Twitter Party Today from 1 to 2 p.m.

Today (July 14) from 1 to 2 p.m., join the National Young Farmers Coalition for a Twitter party.

Simply go to Twitter and use the hashtag #FarmingIsPublicService.

Enjoy the conversation!!

Social Media is Changing the Holstein World

A great read.

Check it out at http://www.thebullvine.com/dairy-cattle-marketing/social-media-changing-holstein-world/

National Geographic Takes On Animal Abuse on Farms

OK. Another ag issue is heating up Twitter.

Go to Twitter and search for #insidesecretamerica. Seems National Geographic Channel has a show called Inside Secret America and did a piece called "Animal Undercover" which aired Wednesday night and again at midnight Thursday. 

Twitter is lighting up from farmers across the U.S. ripping the show.

Go to http://tvblogs.nationalgeographic.com/2013/07/31/13048/ to read about the National Geographic show. Go to http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/inside-secret-america/video/ to see two videos from the animal show -- one on ag gag laws and one of an undercover investigation.

Here is how the National Geographic website describes the show: "The images are disturbing; animal cruelty and abuse at the hands of food industry workers and research technicians. Van Zeller and Foster first meet with covert animal activists who lead hidden camera exposés that have resulted in increased scrutiny of slaughterhouses, farms and research labs. While activists push for stricter enforcement of animal cruelty laws and increased criminal prosecutions against offenders, industry executives and lawmakers are mounting their own counterattack." 

Here are some tweets about the show:

Tim says: Ok, read some tweets about #InsideSecretAmerica...I can assure you my chickens/animals live a better life than I do. 

Compassion 4 Animals says: I love the farmers who say they are against animal abuse. Do you also say you murder your animals with care? 

Jessica Decker says: Best part of that #insidesecretamerica- all the farmers/ranchers offering to open their doors! Take note America! 

Jenni Tilton-Flood says: The only animal "abused"on our family farm is a Deere.

What do you folks think of all this??

Twitter Still on Fire with Anti-Panera Bread Controversy

OMG! 

Got on Twitter Sunday afternoon after being away for a day and 19 of 50 of the first tweets I see are on the Panera Bread controversy.

Here are some of the tweets:

Ashley Knapton: Anyone else wish they could see the look on the @panerabread's PR's face when they get to work on Monday? #pluckezchicken

Andrew Goodrich: @panerabread 6 am on a Sunday morning and I'm checking withdrawals on fat cattle. Man I feel lazy. #pluckezchicken

Shannon: #PluckEZChicken At the farmers market this morning and those lazy farmers were there and set up by 8am. The nerve!

Dianne Bettin: Panera Bread - don't use fear to sell food! #pluckezchicken

Here is a response from Panera Bread as posted by AgWired:

Go to http://agwired.com/2013/07/26/panera-breads-lazy-response-to-offensive-promotional-campaign/ to check it out. 

And here are some of Panera Bread's tweets:

@VLynnVLV Sorry if you were offended by our EZ Chicken posts, Valerie. We truly appreciate entire farming community & all their hard work.

@MrsZookeeper We never intended to insult anyone with our EZ Chicken posts, especially farmers. We truly appreciate all their hard work.

Go to http://dairycarrie.com/2013/07/23/dear-panera-bread-company/ on Dairy Carrie's blog to see how the whole controversy began.

Read more about the issue by going to Twitter and searching @EZChicken or #pluckEZchicken.

Rants Against Panera Bread Continue on Twitter

Twitter continues with people who are upset with Panera Bread and its recent ad campaign that some believe is anti-farmer and anti-rancher.

Here's some examples:

Ashley Nunnenkamp says @panerabread We deserve a real apology for the offensive #EZChicken campaign. Until then no more panera. #boycott #PluckEZChicken

Ashley also says: @NTVsGrow @panerabread owes lots of hardworking american farmers a HUGE apology! #PluckEZChicken

Marie Bowers says: If @panerabread thinks farmers are lazy. I gladly invite them out to work harvest with me. Already got 74 hours in this week #PluckEZChicken and Did I mention it's been 90 degrees all week @panerabread? 16 hour days are for the lazy farmers....#PluckEZChicken

 Stacy Revels says: Glad to see @panerabread is backtracking on incredibly stupid #EZChicken campaign. Think they saw what happens when you call farmers lazy.

To see more, go to Twitter.com and search #EZChicken or #PluckEZChicken. 

Here is what Panera Bread said to begin this uproar:
http://www.panerabread.com/liveconsciouslyeatdeliciously/#!articles/antibiotic_free_answers