Farming’s Reference Desk: Top Six Agriculture Books to Read Now

For anyone looking for entertainment or to learn something new, books are a great way to accomplish your goals. Check out some of these ag and food focused books to learn a little bit more about agriculture, farming, the food system, and more!

Food Bullying: How to Avoid Buying B.S.

This book by Michele Payn reveals the facts behind food marketing and food labeling claims. Many people experience guilt and “bullying” surrounding the food and farming choices they make. Whether you are shamed by brands, Facebook claims, friends or others, this book changes the way you think about food and gives you permission to make your own food choices.

This book also breaks down marketing and food labeling claims that one food is better than another. For example, “antibiotic free” chicken is sold by some brands. This leaves people wondering why other brands of chicken contain antibiotics (spoiler alert: this is not true. All meat is antibiotic free.). Payn uses a science-based approach and even gives readers a plan to overcome food bullying and simplify food choices.

An Industry Worth Fighting For

This book by Derrick Josi, otherwise known as TDF Honest Farming on social media, not only tells the Josi family’s story as dairy farmers, but also combats misinformation about animal agriculture. Josi dispels myths and talks about the challenges that animal rights activists pose to animal ag.

This book uses science-based findings and provides links to resources so anyone looking for more can continue with their own research. Josi’s book is a humorous and educational read for anyone, no matter your level of knowledge about dairy farming and agriculture.

All Creatures Great and Small and other James Herriot books

Looking for something fun and entertaining to read at the end of a long day? Look no further than James Herriot’s books. Herriot’s Creatures book tells his story of life as a veterinarian in the Yorkshire dales from the 1930s onward. These books share the ups and downs of veterinary life and Herriot’s experiences, including during World War II. Readers of all ages enjoy hearing Herriot’s tales of the animals he treats and their owners.

Food 5.0

We have come a long way throughout agricultural history. From the early days of “muscle” farming to machine, chemistry, genetic engineering, convergence and more, what does the future hold for global food systems security? Will the technology be accepted by the general public?

The Man Who Fed the World

The Man Who Fed the World is a prize-winning biography about Dr. Norman Borlaug. Borlaug saved over a billion people from starvation over his lifetime. This book tells the story of how Dr. Borlaug went from a one-room schoolhouse in Iowa to being one of five people in history to win the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.

His scientific achievements in agriculture have been extremely important to agriculture today and to help end world hunger. This book, written by Leon Hesser, is an American Farm Bureau Foundation of Agriculture Best Book of the Year award winner.

Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior

Temple Grandin has had a long, distinguished career as an animal scientist. She’s used her personal experience with autism to study and share how animals act, think, and feel.

In one of her books, Animals in Translation, Grandin shares how animals perceive the world, animal feelings, how animals think, and more. Due to her experience with autism, Grandin “translates” how animals think since she thinks similarly. This book will provide all animal owners with valuable insight on animal behavior.

There is no shortage of great books that center on agriculture and food! This is just a few of the entertaining, informative, and inspirational books about farming, the food system, animal agriculture and more.

Whether you’re an experienced farmer or rancher, an aspiring agriculturalist, or simply someone who eats, give one of these books a read to dive a little deeper into agriculture.