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Community radio: An entertainment factory
or catalyst for development, food and nutrition security?
We are adding to the ACDC collection a paper about the role of community radio in helping nations promote development in the food and agriculture sector. This paper investigated the extent to which efforts had been made in Kenya to unlock potentials of community radio to help achieve national goals for development.
The study confirmed that rural dwellers thought food security was an important issue and that community radio stations could be employed for that endeavor. However, two related problems emerged: (1) lack of involvement of local residents in design of radio programs and (2) radio programs were rarely aligned to the needs and priorities of the host community.
You can read “Community radio: An entertainment factory or catalyst for development, food and nutrition security” by open access.
Food date labels — feeding America’s waste cans
New research from the International Food Information Council (IFIC) reveals that “Best by,” “Use by” or “Best if used by” date labels may be “doing more harm than good when it comes to preventing food waste.” For example:
- 48% of respondents believe these labels signal when a product begins to decline in quality
- 29% see them as an indication of food safety risk
- 17% interpret them as the exact day the food should be discarded
- 36% say they discard food without assessing it once the “Best if used by” date has passed
- 54% report evaluating the food first, but criteria they use are inconsistent
- Only 29% say they have high confidence in the accuracy of date labels
You can read “New IFIC survey reveals how misunderstood food date labels are likely feeding America’s trash cans” by open access.
Veteran farm broadcaster Tom Brand authors new book
Thanks to Tom Brand for publishing a collection of memories and reflections on faith, family, and a farm kid’s life. The title is Welts on your butt a calf could suck. The 155-page book shares “lessons and laughs that come from growing up where dirt roads and hard work meet.” It was published by Richardson and Company Press in Missouri. We are adding a copy to the ACDC collection.
A native of Hopkins, Missouri, Tom spent 19 years as a farm broadcaster for the Brownfield Network, KMA Radio and KFEQ Radio. He served as president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting (2003) and later as executive director. Currently he serves as director of the St. Joseph Community Alliance.
Launching a new certificate in global agricultural communications
A new international education partnership in agricultural journalism and communications was announced during May. It was unveiled at a ceremonial signing that involved Adalberto Rossi, vice-president of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) and German Bollero, dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois.
The agreement formalizes plans to launch a Certificate in Global Agricultural Communications, to be delivered online and available broadly. The certificate is being developed by agricultural leadership, education and communications (ALEC) faculty members in the College of ACES. It will serve IFAJ, a professional organization representing 6,600 members in 62 countries.
“This certificate represents an exciting step forward for the global agricultural journalism community,” explained Vice President Rossi.
Use of ag drones soaring, internationally
A recent article in Farm Futures provided an update on the adoption of drones in agriculture. Author Andy Castillo reported on the experience of DJI Agriculture, a Chinese drone brand.
“In total, about 400,000 DJI ag drones are in operation globally, partly due to governments reducing bureaucratic restrictions and simplifying approval processes. The trend to standardize pilot training and streamline licensure is also growing. All this is prompting farmers to transition from limited field-testing drones to formal integration by expanding from single crops to broader applications. …the core driver of adoption has been the proven results: better efficiency, lower operational cost and higher yields.”
You can read “Ag drone use soars as farmers see results” by open access.
What farmers should do when spotting unidentified drones
Peggy Kirk Hall and Ryan McMichael of Ohio State University addressed that topic recently in precisionfarmingdealer.com.
“It can be unnerving and threatening to [see] an unknown drone flying over one’s property,” they acknowledged, “but shooting at the drone is not a viable solution to the concern.” The authors offered suggestions, cautions and contacts in this brief article.
You can read “What farmers should do when spotting unidentified drones” by open access.
Communicator events approaching
Here are agricultural communicator event plans you may find helpful, including contact information you can use for details. We welcome suggestions or revisions for this calendar.
June 24-25, 2025
“Kickin’ it in KC” Annual conference of the Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) in Kansas City, Missouri.
July 9-13, 2025
Annual conference of the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors (ISWNE) in Brookings, South Dakota.
July 27-30, 2025
Agricultural Media Summit in Rogers, Arkansas. Member associations include Ag Media Council of SIIA AM&P Network, Agricultural Communicators Network (ACN) and Livestock Publications Council (LPC).
July 27-29, 2025
Annual conference of National Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT). This student organization meets in collaboration with Agricultural Media Summit in Rogers, Arkansas.
October 14-18, 2025
International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) Congress in Nairobi, Kenya. Hosted by Kenya Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA).
October 19-22, 2025
Annual meeting of the Communication Officers of State Departments of Agriculture (COSDA) in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
November 7-9, 2025
ScienceWriters2025 in Chicago, Illinois, at the Marriott Chicago O’Hare. Hosted by the National Association of Science Writers and the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing.
November 19-21, 2025
National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) convention in Kansas City, Missouri, at the Westin Crown Center.
Nearer the heart
We close this issue of ACDC News with a Brazilian proverb offering insight about communicating:
“The ear is closer to the heart than the mouth.”
A friendly reminder:
ACDC is a deep and open resource for you, so please feel free to invite our help as you search for information, local to global. You are welcomed to follow us on Twitter @ACDCUIUC. And please suggest (or send) agricultural communications documents we might add to this unique and valued international collection. We welcome them in hard copy (sent to Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, 510 ACES Library, 1101 S. Goodwin Avenue, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801) – or in electronic format sent to acdc@library.illinois.edu