Emotion with a Science Foundation

We've noticed a disturbing trend in the escalating number and intensity of attacks against agriculture. While we have grown accustomed to the normal attacks in public media over the past few years, in the last six months the rhetoric has escalated to include pieces in Time, Newsweek, CNN, New York Times, Washington Post and even "Larry King Live." Books attacking ag are more and more popular as well.

Often the response to such attacks is with the cornucopia of research at our disposal. This worked well until activists got their own scientific, peer-reviewed literature. Now the science debate is at a virtual standstill. Unfortunately, the activists have achieved the next foothold by expertly using emotion to carry the day.

Ag must do a better job of communicating with passion and emotion. Feeding the world's families is an important and entirely ethical endeavor. And America's farmers -- with the few bad actors excluded -- do their job each day by improving animal well-being, enhancing the environment and creating a sustainable food supply.