A recent survey asked 353 Iowans questions to identify non-farm consumer attitudes regarding modern farms and food production. Highlights of the survey indicate 46 percent say they are “very knowledgeable” about how their food is produced (6 percent increase), while 49 percent are “somewhat knowledgeable.” This culminates in the highest overall percentage (95 percent combined) in the four-year history of the survey.

Like many small family farms, Meeks Farms and Sons near Evans Mills, New York, is fighting feed prices, larger well-backed competitors, weather and other forces intent on sinking the three-generation farm. The family found reinforcements at the New York Farm Viability Institute.

The euphoria of high cattle prices in 2014 leads, for some cow-calf producers, to uneasiness and indecision in 2015. The question is how to best take advantage of the current market. The answer to that depends on several factors including: The current status of the operation, i.e., is the operation at full capacity or is there room to grow? The producer’s market expectations for the next several years. For older producers: Is there a time frame for retiring or exiting the business?

Most online readers believe that Republican control of the Senate will have little effect on the beef industry.

Cornell University hosted the Agribusiness Economic Outlook Conference in December. Overall, experts expect a good year for the agriculture sector in general, but add that the dairy industry should be wary.

BovControl, an app developed by a company based in San Paulo, Brazil, is designed to connect people and cows. The app has been used to connect producers to their stock, but new developments promise to connect food distributors with the cows as well.

Hannah Thompson Communications Director Animal Agriculture AlliancePikesville, Maryland

Hannah ThompsonCommunications DirectorAnimal Agriculture AlliancePikesville, Maryland