Tired of folks trashing agriculture?     Then it’s time for each of us to tell them more!

We know most people are two and three generations removed from a farm and that they don’t get it. So, hook them with fun facts regarding beer and chocolate – most people I know can relate to at least one of those two grocery items.

Did you know, without modern agriculture, American beers might disappear?  Why, you ask? Close to 100 percent of hop acreage in the U.S. is treated with fungicides to prevent the growth of mildews which cause irreparable harm to the crop.

Did you know, Halloween candy and Jack O’ Lanterns might be scarcer without modern agriculture? How so, you ask? Production of cacao (the plant from which the cocoa bean grows) increased by 50 percent with the introduction of fungicides to control black pod disease in Ghana.

These are just two of the fun facts and interesting trivia that flesh out CropLife America’s “Tell Me More” initiative.

CropLife America (CLA) created this educational program about the benefits of the crop protection industry especially for its members. Fortunately, CLA has made this information publicly available to anyone interested. Just visit http://tellmemore.croplifeamerica.org/ for a wealth of materials to help you tell the story of modern agriculture.

If you’re looking for ways to tell the plantnutrient story,then check out the 4R Nutrient Stewardship website http://www.ipni.net/4r, where you’ll learn how the 4Rs — Right Source, Right Rate, Right Place and Right Time — save effort, money, and the environment.

Florida Fertilizer & Agrichemical Association is championing efforts to incorporate 4R Nutrient Stewardship principles into best management practices for Florida crops. Recent presentations have been made to the Florida Senate Agriculture Committee and the concepts were introduced to key agriculture and natural resource leaders in mid-November. The goal behind the presentations is to demonstrate a suite of nutrient management tools exists for cropping and environmental benefit. FFAA’s goal in these meetings is to build support for proactive nutrient stewardship in Florida agriculture.

The 4R Nutrient Stewardship program website notes: “This concept can help farmers and the public understand how the right management practices for fertilizer contribute to sustainability goals for agriculture. In a nutshell, the 4R nutrient stewardship concept involves crop producers and their advisers selecting the right source-rate-time-place combination from practices validated by research conducted by agronomic scientists.”

If we want to continue to have access to the crop production tools we need to feed a hungry world, we need everyone to start telling the story of modern agriculture. We need you making community and school presentations, blogging, tweeting, and texting.

It doesn’t have to be a long conversation, it could be  short and sweet, but tell them more — the story of modern agriculture is worth sharing!