“I think to some extent we don't give grocery shoppers enough credit for what they can handle. There's always been a wall, like we want to give them information but not too much because we don't want to scare them off…but I feel like if grocery shoppers can see how we truly do care and we are doing what we need to do, even if that means expensive medical treatment to save an animal and a calf, that's the right thing to do.” - Brandi Buzzard Frobose

Consumers are three to four generations removed from the farm and want more information about how their food is grown and raised. Farmers and ranchers are feeling the pressure of a changing dynamic and perceptions of the food chain. 

“If every single farmer and rancher shared their story online, I don't think there would be enough of us sharing. Every single farmer rancher out there is going to reach somebody different and that's why it's so important to have so many of us sharing our message is because we're going to connect and relate with people differently.” - Tara Vander Dussen

This Week’s Podcast:

• Meet Tara Vander Dussen an environmental scientist, dairy farmer and online influencer and and Brandi Buzzard Frobose a rancher, mom and author of a blog, Buzzard’s Beat
• Discover the benefits in “sharing your story” in agriculture and the trust that action can foster in consumers
• Explore the common misconceptions around “factory farming” and how this ambiguous term has created a stigma around larger operations in the minds of grocery shoppers

Click the SpeakPipe link and let us know what your questions are! We will try to answer as many of them as we can on podcasts throughout the year. 

Last year, a research study explored consumer desire for transparency in animal protein. In the survey, two-thirds of consumers reported transparency in animal protein is extremely or very important. Participants shared that food safety and nutrition for “me and my family” are the main motivators for this interest.  And yet, only 35 percent of consumers surveyed feel that the animal protein industry is transparent about sustainability or animal care/treatment. That’s a gap we can help fill. 

“We're really steadfast in reassuring that the food in the United States is the safest on the planet, that those who are in food production have made leaps and bounds in sustainability, that the diversity of today's food system empowers consumers to make the choice that is absolutely best for them... And then finally, it's important that we let them know that we're constantly innovating and leveraging technology to improve all aspects of food.” - Roxi Beck

In this episode, Jane Dukes, Associate Director of Value Chain & Consumers Affairs, speaks with Roxi Beck, director of consumer engagement at the Center for Food Integrity, and Tim Hammerich, senior director of communications at Cogent Consulting.

“I think farmers my age, as they're playing more leadership roles on the farm, are more interested in embracing technology and are more sustainability-conscious. And because of that, I think we will start to see more data available to tell the story of what's actually happening from farm to fork.” - Tim Hammerich

This Week’s Podcast:

• Meet Roxi Beck, director of consumer engagement at the Center for Food Integrity and Tim Hammerich, senior director of communications at Cogent Consulting
• Discuss and understand what consumers mean by saying they prefer transparency in their food chain and where they find this value in the products they buy
• Explore the shared value strategy in communication with consumers to show that you support what matters most to them

Click the SpeakPipe link and let us know what your questions are! We will try to answer as many of them as we can on podcasts throughout the year. 

“When I think of transparency and when I think of how consumers are dealing with it in our survey, I think about trust…… Do I trust you to be capable of delivering on your promises? But there's also intent, and that's more like consumer thinking. Do I trust that you have my best interest in mind? Are you trying to hide something? Transparency is very related to that latter one, intent. So if a company's willing to be transparent, to share information with me as a consumer, I'm more likely to trust its intent is aligned with my interest.” - Justin Cook

In this episode, Jane Dukes, Associate Director of Value Chain & Consumers Affairs, speaks with Justin Cook the US Consumer Products Research Leader at  Deloitte Services, and Maggie O’Quinn the New Business Development Manager at Midan Marketing. 

