Thoughts to tonights AgChat questions

So, since I'm technically on vacation (one that is away from the farm, or my usual thought of a vacation, known to most as college), I was hoping to join in the #agchat over there on Twitter, but having too much fun playing cards with the family, and lost track of time.  Now this will most likely be the way I will be able to participate, and get my thoughts out there since I have previous engagements on Tuesday nights (at least until the middle of May 2011).  

Some of the questions I will be ignoring since they are not to applicable to me.

Q2, social media will play a part in the changing of how people perceive agriculture.  There was a time when the majority of the population did work on the farm, and everyone knew about how much work was put in to grow/raise the various products.  Those of us that already blog, tweet, and make videos are going to be the foundation that things will be used to support what we do, and why we work hard (sometimes twice the hours a week, at half of the pay) to get people their food.  This will be more evident as the advocacy groups’ work on their agendas to "protect" the family farm.  

Q3, Trends include the cost that the consumer is paying in the store, and how this is related to the high cost of corn/ethanol (since the general population considers them as such).  This issue might even come up again when the high forecast of petroleum comes up down the road.  It is at this point that people will wonder why their food is so high, and look at the cost of the seed, and blame the biotechnology that is in each seed, and say that the food will be cheaper without all of that technology.  At this point, the other side (those that support biotechnology) will say that without that technology, the cost of production on a whole, and the cost to the consumer will be even higher, and a debate will ensue. 

Q4, My connection will be measured in the number of view that my blog and YouTube see, and the number of interaction that occur while at school (whether in class or just talking with the non-farming friends), but since I'm at a school that is known in the ag-world, that will not as likely happen as much.

Q6, Most farmers already know the skills that will make them successful for the short-term.  Long-term, technology will play a large part.  It is hard to say which technology sector will be needed, but for now, a general knowledge is best, and as each farm is different, then each farmer will learn the different sectors, as they need them.

Q7, It is hard to say what I will stop doing right now, but I can guarantee more involvement through social media will be on the start-of-use list.

Now, what are your thoughts, do they agree, or disagree with what I think will happen for 2011?