consumer

Dr. Steve Meyer, Paragon Economics, provided an update on the state of the meat and poultry markets. His main take away is that the demand continued to struggle late 2011.

The bad news is that these "annual" numbers for 2011 have been getting worse and worse as the year has progressed.

Steve reminds us that the indexes only describe how demand is changing, not why a change is occurring. He believes consumer incomes and spending was the major negative force in the domestic market in 2011.

Charts below from Paragon Economics, using USDA data.

Temple Grandin's presentation to producers highlights that the agriculture industry needs to communicate with the public directly and openly. Here are some snippets of her talk:

"What people are imagining is happening inside the [animal] sheds is way worse than is what is actually happening" The ag industry must show what is happening on farms. Get a video camera in barns, cameras are cheap.

Ted McKinney, Senior Director of Global Affairs, Elanco Animal Health, presents an approach to help extend the conversation about global food production and the acceptance of global agriculture. Details also outlined in Making safe, affordable and abundant food a global reality whitepaper.

David Schmidt, President & CEO, International Food Information Council shares the issues and the concerns consumers have with the term "processed food". From the 2011 Annual Conference of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture, April 11 - 14, San Antonio, TX USA.

Clint Hickman, VP of Sales & Marketing, Hickman's Family Farms, provides a poultry producer perspective on the issues in the industry and how to tackle them head on, not by running and hiding but by being open, proactive, and engaging. From the 2011 Annual Conference of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture, April 11 - 14, San Antonio, TX USA.

Whole Foods highlights through a 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating system how animals are raised before being purchased by consumers. Global Animal Partnership (GAP), developers of Whole Foods' rating system, seeks to achieve higher welfare for farm animals by building partnerships, working in collaboration with farmers, ranchers, food retail, and animal science experts.

Whole Foods Market harbors the same hopes for its chickens that many parents do for their kids: That they'll get plenty of fresh air, live at home until they reach maturity and avoid gaining weight so fast that they can't walk.

While Whole Foods Market was the driving force behind developing the standards, GAP Executive Director Miyun Park believes they will move well beyond the chain, spurring "massive improvements in the way animals are raised in this country."

The 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating is available for beef cattle, pigs, and broiler chickens.