Producers In Action
Social Media Connects Dairy Producers with the Public
“Milking #moo cows leaving the pasture, headed towards the barn to enjoy fans and sprinklers.”
“I've had my first of (at least) three servings of dairy products today...have you? #moo”
"Farmers never stop taking care of their animals, even if it means taking feed to pastured heifer in the rain at 4am.”
“Gonna wear one of my farm logo shirts and a Young Farmers cap to dinner in Vernon. Going for an ‘agriculturally NASCAR-esque’ look.”
These are just a few examples of the short, interesting and educational snippets about life on an Alabama dairy farm you will find on dairy producer Will Gilmer’s Twitter page.
Twitter is one of many social media sites that allow people to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent comments, videos and photographs. Gilmer tweets and blogs about caring for his dairy cows, working on a modern farm and dairying in a down economy.
“I would encourage all producers to get out there and have conversations about what they’re doing,” he said. “It’s not just educating the public; it’s listening and letting the public ask questions, and then responding to them.”
Gilmer authors “The Dairyman’s Blog”, and also “tweets” about his daily activities through his Twitter page.
“With our profession, it’s sometimes hard to leave the farm and talk with the public directly,” he said. “Social media helps us reach a lot of people in a very short time. Just wade in and get a feel for it.”
Gilmer became interested in social media when he created a Web site for his dairy farm. He updated the news section every month, but found it hard to summarize his activities. So he started a blog with short, current updates about what’s happening on his farm.
Next he created a Facebook page and then started tweeting. As a busy dairy producer, he appreciates the ease and simplicity of Twitter, which allows him to post his 140-character comments from his cell phone. Gilmer has more than 600 Twitter followers to date.
Gilmer often updates his social media accounts during chores on the farm, giving his followers a look into his daily dairy activities. He also has some downtime after morning milking, so he works on the computer while eating breakfast. “You find ways to work it in and make it a part of your daily routine,” he said. “After awhile, it becomes second nature.”
Gilmer joined the national dairy checkoff’s “myDairy” program that helps mobilize dairy advocates across the nation to engage in social media networks and online conversations. The online program shows dairy producers how to use social media sites, provides key messages to help with communications and offers a secure blog for dairy advocates to share their experiences.
Dairy producers have a responsibility to tell consumers what’s happening on modern farms, Gilmer said. He believes it’s more critical than ever for producers to speak up about the truth when anti-agriculture groups oppose or distort modern practices.
Social media offers one of the quickest, easiest and most effective ways to communicate with millions of consumers all at once. Getting started was easier than Gilmer expected. He said it was helpful for him to follow and support other dairy producers’ online efforts until he got the hang of it.
“Following other producers shows me perspectives that I never thought about before and gives me ideas of how to talk about my dairy,” he said. “Just having more of us out there, regularly checking each other’s sites helps us defend our industry and support one another.”
Producers interested in becoming online dairy advocates should contact: myDairy@rosedmi.com for more information.