“I think it's so important to start with the fact that consumers do trust farmers and ranchers. A recent Gallup poll said that 59% of consumers trust farmers and ranchers. So I think that's a really good springboard and good place to start, but what we've uncovered in our recent research is that second to quality, the number one thing that consumers are looking for right now is that they're curious to understand how the animals were cared for.” - Maggie O’Quinn

This Week’s Podcast:

• Meet Justin Cook the US Consumer Products Research Leader at  Deloitte Services, and Maggie O’Quinn the New Business Development Manager at Midan Marketing. 
• Explore highlights of the Quantitative Consumer Transparency Research and discover insights into consumers animal protein choices

“I am a busy veterinarian. I serve dairy and feedlot clients in southwest Kansas, and I wish consumers knew that at the end of the day, I'm feeding the same food that we're producing every day to my family. And it comes with that level of confidence in the safety and nutritious value of the food that we're producing, that I'm willing to put it on my table.” - Dr. Tera Barnhardt

In this episode, Jane Dukes, Associate Director of Value Chain & Consumers Affairs, speaks with Dr. Tera Barnhardt a cattle veterinarian and owner of Animal Welfare Consulting & Research, a large animal consulting veterinary practice and a devoted advocate for agriculture. Also joining us is social influencer Natalie Kovarik, a social entrepreneur, storyteller, ranch wife, mom and co-creator of Elevate Ag, an online course that helps farmers and ranchers share their stories. 

“I definitely started out with an agriculture based community in the beginning. I just think, you kind of draw in like-minded people. But as I've grown and had success, I've definitely started reaching non-consumers. And I do have a lot of people who follow me that are outside of the industry. And I think that's one of the really rewarding things is to be able to kind of have one on one interaction with them….Like I said, being in control of being able to advocate for the industry and, and say things that I want to, that I know are going to reach people.” - Natalie Kovarik

We know we need to tell our stories, but for many farmers and ranchers, there is perceived risk and a lack of time which might make them feel the benefits may not outweigh the risk. ElevateAg, co-founded by Natalie, is a resource producers can turn to to help them navigate sharing their story.

This Week’s Podcast:

• Meet Dr. Tera Barnhardt a cattle veterinarian and owner of Animal Welfare Consulting & Research and Natalie Kovarik, a social entrepreneur, storyteller, ranch wife, mom and co-creator of Elevate Ag.
• Hear directly from producers on about what they want consumers to hear and explore the means in which they can share that story with them

“Around 2003 is when I noticed that there was change. I think it stems from a change in the interest and expectations from our students…There is less interest in some of our incoming students to enter food animal medicine….I think it stems from the fact that they don't have the experience. Maybe they don't have a sense of awareness of what a food animal practice can provide both from a personal and a professional reward. And then also of course, as you mentioned, there's the student debt, the potential maybe for lower wages, work-life balance, and those issues. ” - Dr. Carlos Risco

In this episode, Jane Dukes, Associate Director of Value Chain & Consumers Affairs, speaks with Dr. Justin Welsh executive director of Food Animal Technical Services, Dr. Carlos Risco the Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oklahoma State University, Rebecca Barnett associate director of public policy for the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), and Leyton Becker an Animal Health Veterinary Student Ambassador currently attending vet school at the University of Minnesota. 

 “I think that it's gonna take a lot of stakeholders coming together and collaboration. It's gonna take the vet school. It's gonna take our stakeholders at the state level, state vets, and the federal level. Everyone kind of coming together, looking at this picture and seeing what role do they play and what solution can they offer. I think this…has a lot of different moving pieces within it that we can approach it with our solutions to try to solve this. I just don't think there's one solution that fits all.” - Rebecca Barnett

The evidence of underserved counties in veterinary medicine is an ongoing pain point for the industry. There are also veterinary “deserts” where a single vet may oversee 150 square miles both for livestock and companion animals. It’s a tough life. Adding to the pressure is the rising debt load for education that has outpaced increases in starting salaries for veterinarians.  

