By Gary Joiner

Television viewers were once again taken to the Land of Oz.

But this time the yellow brick road led to a place where misinformation spewed about U.S. beef production. Behind the curtain was Dr. Mehmet Oz, a surgeon and host of the syndicated program, the Dr. Oz Show.

The episode explored grass-fed vs. grain-fed beef. It suggested that grass-fed beef is healthier because of the way the animals are raised. Conventional production practices were largely criticized throughout the show.

No surprise here. The great Oz often denounces how conventional food is raised.

By Gene Hall

My evening with the elite of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB) at their Harvest Dinner a few days ago was eye opening.

Reporting life and work on America’s farms and ranches, we can bridge the gulf between farmers and their customers. Some of those customers are now four generations removed from the “farm years” in all our family trees:

• It’s the lady being interviewed on a Texas major market television station about biotechnology. “These products have not been tested.”

By Gene Hall

Based on some of the questions I received and the comments made on my blog earlier in the week—Rachael Ray’s assumptions on burgers are trendy and wrong—it’s evident that I need to clarify.

Ray, a popular TV food star, said hamburger that is organic or grass-fed could be cooked less and, therefore, served safely “pink in the middle.” This is not true. So much of this debate is pure political correctness, but I’m talking biology.

At the time of processing, bacteria begin to come in contact with the surface of the meat. Most of it is harmless, but some, like E. coli, could be dangerous.

Dear Farmer,

As a loyal customer, I am grateful for you and the other Texas farmers and ranchers who grow the fruits, vegetables, meat and other products that I buy and serve to my family. Each week, I know the shelves at my local grocery store will be stocked with a large variety of products with plenty of price, flavor and nutrition choices.

By Gene Hall

Among the folks who really get excited–and negative–about how we feed the world today with modern agriculture, one of the most grossly inaccurate charges that arises has started to surface once again in web discussions. I guess it’s this week’s “activist message of the day.”

This robotic talking point was originally drafted by people who had to know it was a lie, but it’s been repeated so often that those who use it now and passionately believe it do not understand it is not true.

It’s really two talking points that usually travel together: