manner that will allow them to consistently and profitably meet or exceed community expectations. I will go so far as to say the fact that to date we haven’t built that capacity is the biggest threat to our food security in this country. And it is under threat. For the first time ever there is the reality we will be importing milk into this country
After 15 years of lobbying for the programs and support networks to build this capacity in our farmers I spend far too much time reminding myself of the few wins and tapping into my support network that helps me get out of bed in the morning.
Some questions we can ask ourselves
What does the community expect from our farmers beyond safe, affordable nutritious food and quality natural fibres?
How do we ensure our farmers have the capacity to meet or exceed community expectations?
Where are the gaps in our training programs?
What support networks do our farmers need?
Having worked outside agriculture for 25 years I know how other industries meet or exceed consumer expectations. It can be done. It starts with a willingness to acknowledge why its important.
83% Of Consumers Rate Transparency & Ethical Behaviour As Greatest Trust Builders