This Week’s Podcast:

• Meet Dr. Justin Welsh executive director of Food Animal Technical Services, Dr. Carlos Risco the Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oklahoma State University, Rebecca Barnett associate director of public policy for the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), and Leyton Becker an Animal...]]>In rural America there is a critical shortage of veterinarians, both for companion animals and livestock.  Experts attribute the shortage to low wages, long hours and fewer graduates wanting to live outside a major city. This presents a problem in more ways than one since veterinarians are the first line of defense against disease. They work with farmers and ranchers throughout the animals’ lives, but they also inspect livestock before they can enter the food supply. There is also a shortage of companion animal veterinarians and veterinary technicians to keep our pets healthy members of the family. In 2020, pet ownership rose to 70% of American households. The need for companion animal veterinarians is outpacing the number we are graduating from vet schools across the country.

  “Around 2003 is when I noticed that there was change. I think it stems from a change in the interest and expectations from our students…There is less interest in some of our incoming students to enter food animal medicine….I think it stems from the fact that they don't have the experience. Maybe they don't have a sense of awareness of what a food animal practice can provide both from a personal and a professional reward. And then also of course, as you mentioned, there's the student debt, the potential maybe for lower wages, work-life balance, and those issues. ” - Dr. Carlos Risco

  In this episode, Jane Dukes, Associate Director of Value Chain & Consumers Affairs, speaks with Dr. Justin Welsh executive director of Food Animal Technical Services, Dr. Carlos Risco the Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oklahoma State University, Rebecca Barnett associate director of public policy for the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), and Leyton Becker an Animal Health Veterinary Student Ambassador currently attending vet school at the University of Minnesota. 

   “I think that it's gonna take a lot of stakeholders coming together and collaboration. It's gonna take the vet school. It's gonna take our stakeholders at the state level, state vets, and the federal level. Everyone kind of coming together, looking at this picture and seeing what role do they play and what solution can they offer. I think this…has a lot of different moving pieces within it that we can approach it with our solutions to try to solve this. I just don't think there's one solution that fits all.” - Rebecca Barnett

  The evidence of underserved counties in veterinary medicine is an ongoing pain point for the industry. There are also veterinary “deserts” where a single vet may oversee 150 square miles both for livestock and companion animals. It’s a tough life. Adding to the pressure is the rising debt load for education that has outpaced increases in starting salaries for veterinarians.  

  This Week’s Podcast:

  • Meet Dr. Justin Welsh executive director of Food Animal Technical Services, Dr. Carlos Risco the Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oklahoma State University, Rebecca Barnett associate director of public policy for the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), and Leyton Becker an Animal Health Veterinary Student Ambassador currently attending vet school at the University of Minnesota
  • Explore the challenges and obstacles faced by rural communities in acquiring access to veterinary care
  • Discover some of the programs, recommendations and resources available to promote the rural veterinary profession
  
  ]]>282e959c-fb16-454e-9325-f0ab6ecca485Mon, 19 Sep 2022 04:00:00 -050033:30nofull35353Merck Animal HealthRetail Trends: Consumers and TransparencyAlong with sustainability practices current consumers are also looking for transparency in the management of their food supply chain. Consumers want more information than ever before about how the food they eat makes its way to their plates. Nutrition, food safety, animal welfare, and labeling are all things  consumers want to know more about, and the transparency they are looking for around food and food production is evolving quickly. Our food system is working hard to meet consumer expectations that can be a bit of a moving target. 

  “What we're doing is we're looking at conversations that consumers are having online, regardless of if we were observing them or not. And we're looking at their conversations in order to identify what something means, what a topic, a trend, an issue, something like today's topic, transparency. What does it mean to consumers? How are those meanings evolving or changing? And what does this mean for our business?.... It's helpful because we can answer what is happening in culture but our goal is really to get to the why. ” - Cheryl Auger

  In this episode, Jane Dukes, Associate Director of Value Chain & Consumers Affairs, speaks with Cheryl Auger, the Director of Client Success MotivBase, and Jim Lanier, the Senior Manager Animal Welfare and Market Quality Assurance with HEB Grocery. 

