Farmers need to do a better job at connecting with the public when talking about the benefits that biotechnology brings to producers, consumers and the environment, said Joanna Lidback, a dairy farmer from northeast Vermont. Lidback, who also keeps a blog documenting her family’s life on the farm, testified during a hearing of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Horticulture, Research, Biotechnology and Foreign Agriculture.

“I believe that biotechnology plays a major role in our collective ability to not only feed a growing global population but also to make individual improvements on our own farms, be it 45 cows or 4500; a row crop operation or an apple orchard; a multiple-generation farm or a beginning farmer,” she said. “The science shows that GMOs are safe and bring tremendous benefits, but we in agriculture have failed to communicate this effectively with the public.”

Lidback testified on behalf of Agri-Mark Dairy Cooperative and the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives; Agri-Mark is a member of both the National Milk Producers Federation and NCFC.

Lidback also highlighted the impact that being forced to use non-GMO feed would have on the 45 cow dairy farm that she operates with her husband.

“In speaking with our dairy nutritionist earlier this week, he pointed out that the only non-GMO feed he could get us right now was organic. Doing the math, our feed costs would go from $5,160 a month to $11,370 a month; over the course of a year, that means our feed costs alone would increase by $74520,” she testified. “I do not see how we could survive, let alone farm profitably, in the long term with those increased feed costs.”

Lidback concluded her statement by reiterating the need for producers to engage more with the public on issues relating to agriculture’s use of biotechnology.

“I’m happy to continue speaking up for our right to farm in whatever way we choose which in our case includes biotechnology and the use of GMOs. It’s important to share my knowledge about the opportunities and challenges we face as modern-day farmers and modern-day parents,” Lidback concluded. “When I have one person, or ten people, reach out to me for a question or appreciating my hands-on and practical perspective from the farm, then I have succeeded.”

A full copy of the testimony is available online.