“It will not be doubted that with reference either to individual or national welfare, agriculture is of primary importance.”

– President George Washington

HISTORY

“The exchange of information about the agricultural and natural resources

industries through effective and effi cient media, such as newspapers, magazines,

television, radio and the web, to reach

appropriate audiences.”

AGRICULTURAL COMMUNICATIONS

(Telg & Irani, 2012)

The field of agricultural communications

stems from a need to provide the public

with an understanding of the people and

processes that produce food and fiber.

COMMUNICATING AGRICULTURE

CULTIVATING COMMUNICATION

1700sWord of mouth

communication between farmers

Late 1700s

Newspapers began

encouraging articles on

farming

1800sAgricultural

magazines and journals

circulated

Early 1900sFirst agricultural

journalism course taught at Iowa State

University

1840s & 1850sScientists in colleges

of agriculture began writing for publications

1920sRadio becomes

agricultural news medium

1940s & 1950sTelevision increases

in popularity

1980s to 2000sComputers

dramatically changed the delivery of agriculture messages

WHAT’S TRENDING

Communicating positive messages

about agriculture to consumers, lawmakers

and others who impact agricultural

policy makers

LET’S REVIEW!

1. What is agricultural communications?

2. Where did the field of agricultural communications originate?

LET’S REVIEW!

3. What types of media are used to communicate about agriculture?

4. How did farmers communicate in the 1700s?

LET’S REVIEW!

5. What has dramatically changed the delivery of agricultural messages

6. What is the current focus for communicating agriculture?