   

  “I work with different departments across the company to ensure that all animals in our supply chain are properly cared for. We actually establish partnerships with our vendors, industry groups, and actual producers to develop and monitor our standards and more accurately our expectations.”  - Jim Lanier

  We want to explore what consumers are looking for to fulfill this transparency desire in their food chain. It can mean anything from labeling to animal welfare and ingredient sourcing. An ethnography study on consumers and transparency earlier this year that Cheryl led. We discovered that consumer values and concerns play an important role when they ask for transparency in animal protein. In addition, we learned that consumers are driven by the need to make the right decisions when it comes to food and their health and part of that is fueled by skepticism and fear. They are worried about food safety, skeptical of production practices and worried about animal welfare as well as what’s not found on the label. 

   

  “Consumers are looking for standardized approaches to organic or other forms of labeling. They're looking for some help cutting through the noise or cutting through some of their confusion. So when it comes to consumers, understanding of transparency or their top concerns, we're seeing nutritional benefits, animal welfare, ecological impact, food safety, and standardizing organic.” - Cheryl Auger

  This Week’s Podcast:

  • Meet Cheryl Auger, Director of Client Success MotivBase, and Jim Lanier, Senior Manager Animal Welfare and Market Quality Assurance with HEB Grocery. 
  • Explore insights into consumer behavior with regards to food chain transparency and where they are placing their priorities
  • Discover how consumer wants and concerns have evolved over time and how producers can respond to these demands
  
  ]]>Along with sustainability practices current consumers are also looking for transparency in the management of their food supply chain. Consumers want more information than ever before about how the food they eat makes its way to their plates. Nutrition, food safety, animal welfare, and labeling are all things  consumers want to know more about, and the transparency they are looking for around food and food production is evolving quickly. Our food system is working hard to meet consumer expectations that can be a bit of a moving target. 

  “What we're doing is we're looking at conversations that consumers are having online, regardless of if we were observing them or not. And we're looking at their conversations in order to identify what something means, what a topic, a trend, an issue, something like today's topic, transparency. What does it mean to consumers? How are those meanings evolving or changing? And what does this mean for our business?.... It's helpful because we can answer what is happening in culture but our goal is really to get to the why. ” - Cheryl Auger

  In this episode, Jane Dukes, Associate Director of Value Chain & Consumers Affairs, speaks with Cheryl Auger, the Director of Client Success MotivBase, and Jim Lanier, the Senior Manager Animal Welfare and Market Quality Assurance with HEB Grocery. 

   

  “I work with different departments across the company to ensure that all animals in our supply chain are properly cared for. We actually establish partnerships with our vendors, industry groups, and actual producers to develop and monitor our standards and more accurately our expectations.”  - Jim Lanier

  We want to explore what consumers are looking for to fulfill this transparency desire in their food chain. It can mean anything from labeling to animal welfare and ingredient sourcing. An ethnography study on consumers and transparency earlier this year that Cheryl led. We discovered that consumer values and concerns play an important role when they ask for transparency in animal protein. In addition, we learned that consumers are driven by the need to make the right decisions when it comes to food and their health and part of that is fueled by skepticism and fear. They are worried about food safety, skeptical of production practices and worried about animal welfare as well as what’s not found on the label. 

   

  “Consumers are looking for standardized approaches to organic or other forms of labeling. They're looking for some help cutting through the noise or cutting through some of their confusion. So when it comes to consumers, understanding of transparency or their top concerns, we're seeing nutritional benefits, animal welfare, ecological impact, food safety, and standardizing organic.” - Cheryl Auger

  This Week’s Podcast:

  • Meet Cheryl Auger, Director of Client Success MotivBase, and Jim Lanier, Senior Manager Animal Welfare and Market Quality Assurance with HEB Grocery. 
  • Explore insights into consumer behavior with regards to food chain transparency and where they are placing their priorities
  • Discover how consumer wants and concerns have evolved over time and how producers can respond to these demands
  
  ]]>394967b1-7a72-4847-8bff-8a5ddca1ddf7Tue, 02 Aug 2022 16:00:00 -050031:11nofull34343Merck Animal HealthSharing The Dairy Sustainability Story With ConsumersConsumers are interested in the sustainability of their food products and the impact food production is having on the environment. While many misconceptions exist about the sustainability of animal agriculture, data and science bring clarity to the sustainability story, helping stakeholders from farm to fork understand the progress made so far and focus on continuous improvement.

