Roberti also emphasized the importance of unity within the livestock industry as outside pressures continue mounting.
“There’s enough people out there that want to see us go out of business,” he said. “We’ve got to figure out a way to get along so we can keep that next generation involved.”
He believes producers also need to do a better job telling agriculture’s story directly to consumers.
“We’re producing this very good, safe product,” Roberti said. “But sometimes we don’t tell our story very well.”
According to Roberti, ranchers must continue engaging with people outside agriculture to help correct misconceptions about livestock production and land stewardship.
“We’ve got to meet with some people we don’t like maybe, to show them that we’re not the bad guys in this business,” he said. “We’re actually the good guys taking care of the land and doing things right.”
The Reno summit marks the first of four Common Ground Coalition regional meetings scheduled across the country this year, with additional events planned for Omaha, Nashville, and Fort Worth as the coalition continues building producer-led conversations about the future of the livestock industry.
Source: Western Ag Network