(With reporting by Simon Crouch)
A growing distrust of authority means some traditionally respected segments are going to have to work harder and be more open to keep up that respect.
Farmer and environmentalist John Kolk says people are now less likely to take on trust that farmers are good stewards of land and water.
He believes there are going to be more people influencing agriculture than what the industry is used to - and it's not going to be the regulators.
Kolk says people still have a high regard for family farms, but far less regard for corporate entities.
John Kolk was one of the presenters at this week's South West Ag Conference at Ridgetown.
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Kolk says people are now less likely to take it on trust that farmers are good stewards of land and food safety.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/JOHNKOLK-1.mp3"][/audio]
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Kolk says the public now wants a greater say in how decisions are made.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/JOHNKOLK-2.mp3"][/audio]
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Farmer and environmentalist John Kolk says farmers have always been proud of the way they do business and care for the land.
But he suggests those standards are likely going to have to increase.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/JOHNKOLK-3.mp3"][/audio]