  “It is a really interesting time because we're seeing the sustainability  concerns, not just coming into play as a desire for more information, but actually as a driver of decision making….Consumers are more and more identifying sustainability as a broader set of terms, including responsible farming, land management, water use, animal welfare and even areas like antibiotic use and labor relations. So it is a category that's going to become broader and broader and require the marketplace to be very nimble in addressing this as it evolves.” - Andy Harig

   

  In this episode, Jane Dukes, Associate Director of Value Chain & Consumers Affairs, speaks with Tara Vander Dussen, Environmental Scientist, Dairy farmer and co-founder of Elevate Ag, Jamie Jonker, Chief Science Officer and Vice President of Sustainability & Scientific Affairs for National Milk Producers Federation, and Andy Harig, VP of the Food Marketing Institute

   

  “It's important I think for our customers and consumers to understand that dairy farmers, like Tara, day in and day out, do their very best on their individual farms….they work with their animals, their land, their family, and their employees on the sustainability trajectory that is best for their individual business. Each dairy farm looks a little different and so their sustainability journey's gonna be a little bit different, but every dairy farm has that sustainability journey and the National Dairy Farm Program provides a way to capture metrics that can be added to (their) important stories.”  -Jamie Jonker

  We are finding that not only are consumers seeking sustainability in their food items but fortunately they are also open to trust the sustainable labels they see on their food packaging and the stories they hear about producers. Jamie shares that “consumers are not wanting perfection but wanting improvement.” Sharing the story of producers, how they have improved their efforts and what changes they are planning for the future are what consumers are seeking.

   

  “I think that sometimes we get caught up in the latest trends in advancements, and we forget to share with consumers what we have been doing. I think we have to do a better job of taking consumers along on this journey….We have a track record of improving. We know we can do better. We know that we have done better in the past so we've set big goals for the future and we know we can get there.” - Tara Vander Dussen

  This Week’s Podcast:

  • Meet Tara Vander Dussen, Environmental Scientist, Dairy farmer and co-founder of Elevate Ag, Jamie Jonker, Chief Science Officer and Vice...]]>Consumers are interested in the sustainability of their food products and the impact food production is having on the environment. While many misconceptions exist about the sustainability of animal agriculture, data and science bring clarity to the sustainability story, helping stakeholders from farm to fork understand the progress made so far and focus on continuous improvement.

    “It is a really interesting time because we're seeing the sustainability  concerns, not just coming into play as a desire for more information, but actually as a driver of decision making….Consumers are more and more identifying sustainability as a broader set of terms, including responsible farming, land management, water use, animal welfare and even areas like antibiotic use and labor relations. So it is a category that's going to become broader and broader and require the marketplace to be very nimble in addressing this as it evolves.” - Andy Harig

     

    In this episode, Jane Dukes, Associate Director of Value Chain & Consumers Affairs, speaks with Tara Vander Dussen, Environmental Scientist, Dairy farmer and co-founder of Elevate Ag, Jamie Jonker, Chief Science Officer and Vice President of Sustainability & Scientific Affairs for National Milk Producers Federation, and Andy Harig, VP of the Food Marketing Institute

     

    “It's important I think for our customers and consumers to understand that dairy farmers, like Tara, day in and day out, do their very best on their individual farms….they work with their animals, their land, their family, and their employees on the sustainability trajectory that is best for their individual business. Each dairy farm looks a little different and so their sustainability journey's gonna be a little bit different, but every dairy farm has that sustainability journey and the National Dairy Farm Program provides a way to capture metrics that can be added to (their) important stories.”  -Jamie Jonker

    We are finding that not only are consumers seeking sustainability in their food items but fortunately they are also open to trust the sustainable labels they see on their food packaging and the stories they hear about producers. Jamie shares that “consumers are not wanting perfection but wanting improvement.” Sharing the story of producers, how they have improved their efforts and what changes they are planning for the future are what consumers are seeking.

