Farmers and agribusiness professionals learned about how they can talk to consumers about farming and food production at the South Dakota Soybean Developing Consumer Trust Workshop in Brookings yesterday. The day was led by Donna Moenning with the Center for Food Integrity. She shared their consumer trust research which shows consumers want healthy and affordable food and 80-percent want to know more about how food is produced. However, she says telling that story can’t just be about the science.

Richard Vasgaard farms near Centerville and regularly engages with consumers as president of Ag United. However, he says the training will change how he answers tough consumer questions on subjects like biotechnology and antibiotic use.

Laurie Johnson and her husband runs cow calf and lamb to finish operation near South Shore. She is very engaged with consumers via social media, but says the workshop will change how she approaches those consumers.

She says for many years’ farmers have been focused on profitability and production and forgot to tell consumers what they do on their farm and why they use certain practices. However, she says it is so important.

The workshop was part of the Hungry for Truth Initiative sponsored by South Dakota soybean producers.