Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) president Ron Bonnett spoke last week at the Keystone Agriculture Producers annual general meeting, addressing current issues in agriculture.

One of these issues, which has become very prevalent in recent years, is public mistrust. Bonnett says often social media can be a host for misinformation or attacks on agriculture, and this trend seems to be building.

"I think there's a bit of disconnect now between consumers and farmers just because many people don't even know a farmer," he says. "I think it's going to become more and more important, if we're going to continue to able to produce the crops and the livestock that we have, that we are able to explain to consumers why it is we do what we do, and why we do it in the fashion that we do."

Bonnett thinks new young farmers will be very important in communication to consumers through social media and carrying truthful messages about agriculture.