     

    “I think that sometimes we get caught up in the latest trends in advancements, and we forget to share with consumers what we have been doing. I think we have to do a better job of taking consumers along on this journey….We have a track record of improving. We know we can do better. We know that we have done better in the past so we've set big goals for the future and we know we can get there.” - Tara Vander Dussen

    This Week’s Podcast:

    • Meet Tara Vander Dussen, Environmental Scientist, Dairy farmer and co-founder of Elevate Ag, Jamie Jonker, Chief Science Officer and Vice President of Sustainability & Scientific Affairs for National Milk Producers Federation, and Andy Harig, VP of the Food Marketing Institute
    • Explore the latest consumer insights on sustainability and consumer demands
    • Discover existing data and science that helps tell the on-farm sustainability story, and how it’s helping bridge the gap between perception and reality.
    
    ]]>a43d530c-3749-4ed9-b5b0-a32b4569974dFri, 17 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -050033:09nofull33333Merck Animal Health2022 Food Industry Outlook: Tackling Challenges and Change with Collaboration and InnovationAs we enter a third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the agriculture industry continues to face more challenges and change. The U.S. Beef Industry is balancing strong market prices with lower cattle numbers and higher costs for labor, transportation, and feed while also managing international shifts and workforce shortages. On the retail side of the food value chain, finding workers remains the top foodservice challenge coupled with keeping shelves stocked amid ongoing supply chain struggles. Meanwhile, at the center of the food industry focus is on the ever-evolving consumer who is looking at food differently. In addition to filling empty bellies, consumers are increasingly using food to improve their health and they want transparency and sustainability. It’s a tall order for the industry to address.   

     

    MSD is committed to the well-being of our communities, our employees, and our customers. In this episode, Jane Dukes, Associate Director of Value Chain & Consumers Affairs, speaks with Jessica Clowser Burkham, the Beef Alliance Managing Director and Craig Wilson, Vice President, QA & Food Safety from Costco to try to address some of these ongoing challenges. 

     

    “The (Beef) Alliance prides ourselves on being forward-thinking in the industry and identifying and dealing with these industry disruptions. We want to utilize our size. We are the biggest, so we'll definitely want to use that to positively influence not only policy, but business partner relationships with our packers, retailers and food service and address industry trends to foster some long term viability while essentially delivering high quality and nutritious products.” - Jessica Clowser Burkham

     

    Ongoing food value chain challenges for discussion: 

    • How can collaboration from producer to retailer help all segments of the industry adapt and advance? 
    • Where can we leverage innovation to help navigate these new challenges? 
    • And how can we pivot to meet new consumer demands in this ever-changing environment?
    
    

    It would appear that no matter which sector of the food value chain you call home, we share similar challenges. Inflation driving food prices up and in some cases consumer demand down, labor and the lack of available workers, and ongoing supply chain issues which impact product availability and evolving consumer preferences and demands. 

