Dialogue with U.S. Department of Agriculture Advisory Committee
Washington, DC
March 14, 2008
Molly O’Neill, EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Environmental Information and Chief Information Officer, met with the Department of Agriculture’s Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Advisory Committee (FRRCC) on March 14, 2008. These are the summary points of that discussion in the National Dialogue on Access to Environmental Information:
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There is a need for a clearer delineation on how EPA works with States. The Agriculture community has a relationship with the States rather than with EPA.
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The Agriculture community has had difficulties in creating new mechanisms for getting information to farmers.
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One problem is that farmers are very individualistic so a broad array of outreach is needed.
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Farm broadcast radio has been very influential as many farmers spend lots of time in their tractor cabs with the radio on.
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Farmers are a very diverse group. Developing personal relationships is the most effective means of getting information shared.
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Trade associations are a good avenue to get info out to this community.
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EPA has a designated person in the Office of Public Affairs fielding agriculture issues and that has been a real help.
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Conservation districts have contact with farmers on a daily basis. Farmers will open their doors to local groups.
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Local data gathering is trusted by farmers since they have the relationship developed through outreach with local organizations. In one case, the data provider said EPA's data was wrong, and the local farmers accepted his view. EPA did not accept his data and, ultimately, did not get the farmers' support.
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Local papers are trusted and local issues are more pressing to individual farmers.