Hutchens to Time: You have done a fine injustice to the ag community

Don Hutchens, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board, emailed Time magazine his thoughts on the publication's recent article - "Getting Real About the High Price of Cheap Food" (it was originally titled "America's Food Crisis and How to Fix It").

You can read more about the article in the post Time (magazine) is not on your side, or see a note Greg and Maru Whitmore write by clicking here.

Hutchen's entire email is copied below.

If you would like to tell Time what you think, just email letters@time.com.

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Dear Editor:

You have done a fine injustice to the agricultural community with “America’s Food Crisis & How to Fix It” (Aug, 31).

First, it’s apparent that neither the author Bryan Walsh or Doug Gurian Sherman, Union of Concerned Scientists, have spent much time on one of those “industrial farms” or Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO). If they had they would know that farmers aren’t eroding the soil (43% less erosion today than 20 years ago), or that CAFO’s in the words of Walsh are “hell for animals, kept in primitive conditions, packed into prison” but instead are housed in air conditioned buildings with automatic waters and feeders, given medical attention when needed, and are viewed as part of the farmers livelihood so care and good health is critical.

You would know that these “industrial farms” are really family farms (individuals or families own 82% of the corn farms) where they live on the farm, go to the local church and school, and eat the products they grow and raise.

You have allowed the author to demonize our industry, where consumer choice to either eat organic or conventional is based on life style, income or personal preference. I can assure you that if your solution is all agriculture should be organic then world population will drop dramatically due to the starvation and malnutrition rates skyrocketing. Conventional agriculture and today’s farmer does feed 129 others.

U.S. ag is the envy of the world, the cheapest, most abundant fed with the safest food supply anywhere. Obesity, while terrible, is also a function of our lifestyle and eating habits. It might be good to get off our butts and exercise and practice preventive health care, and control how much and what we put into our mouth. And, Mr. Walsh condemned the fact chickens are grown in cages where they cannot spread their wings; unfortunately, if you travel today by air, many a passenger has been confined to a aircraft sitting on a run way where humans cannot spread their wings or even use a restroom. Let’s get real about the realities of good journalism, I contend we have a Crisis of Good Honest Journalism versus a Food Crisis.

Don Hutchens
Executive Director
Nebraska Corn Board
Box 95107
301 Centennial Mall South, 4th Floor
Lincoln, NE 68509-5107
402.471.2676
www.nebraskacorn.org