    We have really strong collaboration where we know what (our suppliers) do. We set some expectations, they set some expectations and we work together to get that great product that our members want. Because at the end of the day…being able to provide our Costco members with great prices on great products all the time. And that takes very close collaboration all the way down to the feed yards, all the way back up to where the cattle are converted and broken into the cuts that we need… And it's the same on the produce side. We want to work directly with growers on quality, delivery, and that whole supply chain to make sure that our members are getting what they want. - Craig Wilson

    This Week’s Podcast:

    • Meet Jessica Clowser Burkham, the Beef Alliance Managing Director and Craig Wilson, Vice President, QA & Food Safety from Costco
    • Explore how retailers and producers have adapted over the course of the pandemic and what challenges they will face going forward
    • Discover ongoing innovation pushing the industry forward across the food chain
    • Learn the impact of the consumers demands on the ongoing pursuit of sustainability and food value chain transparency
    
    ]]>As we enter a third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the agriculture industry continues to face more challenges and change. The U.S. Beef Industry is balancing strong market prices with lower cattle numbers and higher costs for labor, transportation, and feed while also managing international shifts and workforce shortages. On the retail side of the food value chain, finding workers remains the top foodservice challenge coupled with keeping shelves stocked amid ongoing supply chain struggles. Meanwhile, at the center of the food industry focus is on the ever-evolving consumer who is looking at food differently. In addition to filling empty bellies, consumers are increasingly using food to improve their health and they want transparency and sustainability. It’s a tall order for the industry to address.   

     

    MSD is committed to the well-being of our communities, our employees, and our customers. In this episode, Jane Dukes, Associate Director of Value Chain & Consumers Affairs, speaks with Jessica Clowser Burkham, the Beef Alliance Managing Director and Craig Wilson, Vice President, QA & Food Safety from Costco to try to address some of these ongoing challenges. 

     

    “The (Beef) Alliance prides ourselves on being forward-thinking in the industry and identifying and dealing with these industry disruptions. We want to utilize our size. We are the biggest, so we'll definitely want to use that to positively influence not only policy, but business partner relationships with our packers, retailers and food service and address industry trends to foster some long term viability while essentially delivering high quality and nutritious products.” - Jessica Clowser Burkham

     

    Ongoing food value chain challenges for discussion: 

    • How can collaboration from producer to retailer help all segments of the industry adapt and advance? 
    • Where can we leverage innovation to help navigate these new challenges? 
    • And how can we pivot to meet new consumer demands in this ever-changing environment?
    
    

    It would appear that no matter which sector of the food value chain you call home, we share similar challenges. Inflation driving food prices up and in some cases consumer demand down, labor and the lack of available workers, and ongoing supply chain issues which impact product availability and evolving consumer preferences and demands. 

    We have really strong collaboration where we know what (our suppliers) do. We set some expectations, they set some expectations and we work together to get that great product that our members want. Because at the end of the day…being able to provide our Costco members with great prices on great products all the time. And that takes very close collaboration all the way down to the feed yards, all the way back up to where the cattle are converted and broken into the cuts that we need… And it's the same on the produce side. We want to work directly with growers on quality, delivery, and that whole supply chain to make sure that our members are getting what they want. - Craig Wilson

    This Week’s Podcast:

    • Meet Jessica Clowser Burkham, the Beef Alliance Managing Director and Craig Wilson, Vice President, QA & Food Safety from Costco
    • Explore how retailers and producers have adapted over the course of the pandemic and what challenges they will face going forward
    • Discover ongoing innovation pushing the industry forward across the food chain
    • Learn the impact of the consumers demands on the ongoing pursuit of sustainability and food value chain transparency
    
    ]]>053b7189-c9ec-476b-8dfb-f8b17a31b514Wed, 27 Apr 2022 08:00:00 -050029:04nofull32323Merck Animal HealthCelebrating Women in Agriculture and Animal HealthIn honor of Women’s History Month and National Ag Day, we’re talking to three leaders in agriculture who will share their experiences and discuss progress and opportunities to support and elevate women in agriculture, the veterinary profession and throughout the industry. The number of women leading careers in this space continues to grow as shown by these statistics:
    • 36% of US farmers are women and 56% of all farms have at least one female decision-maker according to the 2019 Census of Agriculture
    • According to the AVMA 2020 statistics, 64% of US veterinarians are women and 90% of certified veterinary technicians are women as reported by the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) in 2017.
    • Additionally, according to a 2017 report by the AAVMC, 80% of veterinary students were women – a statistic that 50 years earlier was reversed
    
    

    But the numbers alone don’t tell the whole story. Women are actively shaping and changing the agricultural and animal health industries, leading not only on the farm, but paving the way for the future of professional and industry organizations and agricultural businesses.

