Making A Difference In Ag Retail: 10 ‘Big Picture’ Things To Do In Less Than 15 Minutes

The summer of 2015 is in the books and kids are back in the classroom hitting the books. Summer flew by, didn’t it? So, with all the business that accompanies the fall season, there will be little time to do much of that good work that goes beyond the day-to-day chores. Not so fast, some of the really important “big picture” things you can do for your business and the industry won’t take more than 15 minutes.

So with that, here is my top 10 list of small steps to make a big difference:

Advertisement
  1. Have your employees watch the ResponsibleAg video. In less than five minutes, everyone will learn more about the program, see auditor training in action and get a chance to see the state-of-the-art Ford B. West Education Complex in Owensboro, KY. A link to the video is also available at www.responsibleag.org.
  2. Register your facility for ResponsibleAg. That’s right — it takes most folks fewer than 15 minutes to sign up and participate in this groundbreaking safety and security initiative. Participating in the program will help assure community members, employees and emergency responders that you are acting responsibly. Everything you need is available at www.responsibleag.org.
  3. Utilize the free ResponsibleAg mock compliance audit. Experience the administrative process associated with ResponsibleAg audits by using this handy tool which is available in the “Participants” section of the ResponsibleAg Website.
  4. Learn more about the 4R Advocate program. Visit www.nutrientstewardship.org to see how you can go about nominating your top grower for expense paid travel and recognition. Watch CropLife’s e-newsletter for an announcement of the official call for entries this fall.
  5. Learn more about the new Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) 4R designation. It is now possible for CCAs in six states to achieve a 4R specialty designation. The 4R exam is currently being offered to CCAs in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, with plans to expand to more states, so if your state is not on the list, contact the CCA program to advocate for its inclusion.
  6. Reach out to local emergency responders. Many in our industry are doing a great job with this, but if you haven’t, please consider picking up the phone and introducing yourself. The relationships built over time can be priceless when an accident occurs.
  7. Vote. Agriculture is increasingly efficient, which means we have a shrinking demographic, and must work hard to ensure our voice is heard in the electoral process. If you supervise people, encourage them to register to vote and to cast their ballot during all elections.
  8. Support your state, regional and national associations. By reading their newsletters and learning about key issues, you will be able to further participate in the political process. You will also learn about educational and grassroots political action opportunities.
  9. Participate in the political process. When an issue you feel passionately about is being debated, write or call your elected representatives. Your voice matters and silence very easily translates to constituent indifference.
  10. Write a letter to the editor. Establish yourself as a local expert on issues that are important to your business by correcting the record or weighing in with a perspective that was missed in a news article or editorial.

Top Articles
Best Agriculture Apps for 2024 (Update)

0
Advertisement