3 minute read
IntroducingJ47-M ™
by agweek
Specially Manufactured Tubing for Sugar Producers
Webco manufactures quality welded stainless steel specialty tubing products for evaporators, vacuum pans, juice pre-heaters and more can better communicate their efforts: “At Hultgren Farms, we’ve found that engaging in frequent social media posts, a website and a newsletter hit several demographics that potentially care about what we’re doing.
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Welded Stainless TubingGradesmill test reports provided: A249-439, 249-304/304L, A249-316/316L
For moreinformation, please contact:
MikeJamison: 918-630-0982 mjamison@webcotube.com
Jerri Lauderdale: 918-241-1037 jlauderdale@webcotube.com www.webcotube.com
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Having a ready-made portal to subscribe outside parties to, whether they are friend or skeptic, makes it easy for you to be honest and open about what you’re doing on the farm to sustain your family’s legacy and take care of the land, water, crops and animals.
“We have also found that making our facility tour-ready at all times makes employees think more about the facility as they want to be proud of where they work. It enables us to tell our story to outside groups by letting them walk around and actually see what we do every day. It opens a lot of eyes, and once a skeptic sees that these are family operations, pouring their heart and soul into their family legacy, those attitudes can often be disarmed.
“This fall, we are planning a community picnic and inviting neighbors, landlords, family and friends to learn more about our sugarbeet operation and the other things we do here on our farm. Having this one-on-one face time with folks allows them to ask questions and better understand who we are and what we do.” In describing additional education efforts, Hultgren said, “We have hosted political candidates and sitting members from federal and state offices here from both sides of the aisle to talk about farm issues. The chairman and ranking member of the U.S. House Ag Committee were here several times. It was important for them to see that in order to do business the right way, it requires more effort and financial investment and so maintaining strong farm programs for efficiency improvements that benefit the U.S. sustainability landscape as a whole are important. We let them know that when farmers are strong, their rural communities are strong as well.
“I think the most critical thing for the food supply chain to understand is that sustainability as they define it comes at a financial cost. As I discussed at the opening of this piece, farmers have no problem understanding how to be sustainable. But if food companies or the regulatory agencies connected to those food supply chains want to see something specific implemented as a product feature or source, farmers are willing to do it but they’ll need to capture a premium for doing the extra work.”
When asked whether he has been able to change misconceptions he said, “The most vivid example I can think of is when we hosted a group of junior high kids from inner city St. Paul at our farm. These kids were so excited and in awe of our farm equipment and the amount of food we produce here … and they left with huge smiles on their faces. I think a bunch of them said as they were leaving that they wanted to be farmers someday! I could tell by the questions they were asking me that day that they had been fed several inaccuracies about how farms operate and it gave me a good feeling to be able to dispel those misconceptions.”
In closing, Hultgren said, “I am very fortunate to be a part of the sugar industry which is very unique. We do a lot of great things and I hope that growers will join me in telling of the story of how we are constantly trying to improve.”
David Kragnes
David Kragnes farms near Felton, Minnesota
David Kragnes is a former board member and chairman of American Crystal Sugar Company, he currently serves on the CoBank Board of Directors.