    "There's room for all of us. The faster we realize that one person's success does not take away from our own and if we bring others with us, we can make a better impact." - Marissa Hake

    “Having women involved has been a huge asset to the cattle industry. Confidence is just part of it – don’t be scared to be the only woman in the room.” - Trista Brown

    “Confidence in your abilities is part of it, and you’ve got to believe in yourself – then have the courage to make the leap.” - Terri Moore

    We are committed to the well-being of our communities, our employees, and our customers. In this episode, Jane Dukes, Associate Director of Value Chain & Consumers Affairs, speaks with Trista Brown-Priest, Chief Strategy Officer, Cattle Empire 3rd generation on the feeder operation; Terri Moore, VP Communications for the American Farm Bureau Federation and formerly deputy director of communications at the White House, and director of communications at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA); and Dr. Marissa Hake, the “Calf Vet” and Director of Animal Welfare and Sustainable Farming for Fairlife.

    This Week’s Podcast:

    • Meet Trista Brown-Priest, Chief Strategy Officer, Cattle Empire 3rd generation on the feeder operation; Terri Moore, VP Communications for the American Farm Bureau...]]>In honor of Women’s History Month and National Ag Day, we’re talking to three leaders in agriculture who will share their experiences and discuss progress and opportunities to support and elevate women in agriculture, the veterinary profession and throughout the industry. The number of women leading careers in this space continues to grow as shown by these statistics:
      • 36% of US farmers are women and 56% of all farms have at least one female decision-maker according to the 2019 Census of Agriculture
      • According to the AVMA 2020 statistics, 64% of US veterinarians are women and 90% of certified veterinary technicians are women as reported by the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) in 2017.
      • Additionally, according to a 2017 report by the AAVMC, 80% of veterinary students were women – a statistic that 50 years earlier was reversed
      
      

      But the numbers alone don’t tell the whole story. Women are actively shaping and changing the agricultural and animal health industries, leading not only on the farm, but paving the way for the future of professional and industry organizations and agricultural businesses.

      "There's room for all of us. The faster we realize that one person's success does not take away from our own and if we bring others with us, we can make a better impact." - Marissa Hake

      “Having women involved has been a huge asset to the cattle industry. Confidence is just part of it – don’t be scared to be the only woman in the room.” - Trista Brown

      “Confidence in your abilities is part of it, and you’ve got to believe in yourself – then have the courage to make the leap.” - Terri Moore

      We are committed to the well-being of our communities, our employees, and our customers. In this episode, Jane Dukes, Associate Director of Value Chain & Consumers Affairs, speaks with Trista Brown-Priest, Chief Strategy Officer, Cattle Empire 3rd generation on the feeder operation; Terri Moore, VP Communications for the American Farm Bureau Federation and formerly deputy director of communications at the White House, and director of communications at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA); and Dr. Marissa Hake, the “Calf Vet” and Director of Animal Welfare and Sustainable Farming for Fairlife.

      This Week’s Podcast:

      • Meet Trista Brown-Priest, Chief Strategy Officer, Cattle Empire 3rd generation on the feeder operation; Terri Moore, VP Communications for the American Farm Bureau Federation and formerly deputy director of communications at the White House, and director of communications at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA); and Dr. Marissa Hake, the “Calf Vet” and Director of Animal Welfare and Sustainable Farming for Fairlife
      • Explore the roll and ever increasing influence women are demonstrating in agriculture and veterinary medicine
      
      ]]>4ca4b08c-1c35-417f-bed5-914c92787949Tue, 29 Mar 2022 17:00:00 -050030:10nofull31313Merck Animal Health